Hello readers! Another week of National Football League action is coming upon us yet again. The last week of the regular season is here and 14 of the 32 teams will move on to next weekend for the start of the playoffs. The rest will get to start their golf game early. There's still a few more teams that are still hoping to get to play into next weekend and we'll look into those teams in the playoff picture. Including that we'll get to the picks for the games. Let's get to work!
Playoff Picture: Week 18
NFC
Seedings
1st seed: Green Bay Packers (13-3) clinched NFC North and Homefield Advantage
2nd seed: Los Angeles Rams (12-4) clinched playoff berth
3rd seed: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (12-4) clinched NFC South
4th seed: Dallas Cowboys (11-5) Clinched NFC East
5th seed: Arizona Cardinals (11-5) Clinched playoff berth
6th seed: San Francisco 49ers (9-7)
7th seed: Philadelphia Eagles (9-7) clinched playoff berth
Super Wild Card Weekend Matchups
Philadelphia @ LA Rams
San Francisco @ Tampa Bay
Arizona @ Dallas
In the hunt:
New Orleans (8-8)
Better luck next year:
Minnesota (7-9), Atlanta (7-9), Washington (6-10), Chicago (6-10), Seattle (6-10), Carolina (5-11), NY Giants (4-12), Detroit (2-13-1)
The Rams can clinch the NFC West with a win or a Cardinals loss. Same thing essentially for the Cardinals. The 49ers can clinch a playoff berth with a win or a Saints loss. Same thing for the Saints.
AFC
Seedings:
1st seed: Tennessee Titans (11-5) clinched AFC South
2nd seed: Kansas City Chiefs (11-5) clinched AFC West
3rd seed: Cincinnati Bengals (10-6) clinched AFC North
4th seed: Buffalo Bills (10-6) clinched playoff berth
5th seed: New England Patriots (10-6) clinched playoff berth
6th seed: Indianapolis Colts (9-7)
7th seed: Los Angeles Chargers (9-7)
In the hunt:
Las Vegas (9-7), Pittsburgh (8-7-1), Baltimore (8-8)
Better luck next year:
Miami (8-8), Cleveland (7-9), Denver (7-9), NY Jets (4-12), Houston (4-12), Jacksonville (4-12)
Tennessee can clinch homefield advantage with a win or tie + Chiefs loss or tie. Kansas City can clinch homefield advantage with a win + Titans loss. Cincinnati can clinch homefield advantage with a win + Titans loss + Chiefs loss + Patriots loss or tie. New England can clinch homefield advantage with a win + Bills loss + Chiefs loss + Titans loss. Pittsburgh can clinch a playoff berth with a win + Colts loss + Raider-Chargers doesn't end in a tie.
Week 18 Preview
The Eighteenth week of the National Football League's regular season will start in Denver, Colorado and end in Inglewood, California. The week will have a 16-game slate that will have 32 teams play. The games this week will all be division games. The week features to Saturday games, seven early games, six late games, and a Sunday night game. Both FOX and CBS will have doubleheaders this week.
Week 18 Picks
Note: TW is me and CV is Cardinal Viking, my former roommate. All game times are in US Eastern.
Kansas City (11-5) @ Denver (7-9) (ABC; 4:30 pm): TW: Chiefs; CV: Broncos
The Chiefs lost to the Bengals and the Broncos lost to the Chargers last week. Kansas City still has something worthwhile to play as they could play for a 1st round bye and homefield advantage. Denver would like to play spoiler and keep the Chiefs from obtaining that goal. The Broncos quarterback situation isn't really looking that promising to give them the nod. Kansas City's defense really needs go get a better start from them. I think the Chiefs will get a win.
Dallas (11-5) @ Philadelphia (9-7) (ABC; 8:15 pm): TW: Eagles; CV: Cowboys
The Cowboys lost to the Cardinals and the Eagles beat the Football Team last week. The final week of the season is tricky in that teams are possibly going to rest players and picking them are going to be quite tricky. Safe to say the Cowboys could win as they're in the playoffs but they're not likely getting a higher spot. I'd think the Cowboys could rest. Philadelphia are in the playoffs but division games are also known for bragging rights. The Eagles offense has played well enough to win but Jalen Hurts needs to protect the ball when it matters most. I like the Eagles enough to take them.
Cincinnati (10-6) @ Cleveland (7-9) (FOX; 1:00 pm): TW: Browns; CV: Bengals
The Bengals beat the Chiefs and the Browns lost to the Steelers last week. The Bengals will be without Joe Burrow and Joe Mixon for this game. Burrow will be resting and Mixon will be out on COVID protocol. Baker Mayfield won't likely play because he decides now to get a shoulder surgery. Case Keenum will likely get the start and he has some experience in Kevin Stepanski's system. I don't trust the Browns a lot but enough to trust not to take Brandon Allen.
Chicago (6-10) @ Minnesota (7-9) (FOX; 1:00 pm): TW: Vikings; CV: Vikings
The Bears beat the Giants and the Vikings lost to the Packers last week. It would likely be head coach Mike Zimmer's last game as he could very well be gone by this time on Monday. The Vikings could possibly get Kirk Cousins back from COVID protocol but if not it could be Sean Mannion or Kellen Mond time. Chicago's quarterback situation is somewhat of an intriguing thing to keep an eye on as both Justin Fields and Andy Dalton have proven to be decent starters but need a better head coach. Matt Nagy will likely be gone as well. I'll take the hometeam.
Green Bay (13-3) @ Detroit (2-13-1) (FOX; 1:00 pm): TW: Packers; CV: Packers
The Packers beat the Vikings and the Lions lost to the Seahawks last week. Packers head coach Matt LeFleur could possibly rest his starters for the game or give them a quarter or even a half to play. That's what sucks about these pick'ems during the last week of the regular season. Jared Goff won't likely start again so it'll be Tim Boyle time again. As much as I might give the Lions a shot against a Junior Varsity Packers squad, I don't see it happening.
Indianapolis (9-7) @ Jacksonville (2-14) (CBS; 1:00 pm): TW: Colts; CV: Colts
The Colts lost to the Raiders and the Jaguars lost to the Patriots last week. Indianapolis is still playing for a playoff spot while the Jaguars look to play spoiler. Jacksonville hasn't really played well for a few weeks since Urban Meyer's firing. The Colts haven't won in Jacksonville since 2014 but I feel that their time is due. They need to make it happen.
Pittsburgh (8-7-1) @ Baltimore (8-8) (CBS; 1:00 pm): TW: Steelers; CV: Ravens
The Steelers beat the Browns and the Ravens lost to the Rams last week. Pittsburgh is still alive in the playoff hunt but they need some help. Baltimore would love nothing more to end the Steelers hopes and dreams. With the way the Steelers defense is playing I don't really see the Ravens offense being a factor in this game. Ben Roethlisberger would like to get a win and have some bragging rights in his last regular season game of his career. I'll take the Steelers.
Tennessee (11-5) @ Houston (4-12) (CBS; 1:00 pm): TW: Titans; CV: Titans
The Titans beat the Dolphins and the Texans lost to the 49ers last week. Tennessee has something worthwhile to play for as they could lock up the #1 seed with a win. With better news this week that Derrick Henry was activated from IR. Houston could play spoiler in this game. Davis Mills isn't a great quarterback but he isn't terrible. I don't see Houston winning this one.
Washington (6-10) @ NY Giants (4-12) (FOX; 1:00 pm): TW: Football Team; CV: Football Team
The Football Team lost to the Eagles and the Giants lost to the Bears last week. Both teams aren't really playing for anything major but bragging rights. Washington seems like the better run team and the Giants just can't seem to find their proper footing. Let alone with Mike Glennon as your quarterback. Still next month, Washington will get a new team name.
Carolina (5-11) @ Tampa Bay (12-4) (CBS; 4:25 pm): TW: Buccaneers; CV: Buccaneers
Last week the Panthers lost to the Saints and the Buccaneers beat the Jets last week. It'll be curious to see if Antonio Brown's antics last week will be a distraction for the Bucs. I don't see it happening as Tom Brady and Bruce Arians will keep it into perspective for the team. For the Panthers its a frustrating season that will end finally. They just have to get through this game to reach to the end.
New England (10-6) @ Miami (8-8) (CBS; 4:25 pm): TW: Patriots; CV: Dolphins
The Patriots beat the Jaguars and the Dolphins lost to the Titans last week. The scenario is this for New England: win and they're division champs, lose and they're not. Miami had aspirations at the beginning of the year to be where the Patriots are at but a 1-7 start didn't help them. Buffalo Bills fans would like to be Dolphins fans for three hours. Sorry Bills Mafia, I don't see the Dolphins doing you any favors.
New Orleans (8-8) @ Atlanta (7-9) (FOX; 4:25 pm): TW: Saints; CV: Falcons
The Saints beat the Panthers and the Falcons lost to the Bills last week. New Orleans still has some hope of making the playoffs but they need some help. Atlanta would like nothing more to end their rival's hopes and dreams in their own home turf. New Orleans has a decent shot as their offense has gotten back to the field and played decent ball. Alvin Kamara really needs to get going in this one. Atlanta is decent as well but they've disappointed more than often. Their offense is good but I'll take the Saints in this one.
NY Jets (4-12) @ Buffalo (10-6) (CBS; 4:25 pm): TW: Bills; CV: Bills
The Jets lost to the Buccaneers and the Bills beat the Falcons last week. Like New England's scenario, its a Win and you're division champion, lose and then you're still a division champion but assuming New England loses as well. With Buffalo playing against the Jets I don't see them losing against a cellar team. At least give me the Buffalo Bills as the AFC East champs.
Seattle (6-10) @ Arizona (11-5) (FOX; 4:25 pm): TW: Cardinals; CV: Cardinals
The Seahawks beat the Lions and the Cardinals beat the Cowboys last week. Seattle is atrocious after a promising season that would get derailed with a Russell Wilson injury. Russell Wilson's future is still up in the air but with Rashad Penny's return as being a valuable running back might convince him to stick around for a bit longer perhaps. Arizona has some thinking to do. If they win they have a shot to win the NFC West and get the #2 seed in the playoffs. If they lose they'll go to a 5th seed and will have to play all their games likely on the road. They would have to contend with the thought of resting starters as Kyler Murray has had a bout of injury bug. In spite of that I feel the Cardinals will take care of business and clinch the NFC West.
San Francisco (9-7) @ LA Rams (12-4) (FOX; 4:25 pm): TW: 49ers; CV: 49ers
The 49ers beat the Texans and the Rams beat the Ravens last week. San Francisco still has a wild card spot in their favor but they haven't clinched it yet. With them going into a hostile Rams crowd, they could be vulnerable dropping out of the playoff race. The Rams don't have the pressure in trying to clinch a playoff berth but they have the opportunity to clinch their division as well. Matthew Stafford has been hit and miss the last few games. It seems to be a toss-up matchup but I think the 49ers clinch the last playoff spot.
LA Chargers (9-7) @ Las Vegas (9-7) (NBC; 8:20 pm): TW: Raiders; CV: Chargers
The Chargers beat the Broncos and the Raiders beat the Colts last week. The regular season wraps up with a win and you're in scenario for the Chargers and the Raiders. Chargers have been playing good on offense with Justin Herbert doing Justin Herbert things. They don't seem to have a problem on defense either as they regularly give up 361 yards/game. Las Vegas has had a roller coaster of a season with the resignation of Jon Gruden to the loss of their former head coach John Madden. The sympathy vote would go to the Raiders who have been playing solid football the last few weeks. On paper the Chargers should take care of business but I'm leaning towards the Raiders as they seem to be a team that's riding on momentum and that's sometimes all you need.
Early & Late Game TV Pairings (courtesy of 506sports.com, check local listings):
Note: Games in bold are being show in my area
CBS Early
Pittsburgh @ Baltimore
Ian Eagle, Charles Davis
Indianapolis @ Jacksonville
Greg Gumbel, Adam Archuleta
Tennessee @ Houston
Andrew Catalon, James Lofton
CBS Late
Carolina @ Tampa Bay
Jim Nantz, Tony Romo
NY Jets @ Buffalo
Kevin Harlan, Trent Green
New England @ Miami
Spero Dedes, Jay Feely
FOX Early
Green Bay @ Detroit
Kevin Burkhardt, Greg Olson
Cincinnati @ Cleveland
Kenny Albert, Jonathan Vilma
Washington @ NY Giants
Chris Myers, Daryl Johnston
Chicago @ Minnesota
Gus Johnson, Aqib Talib
FOX Late
San Francisco @ LA Rams
Joe Buck, Troy Aikman
Seattle @ Arizona
Adam Amin, Mark Schlereth
New Orleans @ Atlanta
Kevin Kugler, Mark Sanchez
For more information on which game is being show in your area check out: NFL 2021: Week 18 Maps
2021 Pick'em Records:
My record:
Week 1: 7-9
Week 2: 10-6
Week 3: 10-6
Week 4: 9-7
Week 5: 12-4
Week 6: 11-3
Week 7: 10-3
Week 8: 7-8
Week 9: 7-7
Week 10: 5-8-1
Week 11: 8-7
Week 12: 8-7
Week 13: 10-4
Week 14: 10-4
Week 15: 13-3
Week 16: 12-4
Week 17: 13-3
Total: 162-93-1
Cardinal Viking's record:
Week 1: 6-10
Week 2: 12-4
Week 3: 13-3
Week 4: 10-6
Week 5: 10-6
Week 6: 12-2
Week 7: 10-3
Week 8: 7-8
Week 9: 8-6
Week 10: 5-8-1
Week 11: 10-5
Week 12: 9-6
Week 13: 7-7
Week 14: 9-5
Week 15: 10-6
Week 16: 11-5
Week 17: 10-6
Total: 159-96-1
Previous Picking Records:
2017: 167-89
2018: 156-98-2
2019: 151-104-1
2020: 163-92-1
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