Brady's completion total tops our primetime prop plays

Tom Brady is held in such high esteem that it is assumed he can complete passes to guys pulled out of the stands just before gametime.

The Patriots are close to such a drastic step. They have lost their Nos. 1 and 4 receivers (Julian Edelman, Dion Lewis), based on catches, to injuries. The No. 3 man, Danny Amendola, exited Monday's game with a bum knee and won't play Sunday night at Denver.

Sure, Rob Gronkowski remains. But the Broncos do not boast the league's foremost defense out of blind luck. They will focus on Gronk and challenge Brady to hook up with lesser lights.

The total on Brady completions is 25.5, a tad below his average. He was limited to 20 on Monday, following three straight games of 26.

Denver's average completion yield is 21. Brady would need to leap well above that figure to  top the total.

If anybody can, it is Tom Terrific. Still, the wiser play is Under.

Ponder these four other prop plays for the Sunday and Monday night games that wrap up the Thanksgiving weekend card.

All props courtesy of Westgate LV SuperBook.

Total quarterback sacks by New England and Denver: Over 5 (-135)

It's a towering total, to be sure.

But the teams are averaging a combined 6.6 sacks per game. And though their quarterbacks are being dumped an average of 4.5 per outing, the early evidence indicates that Peyton Manning avoids the sack better than his replacement.

In just one full and one partial game, Brock Osweiler has suffered eight sacks. The Patriots will take note and try to ramp up the pressure on him.

Click here to see SportsLine's projection for combined sacks.

Total points scored by the Patriots: Under 24 (-120)

Notice a trend here? Yes, a defensive game, at least by New England standards, is anticipated.

Only two of Denver's 10 opponents have scored more than 24 points, while a third landed right on the number. The Broncos' average yield is 18.3.

The Patriots are on a 32.3-point pace but have tailed off lately. They followed a pair of 27-point games with 20 last week.

Click here to see SportsLine's projection for points by the Patriots.

First score of the Ravens-Browns game: not a touchdown (+125)

Baltimore games tend to be packed with field goals. There have been 46 three-pointers, only three fewer than the amount of touchdowns.

The Ravens willingly send out placekicker Justin Tucker for long attempts, and he makes them -- 22 in all, nearly one for every Baltimore TD (23).

Cleveland, too, has tallied nearly as many field goals (16) as touchdowns (20).

At +125, the odds are attractive for the scoring to begin off somebody's foot.

Total gross passing yards by Cleveland's Josh McCown: Over 257.5 (-110)

In six full games this season, McCown has averaged 308 passing yards. The statistic is inflated slightly by two overtime games but still well above the total for this game.

Baltimore's average yield happens to be 257.

McCown should better the mark. He had enough notice with the demotion of Johnny Manziel to prepare for the start. The Ravens' injury-crippled offense means that Cleveland's offense will spend a significant amount of time on the field.

Click here to see SportsLine's projection for McCown.

Last week: 3-2

First score of the Bengals-Cardinals game will be: not a touchdown (won)
Touchdown passes by Cincinnati's Andy Dalton: Over 1.5 (won)
Total quarterback sacks by the Bengals and Cardinals: Under 4.5 (lost)
Total rushing yards by Buffalo's LeSean McCoy: Under 82.5 (won)
Total receiving yards by New England’s Rob Gronkowski: Over 93.5 ((lost)

Season record: 21-23-1

Mike Tierney is a veteran sports analyst whose work periodically appears in the New York Times and Los Angeles Times. He's always on the prowl for dangerous underdogs.