Before I get to the picks for Week 18, the situation that occurred with Bills Safety Damar Hamlin on Monday night was the scariest incident I have seen in a NFL game. During the 1st quarter of the Bills-Bengals game, Hamlin tackled Tee Higgins, stood up, then collapsed. Team doctors and training staff rushed to the field and began working on Hamlin. He had to receive CPR and was revived on the field before being taken away in an ambulance to a local trauma hospital. Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest on the field. I have never seen something so scary in a game, and you could tell right away that something was seriously wrong. The game was suspended and as of today there is no makeup date. There is doubt that they will even make up the game. As of Friday, Hamlin has made some significant progress, there has been positive news, it looks like his brain function is progressing, but he is still in critical condition and in ICU. The games and results take a back seat to the condition of Hamlin, and this moment put a lot of things in perspective. The NFL will continue with Week 18 as scheduled, and the games will go on. The Buffalo-Cincinnati game will not be rescheduled and they will complete the seeding in the AFC based on winning percentage. With that said, it is hard to move past what happened to Hamlin. Hopefully, he will make a full recovery and live a prosperous life from this event. Prayers for Damar.
Onto the picks for Week 18....
Last Week's Record: 8-7-0
Overall Record: 129-111-16
(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)
The Broncos host the Chargers in Week 18. LA is going to playoffs and they can end up as either the 6 seed or the 5 seed. If Cincy wins over Baltimore earlier in the day, then the Chargers will know that they are locked into the 5 seed, and they might rest their starters. Who knows what they will do? As for the Broncos, they finish out their disappointing season, and look ahead to 2023. The Broncos need a win to avoid going 0-6 in the AFC West this year. They have a lot of players who will not play due to injury, so it seems like it will be difficult for them to win this game, but who knows what the motivation will be for the Chargers.
Prediction: Chargers (-3) over DENVER
Final Score: Chargers-24 Broncos-17
LAS VEGAS (+10) over Kansas City: This game is on Saturday as part of the Week 18 doubleheader. KC is still looking to lock up the #1 seed. I think they will beat the Raiders here, but Vegas has played them tough the last few years. Look for a close KC win.
Tennessee (+7) over JACKSONVILLE: The Jags and Titans face off with the AFC South on the line on Saturday night. The Jags are 8-8 after a 2-6 start. The Titans were 7-3 at one point, but have lost five straight games. Look for the Jags to win and clinch the South, but I think it is closer than people expect it to be.
Tampa Bay (+7) over ATLANTA: The Bucs clinched the NFC South last week. At 8-8, they have nothing to play for in this game. Apparently, the Bucs will still play Tom Brady and the starters. I have no idea how this game will play out.
BUFFALO (-7) over New England: It is hard to figure out how the Bills will play on Sunday at home against the Pats. The Bills still need the game for seeding. If the Patriots win, then they will clinch a playoff berth. The Bills will be very emotional for this game. They did get a lot of good news on Damar Hamlin's condition, so maybe that puts them at ease, and they come out and blow the Patriots out of the building.
Minnesota (-2) over CHICAGO: The Vikings are still playing this game for seeding, so they have some motivation-especially after getting killed by the Packers last week. The Bears are resting Justin Fields and looking to 2023. I think the Vikings play hard and end their regular season on a high note.
Baltimore (+7) over CINCINNATI: The Bengals clinch the AFC North as a result of winning percentage. The crazy thing about this game is that if the Ravens win the game, and Baltimore and Cincy are slated to play in the Wild Card round, then there will be a coin flip to determine home field. I don't see it happening because I think Cincy wins the game. It looks like Lamar Jackson will be out for Baltimore again. I can see the Ravens playing tough but the Bengals prevailing.
INDIANAPOLIS (-3) over Houston: The Texans will lose and lock up the #1 pick in the NFL Draft, and the Colts will be looking to hire a new head coach for 2023.
MIAMI (-2) over Jets: Miami can get into the playoffs with a win and a Patriots loss. It seems feasible, but the problem is that the Dolphins are down to their third-string QB Skyler Thompson. Both Tua Tagovailoa and Teddy Bridgewater are hurt and out for this game, so the Dolphins playoff fate rests on Thompson. The Jets are 7-9, and lost five in a row and out of playoff contention. They are starting Joe Flacco this week. I'm going to go with Miami and it might be enough to get them in the playoffs.
NEW ORLEANS (-3) over Carolina: This game means nothing for both teams. New Orleans will probably be searching for new QB next year, and Carolina will be searching for a new head coach.
Giants (+14) over PHILADELPHIA: The Eagles need to win the game to secure the #1 seed in the NFC and a bye in the first round. The Giants have nothing to play for and are locked into the #6 seed either way. I think the Eagles will win the game, but maybe the Giants will keep it closer and within two touchdowns.
PITTSBURGH (-3) over Cleveland: The Steelers have made a remarkable turnaround this season. At one point, they were 2-6. Now, they are 8-8 and a win over the Browns and losses by Miami and the Pats, will get them into the playoffs. I think they will win the game, but I think they will fall just short of the playoffs.
SAN FRANCISCO (-12) over Arizona: The 49ers can still get the #2 seed in the playoffs, so they have some motivation to win the game. The Cardinals are playing out the string. I would expect the Nines to take care of business.
Rams (+7) over SEATTLE: Seattle needs a win at home over the Rams and Detroit to beat Green Bay to make the playoffs. I think they will beat the Rams and finish 9-8 on the season, but they will fall short of the playoffs due to Green Bay winning later that night. I could see the Rams giving the Seahawks a tough game to end the season here too.
Dallas (-3) over WASHINGTON: Dallas could still win the NFC East if they beat Washington and the Giants beat Philly. The Cowboys will be playing at the same time as the Eagles, so it will be interesting to see how they play this game out if the Eagles are winning big over the Giants.
GREEN BAY (-4) over Detroit: All Green Bay has to do on Sunday night is win and they are in the playoffs. This team was 4-8 at the end of November. They have won four in a row and are one win away from making the playoffs. I think the Lions will play them tough. Remember: If the Seahawks lose earlier in the day, then the Lions can make the playoffs with a win over the Packers. I hope that this game is a "win and in" game for the Lions and the Packers. I still think the Packers will win the game and clinch the #7 seed in the playoffs.
Based on my predictions and picks, I have the following playoff field for the NFC and AFC:
NFC
1-Philly
7-Green Bay at 2-San Francisco
6- NY Giants at 3-Minnesota
5-Dallas at 4-Tampa Bay
AFC
1-Kansas City
7-Miami at 2-Buffalo
6-Baltimore at 3-Cincinnati
5-LA Chargers at 4-Jacksonville
If I was going to try to predict the NFL Playoff Schedule, I would think it might look like this:
Saturday
4:30pm- LA Chargers at Jacksonville (NBC)
8:00pm- Baltimore at Cincinnati (FOX)
Sunday
1:00pm- Miami at Buffalo (CBS)
4:30pm- Green Bay at San Francisco (FOX)
8:00pm- NY Giants at Minnesota (NBC)
Monday
8:00pm- Dallas at Tampa Bay (ESPN)
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