DID YOU SEE THAT! Kenyan Drake may have very well saved the Dolphins season as he received a lateral from WR DeVante Parker and took it the distance to stun the Patriots in what will now be known as the Miami Miracle! What a story that would be if they get into the postseason and say “that was the moment” that started it all. It was a rough week for the AFC’s top contenders as the Texans and Steelers also fell as well. As for the NFC, does anyone want the sixth seed? The Vikings, Panthers, Redskins, and Eagles all LOST. At this rate, the Giants might make the playoffs...Don’t laugh, it’s still possible. Who will steal a game and blaze their path to the playoffs? Check out “NFL Updates Express: Week 15 2018” to find out.
Week 13 Prediction Record: 9-7
Total Prediction Record: 131-75-2
Week 13 Awards:
Most Entertaining Game: Patriots vs Dolphins
Upset of the Week: Raiders over Steelers
Player of the Week: Derrick Henry, RB, Titans (238 yards rushing, 4 TD)
Team of the Week: Miami Dolphins
Rookie of the Week: Saquon Barkley, RB, NYG (197 scrimmage yards)
*Shortened week because of Final Exams*
Could the Chargers steal the top seed in the AFC? If they can grab this win, it’s certainly possible. Both teams are down their top two running backs so expect a dose of Tyreek Hill and Keenan Allen through the air. I think LA could make it to the Super Bowl but they seem to struggle against the Chiefs. This game is slated to be one of the best of the year but I’m not convinced. Chargers keep it close for a while until Kansas City flexes its muscles in the second half.
Kansas City Chiefs 34, Los Angeles Chargers 23
I’m kinda feeling an upset here. Although the Dolphins and Vikings pretty much have identical records, the Vikings need to win this. However, Miami has all the momentum from their miracle against their hated rival. In my #UpsetSpecial, the Dolphins keep the momentum and take a huge game on the road.
Miami Dolphins 24, Minnesota Vikings 20
This is one of the underrated games of the week. The Dallas D vs the Indy O. Who will prevail? The Colts need this BAD to keep pace in the AFC playoff chase. A loss would likely mean game over. The Cowboys can be had. Their offense has improved with the addition of Amari Cooper. His explosion in Dallas has been nothing short of incredible. It was crazy on Sunday. 10 REC for 217 yards and 3 TDs? Oakland, how did you trade this man? First Khalil Mack and now this? Ouch. T.Y. Hilton should not be forgotten either. He hasn’t made the headlines but he has eclipsed 125 yards and at least seven receptions in three out of the last four games, including a 199 yard outburst in the upset of Houston. I feel the Colts can win this game. I also feel that Defense Wins Championships. This game could go either way but Dallas has done nothing but win since the MNF loss to Tennessee on November 5th. Gimme Jerry’s Boys for another W.
Dallas Cowboys 19, Indianapolis Colts 16
So close for Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens. The game in Kansas City came down to a fourth-and-long situation. All they needed was one stop and walk away with a huge victory. The result? A 48 yard gain down the field and a subsequent loss in overtime. Now Baltimore faces a must win against a crafty Tampa team. They put a scare into the Saints at least for a half due in part to the elevated play of their defense. Jamesis Winston has been pretty efficient in the past three weeks with a 6:1 touchdown to interception ratio. I fully expect that to change against a dominant Ravens squad. I’d keep an eye out for this game but with the running ability of Lamar, who is starting full time for Flacco, the Ravens will pull away and keep pace in the AFC North and wildcard hunt.
Baltimore Ravens 27, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 13
This rivalry has had its fair share of epic games. Even this year, the Bears had seemingly taken a stronghold on the contest until the Packers amazing fourth-quarter comeback. Now Akiem Hicks, Khalil Mack, Kyle Fuller, and the rest of the Monsters try to exact revenge on Aaron Rodgers and the Cheeseheads. In this matchup, you can never count anything out. The Bears offense is inconsistent and the Packers team as a whole has had issues. Although they dominated Atlanta, losing to the Cardinals at home in the preceding week was a huge issue. It will be close because…”it’s BEARS vs PACKERS.” When it’s all said and done, the Bears officially eliminate the Pack and earn their tenth win of 2018.
Chicago Bears 26, Green Bay Packers 21
WHAT A MATCHUP! Okay, sorry for the sarcasm. Believe it or not, the Redskins are still very much alive in the playoff hunt if they can reel off a couple of wins against mediocre competition in the Jaguars, Titans, and Eagles. The Jaguars offense is terrible but their defense against a fourth-string quarterback spells doom for Washington. This is the same defense that shut out Andrew Luck and the Colts, so I can’t imagine what the results will be against Josh Johnson who was “at home in the hood, chilling with the kids” just a week ago.
Jacksonville Jaguars 15, Washington Redskins 9
Where has this Giants team been for all of 2018? They’ve lost their fair share of close games this year (Panthers, Eagles, Jaguars). If they find a way to run the table and finish 8-8, the way the race for the NFC’s sixth seed is heading, that could get them in with a sprinkle of luck. Tennessee needs a win to keep pace with the Ravens, Dolphins, and Colts for the AFC’s sixth seed. I believe that the Titans will need to finish with ten wins to make the playoffs for the second consecutive year. To take down New York, Mike Vrabel’s squad will need another dominate performance from Derrick Henry, whose four touchdowns stole the show on Thursday Night. Tennessee has a more realistic shot at the postseason. However, they’ve been extremely inconsistent and take on a team that has won four of their last five games. In an upset, the Giants hand the boys from Nashville a backbreaking loss.
New York Giants 26, Tennessee Titans 23
Props to San Francisco for taking on the desperate Broncos and perhaps ending their season. They could be a big spoiler down the stretch. Can they take down their division rivals and make life a little tougher on them? It was not a pretty game by any stretch of imagination for the Seahawks on MNF up until the final quarter. Expect a similar game here in a Seattle W.
Seattle Seahawks 21, San Francisco 49ers 10
Two AFC powerhouses attempt to rebound after tough defeats. I honestly believe that the Steelers could very well miss the playoffs if they can’t find a way to win this, especially with the Saints coming up following this contest. Like the Chiefs vs Chargers game, sometimes an opponent has your number. The Pats have won five straight against Pittsburgh and I don’t see that changing on Sunday.
New England Patriots 31, Pittsburgh Steelers 30
The Rams were SHUT DOWN against the Monsters of the Midway. It is kinda concerning that against the top teams in the NFC, they haven’t been able to notch a win. As for the Eagles, Carson Wentz’ status is in doubt, not only for this game, but the season. A fractured vertebrae in his back may put Super Bowl MVP Nick Foles back in the spotlight. What is ironic is the game that sidelined Carson Wentz for the season was against the Rams. Who’s the opponent this week? You guessed it! Can history repeat itself or will the Rams continue to keep pace in hopes of gaining home-field advantage in the NFC. In a surprisingly close game, Los Angeles gets back on track.
Los Angeles Rams 26, Philadelphia Eagles 20
All the Panthers had to do was find a way to beat the Browns to keep their narrow postseason hopes alive. Now, after watching the Saints handle business in Tampa Bay, Cam and Co are pretty much toast at 6-7. It was a promising start for Carolina at 6-2 but five losses later and this team has gone off the rails. For the Panthers to pull off the stunner, Christian McCaffrey must continue on his torrid pace. Newton has struggled since the Thursday Night beatdown in Pittsburgh. Kamara and McCaffrey should be big factors in this contest. It is a division game so there is potential for an upset, considering the Saints are playing in their third consecutive away game. However, Carolina has failed to execute in late game stretches. Lucky for them, they won’t get the chance to blow another one in the fourth quarter.
New Orleans Saints 38, Carolina Panthers 20
Saturday Games:
Houston Texans 23, New York Jets 16
Cleveland Browns 20, Denver Broncos 19
Games w/ no major playoff implications:
Atlanta Falcons 20, Arizona Cardinals 13
Oakland Raiders 24, Cincinnati Bengals 20
Comments