Monday Night Markets: Is There a Doctor in the House?
The St. Louis Rams (0-1) and head coach Steve Spangnuolo take on his old team the New York Giants (0-1) at MetLife Stadium for week two of Monday Night Football. The headline for this game is the injury report -- both teams are seriously banged up.
Rams QB Sam Bradford, who injured a finger on his throwing hand last week, will play but will wear a special glove. RB Steven Jackson is listed as doubtful with a quadriceps injury, but Cadillac Williams filled in well in relief last week putting up 140 yards. WR Danny Amendola is also listed as doubtful with a dislocated elbow and CB Ron Bartell is out for the season with a serious neck injury. The Rams will have to get pressure on Giants QB Eli Manning while contending with New Yorks two-fisted running attack. Keep an eye on Rams DE Chris Long, who had a sack and pair of hits on the more ellusive Michael Vick last week. If he can disrupt Manning, it could change the tone of the game.
The Giants have their own list of injuries to deal with; DE Osi Umenyiora is likely out and DE Justin Tuck and WR Hakeem Nicks are listed as questionable. The Giants recently added WR Brandon Stokley to bring a little depth to the depleted receiving corps along with Domenik Hixon and Mario Manningham. Look for the Giants to give the Rams, who gave up 236 yards rushing last week to the Eagles, a healthy dose of RBs Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw.
FOX Business has evaluated the win/loss and stock market statistics over the past 20 seasons of Monday night NFL games to come up with a Monday Night Markets (MNM) score for each team based on their record and the prior weeks market activity. Lets take a look at what the markets have to say.
The Dow Industrials closed out the week up 4.7% and the S&P 500 was up as well, closing out the week with a gain 5.35%; both indexes snapped a two-week losing streak and posted the biggest weekly gains since July 1. The markets were propped up by optimism that Europe would resolve its debt problems. Stocks rallied after five central banks worked together to pump dollars into Europes banking system to try and stave off liquidity problems. These moves had investors overlooking disappointing economic data on jobless claims and regional manufacturing activity to drive the markets up.
Over the past 20 years, the Rams have played 17 Monday night games and based on our calculations have a Monday night rank of .600 when the Dow closes the prior week up and .600 when the S&P 500 is up giving them a MNM rank for this week of .600.
During the same 20-year period, the Giants have played 26 Monday night games and have a rank of .563 when the Dow is up and .533 when the S&P 500 is up, giving them an MNM rank this week of .548.
Monday Night Markets picks the Rams on the road over the Giants.
FBN STAFF PICKS - WEEK 2
Robert Gray (1-1)
The Giants are primed to notch their first win of the season over an already injury-riddled Rams squad missing their top RB Steven Jackson and QB Sam Bradfords favorite target in wide receiver Danny Amendola. St. Louis may be tougher than casual fans expect, but expect the G-men to establish the run and Eli to control the clock in giving the home crowd a win on Monday Night.
Sandra Smith (2-0)
Giants!
Chris Cotter (1-1)
Just cant pick against the Giants on this one, regardless of how they looked in week one. Bradford better have his hand, cause hes gonna need it. Giants by 10.
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