Covid: 2 more Browns players tested positive for Covid today, and their facility is currently closed for the second day in a row. They’re hoping to finish contract tracing so they can practice this afternoon. Big game Sunday against the Steelers, not a great time for Covid. Although they may get back their to 4 Wrs. Saints and Atlanta had positive tests also.
In other news: PLAYOFFS!!! Last week of the season and numerous playoff spots are still available. 18 teams are still in the hunt, with 8 teams already clinching a spot. Some of those teams will be resting at least some of their starters, including the KC Chiefs (which won’t really matter because they play the already eliminated Chargers), the aforementioned Steelers (which greatly benefits the Browns), and possibly the Bills (who are either #2 or #3 seed). The #1 seed and coveted first week bye is still up in the air for the NFC, so the Packers, Saints, and Seahawks all have something to play for. And they all play afternoon games this week, so I fully expect them to be trying to win. It will be an exciting week of football.
Some tidbits: The Rams, who have alternatively looked really good and really bad, will be without the services of their starting QB Jared Goff, who broke part of his hand in last week’s game. First round pick Dwayne Haskins cleared waivers with no one wanting his services. Vikings Dalvin Cook is out for Sunday after his father’s passing.
Here’s your games:
Sunday, Jan. 3
Early
Atlanta Falcons vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-6.5, 50.5)
Baltimore Ravens vs. Cincinnati Bengals (+11.5, 44.5)
Dallas Cowboys vs. New York Giants (+2.5, 45)
Miami Dolphins vs. Buffalo Bills (-2, 43)
Minnesota Vikings vs. Detroit Lions (+6.5)
New York Jets vs. New England Patriots (-3.5, 43)
Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Cleveland Browns (-6.5, 42.5)
Afternoon
Seattle Seahawks vs. San Francisco 49ers (+4.5, 47.5)
Green Bay Packers vs. Chicago Bears (+5.5, 50.5)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Indianapolis Colts (-14, 50)
Kansas City Chiefs vs. Los Angeles Chargers (no line)
New Orleans Saints vs. Carolina Panthers (+6.5, 50)
Tennessee Titans vs. Houston Texans (+7.5, 56)
Arizona Cardinals vs. Los Angeles Rams (-4.5, 42.5)
Las Vegas Raiders vs. Denver Broncos (+2.5, 50.5)
Night
Washington Football Team vs. Philadelphia Eagles (+1, 42.5)
I suppose it makes sense to have two bad teams that somehow are in the playoff hunt playing on Sunday night. The game should be meaningful, but you don’t want to hamper your favorites with a night game before playoff starts. But I’ll definitely give it a watch as those two teams flounder around. I think the Eagles front 4 will help pull out a win for the Eagles, but Jalen Hurts looks a lot more human now.
The NFL has made the Browns/Steelers the Noon national game on Sunday, and I’m excited to watch. It will take some of the shine off with the Steelers resting players, but never count out the Browns from shooting themselves in the foot to miss out on the playoffs. The line on the game jumped from Browns -6.5 to Browns -9 once the Steelers decided to rest some players. The question will become, how many Steelers defensive players will be rested? I wish this game had both teams really trying, but I’ll give it a watch anyway. The Dolphins/Bills game would be another to watch, but, again, with the Bills have little to play for, it seems like a dud.
For the afternoon, there is too much to watch. Cards/Rams should be excellent, as will Seahawks/49ers. But I’ll be glued to the Packers/Bears game. With the Pack playing for a first round bye and home field throughout the playoffs and the Bears playing for a playoff spot, I expect an exciting game. I’m a bit shocked the Packers are only 5.5 favorites, but the Bears have been hot lately (against bad teams)
It really doesn’t get much better than Packers v. Bears for playoff spots. Gotta love it.
And I’ll watch the Sunday night game until my eyes start to bleed from all the poor play.
Happy New Year to you and yours! Let’s hear from you!