Two big-time NFC East quarterbacks got hurt on Sunday, leaving their status for week three in question. Tony Romo got hit by Carlos Rogers early Sunday and played through a cracked rib and punctured lung. Michael Vick got his head smashed against one of his offensive linemen and left Sunday night’s game with a concussion. The status of the two men has a deep impact in the sportsbooks.
The lines for both the Cowboys-Redskins and Giants-Eagles games are pending based on the status of the quarterbacks. Prior to Sunday’s 49ers-Cowboys game, the Las Vegas Hilton had the Cowboys as a 6.5 favorite over the Redskins. That line is likely to remain the same if Romo plays Monday night. However, if backup Jon Kitna ends up starting, the spread would likely be the Cowboys favored by three, or perhaps slightly less, oddsmaker Andrew Patterson of Las Vegas Sports Consultants tells LBS.
The line for the Giants-Eagles game similarly was 7.5 prior to Sunday night’s Eagles-Falcons game when Vick got hurt. Patterson tells us that line could drop to 3 if Vick isn’t cleared to play and Mike Kafka ends up starting. Patterson says the Eagles would still likely be favored because Kafka looked pretty good against the Falcons, completing 7 of 9 passes, with his last pass dropped by Jeremy Maclin.
Cowboys coach Jason Garrett thinks Romo will play Monday night against the Redskins. Vick needs to pass tests before he’s cleared to play Sunday against the Giants. Not only will the teams be in wait-and-see mode, but so will fantasy football owners, oddsmakers, and gamblers.
