NFL 2020: Week 14

The Game Room
1

I feel like there always is a Covid portion of these weekly updates, so here goes: The Carolina Panthers put 8 players on the Covid list after the players held a “gathering” together outside of the practice facility. The NFL is certainly selling it as a group of idiots getting together despite a FUCKING PANDEMIC, and that may be very true. In other Covid news, Dez Bryant, right before the game, hung out, hugged, fistbumped, and chatted with his teammates and former teammates (Cowboys) while positive for Covid (although the NFL is denying they had the results while he was doing that). Hopefully he didn’t spread it.

In other NFL news, Carson Wentz gets benched for Jalen Hurts, teams ramp up for the playoff runs, and we have a Thursday game again. Speaking of, here’s the slate:

Thursday, Dec. 10

New England Patriots vs. Los Angeles Rams (-6, 44.5)

Sunday, Dec. 13

Early

Tennessee Titans vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (+7.5, 53)
Arizona Cardinals vs. New York Giants (+2.5, 45)
Kansas City Chiefs vs. Miami Dolphins (+7.5, 49.5)
Minnesota Vikings vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-6.5, 51.5)
Dallas Cowboys vs. Cincinnati Bengals (+3.5, 43.5)
Houston Texans vs. Chicago Bears (+1.5, 45.5)

Late

Green Bay Packers vs. Detroit Lions (+7.5, 55)
New York Jets vs. Seattle Seahawks (-13.5, 47)
Indianapolis Colts vs. Las Vegas Raiders (+2.5, 51.5)
New Orleans Saints vs. Philadelphia Eagles (+7, 45)
Washington Football Team vs. San Francisco 49ers (-3.5, 43.5)
Atlanta Falcons vs. Los Angeles Chargers (+2.5, 49.5)

Night

Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Buffalo Bills (+1, 47.5)

Monday, Dec. 14

Baltimore Ravens vs. Cleveland Browns (pick, 45.5)

A lot of great primetime games this week. Tonight, it’ll be fun to see if Sean McVay, who was seriously outcoached in the Super Bowl, will adjust and pound a much worse Patriots team. The Sunday night game should be a great one too, with the Steelers defense facing off against the Bills’ offense. It will be fascinating to see if the Bills, who have feasted on bad defenses, can actually do it against a great defense. I really like the offense and gameplanning that Brian Daboll has done this year; it will be great to see it against a real defense. Finally, the Ravens and Browns has huge playoff implications and is a real game this year. I’m still not all-in on Baker Mayfield, but the ground and pound running offense is what really matters. And can the Browns’ defense stop a somewhat resurgent Lamar Jackson. Should be a great game.

As to the rest, I’m most interested in the Vikings/Buccaneers. The line on the game (Bucs giving 6.5) shows that most bettors aren’t believers in the reborn Vikings (no reason you should be, they’ve not looked great, even while they’re winning). The Bucs will certainly be a big test, and, again, playoff implications abound. Finally, I’ll keep half an eye out for the NFC East teams (mostly Giants and WFC) to see if their recent successes are for real.

We’re getting down to wire now as teams can continue to either clinch or kill their playoff hopes. Let’s hear what you think. Do you believe the NFL about Covid? Why are people so fucking stupid that they can’t/won’t socially distance and wear masks? Who is your favorite character in the Whedonverse? Do share!

2

If history is any guide, the Packers will:

  1. Put up an early lead
  2. Do nothing productive for 2+ quarters, letting the game get way too close
  3. Just barely win

Brian

3

Think I may bet big on the Vikings against the Bucs. I think that team is onto something (though the defense is still kinda awful).

4

That or let the Lions get out to an early lead, only to come back and win it with a field goal as time expires. My heart can’t handle games against the Lions anymore.

5

We’ve been told these things reduce, but don’t eliminate, the risk of getting COVID. So, perhaps they are doing everything “right” and are still getting sick.

6

The Ravens put Bryant on their COVID reserve list today, meaning that he’s out for at least 10 days. Bryant, meanwhile, says that he’s tested negative twice (including today’s test), after the positive test just before Tuesday’s kickoff.

7

Exactly. This is the sort of game that the Packers should win in a blowout, which means that it’ll be a nailbiter.

8

But the Lions surprise people after at least a game or two of sucking. They had their moment last week, so I’m confident they’ll play poorly at the start, suck in the middle, and choke at the end.

9

Whew, could someone open a window and let the stench of the Patriots offense out? I gave up on the game at 17-0, so I didn’t have to suffer too much, but Cam played horribly, the O line couldn’t block, and the Rams defense was for real. How the Pats can go from 45-0 to 24-3 in one week is interesting, but a lot of that resides on the not so accurate arm of Cam Newton.

10

Missed tackles, bad blocking, questionable play calling. First and goal on the 6, and they call four straight runs that gain a total of 2 yards? I guess if you don’t trust the QB, you have to lean on the run.

I still loved every minute of it.

11

This made me laugh.

The OP shows the Bills as a 1-point dog. According to vegasinsider the Steelers opened up as 2.5 point favorite and now Buffalo is a 2-point favorite. Guess that’s what happens when you lose to a team with no name.

12

I’ve been playing football on a team with no name
It felt good to be out of the rain
In Pittsburgh, you can remember your name
'Cause there ain’t no one for to give you no pain

13

It was nice of Mahomes to spot Miami three possessions.

14

The Chiefs (mostly Mahomes) played horribly in the first quarter and poorly in the 4th quarter. They still won because they scored 30 straight points in the 2nd and 3rd quarters.

Mahomes was sacked for a THIRTY-YARD loss as part of his awful 1st quarter (to go with 2 INTS in the same quarter, equalling his total for the entire year). Here’s the sack.
He later threw a third INT. Yet, the Chiefs still won.

15

So, who had Trubisky decisively out playing Watson and Mahomes this week on their bet sheet?

16

Chiefs defense played reasonably well until the fourth quarter. KC had the aforementioned 2 picks and 30-yard sack in the first quarter and only allowed ten points. They also recorded a safety in the 3rd quarter. But after taking a 30-10 lead, the D allowed 2 TDs and a late FG.

17

Well, the Seahawks did just a tiny bit better against the other New York team.

18

Though they didn’t go flat for 2+ quarters, this prediction was otherwise alarmingly spot-on.

19

I would love it if this game against a bottom 10 defense caused the Bears (and their fans) to reconsider the benching of Trubisky and have them not address the QB situation in any real way again this offseason.

20

That onside kick was WAY too close, after allowing the Lion’s backup quarterback to drive them into scoring range (and way too close to a TD)

Congrats on Crosby’s long field goal though.

Brian