Ryan, Falcons won’t get rattled
Every time he touches the ball, Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson is a threat to create a highlight. He's a battering ram with the speed of a thoroughbred.
He's also a throwback player. It's not his style to go down easily or scamper for the sidelines to avoid contact. Watch old NFL films of Jim Brown, and you see similarities in Peterson.
The oldest formula for success is to run and stop the run, and that's how the Vikings are getting it done this season. Peterson leads the league with 1,581 yards rushing, and Minnesota is No. 1 in run defense.
The Vikings (9-5) are one win from clinching the NFC North despite not having a decent quarterback. Peterson should be the front-runner to win Most Valuable Player.
It's more obvious that Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan is the league's top rookie. Ryan has passed for 3,146 yards and 14 TDs with nine interceptions.
Ryan has a higher passer rating (90.0) than Eli Manning, and he has the Falcons (9-5) in playoff contention.
Atlanta is not a one-dimensional team, however, as Michael Turner is the league's No. 2 rusher with 1,421 yards.
Despite what Peterson is capable of doing to the Falcons' defense, I'll take Atlanta as a 31/2-point underdog Sunday at Minnesota.
The Vikings are without their best run stopper, injured 320-pound defensive tackle Pat Williams. Their quarterback will be Tarvaris Jackson, who should bounce back to reality after passing for four touchdowns against Arizona last week.
It's doubtful Ryan will get rattled on the road, because he's won at Green Bay, Oakland and San Diego.
Peterson is the MVP, but the Vikings and Falcons are even teams, and Minnesota is 3-3 against the spread at home.
Here are four more plays for Week 16 (Home team in CAPS):
* SEAHAWKS (+41/2) over Jets: In the final home game for coach Mike Holmgren, expect Seattle to play with intensity. The Jets are 0-3 straight up and against the spread on the West Coast this season, losing at San Diego, Oakland and San Francisco. Brett Favre played poorly in all of those games.
* Texans (-7) over RAIDERS: After starting 0-4, Houston is 7-7 and has covered five in a row. The Texans are road favorites for the second time in their seven-year existence, and that's because the Raiders are a mess. Oakland has a history of quitting, going 0-6 straight up and ATS in the last two weeks of the past three seasons.
* BUCCANEERS (-31/2) over Chargers: It's a good time to get behind Tampa Bay coach Jon Gruden, with his team off back-to-back losses. The Bucs play better defense at home, where they are 6-0 straight up and 4-2 ATS. Jeff Garcia is expected to start at quarterback against San Diego's 25th-ranked defense.
* BEARS (-4) over Packers: Chicago coach Lovie Smith, 6-3 against Green Bay, should have no problem motivating his team. The Packers embarrassed the Bears 37-3 at Lambeau Field on Nov. 16. Green Bay has dropped four in a row since.
Last week: 0-5 against the spread
Season: 39-33-3
R-J CHALLENGE
One competitor in the Review-Journal NFL Challenge, which is published Sundays, is playing today's game. R-J columnist Ed Graney is siding with Dallas as a 4-point home favorite over Baltimore.
