NFL Key Trends For Conference Weekend From NFLOne.com

AT FIRST GLANCE, there are games that always look ‘Tasty’ ATS in many publications as a ‘Bullet’ trend only to ‘trap’ upon further review. In 2006, The Director looked for the first time to clear the way for you to understand which team has the real ‘ADVANTAGE’ against the ‘Trend’.

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DON'T BELIEVE THE HYPE

If there was ever a surprising matchup, it is the one taking place in Arizona, where the ARIZONA CARDINALS, who average an amazing 30.2 points per game on 365.8 yards per game face off against the Philadelphia Eagles, who arrive with one of the best records ATS of the remaining four teams.

5-1 ATS versus the NFC West over the last three years, including a dominating victory versus the Cardinals in Philadelphia in November where they held the Cardinals to only 25 rushing yards in the game.

Even more Impressive is the Eagles' 17-3 record ATS off a division game, 17-9 record ATS on the Road over the last three seasons. Of course this is the playoffs, and the Eagles, who are projected to have the the top offensive output of the day with 26.9 points, will arrive with the experience of the 3-1 record ATS over the last three years as well as 2-0 record ATS in its third playoff or Super Bowl game in a given season since 1998.

While the Cardinals do arrive 11-7 ATS as an Underdog of 3.5 to 9 points over the last three years, they are also 2-4 ATS versus the NFC East during that span. They will have to try to figure out how to points on the board versus an Eagles defense that has allowed only 4.6 yards per play on the Road this season; averaging 3.3 takeaways per game in its last three games.

FIRST LOOK

You are safe if with your heart being in the Baltimore Ravens corner in this one as although the Ravens lost ATS in their last matchup with the Steelers in December, it was the Ravens who entered on a 4-1 run ATS versus the Steelers; the Ravens entering 2-1 ATS in Pittsburgh over the last three years.

The game that the Ravens lost both SU and ATS is amazing to review as they were only able to put up 40 passing yards in the game in 2007.

With both of these teams outscoring their opponents by over 7 points per game in their last four games, the real danger for the Steelers is the Ravens +9 takeaway ratio on the Road which has been the difference this playoff season.

Even more troubling for the Steelers, who do arrive 8-3 ATS as 3.5 to 7 point Favorite over the last three seasons, and powering 26.7 points per game in their last three games, is the Ravens 11-3 record ATS against the Conference, and 8-2 record ATS on the Road this season.

For although it is the Steelers defense that the media has had a focus on, it is actually the Ravens D that has been most impressive of late allowing only 8.7 points per game in its last three games.

ADVANTAGE RAVENS

KING TRENDS

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