Monday’s 6-pack:
Interesting NFL spreads for Week 18:
— Bengals (-3) @ Pittsburgh
— Panthers @ Atlanta (-8.5)
— Giants @ Philadelphia (-3.5)
— Dolphins (-2.5) @ Jets
— Chargers (-5.5) @ Las Vegas
— Vikings @ Detroit (-3)
Quote of the Day
“You want to be in these moments. Him getting hit and making big plays, his confidence, his demeanor never changes. You know that he (Jayden Daniels) knows he’s going to make a play, and everybody on the sideline and on the field believes he’s going to make a play.”
Commanders’ LB Bobby Wagner
Monday’s quiz
Which former Raiders’ QB was the first quarterback to pass for 400+ yards in a playoff game?
Sunday’s quiz
In the movie A Star is Born, Bradley Cooper’s character is from Arizona.
Saturday’s quiz
UConn coach Jim Mora Jr coached the Falcons and Seahawks.
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Washington drove 75 yards; TE Ertz caught game-winning TD in OT
Atlanta tied game on a 4th-and-13 TD pass with 1:19 left in regulation.
Commanders are in playoffs for first time since 2020.
Tampa Bay now leads NFC South by a game over Atlanta.
Falcons led game 17-7 at halftime.
Washington’s first drive in 3rd quarter: 15 plays, 69 yards, 7:47, TD
Washington’s second drive in 3rd quarter: 14 plays, 70 yards, 7:03, TD
Commanders won last three games, scoring 42-20-36-30 points.
QB Daniels threw for 227 yards, 3 TDs, also ran for 127 yards.
Penalties: Atlanta 4-25 yards, Washington 13-108.
— I’d be remiss if I didn’t point out that Washington’s win clinched the NFC West title for the Rams.
Vikings 27, Packers 25
QB Darnold threw for 377 yards, three TD’s.
Vikings led 27-10 after third quarter, hung on for the win.
Minnesota won last nine games, scoring 29.8 ppg in last six.
Minnesota is 7-1 SU/6-2 ATS at home this season.
Vikings are 9-1 in games decided by 8 or fewer points.
Packers lost twice to Minnesota TY, 31-29/27-25.
Green Bay’s first 6 drives: 30 plays, 131 yards, 3 points.
Green Bay’s lsst 4 drives: 28 plays, 143 yards, 22 points.
Minnesota outgained the Packers, 441-271
Vikings @ Lions next week will decide #1 seed in NFC
Giants 45, Colts 33
So much for the Giants getting first pick in the ’25 Draft.
Giants snapped 10-game losing skid, won at home for first time TY.
WR Nabers caught 7 passes for 171 yards and two TD’s.
Giants’ first four drives: 20 plays, 205 yards, 21 points.
Giants were +3 in turnovers, their first ’24 game with positive TO ratio.
With loss, Colts were eliminated from the playoff race.
RB Taylor carried ball 32 times for 125 yards, two TD’s.
QB Flacco threw for 330 yards, two TDs and two INTs.
Over is 6-1 in Colts last seven games.
Colts are 0-3 ATS as a road favorite TY.
— If the 2025 Draft were held today, New England would have the #1 pick.
Raiders 25, Saints 10
Raiders won second game in row; they’re now #9 in the draft order.
Ameer Abdullah ran for 115 yards, his first 100-yard game in a 10-year career.
Daniel Carlson kicked four field goals, including a 54-yarder.
Las Vegas was 10-18 on third down, Saints 1-8.
Raiders didn’t get to their New Orleans hotel until less than 12 hours before kickoff.
Raiders led 13-10 at halftime.
Saints in second half: 33 plays, 68 yards, no points.
New Orleans is 2-11 when it scores less than 35 points.
Under is 6-1 in their last seven games.
Las Vegas outgained the Saints, 388-269.
Jaguars 20, Titans 13
Titans lost last five games, giving up 29.4 ppg.
Titans are 2-7 SU/ATS on the road this year.
Tennessee is minus-16 in turnovers this season.
Right now, Tennessee would have the #3 pick in the ’25 Draft.
Titans are 2-14 ATS this year, first team in Super Bowl era to fail to cover the spread 14 games in a season.
WR Thomas caught seven passes for 91 yards and a TD.
Jacksonville is 6-3 ATS in its last nine games.
Four of their last five games stayed under the total.
Jaguars are 2-0 vs Tennessee this year, 2-12 vs everyone else.
This is only 4th time in 30 years Jaguars swept season series vs Titans.
Bills 40, Jets 14
Jets are 2-10 SU/3-9 ATS in last 12 games.
Jets are 0-8 scoring less than 21 points.
Jets were outgained 348-281, were minus-3 in turnovers.
Jets are 11-21 ATS last 32 games as a road underdog.
Jets are 2-9 SU/3-8 ATS since their coaching change.
Bills clinched #2 seed in AFC with this win.
Bills won ten of their last eleven games (8-3 ATS)
Buffalo is +24 in turnovers, +9 in last five games.
Team total: over 13-3
Jets are 0-5 SU/0-4-1 ATS in last five visits to Buffalo.
Buccaneers 48, Panthers 14
Bucs now lead NFC South by a game; they host the Saints next week.
Tampa Bay outgained Panthers, 551-204.
Bucs were 10-14 on third down, Carolina 2-9.
Bucs are 5-1 since their bye, scoring 32.5 ppg.
Mayfield threw for 359 yards, five TD’s.
Tampa Bay led 27-14 at halftime.
Panthers in second half: 24 plays, 43 yards, no points.
Carolina lost five of last six games, is 6-2 ATS in last eight.
Carolina is 10-20-1 ATS last 31 games as a road underdog
Over is 12-4 in Carolina games this year.
Eagles 41, Cowboys 7
Eagles are 11-1 SU/8-4 ATS in their last dozen games.
Backup QB Pickett was 10-15/143 passing; he broke some ribs.
RB Barkley ran for 167 yards, went over 2,000 yards for season.
Last six weeks, Eagles ran ball for 201.3 yards/game.
Cowboys are 1-5 SU/ATS in last six visits to Philly.
Dallas drove 70 yards for a TD on its second drive.
After that, Dallas ran 42 plays for 158 yards, 3 turnovers.
Cowboys are 2-9 when they allow more than 20 points.
Opponents’ team total: over 8-3 last eleven games
Eagles beat Dallas twice this year, by a combined 75-13.
Dolphins 20, Browns 3
Dolphins (7-8)
Backup QB Huntley was 22-26/225 passing, with no turnovers.
Dolphins are 6-2 in their last eight games.
Miami is 1-7 when it gives up 20+ points, 6-2 if they allow less than 20.
Under is 7-1 in their road games this year.
To make playoffs, Miami needs to beat Jets next week, have Chiefs win in Denver
Browns lost seven of last eight games, giving up 26.8 ppg
#3 QB Thompson-Robinson is 1-3 as an NFL starter
Cleveland is 1-12 when they score less than 24 points.
Browns’ last seven losses were all by 9+ points.
Browns are minus-15 in turnovers the last six games.
— Famous birthdays, December 30:
Sandy Koufax, 89
Tracey Ullman, 65
Kerry Collins, 52
A.J. Pierzynski, 48
Grant Balfour, 47
Kenyon Martin, 47
Lebron James, 40
Tyler Anderson, 35
Carson Wentz, 32
Drew Waters, 26
— Buffalo QB Josh Allen has started the Bills’ last 114 games; during that same time, their division rival Jets have started nine different quarterbacks.
— Former NFL QB Ryan Leaf worked 13 football games for ESPN this year; he posted online how much he got paid for each game.
Turns out, less than I thought— 13 games, for a total of $45,250.
— Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell is an impressive 26-9 in one-score games.
— 1B Josh Bell signed a one-year deal for $6M with Washington, his old team.
Bell played for the Nationals in 2021-22; he hit .249 for Miami/Arizona last year, with 19 HR’s, 71 RBI and a .729 OPS.
— Conference bowl records (SU/ATS)
AAC 6-1 SU/6-1 ATS
ACC 1-9 SU/1-9 ATS
Big 18 4-2 SU/5-1 ATS
Big X 3-2 SU/2-3 ATS
C-USA 1-3 SU/1-3 ATS
MAC 4-2 SU/4-1-1 ATS
M West 1-3 SU/1-3 ATS
SEC 4-3 SU/4-3 ATS
Sun Belt 3-3 SU/2-3-1 ATS
Favorites: 14-15-1 ATS
Totals: over 16-14 (under 6-2 Saturday)
Interesting NFL spreads for Week 18:
— Bengals (-3) @ Pittsburgh
— Panthers @ Atlanta (-8.5)
— Giants @ Philadelphia (-3.5)
— Dolphins (-2.5) @ Jets
— Chargers (-5.5) @ Las Vegas
— Vikings @ Detroit (-3)
Quote of the Day
“You want to be in these moments. Him getting hit and making big plays, his confidence, his demeanor never changes. You know that he (Jayden Daniels) knows he’s going to make a play, and everybody on the sideline and on the field believes he’s going to make a play.”
Commanders’ LB Bobby Wagner
Monday’s quiz
Which former Raiders’ QB was the first quarterback to pass for 400+ yards in a playoff game?
Sunday’s quiz
In the movie A Star is Born, Bradley Cooper’s character is from Arizona.
Saturday’s quiz
UConn coach Jim Mora Jr coached the Falcons and Seahawks.
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Monday’s Den: Wrapping up a sports Sunday…….
Commanders 30, Falcons 24 OTWashington drove 75 yards; TE Ertz caught game-winning TD in OT
Atlanta tied game on a 4th-and-13 TD pass with 1:19 left in regulation.
Commanders are in playoffs for first time since 2020.
Tampa Bay now leads NFC South by a game over Atlanta.
Falcons led game 17-7 at halftime.
Washington’s first drive in 3rd quarter: 15 plays, 69 yards, 7:47, TD
Washington’s second drive in 3rd quarter: 14 plays, 70 yards, 7:03, TD
Commanders won last three games, scoring 42-20-36-30 points.
QB Daniels threw for 227 yards, 3 TDs, also ran for 127 yards.
Penalties: Atlanta 4-25 yards, Washington 13-108.
— I’d be remiss if I didn’t point out that Washington’s win clinched the NFC West title for the Rams.
Vikings 27, Packers 25
QB Darnold threw for 377 yards, three TD’s.
Vikings led 27-10 after third quarter, hung on for the win.
Minnesota won last nine games, scoring 29.8 ppg in last six.
Minnesota is 7-1 SU/6-2 ATS at home this season.
Vikings are 9-1 in games decided by 8 or fewer points.
Packers lost twice to Minnesota TY, 31-29/27-25.
Green Bay’s first 6 drives: 30 plays, 131 yards, 3 points.
Green Bay’s lsst 4 drives: 28 plays, 143 yards, 22 points.
Minnesota outgained the Packers, 441-271
Vikings @ Lions next week will decide #1 seed in NFC
Giants 45, Colts 33
So much for the Giants getting first pick in the ’25 Draft.
Giants snapped 10-game losing skid, won at home for first time TY.
WR Nabers caught 7 passes for 171 yards and two TD’s.
Giants’ first four drives: 20 plays, 205 yards, 21 points.
Giants were +3 in turnovers, their first ’24 game with positive TO ratio.
With loss, Colts were eliminated from the playoff race.
RB Taylor carried ball 32 times for 125 yards, two TD’s.
QB Flacco threw for 330 yards, two TDs and two INTs.
Over is 6-1 in Colts last seven games.
Colts are 0-3 ATS as a road favorite TY.
— If the 2025 Draft were held today, New England would have the #1 pick.
Raiders 25, Saints 10
Raiders won second game in row; they’re now #9 in the draft order.
Ameer Abdullah ran for 115 yards, his first 100-yard game in a 10-year career.
Daniel Carlson kicked four field goals, including a 54-yarder.
Las Vegas was 10-18 on third down, Saints 1-8.
Raiders didn’t get to their New Orleans hotel until less than 12 hours before kickoff.
Raiders led 13-10 at halftime.
Saints in second half: 33 plays, 68 yards, no points.
New Orleans is 2-11 when it scores less than 35 points.
Under is 6-1 in their last seven games.
Las Vegas outgained the Saints, 388-269.
Jaguars 20, Titans 13
Titans lost last five games, giving up 29.4 ppg.
Titans are 2-7 SU/ATS on the road this year.
Tennessee is minus-16 in turnovers this season.
Right now, Tennessee would have the #3 pick in the ’25 Draft.
Titans are 2-14 ATS this year, first team in Super Bowl era to fail to cover the spread 14 games in a season.
WR Thomas caught seven passes for 91 yards and a TD.
Jacksonville is 6-3 ATS in its last nine games.
Four of their last five games stayed under the total.
Jaguars are 2-0 vs Tennessee this year, 2-12 vs everyone else.
This is only 4th time in 30 years Jaguars swept season series vs Titans.
Bills 40, Jets 14
Jets are 2-10 SU/3-9 ATS in last 12 games.
Jets are 0-8 scoring less than 21 points.
Jets were outgained 348-281, were minus-3 in turnovers.
Jets are 11-21 ATS last 32 games as a road underdog.
Jets are 2-9 SU/3-8 ATS since their coaching change.
Bills clinched #2 seed in AFC with this win.
Bills won ten of their last eleven games (8-3 ATS)
Buffalo is +24 in turnovers, +9 in last five games.
Team total: over 13-3
Jets are 0-5 SU/0-4-1 ATS in last five visits to Buffalo.
Buccaneers 48, Panthers 14
Bucs now lead NFC South by a game; they host the Saints next week.
Tampa Bay outgained Panthers, 551-204.
Bucs were 10-14 on third down, Carolina 2-9.
Bucs are 5-1 since their bye, scoring 32.5 ppg.
Mayfield threw for 359 yards, five TD’s.
Tampa Bay led 27-14 at halftime.
Panthers in second half: 24 plays, 43 yards, no points.
Carolina lost five of last six games, is 6-2 ATS in last eight.
Carolina is 10-20-1 ATS last 31 games as a road underdog
Over is 12-4 in Carolina games this year.
Eagles 41, Cowboys 7
Eagles are 11-1 SU/8-4 ATS in their last dozen games.
Backup QB Pickett was 10-15/143 passing; he broke some ribs.
RB Barkley ran for 167 yards, went over 2,000 yards for season.
Last six weeks, Eagles ran ball for 201.3 yards/game.
Cowboys are 1-5 SU/ATS in last six visits to Philly.
Dallas drove 70 yards for a TD on its second drive.
After that, Dallas ran 42 plays for 158 yards, 3 turnovers.
Cowboys are 2-9 when they allow more than 20 points.
Opponents’ team total: over 8-3 last eleven games
Eagles beat Dallas twice this year, by a combined 75-13.
Dolphins 20, Browns 3
Dolphins (7-8)
Backup QB Huntley was 22-26/225 passing, with no turnovers.
Dolphins are 6-2 in their last eight games.
Miami is 1-7 when it gives up 20+ points, 6-2 if they allow less than 20.
Under is 7-1 in their road games this year.
To make playoffs, Miami needs to beat Jets next week, have Chiefs win in Denver
Browns lost seven of last eight games, giving up 26.8 ppg
#3 QB Thompson-Robinson is 1-3 as an NFL starter
Cleveland is 1-12 when they score less than 24 points.
Browns’ last seven losses were all by 9+ points.
Browns are minus-15 in turnovers the last six games.
— Famous birthdays, December 30:
Sandy Koufax, 89
Tracey Ullman, 65
Kerry Collins, 52
A.J. Pierzynski, 48
Grant Balfour, 47
Kenyon Martin, 47
Lebron James, 40
Tyler Anderson, 35
Carson Wentz, 32
Drew Waters, 26
— Buffalo QB Josh Allen has started the Bills’ last 114 games; during that same time, their division rival Jets have started nine different quarterbacks.
— Former NFL QB Ryan Leaf worked 13 football games for ESPN this year; he posted online how much he got paid for each game.
Turns out, less than I thought— 13 games, for a total of $45,250.
— Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell is an impressive 26-9 in one-score games.
— 1B Josh Bell signed a one-year deal for $6M with Washington, his old team.
Bell played for the Nationals in 2021-22; he hit .249 for Miami/Arizona last year, with 19 HR’s, 71 RBI and a .729 OPS.
— Conference bowl records (SU/ATS)
AAC 6-1 SU/6-1 ATS
ACC 1-9 SU/1-9 ATS
Big 18 4-2 SU/5-1 ATS
Big X 3-2 SU/2-3 ATS
C-USA 1-3 SU/1-3 ATS
MAC 4-2 SU/4-1-1 ATS
M West 1-3 SU/1-3 ATS
SEC 4-3 SU/4-3 ATS
Sun Belt 3-3 SU/2-3-1 ATS
Favorites: 14-15-1 ATS
Totals: over 16-14 (under 6-2 Saturday)
