David John has two bets for Sunday's early live Sky games with Ben Roethlisberger and Pittsburgh fancied to put their best foot forward.
Green Bay at Minnesota (1800BST, Sky Sports Action and Main Event)
Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers added another gem to his career highlight reel against Dallas after he orchestrated a game-winning drive to overcome the Cowboys 35-31 in Texas.
Rodgers really is at the top of his game currently but will be tested on the road once more by NFC North rivals Minnesota as these two plus Detroit attempt to sort out an early pecking order in the division.
The Packers hold sway currently but their hosts could take over at the top with a victory, perhaps boosted by the memory of a 17-14 success in this fixture in 2016 which saw Rodgers sacked five times.
The latter did get his revenge though in week 16 on Christmas Eve after a display of offensive firepower at Lambeau Field that saw him throw for 347 yards and four touchdowns while Minnesota quarterback Sam Bradford was good for 382 yards and three scores through the air.
Bradford is currently battling a knee injury and was replaced part way through Monday’s win over Chicago when Case Keenum proved an effective stand-in and now has the chance to take on the Packers for the first time in his journeyman career.
Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer has labelled Rodgers "a pain in the rear" - in the nicest possible way of course - and one of the sharpest defensive minds in the game will surely have cooked up a nice game-plan to try and keep him off balance as much as possible.
Zimmer has all the pieces in place to execute that with Linval Joseph, Anthony Barr, Everson Griffen and Danielle Hunter all in good health at the same time and ready to turn the screw on Rodgers as Joseph, Griffen and Hunter all posted sacks in the aforementioned win last season.
The Vikings had to get quite creative on the other side of the ball against Chicago with rookie running back Dalvin Cook previously ruled out for the rest of the season due to a serious knee injury.
Jerick McKinnon stepped up with a terrific all-round display in addition to a touchdown while off-season arrival Latavius Murray has promised there is better to come for his new team.
The latter was always a real load to bring down when in an Oakland uniform and remains a big threat in any of the touchdown markets, particularly when it comes to goal-line situations.
However, I will look to the visitors instead and Green Bay tight end Martellus Bennett to come up with the goods in the end zone after some consistent, if unspectacular, efforts since his arrival from New England as he and Rodgers start to develop some chemistry.
The 6-6, 275lb Super Bowl winner is an enormous red zone target with great hands and although his quarterback is blessed with some outstanding receiving talent in Jordy Nelson, Davante Adams and Randall Cobb, Bennett’s turn to finally contribute with some points looks very close indeed.
Prediction: Green Bay 27-19 Minnesota
Pittsburgh at Kansas City (2125BST, Sky Sports Action and Main Event)
"Maybe I don’t have it anymore."
That was without question the most quotable soundbite so far of the NFL season as Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger spoke to the media after a five-interception display in last week’s humbling 30-9 defeat at home to Jacksonville.
His edgy, uncomfortable post-match exchange in the locker room made for difficult viewing but granted time for some quiet reflection away from the spotlight means Big Ben has hit back in much more positive mood as he labelled a showdown with the unbeaten Chiefs at Arrowhead "an awesome challenge".
Part of Roethlisberger’s appeal throughout his career has been his willingness to take a risk or two with more than a few dubious throws sprinkled in but it all came home to roost against the Jags and led to boos ringing around Heinz Field from the home faithful.
There is little doubt Roethlisberger is now heading down the home stretch in a career that is into a 14th season and the brutal pounding his body has taken means he won't be able to defy Father Time for too much longer.
I don’t think he is quite ready to be put out to pasture just yet and a mouth-watering clash with the best team in the league currently provides an ideal stage for number seven to set the record straight.
"I’m not really shaken by last week or nervous or worried. We are ready to go," he added ahead of taking to the field with a team who are 4.5-point underdogs in Missouri.
I fully expect those around Roethlisberger to rally to the cause with Le’Veon Bell and Antonio Brown the pair most likely to come up with some big plays and it is worth remembering, despite his quarterback’s woes, Brown has still accrued most receiving yards through five weeks with 545.
While Roethlisberger attempts to regain his composure, opposite number Alex Smith has been having a ball as he leads the league in completion percentage (76.6) with 11 touchdown passes in some extremely polished performances that have seen the Chiefs vault up the outright Super Bowl betting to current third favourites.
Running back Kareem Hunt has burst onto the scene and is arguably the most exciting rookie talent around while Tyreek Hill, Travis Kelce and a healthy defense have helped set Kansas City on the right course for potential glory in Minnesota next February.
These two teams met in January in the Divisional round of the play-offs as the Steelers just held firm in the closing stages of a thrilling 18-16 success courtesy of James Harrison’s crucial sack and a controversial Eric Fisher holding penalty.
The rematch is set-up wonderfully with so many talking points but I do feel we will see the Steelers in a much more favourable light as Roethlisberger rolls back the years after a turbulent week in his Hall Of Fame career.
He can take solace from the fact Houston's rookie quarterback Deshaun Watson tossed five touchdown passes against this Chiefs secondary last week so I like the visitors to get the points flowing and cover Sky Bet’s line of over 22.5 in what should be one of the best games of the weekend.
Prediction: Pittsburgh 26-27 Kansas City
Recommended bets:
2pts Martellus Bennett to score a touchdown anytime v Minnesota at 2/1
2pts Pittsburgh to score over 22.5 points v Kansas City at evens
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Posted at 1655 BST on 13/10/17.
