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NFL Week 12 preview and picks: Everything you must know
S.Wilson3 months ago
Week 11 is complete and the NFL season is heating up. The playoff picture is starting to crystalize, and it’s never been a better time to get in on the sports betting action with Michigan’s top sportsbooks . In honor of Thanksgiving, BetMGM Sportsbook is offering new users the exclusive promo code , and the choice between two great promotions:
“5, I’m with you all day. Shoot, wherever you go, I’m there. If you wanna get dirty, we can get dirty, I don’t care.” pic.twitter.com/qP4tAr88sZ — Erik Schlitt November 19, 2023 This was the win Green Bay had waited for. With this season essentially devoted to the establishment of Jordan Love as QB1, the growing pains have been many. Seemingly having every break go their way, it was a rare feel-good game for the Packers faithful. This was the Packers’ first 300-yard passing game since week 17 of 2021. Combine this with a run defense 28th in the league according to DVOA, and this one has the makings of a Thanksgiving blowout. Washington Commanders (4-7) vs. Dallas Cowboys (7-3) Who is more fun than Sam Howell? The buzz on the Commanders entering the season was wishful at best. But after a hot string of games and leading the league in passing, surrounded by a spunky group of playmakers on offense, Washington has something to get excited about, even if it won’t equal wins. Washington will arrive in Dallas on Thanksgiving looking to play spoiler as the Cowboys have their sights locked on Philidelphia. Sam Howell has been sacked 51 times through Week 11, and with Dallas’ currently 4th in total defense according to DVOA, Micha Parsons and company will be licking their chops on Thursday, but it won’t be for turkey. How bout them Cowboys? After victimizing Bryce Young and Carolina to the tune of 7 sacks, Dallas appears to be running on all cylinders. November has been kind to Dak, amassing 13 touchdown passes since October 29th. Much of the success of the Cowboys’ aerial assault has been the play of Ceedee Lamb. After ripping off a three-game run of 12/158/2, 111/191/0, and 12/158/2 the young Sooner is making a strong case for All-Pro. Nobody was happier to see Chase Young and Montez Sweat traded than Dak and the Cowboys’ offensive line. Tyron Smith, Zach Martin and company must still contend with Daron Payne and Jonathan Allen lining up across from them. The Cowboys have the weapons to score in bunches, much like the commanders. Controlling the line and establishing the run will be paramount for Dallas to find victory. Check out Fanduel Sportsbook’s exclusive promo where new sign-ups can bet $5 on any moneyline, and receive $150 in bonus bets. San Francisco 49ers (7-3) vs. Seattle Seahawks (6-4) After going 21 for 25 for 333 yards Sunday, Brock Purdy joined Joe Montana as the only 49er quarterbacks to ever to post a perfect passer rating in a game with at least 15 attempts. The questions regarding Purdy’s credit for the success of the 49ers are starting to dry up fast. There are legitimate fears All-Pro safety Talanoa Hufanga suffered a torn ACL in Sunday’s win, which could be a major blow to the secondary. As San Francisco travels North to meet the hungry Seahawks, rookie safety Ji’Ayir Brown will presumably get the start and be tasked with locating Seattle’s trio of wideouts in D.K. Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, and Jackson Smith-Njigba. If the 49ers can dominate the line of scrimmage and create consistent penetration with Joey Bosa, Arik Armstead, Javon Kinlaw, and Chase Young, I would place all my NFL bets on San Francisco in a blowout. Nick Bosa to Chase Young:
“It’s good to have you”
John Lynch has to do everything in his power to keep this duo together for years to come pic.twitter.com/5yGJjFHNco — Coach Yac November 13, 2023 Seattle is still alive in the NFC playoff picture but will need to rebound strongly after an abysmal performance in Los Angeles on Sunday in which Kenneth Walker III and Geno Smith were knocked out of the game. Smith would return just a few plays later and Coach Pete Carroll told Seattle radio Monday he expects Smith to play through a bruised triceps. Walker III’s status with a non-contact oblique injury is still murky. The loss of Walker III means rookie Zach Charbonnet will most likely receive his first NFL start. The 49ers have not allowed a 100-yard rusher in a franchise-record 37 straight games, the NFL’s longest streak since the New Orleans Saints’ 50-game stretch from 2017-20. Welcome to the NFL, rookie! Miami Dolphins (7-3) vs. New York Jets (4-6) A relatively quiet day for Miami in a game many expected them to simply boat race the trudging Raiders. Tyreke Hill finished with a typical game by Tyreke standards, going off for 10 catches, 146 yards, and a highlight touchdown. Miami will continue to monitor the condition of rookie sensation De’Von Achane who left the game early with a knee injury. This kicks off a very winnable four-game stretch for Miami. Jets, Commanders, Titans, and Jets lay ahead for Mike McDaniels and company. Frankly, it doesn’t matter who New York trots out under center. The Dolphins just have too much swag and firepower to be taken down by the hapless Robert Saleh and the Jets. Tyreek Hill is such a cheat code pic.twitter.com/FZACXXmFBd — Bussin' With The Boys November 19, 2023 You know things are bad when your lone highlight is a successful fake punt. The Jets are down bad, ranking 27th in total yards per game as well as 27th in offensive DVOA rank. Robert Saleh benched Zach Wilson with 2:17 remaining in the 3rd quarter and opted to rely on the talents of Tim Boyle. But with rumors swirling on the return of Aaron Rodgers, could things be looking up for the Jets? Truly a matchup of the haves and the have-nots. Although far from a competitive matchup from a team sense, football fans will get to watch elite positional battles in the secondary. Sauce Gardner lining up on Tyreke Hill and Jaylen Waddle should produce plenty of fireworks, as should Garret Wilson and Jaylen Ramsey. Check out DraftKings Sportsbook where new sign-ups can bet $5 and get $150 instantly, plus a no sweat single game parlay each day. New Orleans Saints (5-5) vs. Atlanta Falcons (4-6) Saints’ Head Coach Dennis Allen announced Monday that receiver Michael Thomas and cornerback Marshon Lattimore have, “injuries that are going to take some time.” Thomas got hurt on the first Saints offensive play against the Vikings after taking a hit on a pass play from Derek Carr. He made a catch on the very next play and then towards the end of the drive went into the injury tent where he stayed for several minutes. If the Saints want to start creating separation in the division, it must start here in Atlanta. New Orleans will bring with them the 11th-ranked total defense in the league according to DVOA. It will be paramount for them to establish line pressure and contain one of the league’s best rushing attacks. Desmond Ridder returns to the helm after a temporary one-game benching. Surprisingly, Atlanta is riding a 6-game home win streak despite what many see as the most confusing team in the league. Bijan Robinson and Tyler Algiers have both logged 125 carries on the season but with differing results. Robinson’s 4.9 YPC compared to Algiers’ 3.2 is perplexing, as has been Head Coach Arthur Smith’s rationale for the sparring usage of Robinson. Atlanta’s question marks simply do not end in the backfield. Tight end Kyle Pitts has recorded splits off 58/35/419/1. His 60.3% catch percentage ranks him 144th in the league for all players with at least 19 targets. Despite this all, the Falcons remain in contention for the NFC South, and this game will have major implications on the division going forward. despite Kyle Pitts and Drake London doing absolutely not sh¡t, Desmond Ridder almost dragged the falcons to a victory #QB1 pic.twitter.com/g3XmVfhNhe — MF November 13, 2023 Pittsburgh Steelers (6-4) vs. Cincinnati Bengals (5-5) The house of cards may be collapsing for Kenny Pickett in Pittsburgh. He’s yet to eclipse 250 yards passing in any game this season despite weapons at nearly every position. But yet, Pittsburgh is 6-4 and mathmatically is still in contention for a playoff spot. But after suffering a loss to Dorian Thompson-Robinson and the Bowns at home yesterday, We still have more questions than answers here. One team with quarterback questions meets another simply without a quarterback. But after dropping one game to a backup, handicappers shouldn’t be too quick to call this one. Jake Browning will be under center looking to keep the Bengals steady in their pursuit of the playoffs. Pittsburgh lost to the other team in the Buckeye State, the Cleveland Browns, 13-10 on a late field goal Sunday. The Steelers filed a loss against the spread (+2.5); they are 4-2 straight up and 4-2 ATS since Oct. 8. The Bengals are coming off a 34-20 loss at Baltimore as 4-point favorites on Thursday. The loss to the Ravens has implications for the rest of Cincinnati’s season as QB Joe Burrow sustained a torn ligament injury in his throwing wrist and is out for the year. It’s never been a better time to sign up and take advantage of this Caesars Sportsbook promo , where new users receive a $1,000 first bet free . Jacksonville Jaguars (7-3) vs. Houston Texas (6-4) Trevor Lawrence passed for two touchdowns and ran for two more, in a consistent route of the hapless Titans in a game where the Jags dominated time of possession and and won the turnover and penalty battles. Kept out of the end zone since week 4, Calvin Ridley returned with a vengeance with 9 targets, 7 catches, 103 yards, and a pair of touchdowns. A rematch in Houston with major divisional implications lies ahead for the Jags. Since dropping their first meeting in week 3, the Jags are 6-1 and don’t appear to be looking back. Jacksonville’s pass rush will be paramount to their game plan and slowing down the surging C.J. Stroad and the Texans. Who is hotter than C.J. Stroad and the Texans? Despite having the first 3 interception game of this young career, Houston’s defense was able to contain Kyler Murray and the Arizona offense and keep them off the board in the 4th quarter. With the connection between fellow rookie Tank Dell and Stroad continuing to blossom, the building blocks are there for this offense. No matter how much of a riot the Stroad boys cause in this game, it’s paramount they control the ball and keep the Jaguars’ offense off the field. The rushing attack for the Texans has simply been abysmal, ranking 29th in the league. They must run the ball effectively if they want a shot in this one. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-6) vs. Indianapolis Colts (5-5) The Buccs are fun. They’re not going to win too many games, but any game with Baker Mayfield, Mike Evans, and Vita Vea has the chance to make football guys go... hell yeah. The Buccaneers bring the NFL’s worst rushing attack into their matchup with Indy. However, the saving grace to their running game woes may be their very capable defense who have allowed the 6th fewest rushing yards in the NFL. Baker and the boys need to jump out early to give them the best chance of taking down the Colts. Returning from their bye week, the Indianapolis Colts currently occupy the no man’s land of NFL mediocrity. Mathematically possessing a solem 34% chance to win a playoff spot, there simply is not much to play for in Indy. New England Patriots (2-8) vs. New York Giants (3-8) These are not your daddies Patriots. With all the Mac Jones news swirling in the media, the New England ship is sinking fast. Could Bill Belicheck be on the way out? Frankly, the collective football world has accepted that it’s time for a complete rebuild, and this might be the draft to do it. Two franchises with nothing to play far. Belicheck still is a prideful man, so the thought of a team legitimately ranked last in offensive DVOA defeating him must make his skin crawl. The True question is would Robert Craft pull the trigger and remove the greatest coach in football history mid-season? I can’t see it happening, but this is the NFL baby. Have you checked out the BetRivers Sportsbook promo for week 12? Sign up and take advantage of their valuable offer of a free 2nd chance bet up to $500. Is there is better story in the NFL right now than Tommy Divitto? He lives at home, eats fresh cutlets every night, and is the starting quarterback for the New York Giants. Throwing 3 touchdowns against the fervent pass rush of the Washington Commanders should build the young quarterback’s confidence. And with a middle-of-the-road Patriots defense lining up across him, it could be a competitive game for the offense. Looking ahead, Saquon should be the focal point of this match-up. He is far and away the only true difference-maker lining up for the Giants. Look for him to be more involved in the pass game and build some momentum early for Tommy Divito. Offensive line play will be the deciding factor for this Giants team. Tommy DeVitto, Giants third string QB, puts Giants ahead of Jets.
pic.twitter.com/bfzLmZn3Ca — Armando Salguero October 29, 2023 Carolina Panthers (1-9) vs. Tennessee Titans (3-7) Yikes. What else can you even say? When your owner is worth $20.6B, he can overrule the entire coaching staff and draft any 5′10′' quarterback he wants. Bryce Young’s struggles have been staggering. It is becoming clear that he is tremendously limited as a starting quarterback in the NFL. As the #29 ranked offense according to DVOA, could they opt to move one from Young after just one season? Bryce Young has yet to eclipse 250 yards passing in any game this year and has only one multi-touchdown pass game. In the off-season, Carolina signed Miles Sanders to a 4 year $25.4M deal. Despite receiving high usage from Coach Frank Reicht early in the year, he has fallen behind Chubba Hubbard on the depth chart, and the future of his usage rate for this year remains murky. We officially entered the Will Levis era in Tenessee following his breakout 4 touchdown win against Atlanta. Since then, the Titans have lost 3 in a row. But at this point, every effort should be made to raise Levi’s confidence and evaluate young talent for the future. The Derrick Henry era may be moving on after this season, but don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened. The Titans’ defense is middle of the road just about everywhere. They won’t be tested vertically by the struggling Panthers, but will have to account for both Chubba Hubbard and Miles Sanders in the backfield. Tennessee should be focused on making a statement early and ensuring this game is out of reach by half-time. Los Angeles Rams (4-6) vs. Arizona Cardinals (2-9) The expectations were low for the Rams entering the season. The years of lavish spending, and GM Les Sneed’s “Fuck them picks” mentality have finally come to bore. Ram fans though understand that’s the cost of doing business. Having won Los Angeles’ first-ever Super Bowl, Rams fans are now seeing that this is the way the game goes. After exiting Sunday’s game in the first quarter, Cooper Kupp remains day to day with an ankle sprain. The offensive line of the Rams must show up and dominate their matchups, keeping Matthew Stafford upright will be paramount for Los Angeles in the NFC West matchup. The Cardinals and Texans played down to the wire. Kyler Murray was solid in his second game back completing 20/30 passes for 214 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. His rushing ability was on display as well adding 51 yards on 7 carries. Returning home to Arizona should provide a subtle boost for Murray and company. The Cardinals must improve on their 3rd down efficiency, they were 3/10 in Houston and their ability to extend drives and keep the Rams off the field will be vital to keeping this game close. Cleveland Brons (7-3) vs. Denver Broncos (5-5) Fan favorite Dorian Thompson-Robinson notched his first win as a starting quarterback which is always a feat to celebrate. But Cleveland has its eyes on a Lombardi Trophy, and the front office has little confidence DTR can lead them to that. On Monday Joe Flacco was signed to the practice squad, with Coach Stfanski telling the media, “Joe’s role is to support this team, coming in here. We’re able to add a guy with a ton of experience, he’ll be great for that room, he’ll be great for this team.” Cleveland’s defense is solid at all three levels and will need to show up in full force to stop a surging Broncos. Since losing Deshaun Watson, the Browns have emphasized the running game to alleviate pressure on DTR. The Broncos’ defense is dead last in DVOA and it could be a long day for them in Mile High. Man, everyone who said Russell Wilson was washed has been REAL QUIET lately. Game winning drive making those special off schedule throws for TDs we are used to seeing him make. DON’T HIDE NOW. Make sure your apology is just as loud as your disrespect was. pic.twitter.com/Q4hviLZmPH — Robert Griffin III November 20, 2023 A four-game win streak has Russ and the Broncos strutting back to the Mile High city. After heightened media scrutiny following his trade from Seattle, it seems this is a different, more subdued Russel Wilson. Denver’s offense must come to play if they want to continue lingering in the playoff picture. Javante Williams has been underwhelming when receiving over 10 carries, and has yet to log a 100-yard game. Winning the offensive line battle will be paramount for Denver to stay competitive and not be swallowed up by the staunch Cleveland defense. Kansas City Chiefs (7-3) vs. Las Vegas Raiders (5-6) Dropping their rematch to Philidelphia on Monday Night Football shouldn’t cloud the vision too much for the defending Super Bow champions. It was an uncharacteristic fumble by Travis Kelse that eventually sealed the game for the Eagles. The drop by Marquez Valdes-Scantling on a surefire touchdown pass was a critical mistake for Patrick Mahomes and team. But looking ahead to Las Vegas, the Chiefs are in a position to use their old rivals as a tune-up as they enter the season’s home stretch. Nobody does it like the Raiders. Dysfunction, controversy, and chaos all look better in silver and black. After firing head coach Josh McDaniels, and GM Dave Ziegler, the spiral continues for Las Vegas who will continue to be led by interim coach Antonio Pierce. At 5-6, it’s once again time to think about rebuilding. Maxx Crosby is having a stellar year. He’s 5th in the league in sacks with 10.5, 2nd in QB hurries, and 5th in QB pressures with 29. Crosby must have a tremendous game if the Raiders want to even entertain the thought of winning. Buffalo Bills (6-5) vs. Philadelphia Eagles (9-1) Will Josh Allen take better care of the football? The Bills are coming off a 32-6 win against the New York Jets in their NFL Week 11 game. Currently ESPN has the Bills at a 55.9% chance of beating the Eagles on Sunday. The Buffalo pass rush will be their key to victory entering Sunday. Gregory Rousseau, Von Miller, and Ed Oliver must put pressure on Jalen Hurts and disrupt the Eagles’ run game. The owners of the league’s best record have their sights set on the playoffs. The running game has continued to be a pillar of the offense. Running behind one of the league’s top offensive lines, Jalen Hurts, De’Andre Swift and company continue to defeat teams in the trenches. In what could be a Super Bowl matchup, the Eagles will be greeted by the 15th rank defense in the league according to DVOA. The offensive line will have their hands full as well, as Buffalo sits second in the league with 39 recorded sacks. This could be a big day for Philadelphia receivers as injuries have continued to hit the Buffalo secondary. Jalen Hurts - when tied or trailing this season
Completion rate - 2nd in #NFL
INT rate (0.5%) - 2nd in NFL
Passer rating - 1st in NFL
— Jeff Kerr November 21, 2023 Baltimore Ravens (8-3) vs. Los Angeles Chargers (4-6) Remember when Lamar was holding out this off-season? nope, and neither does all of Baltimore. As the Ravens continue to stack up wins, Lamar’s 5 year $260M contract is appearing to be worth the money. The league’s second-best rushing attack is averaging over 5 yards per carry and has the ability to take it to the house at any time. The Ravens rank ninth in total offense this season (366.5 yards per game), but they’ve been shining on the other side of the ball, ranking third-best in the NFL with 273.5 yards allowed per game. The #2 rushing offense meets the #26 rushing defense. Los Angeles has struggled all year to stop the ran and it doesn’t look like it will get any better. Lamar and company should feast on Sunday. The collective NFL is on Brandon Staley watch. No coach in the league has done less with more. The Chargers have been struggling in pass defense, ranking worst with 291.6 passing yards surrendered per game. They have been more productive offensively, generating 248.6 passing yards per contest (ninth-ranked). From an offensive standpoint, the Chargers are generating a 43.2% third-down conversion rate (ninth-ranked). They rank eighth in the NFL on defense (35.7% third-down rate allowed). Keenan Allen is on pace to record the best season of his career in targets, receptions, yards, and potentially touchdowns. Not bad for a 31-year-old. Chicago Bears (3-8) vs. Minnesota Vikings (6-5) Is head coach Matt Eberflous on the hot seat? Defenders of Quarterback Justin Fields will say that injuries have hampered his play and we need more of a sample size. His detractors, on the other hand, have simply had enough of his ineffectiveness. D.J. Moore must be a vital part of the game plan Monday night. Consistently putting pressure on the secondary will open running lanes for Fields and his backfield mates. Many are saying Josh Dobbs is the most exciting player in the NFL, and how could you blame them? Currently, the Vikings possess the 9th-ranked defense and 17th-ranked offense according to FTN Fantasy, and will look to make plays on defense and take advantage of Chicago’s stagnant offense. There are no indications Justin Jefferson will return from his stint on the IR due to a hamstring injury. If he remains out of the line-up, rookie stand-out Jordan Addison will continue to shoulder the target load. Head Coach Kevin O’Connell must gameplan to put him in better match-ups to make plays down-field and get into the end zone. Minnesota Vikings Justin Jefferson does not care about Fantasy Football teams. pic.twitter.com/31WZKrcnx3 — NFL Rumors November 22, 2023
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“5, I’m with you all day. Shoot, wherever you go, I’m there. If you wanna get dirty, we can get dirty, I don’t care.” pic.twitter.com/qP4tAr88sZ — Erik Schlitt November 19, 2023 This was the win Green Bay had waited for. With this season essentially devoted to the establishment of Jordan Love as QB1, the growing pains have been many. Seemingly having every break go their way, it was a rare feel-good game for the Packers faithful. This was the Packers’ first 300-yard passing game since week 17 of 2021. Combine this with a run defense 28th in the league according to DVOA, and this one has the makings of a Thanksgiving blowout. Washington Commanders (4-7) vs. Dallas Cowboys (7-3) Who is more fun than Sam Howell? The buzz on the Commanders entering the season was wishful at best. But after a hot string of games and leading the league in passing, surrounded by a spunky group of playmakers on offense, Washington has something to get excited about, even if it won’t equal wins. Washington will arrive in Dallas on Thanksgiving looking to play spoiler as the Cowboys have their sights locked on Philidelphia. Sam Howell has been sacked 51 times through Week 11, and with Dallas’ currently 4th in total defense according to DVOA, Micha Parsons and company will be licking their chops on Thursday, but it won’t be for turkey. How bout them Cowboys? After victimizing Bryce Young and Carolina to the tune of 7 sacks, Dallas appears to be running on all cylinders. November has been kind to Dak, amassing 13 touchdown passes since October 29th. Much of the success of the Cowboys’ aerial assault has been the play of Ceedee Lamb. After ripping off a three-game run of 12/158/2, 111/191/0, and 12/158/2 the young Sooner is making a strong case for All-Pro. Nobody was happier to see Chase Young and Montez Sweat traded than Dak and the Cowboys’ offensive line. Tyron Smith, Zach Martin and company must still contend with Daron Payne and Jonathan Allen lining up across from them. The Cowboys have the weapons to score in bunches, much like the commanders. Controlling the line and establishing the run will be paramount for Dallas to find victory. Check out Fanduel Sportsbook’s exclusive promo where new sign-ups can bet $5 on any moneyline, and receive $150 in bonus bets. San Francisco 49ers (7-3) vs. Seattle Seahawks (6-4) After going 21 for 25 for 333 yards Sunday, Brock Purdy joined Joe Montana as the only 49er quarterbacks to ever to post a perfect passer rating in a game with at least 15 attempts. The questions regarding Purdy’s credit for the success of the 49ers are starting to dry up fast. There are legitimate fears All-Pro safety Talanoa Hufanga suffered a torn ACL in Sunday’s win, which could be a major blow to the secondary. As San Francisco travels North to meet the hungry Seahawks, rookie safety Ji’Ayir Brown will presumably get the start and be tasked with locating Seattle’s trio of wideouts in D.K. Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, and Jackson Smith-Njigba. If the 49ers can dominate the line of scrimmage and create consistent penetration with Joey Bosa, Arik Armstead, Javon Kinlaw, and Chase Young, I would place all my NFL bets on San Francisco in a blowout. Nick Bosa to Chase Young:
“It’s good to have you”
John Lynch has to do everything in his power to keep this duo together for years to come pic.twitter.com/5yGJjFHNco — Coach Yac November 13, 2023 Seattle is still alive in the NFC playoff picture but will need to rebound strongly after an abysmal performance in Los Angeles on Sunday in which Kenneth Walker III and Geno Smith were knocked out of the game. Smith would return just a few plays later and Coach Pete Carroll told Seattle radio Monday he expects Smith to play through a bruised triceps. Walker III’s status with a non-contact oblique injury is still murky. The loss of Walker III means rookie Zach Charbonnet will most likely receive his first NFL start. The 49ers have not allowed a 100-yard rusher in a franchise-record 37 straight games, the NFL’s longest streak since the New Orleans Saints’ 50-game stretch from 2017-20. Welcome to the NFL, rookie! Miami Dolphins (7-3) vs. New York Jets (4-6) A relatively quiet day for Miami in a game many expected them to simply boat race the trudging Raiders. Tyreke Hill finished with a typical game by Tyreke standards, going off for 10 catches, 146 yards, and a highlight touchdown. Miami will continue to monitor the condition of rookie sensation De’Von Achane who left the game early with a knee injury. This kicks off a very winnable four-game stretch for Miami. Jets, Commanders, Titans, and Jets lay ahead for Mike McDaniels and company. Frankly, it doesn’t matter who New York trots out under center. The Dolphins just have too much swag and firepower to be taken down by the hapless Robert Saleh and the Jets. Tyreek Hill is such a cheat code pic.twitter.com/FZACXXmFBd — Bussin' With The Boys November 19, 2023 You know things are bad when your lone highlight is a successful fake punt. The Jets are down bad, ranking 27th in total yards per game as well as 27th in offensive DVOA rank. Robert Saleh benched Zach Wilson with 2:17 remaining in the 3rd quarter and opted to rely on the talents of Tim Boyle. But with rumors swirling on the return of Aaron Rodgers, could things be looking up for the Jets? Truly a matchup of the haves and the have-nots. Although far from a competitive matchup from a team sense, football fans will get to watch elite positional battles in the secondary. Sauce Gardner lining up on Tyreke Hill and Jaylen Waddle should produce plenty of fireworks, as should Garret Wilson and Jaylen Ramsey. Check out DraftKings Sportsbook where new sign-ups can bet $5 and get $150 instantly, plus a no sweat single game parlay each day. New Orleans Saints (5-5) vs. Atlanta Falcons (4-6) Saints’ Head Coach Dennis Allen announced Monday that receiver Michael Thomas and cornerback Marshon Lattimore have, “injuries that are going to take some time.” Thomas got hurt on the first Saints offensive play against the Vikings after taking a hit on a pass play from Derek Carr. He made a catch on the very next play and then towards the end of the drive went into the injury tent where he stayed for several minutes. If the Saints want to start creating separation in the division, it must start here in Atlanta. New Orleans will bring with them the 11th-ranked total defense in the league according to DVOA. It will be paramount for them to establish line pressure and contain one of the league’s best rushing attacks. Desmond Ridder returns to the helm after a temporary one-game benching. Surprisingly, Atlanta is riding a 6-game home win streak despite what many see as the most confusing team in the league. Bijan Robinson and Tyler Algiers have both logged 125 carries on the season but with differing results. Robinson’s 4.9 YPC compared to Algiers’ 3.2 is perplexing, as has been Head Coach Arthur Smith’s rationale for the sparring usage of Robinson. Atlanta’s question marks simply do not end in the backfield. Tight end Kyle Pitts has recorded splits off 58/35/419/1. His 60.3% catch percentage ranks him 144th in the league for all players with at least 19 targets. Despite this all, the Falcons remain in contention for the NFC South, and this game will have major implications on the division going forward. despite Kyle Pitts and Drake London doing absolutely not sh¡t, Desmond Ridder almost dragged the falcons to a victory #QB1 pic.twitter.com/g3XmVfhNhe — MF November 13, 2023 Pittsburgh Steelers (6-4) vs. Cincinnati Bengals (5-5) The house of cards may be collapsing for Kenny Pickett in Pittsburgh. He’s yet to eclipse 250 yards passing in any game this season despite weapons at nearly every position. But yet, Pittsburgh is 6-4 and mathmatically is still in contention for a playoff spot. But after suffering a loss to Dorian Thompson-Robinson and the Bowns at home yesterday, We still have more questions than answers here. One team with quarterback questions meets another simply without a quarterback. But after dropping one game to a backup, handicappers shouldn’t be too quick to call this one. Jake Browning will be under center looking to keep the Bengals steady in their pursuit of the playoffs. Pittsburgh lost to the other team in the Buckeye State, the Cleveland Browns, 13-10 on a late field goal Sunday. The Steelers filed a loss against the spread (+2.5); they are 4-2 straight up and 4-2 ATS since Oct. 8. The Bengals are coming off a 34-20 loss at Baltimore as 4-point favorites on Thursday. The loss to the Ravens has implications for the rest of Cincinnati’s season as QB Joe Burrow sustained a torn ligament injury in his throwing wrist and is out for the year. It’s never been a better time to sign up and take advantage of this Caesars Sportsbook promo , where new users receive a $1,000 first bet free . Jacksonville Jaguars (7-3) vs. Houston Texas (6-4) Trevor Lawrence passed for two touchdowns and ran for two more, in a consistent route of the hapless Titans in a game where the Jags dominated time of possession and and won the turnover and penalty battles. Kept out of the end zone since week 4, Calvin Ridley returned with a vengeance with 9 targets, 7 catches, 103 yards, and a pair of touchdowns. A rematch in Houston with major divisional implications lies ahead for the Jags. Since dropping their first meeting in week 3, the Jags are 6-1 and don’t appear to be looking back. Jacksonville’s pass rush will be paramount to their game plan and slowing down the surging C.J. Stroad and the Texans. Who is hotter than C.J. Stroad and the Texans? Despite having the first 3 interception game of this young career, Houston’s defense was able to contain Kyler Murray and the Arizona offense and keep them off the board in the 4th quarter. With the connection between fellow rookie Tank Dell and Stroad continuing to blossom, the building blocks are there for this offense. No matter how much of a riot the Stroad boys cause in this game, it’s paramount they control the ball and keep the Jaguars’ offense off the field. The rushing attack for the Texans has simply been abysmal, ranking 29th in the league. They must run the ball effectively if they want a shot in this one. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-6) vs. Indianapolis Colts (5-5) The Buccs are fun. They’re not going to win too many games, but any game with Baker Mayfield, Mike Evans, and Vita Vea has the chance to make football guys go... hell yeah. The Buccaneers bring the NFL’s worst rushing attack into their matchup with Indy. However, the saving grace to their running game woes may be their very capable defense who have allowed the 6th fewest rushing yards in the NFL. Baker and the boys need to jump out early to give them the best chance of taking down the Colts. Returning from their bye week, the Indianapolis Colts currently occupy the no man’s land of NFL mediocrity. Mathematically possessing a solem 34% chance to win a playoff spot, there simply is not much to play for in Indy. New England Patriots (2-8) vs. New York Giants (3-8) These are not your daddies Patriots. With all the Mac Jones news swirling in the media, the New England ship is sinking fast. Could Bill Belicheck be on the way out? Frankly, the collective football world has accepted that it’s time for a complete rebuild, and this might be the draft to do it. Two franchises with nothing to play far. Belicheck still is a prideful man, so the thought of a team legitimately ranked last in offensive DVOA defeating him must make his skin crawl. The True question is would Robert Craft pull the trigger and remove the greatest coach in football history mid-season? I can’t see it happening, but this is the NFL baby. Have you checked out the BetRivers Sportsbook promo for week 12? Sign up and take advantage of their valuable offer of a free 2nd chance bet up to $500. Is there is better story in the NFL right now than Tommy Divitto? He lives at home, eats fresh cutlets every night, and is the starting quarterback for the New York Giants. Throwing 3 touchdowns against the fervent pass rush of the Washington Commanders should build the young quarterback’s confidence. And with a middle-of-the-road Patriots defense lining up across him, it could be a competitive game for the offense. Looking ahead, Saquon should be the focal point of this match-up. He is far and away the only true difference-maker lining up for the Giants. Look for him to be more involved in the pass game and build some momentum early for Tommy Divito. Offensive line play will be the deciding factor for this Giants team. Tommy DeVitto, Giants third string QB, puts Giants ahead of Jets.
pic.twitter.com/bfzLmZn3Ca — Armando Salguero October 29, 2023 Carolina Panthers (1-9) vs. Tennessee Titans (3-7) Yikes. What else can you even say? When your owner is worth $20.6B, he can overrule the entire coaching staff and draft any 5′10′' quarterback he wants. Bryce Young’s struggles have been staggering. It is becoming clear that he is tremendously limited as a starting quarterback in the NFL. As the #29 ranked offense according to DVOA, could they opt to move one from Young after just one season? Bryce Young has yet to eclipse 250 yards passing in any game this year and has only one multi-touchdown pass game. In the off-season, Carolina signed Miles Sanders to a 4 year $25.4M deal. Despite receiving high usage from Coach Frank Reicht early in the year, he has fallen behind Chubba Hubbard on the depth chart, and the future of his usage rate for this year remains murky. We officially entered the Will Levis era in Tenessee following his breakout 4 touchdown win against Atlanta. Since then, the Titans have lost 3 in a row. But at this point, every effort should be made to raise Levi’s confidence and evaluate young talent for the future. The Derrick Henry era may be moving on after this season, but don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened. The Titans’ defense is middle of the road just about everywhere. They won’t be tested vertically by the struggling Panthers, but will have to account for both Chubba Hubbard and Miles Sanders in the backfield. Tennessee should be focused on making a statement early and ensuring this game is out of reach by half-time. Los Angeles Rams (4-6) vs. Arizona Cardinals (2-9) The expectations were low for the Rams entering the season. The years of lavish spending, and GM Les Sneed’s “Fuck them picks” mentality have finally come to bore. Ram fans though understand that’s the cost of doing business. Having won Los Angeles’ first-ever Super Bowl, Rams fans are now seeing that this is the way the game goes. After exiting Sunday’s game in the first quarter, Cooper Kupp remains day to day with an ankle sprain. The offensive line of the Rams must show up and dominate their matchups, keeping Matthew Stafford upright will be paramount for Los Angeles in the NFC West matchup. The Cardinals and Texans played down to the wire. Kyler Murray was solid in his second game back completing 20/30 passes for 214 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. His rushing ability was on display as well adding 51 yards on 7 carries. Returning home to Arizona should provide a subtle boost for Murray and company. The Cardinals must improve on their 3rd down efficiency, they were 3/10 in Houston and their ability to extend drives and keep the Rams off the field will be vital to keeping this game close. Cleveland Brons (7-3) vs. Denver Broncos (5-5) Fan favorite Dorian Thompson-Robinson notched his first win as a starting quarterback which is always a feat to celebrate. But Cleveland has its eyes on a Lombardi Trophy, and the front office has little confidence DTR can lead them to that. On Monday Joe Flacco was signed to the practice squad, with Coach Stfanski telling the media, “Joe’s role is to support this team, coming in here. We’re able to add a guy with a ton of experience, he’ll be great for that room, he’ll be great for this team.” Cleveland’s defense is solid at all three levels and will need to show up in full force to stop a surging Broncos. Since losing Deshaun Watson, the Browns have emphasized the running game to alleviate pressure on DTR. The Broncos’ defense is dead last in DVOA and it could be a long day for them in Mile High. Man, everyone who said Russell Wilson was washed has been REAL QUIET lately. Game winning drive making those special off schedule throws for TDs we are used to seeing him make. DON’T HIDE NOW. Make sure your apology is just as loud as your disrespect was. pic.twitter.com/Q4hviLZmPH — Robert Griffin III November 20, 2023 A four-game win streak has Russ and the Broncos strutting back to the Mile High city. After heightened media scrutiny following his trade from Seattle, it seems this is a different, more subdued Russel Wilson. Denver’s offense must come to play if they want to continue lingering in the playoff picture. Javante Williams has been underwhelming when receiving over 10 carries, and has yet to log a 100-yard game. Winning the offensive line battle will be paramount for Denver to stay competitive and not be swallowed up by the staunch Cleveland defense. Kansas City Chiefs (7-3) vs. Las Vegas Raiders (5-6) Dropping their rematch to Philidelphia on Monday Night Football shouldn’t cloud the vision too much for the defending Super Bow champions. It was an uncharacteristic fumble by Travis Kelse that eventually sealed the game for the Eagles. The drop by Marquez Valdes-Scantling on a surefire touchdown pass was a critical mistake for Patrick Mahomes and team. But looking ahead to Las Vegas, the Chiefs are in a position to use their old rivals as a tune-up as they enter the season’s home stretch. Nobody does it like the Raiders. Dysfunction, controversy, and chaos all look better in silver and black. After firing head coach Josh McDaniels, and GM Dave Ziegler, the spiral continues for Las Vegas who will continue to be led by interim coach Antonio Pierce. At 5-6, it’s once again time to think about rebuilding. Maxx Crosby is having a stellar year. He’s 5th in the league in sacks with 10.5, 2nd in QB hurries, and 5th in QB pressures with 29. Crosby must have a tremendous game if the Raiders want to even entertain the thought of winning. Buffalo Bills (6-5) vs. Philadelphia Eagles (9-1) Will Josh Allen take better care of the football? The Bills are coming off a 32-6 win against the New York Jets in their NFL Week 11 game. Currently ESPN has the Bills at a 55.9% chance of beating the Eagles on Sunday. The Buffalo pass rush will be their key to victory entering Sunday. Gregory Rousseau, Von Miller, and Ed Oliver must put pressure on Jalen Hurts and disrupt the Eagles’ run game. The owners of the league’s best record have their sights set on the playoffs. The running game has continued to be a pillar of the offense. Running behind one of the league’s top offensive lines, Jalen Hurts, De’Andre Swift and company continue to defeat teams in the trenches. In what could be a Super Bowl matchup, the Eagles will be greeted by the 15th rank defense in the league according to DVOA. The offensive line will have their hands full as well, as Buffalo sits second in the league with 39 recorded sacks. This could be a big day for Philadelphia receivers as injuries have continued to hit the Buffalo secondary. Jalen Hurts - when tied or trailing this season
Completion rate - 2nd in #NFL
INT rate (0.5%) - 2nd in NFL
Passer rating - 1st in NFL
— Jeff Kerr November 21, 2023 Baltimore Ravens (8-3) vs. Los Angeles Chargers (4-6) Remember when Lamar was holding out this off-season? nope, and neither does all of Baltimore. As the Ravens continue to stack up wins, Lamar’s 5 year $260M contract is appearing to be worth the money. The league’s second-best rushing attack is averaging over 5 yards per carry and has the ability to take it to the house at any time. The Ravens rank ninth in total offense this season (366.5 yards per game), but they’ve been shining on the other side of the ball, ranking third-best in the NFL with 273.5 yards allowed per game. The #2 rushing offense meets the #26 rushing defense. Los Angeles has struggled all year to stop the ran and it doesn’t look like it will get any better. Lamar and company should feast on Sunday. The collective NFL is on Brandon Staley watch. No coach in the league has done less with more. The Chargers have been struggling in pass defense, ranking worst with 291.6 passing yards surrendered per game. They have been more productive offensively, generating 248.6 passing yards per contest (ninth-ranked). From an offensive standpoint, the Chargers are generating a 43.2% third-down conversion rate (ninth-ranked). They rank eighth in the NFL on defense (35.7% third-down rate allowed). Keenan Allen is on pace to record the best season of his career in targets, receptions, yards, and potentially touchdowns. Not bad for a 31-year-old. Chicago Bears (3-8) vs. Minnesota Vikings (6-5) Is head coach Matt Eberflous on the hot seat? Defenders of Quarterback Justin Fields will say that injuries have hampered his play and we need more of a sample size. His detractors, on the other hand, have simply had enough of his ineffectiveness. D.J. Moore must be a vital part of the game plan Monday night. Consistently putting pressure on the secondary will open running lanes for Fields and his backfield mates. Many are saying Josh Dobbs is the most exciting player in the NFL, and how could you blame them? Currently, the Vikings possess the 9th-ranked defense and 17th-ranked offense according to FTN Fantasy, and will look to make plays on defense and take advantage of Chicago’s stagnant offense. There are no indications Justin Jefferson will return from his stint on the IR due to a hamstring injury. If he remains out of the line-up, rookie stand-out Jordan Addison will continue to shoulder the target load. Head Coach Kevin O’Connell must gameplan to put him in better match-ups to make plays down-field and get into the end zone. Minnesota Vikings Justin Jefferson does not care about Fantasy Football teams. pic.twitter.com/31WZKrcnx3 — NFL Rumors November 22, 2023
Read the full article:https://www.mlive.com/betting/2023/11/nfl-week-12-preview-every-storyline-you-need-to-know.html
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