Miami Dolphins at Green Bay Packers, Lambeau Field, Green Bay, WI
Sunday, October 17, 2010, 1:00 pm EST, TV: CBS
Opening Line: Packers -3
Current Line: Packers -3
Opening Total: 44
Current Total: 43.5
Money Line: Packers -170 / Dolphins +150
Few NFL bettors would have thought that the Green Bay Packers (3-2) could be possibly be such small favorites playing at home in Week 6 on Sunday against the Miami Dolphins (2-2). But the Packers (-3 on the NFL betting lines) are a shell of the team that entered the season with high expectations of winning the Super Bowl and will simply be trying to pull off another win despite numerous injuries.
The Dolphins are also trying to hang around in the AFC East race with New England and the New York Jets after losing to both teams at home prior to their bye week. Miami suffered some serious breakdowns on special teams in a 41-14 loss to the Patriots nearly two weeks ago, leading to the dismissal of special teams coach John Bonamego. The team spent the bye working on fundamentals and better execution of plays in all phases of the game.
Quarterback Chad Henne accrued some impressive passing yardage (668) in the consecutive losses for the Dolphins but also threw four interceptions, including three against New England. Henne is still adjusting to life with new wide receiver Brandon Marshall and will face a stiff test against Green Bay’s secondary, led by All-Pro cornerback Charles Woodson.
Woodson is one of the few Packers who are healthy, as linebacker Clay Matthews (hamstring), linebacker Nick Barnett (wrist), tight end Jermichael Finley (knee), defensive lineman Ryan Pickett (ankle), tight end Donald Lee (chest) and offensive lineman Mark Tauscher (shoulder) are all hurt. Of that group, only Lee figures to play and give quarterback Aaron Rodgers another weapon in the passing game, replacing Finley who underwent season-ending surgery.
Rodgers was questionable to play as well up until Friday due to a concussion he suffered toward the end of a 16-13 overtime loss at Washington last Sunday. He has been upgraded to probable after completing 27 of 46 passes for 293 yards with one touchdown and one interception against the Redskins. Running back Brandon Jackson had his best game of the season in the loss with 115 yards on 10 carries, although 71 of those came on one run.
Green Bay has won the last two regular-season meetings with the Dolphins both straight-up and against the spread. The Packers have also won six in a row at Lambeau dating back to last season, and Miami has lost in the last two trips there. The UNDER is 4-1 in Green Bay’s five games so far this season and 11-4 in the last 15 road games for the Dolphins.
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