{"id":20592,"date":"2021-12-24T04:44:06","date_gmt":"2021-12-24T04:44:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.betonline.ag\/news-room\/?p=20592"},"modified":"2021-12-24T04:44:08","modified_gmt":"2021-12-24T04:44:08","slug":"friday-afternoon-quarterback-week-16","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.betonline.ag\/news-room\/nfl\/friday-afternoon-quarterback-week-16\/","title":{"rendered":"FRIDAY AFTERNOON QUARTERBACK: WEEK 16"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

BY ADAM GREENE<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Well, that\u2019s not the way you want to start off a week down the stretch. Sure, I could be talking about the San Francisco 49ers, who blew a game they should have won in blowout fashion against the Tennessee Titans, but I\u2019m talking about me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because I picked the Niners to win and now I\u2019m down a game before Christmas. This is what I get for banking on Jimmy Garoppolo to do anything other than catch some Lovecraftian STD<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

San Francisco couldn\u2019t do much about their current playoff positioning and will exit the week as the NFC\u2019s sixth seed the same as they entered it. But what they have done is open the door for another team to sneak in and knock them out. The 49ers host the Houston Texans next week and that\u2019s a win, sure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But they wrap up their season at the Los Angeles Rams. Yes, they\u2019ve dominated the Rams under Kyle Shanahan and Jimmy G has literally never lost to LA, but do you want to face a potential NFC West champion, fighting for the division and a home playoff game with the possibility of missing the playoffs entirely if you lose?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What if the Garoppolo that showed up in Nashville suits up in SoFi?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As for the Titans, their 20-17 win over the Niners changed their fortunes. They were able to put a healthy wide receiver corps on the field for the first time in weeks and it paid off. AJ Brown caught 11 passes for 145 yards and a score. Ryan Tannehill was locked in, completing 22 of 29 for 209 yards and that TD to Brown. Tennessee managed it with the whole left side of their offensive line peopled by reserves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They did just manage only 90 yards on the ground and that\u2019s a recipe for disaster in the playoffs, but it\u2019s not like they were playing chumps on defense. The good news for the Titans is, they\u2019re at worst holding the No. 2 seed after this win and could grab the top spot if the Kansas City Chiefs stumble against the Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The same stumble that the Titans suffered last week when they held the top spot in the AFC bracket.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TAMPA<\/strong> BAY<\/strong> BUCCANEERS AT CAROLINA PANTHERS (+10, O\/U: 42.5)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cam Newton is getting the start for the Panthers, but Sam Darnold will be in the bullpen. Against the Bucs? It\u2019s not going to matter. What should factor in is Bruce Arians suddenly understanding nature when he promised his own fanbase and media members that consistently troubled wide receiver Antonio Brown would be on a one strike policy last year. I feel like faking a COVID-19 vaccine card, a federal crime that could come with prison time, should have counted as a solid strike. Arians, though, doesn\u2019t seem to think so now. How much is that \u201clove\u201d for AB or horror at his own wide receiver depth chart? Either way, his QB Tom Brady has proved time and again that karma has no power over the NFL. Buccaneers 31, Panthers 16<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

NEW YORK<\/strong> GIANTS AT PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (-10, O\/U: 40.5)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Eagles are primed to sneak into an NFC Wild Card spot if they can knock off the Daniel Jones-less Giants and get a little help. Here\u2019s a fun fact that will make you want to dive face first off the nearest bridge \u2014 current New York starter and Jones\u2019 back up Mike Glennon has made $31.967 million in his NFL career. He\u2019s started 30 games in the league and won just six. That comes out to $5.328 million per victory. Take Philly and the points. Eagles 27, Giants 13<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

LOS ANGELES CHARGERS AT HOUSTON TEXANS (+10, O\/U: 46)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tyrod Taylor is expected to start, but the Chargers are coming in pissed off from an overtime loss to the Kansas City Chiefs  and hot, having placed multiple players in the Pro Bowl including the All Star game starting QB, Justin Herbert. It\u2019s the first time a Chargers\u2019 quarterback will start in the Pro Bowl since Dan Fouts. I\u2019m thinking they might put on a show. Chargers 37, Texans 23<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

DETROIT<\/strong> LIONS AT ATLANTA FALCONS (-5.5, O\/U: 43)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dan Campbell is the first Detroit coach to win a game over a 10 win opponent in more than a decade. While the Falcons don\u2019t fit that criteria, they are still alive in the NFC playoff race, which is the perfect time for the Lions to ruin that for good. Detroit might have to do it without Jared Goff, who is currently on the league\u2019s Covid reserve list. If he\u2019s vaccinated, he might still suit up Sunday. Still, it\u2019s the Lions. I\u2019m going to regret this. Falcons 24, Lions 20 (if Goff plays). Falcons 27, Lions 10 (if Goff doesn\u2019t play)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

BALTIMORE<\/strong> RAVENS AT CINCINNATI BENGALS (-3, O\/U: 45)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lamar Jackson\u2019s ankle doesn\u2019t seem to be getting any better, so Tyler Huntley gets the call again for Baltimore. The last time these two teams played, Cincy dominated their way to a 41-17 win, but followed it with two of their worst losses of the season. If the Bengals are going to hold onto a playoff spot, they have to win games like this against opponents missing their best player. And, yes, I know that every time I\u2019ve written anything like that about Cincinnati, they\u2019ve soil the bedsheets, so I\u2019m probably all but dooming them again. Bengals 27, Ravens 23<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

LOS ANGELES RAMS AT MINNESOTA VIKINGS (+3.5, O\/U: 49)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dalvin Cook is out on the league\u2019s Covid reserve list and Kirk Cousins is sitting there unvaccinated. As I\u2019m writing this, Cousins hasn\u2019t tested positive but guys like him and Carson Wentz in Indianapolis are about to be serious problems for their teams trying to secure playoff spots here in the final stretch of the season. Depending on Wentz and what happens in the Arizona Cardinals game Saturday, LA could be playing to take over the NFC West here. After two weeks of being eaten alive by their own COVD-19 issues, the Rams should be at near full strength for this one. Rams 34, Vikings 24<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

JACKSONVILLE<\/strong> JAGUARS AT NEW YORK JETS (-1, O\/U: 41)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

For two teams that should be angling for draft picks, nothing is worse than having to play each other. The Jags currently hold the No. 1 pick in April\u2019s NFL Draft. The Jets have the fourth pick in their grasp. A Jacksonville win knocks them down to two. A New York win could drop them as far as six. The Jets might be without head coach Robert Saleh on the league\u2019s Covid reserve list too. It\u2019s a dumpster fire vs a garbage gyre. They should actively play for the tie. I\u2019m holding my nose and going with New York. Jets 17, Jaguars 13<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

BUFFALO<\/strong> BILLS AT NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (-2.5, O\/U: 43)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here it is, Buffalo\u2019s chance at redemption and they can\u2019t blame the weather at their own home field if they don\u2019t get it done. The Pats fell back to Earth last week in a loss to the Colts. I think they keep falling and, frankly, if the Bills can\u2019t win this one by two scores, they don\u2019t\u2019 deserve to make the playoffs at all. Bills 31, Patriots 17<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

CHICAGO<\/strong> BEARS AT SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (-6.5 O\/U: 42.5)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the preseason, Russell Wilson let be known he wouldn\u2019t mind being traded to the Bears. Chicago liked the idea well enough to draft a Russell Wilson type guy in the first round in Justin Fields. While the Bears are probably off the trade list now, this season is likely the RW3 farewell tour with Seattle. After a dud against the Rams last week, I think Russ cooks up something good at his home kitchen. Seahawks 34, Bears 16<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

PITTSBURGH<\/strong> STEELERS AT KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (-8.5, O\/U: 45)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Steelers are still very much alive for the playoffs, but are putting their necks in the guillotine at Arrowhead, facing a Kansas City team that\u2019s rediscovered what\u2019s worked for them the last three seasons. They\u2019re the Super Bowl favorites for a reason. While they\u2019ll still be mathematically alive with a loss, I think Ben Roethlisberger and Pittsburgh\u2019s quest for one more playoff run ends here. Chiefs 27, Steelers 20<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

DENVER<\/strong> BRONCOS AT LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (pk, O\/U: 42)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Teddy Bridgewater is likely out, so it\u2019s the Drew Lock show for Denver at least this week. Las Vegas hasn\u2019t managed back to back wins since before Halloween and still might not do it here. They barely knocked off the Cleveland Browns a week ago and they started a guy that was making Subway sandwiches the day before at quarterback. I\u2019m going with the home team, but I don\u2019t like it. Raiders 20, Broncos 17<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Last Week<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Straight up:<\/strong> 9-7<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Against the spread:<\/strong> 9-7<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Season<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Straight up:<\/strong> 133-90-1<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Against the spread:<\/strong> 115-109<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Follow Adam Greene on Twitter @TheFirstMan<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The NFL season is rolling along and the Week 16 Schedule is up and taking bets at BetOnline.AG<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Connect with us our socials on Twitter<\/a> and Instagram<\/a> for the latest sports news, viral moments, betting odds and the occasional memes.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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