Did Jakobi Meyers really throw a lateral to Mac Jones at the 50 yard line in a tie game with the clock expiring last week? When we had the Patriots? Ok that did happen? Just wanted to make sure we weren’t seeing things…
Merry Christmas Eve to all those who celebrate! Through 15 weeks of games we both somehow have the exact same record! 41-30-4 overall is nothing to scoff at. As we head down the stretch we’re still desperately in search of that first perfect week.
David’s Picks (16-12-2)
David was traveling all week, in addition to the holidays he is also preparing to move! Picks but no analysis this week.
Pick #1: New York Giants +4 @ Minnesota Vikings
Pick #2: San Francisco 49ers -7 v. Washington Commanders
John’s Picks (16-12-2)
Pick #1: Atlanta Falcons +6.5 @ Baltimore Ravens
Two teams that have played to the level of their competition all season long. Ravens find a way to keep games close. Falcons find a way to cover spreads. In what should be a slllooowwww, grind it out game in the cold temperatures, with two quarterbacks (Tyler Huntley // Desmond Ridder) that neither staff fully trusts, give me the team getting just a little less than a touchdown in this spot. It’s hard to cover more than a 6-point spread with a total in the low 30s.
Pick #2: Detroits Lions -2.5 @ Carolina Panthers
Lions have been rollin’ baby! 6-1 in their last seven games?? Only loss being on a game-winning FG against the Bills?? This team has looked like a legitimate playoff team for two straight months. Since Week 9, after firing their DBs coach and adjusting schematically, the Lions have gone from giving up 32.1 ppg in the first eight weeks of the season to only 19.9 over the last seven games.
The Lions are blitzing at a top 20% rate in the league and Sam Darnold has a history of struggling against pressure. This is a Panthers team that’s 2-8 outside of the NFC South this season. The Lions rank 4th in DVOA with a healthy Amon-Ra St. Brown and are averaging 28.9 ppg when their weapons see the field. I don’t see Carolina being the ones to slow down this new freight train. The line opened Lions +4 and has been bet all the way to where it sits now. Lions are the better team playing better football and come out of Carolina with another road win (by 3 or more points).
Mutual Pick (9-6)
Pick: Miami Dolphins -3.5 v. Green Bay Packers
We can’t, nor will we ever, quit these Dolphins. Until the Packers prove capable of going on the road and beating a team above-.500 this season (losses to the Vikings, Commanders, Bills, Lions and Eagles), we’ll continue to fade them in spots like this. Miami showed something last week with how competitive they were in terrible conditions on the road in Buffalo. Not letting a few tough games against the Niners and Chargers the two weeks prior get us off this bandwagon - this is still a REALLY good team. Dolphins are good defensively against the run. Packers haven’t been able to throw on anyone all season when forced to. Was an easy joint pick for us this week.