Jarrid Kosa, Lunch Beers Podcast Host – The NFL was drunk in week 14, We saw 9 upsets with huge playoff implications as well as some wild weather games, instant classics, and 2 manic Monday night games. If you are still alive in NFL survivor pools across the country, you have officially entered legendary status, however, consult your doctor because I can’t imagine your heart health is up to par after week 14.
It all started Thursday night when the Steelers lost their 2nd consecutive home game to a 2-win team. The Steelers closed as -5.5 home favorites on Thursday as they played host to the pitiful Patriots, but the Patriots were anything but pitiful on Thursday. They must have sabotaged the Steelers water coolers and loaded them up with Pawtucket Pat’s Ale, because on a critical 4th and 3 play MVP Mitch felt that airing it out 40 yards was the right move instead of taking the check down to pick up the first. The head scratching decision may have cost the steelers the game. Despite blanking the Patriots in the 2nd half, the Steelers were not able to overcome the 21-10 deficit from the 1st quarter. Bailey Zappe threw for 3 scores and was the 1st of 5 back-up QB’s to secure a win in week 14.
The 1pm window on Sunday had it all. Including 3 games that were instant classics, and if you had the Ravens in survivor, you are lucky to be alive and you should absolutely get a cardiovascular screening. The Rams were an extremely tough out for Baltimore scoring 30+ points for the 4th week in a row. Both Matt Stafford and Lamar Jackson played awesome and put their teams in position to win. Luckily for the Ravens the officials have been terrible all season and they surely benefited several blocks in the back in the back that were not called on Tylan Wallace’s 76-yard punt return in overtime to win the game. Now, they still would have had a chance to win the game, but I feel for the Ram’s who did not deserve to lose like that. The Ravens are now tied for the 49ers for the best record in the NFL and currently control their own destiny in securing the bye in the playoffs. I really feel that they have a valid chance to win the Super Bowl. On the other hand the Rams are the best 6-7 team in the NFL and I know no one in the NFC wants them to sneak into the playoffs.
While we are on the topic of the AFC North let’s remind the college football committee that back up quarter backs can win games. The Bengals and the Browns both brough home victories as underdogs and Joe Flacco jumped off the couch and slung the rock for 311 yards and 3 touchdowns, what a legend. Jake Browning also had a good game tossing for 275 yards and 2 touchdowns as the Bengals blew out the Colts 34-14. Both the Browns and the Bengals still have playoff hopes, we will see if the Browns continue to ride Flacco the GOAT or go back to DTR when he is ready.
Maybe the most unexpected upset on Sunday came from New York. Somehow Zach Wilson through for 301 yards and 2 touchdowns in 20+ MPH winds in Metlife. A devastating loss for the Texans as they really could have made some ground up in the Wild-Card race with a Jaguars loss, but alas they are completely banged up and were only able to muster up 6 points in the game. CJ Stroud now battling a concussion and the defense has more holes than Swiss cheese. I am not sure if the Texans will be able to over come that loss, may be the nail in the coffin.
The Vikings and Raiders game might have put nails in coffins for being so boring. A 3-0 Vikings win is the lowest scoring game ever played in a climate-controlled environment. I don’t really have words. I do have words for Pat Mahomes thought, quit crying. What a loser move to go up to Josh Allen who played a great game to complain how it was bullshit that the officials called them out on a blatant penalty. The Chiefs fatigue is so real after that exchange, and they certainly aren’t as scary as they used to be. What a game and what an ending.
The other two 4pm games were interesting, Drew Lock another back-up quarterback kept the Seahawks in the game covering the +13.5 spread on the game. However, the defense could not stop Brock Purdy and the 49ers weaponized offense. Purdy threw for 368 yards and 2 touchdowns. Deebo Samuel recorded 149 of those yards on 7 catches and a score and Christian McCaffery was running downhill all evening rushing for 15 yards on 16 carries. I don’t know who is going to stop the 49ers in the NFC. They already rolled the Eagles and the Cowboys this season and I don’t see that changing in the Playoffs. I am going to crown them NFC Champs right now.
Speaking of crowns, the Denver Broncos may be able to crown themselves AFC West champs and get Sean Payton the Coach of the Year Award in 2023 after starting 1-5 the Broncos are now 7-6 and 1 game behind the Chiefs. If it weren’t for the goal line The Broncos absolutely cooked the Chargers 24-7 and to add insult to injury the Chargers most likely lost Justin Herbert for the season with a broken finger in his throwing hand. I feel so bad for that guy withering away in LA. The Chargers now 5-8 have pretty much lost all chances at making the playoffs this year.
The playoff picture has surely changed in the NFC East as of today as there is a new team in 1st place. The Dallas Cowboys did not allow one offensive score the fruadidelphia Eagles on Sunday Night and dropped 33 points on a weak Eagles defense. The Cowboys offense is really starting to come into it’s own with massage Mike calling plays and he had all the right play calls on Sunday night, exposing the middle of the field which is the Eagles weak spot on defense. The Cowboys are now 7-0 at home this season and Dak continues to make his case for MVP. Guess the fans should not have boo’d him when he received the Walter Payton Man of the Year award at the 2023 Super Bowl, because he is playing with a vendetta, and I am sure he has not forgotten that.
The Cowboy’s schedule is much tougher than the Eagles to close out the season and they have a tough matchup in Buffalo on Sunday which will be an epic battle. If they can win hat game they should feel good about their chances to win the division. They close out with the Lions, Dolphins, and Commanders. While the Eagles have the cupcake, Seattle on MNF, The Giants on Christmas, Cardinals and Giants again on week 18. If the Cowboys can pull this off they will be a very scary 2 seed in the NFC playoff.
While the Eagles are still -350 favorites to win the division there is a reason we can’t crown them yet and that reason is Tommy Devito! This kid is taking the lead by storm winning his 3rd game in a row. If you had the Packers in survivor, I send you my deepest condolence. Matt LaFleur head coach was 16-0 in December heading into that game and had a lead going into the half and lose the game. Oh the carnage. If Tommy Devito can continue his legacy and gift America a win on Christmas that would make everyone outside of Philadelphia glee with cheer. Please happen. The craziest part of Monday was that wasn’t the worst beat of the night. The Dolphins closed -14-point favorites and had a 27-13 lead with 5:28 in the 4th quarter and lost the game. If you bowed out with the Dolphins on Monday night I hope you took a few days off because that is as painful as it gets. Tau MVP steam has evaporated as it has become apparent that the offense is completely stalled without Tyreek Hill, and unfortunately for Hill he now has an uphill battle to surpass 2,000 receiving yards with the bad ankle. I am still trying to figure out how there was no penalty on the horse collar tackle that resulted in Hill’s injury, btu I have come to expect stupidity from NFL official at this point.
Week 15 is lining up to be another exciting one. I took an L on my play last week as the Packers could not bring home the bacon the Ravens -1.5/Packers -0.0 on the Wong teaser. This week I am going to take the Bronco’s +5 on Saturday night in Detroit. I just think it is too many points and the Bronco’s can taste it now and I think they will be able to keep pace with the Lions offense because of the poor play of their defense. My only worry is Denver is ranked 32nd against the run this year, so it should be a heavy dose of Gibbs and Montgomery. So, we will also bet them both to score, and we will bet their rushing props over.
My other plays this week will be a Chiefs/Ravens ML parlay -109. The Chiefs will come out pissed off against a bad Patriots team and the Ravens are coming into Sunday night against the Jaguars with revenge. If you remember last year the Ravens lost in week 11 the Jacksonville on a missed 67 yard field goal by Justin Tucker. I am sure Coach Harbaugh has this one circled as a must win game and the Jags are banged up and did not look the same on offense without Christian Kirk and banged up Trevor Lawrence. The Jags are ranked 25th at protecting receivers, I think Zay Flowers go off and find the endzone again so I will be betting those two props as well. That is 8 plays this week, last time I had a plethora on the blog we went 6-0, let’s see if we can have another great week again. Good luck out there.
Blog Plays: 11-9
