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We’re reaching the midway point of the NFL season already, somehow. We have a slate with some interesting games on tap this week, but we decided to focus on the ugliest games on Sunday’s slate. The games that nobody wants to bet on? We’re examining those head on. These six games might not get you excited, but the lines are definitely intriguing and could offer some value. All lines are as of Friday afternoon and via BetMGM.

Would you rather back the Eagles or 49ers as road favorites laying over a field goal?

The Philadelphia Eagles are favorites for the first time this season, and they’re laying 3.5-points on the road against the winless Detroit Lions. After a disgusting display on Sunday night, the San Francisco 49ers are laying 4-points in Chicago against the Bears. Which ugly road favorite are you backing?

Pete: Dan Campbell is 0-7, but I like what I’ve seen from him in his first rodeo as an NFL head coach. His team is bad, and that’s why they are winless. Jalen Hurts is the biggest example of fantasy gold, real football trash since Tim Tebow. I can see Detroit winning this game outright. On the other hand, the Chicago offense has been putrid. Justin Fields is not ready, Allen Robinson is missing in action and the team’s best offensive player is Khalil Herbert. I don’t love the 49ers, but I can’t back the Bears right now. Give me the 49ers.

Greg: The Bears are on pace to throw seven touchdown passes this year. Their offense is so gross and the Niners aren’t much better. They should have flexed this game to London. I think Detroit gets their first win of the season on Sunday. Philadelphia isn’t an intimidating team on either side of the ball and the Lions have had a lot of close calls. I’ll take San Francisco.

Would you rather lay over a field goal with the Browns or the Seahawks?

Story continues

We have the Cleveland Browns laying 3.5-points at home against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Browns have gotten healthier with Baker Mayfield, Nick Chubb, Jarvis…

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One of the NFL’s biggest surprises thus far has been the Cincinnati Bengals, who are 5-2 and in first place in the AFC North entering Sunday’s game against the New York Jets. After an overtime loss to the Packers in Week 5, the Bengals have responded with convincing wins over the Lions and Ravens. It has not been that type of season for the Jets, who are just 1-5 following last week’s 54-13 loss to the Patriots. 

We’ll preview the game along with offering a prediction for Sunday’s outcome. Here’s how you can follow the action in real time. 

How to watch 

Date: Sunday, Oct. 31 | Time: 1 p.m. ET
Location: MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford, New Jersey)
TV: CBS | Stream: Paramount+ (click here)
Follow: CBS Sports App 
Odds: Browns -3, 42.5 

When the Bengals have the ball 

If the Jets want to have any chance of an upset, they will have to do something to disrupt the rhythm between Joe Burrow and rookie Ja’Marr Chase. The duo connected eight times for 201 yards and a touchdown in last Sunday’s win in Baltimore. Through seven games, Chase has caught six touchdowns and has averaged over 100 receiving yards per game. Look for Robert Saleh’s defense to pay extra attention to Chase while forcing Burrow to rely more on his other playmakers. The Jets also can’t fall asleep on the Bengals’ rushing attack, which continues to be led by Joe Mixon. 

When the Jets have the ball 

The Jets’ offensive line has to hold their own against a Bengals defense that is tallied the fifth most sacks in the NFL. Specifically, the Jets’ line will have to keep an eye on defensive ends Trey Hendrickson and Sam Hubbard. Hendrickson leads the Bengals with 6.5 sacks, while…

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Each fall, the NFL analyzes and shares preseason injury data as a part of ongoing efforts to advance the health and safety of players. The injury data are compiled and analyzed by IQVIA, an independent, third-party company retained by the NFL and the NFL Players Association (NFLPA).

IQVIA analyzes injuries throughout the season, compares that data to trends over time and shares findings with the NFL, the NFLPA and the NFL medical and football committees.

Preseason injury data include statistics on injuries occurring during preseason practices and games, including concussions, ACL and MCL injuries.

There are three key takeaways from the 2021 preseason injury data.

1.) Concussion rates are at a five-year low.

The 2021 preseason, including practices and games, had the lowest rate of concussion in the last five years (2015-2019), excluding the anomalous 2020 year which did not have any preseason games.

Reducing the number of concussions that occur during the preseason is a pillar of the NFL’s injury reduction plan. Targeted club interventions, such as sharing information about the causes of concussion and providing guidance on training techniques, are helping to push the numbers in the right direction.

Further, when compared to 2015-2019, total number of injuries during the 2021 preseason were the lowest.

2.) Additional lower extremity injury reduction efforts are underway to address a five-year high.

The incidence of soft tissue injuries, including calf, hamstring, quadricep and adductor strains, are significantly up during the 2021 preseason compared to 2015-2019. As the NFL continues to use injury data to drive health and safety progress, new efforts are underway to address lower extremity injuries, which remain the highest driver of missed days.

3.) Players are continuously moving into even better-performing helmets.

At the conclusion of the 2017 season, only 41 percent of players were wearing top-performing football helmets. Just four years later, more than 99 percent of players are wearing helmets that performed in the top group based on the NFL-NFLPA annual laboratory testing performance results.

But the work doesn’t stop there. The NFL continues to raise the bar for what is considered a top-performing helmet. In 2021, the league and the NFLPA implemented even more rigorous testing, meaning that some helmets previously considered top-performing didn’t make the cut for 2021. Returning veterans stepped up to the challenge, with 27 percent of them upgrading their helmets before the start of the 2021 season. As the NFL-NFLPA’s testing methodologies and helmet technology both continue to improve, players will be encouraged to continue to trade-up.