Christmas is upon us and look what the NFL has gone and done, given us a nearly full slate of games for Christmas Eve. Santa is going to have to watch these on his Verizon phone and try not to run into any geese as he makes his deliveries. Luckily for Ole Saint Nick, there’s no Sunday nighter.
He and Mrs. Claus can even relax for what should be a solid Monday Night Football game on Christmas Day too. Here’s a little holiday music to get you in the mood.
I picked Saturday’s games individually. If you want to check them out, you can read the Colts vs Ravens pick here. The Vikings vs Packers pick is here.
Sunday Early
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Carolina Panthers (-10), O/U: 46.5
Tampa Bay (4-10) is about to get the best Christmas present of all, a new head coach. Of course, I have no inside information, but considering the Buccaneers were widely picked to at least make the playoffs this season and have already lost 10 games, it’s a safe bet Dirk Koetter needs to contact a realtor. This spread should make me nervous, but I have no idea how the Bucs will stop the Panthers’ run game. Panthers 30, Bucaneers 19
Cleveland Browns at Chicago Bears (-6.5), O/U: 38.0
If there’s any chance for Cleveland (0-14) to skip the completely defeated season, this is it. Last year it was the Chargers that did the Browns a solid and rolled over in a loss. Will the Bears (4-10) be as generous? I don’t see it happening. Bears 23, Browns 16
This should help put into perspective just how good the Browns run defense is… and also just how historically terrible Hue Jackson must be to allow a defense like this to go winless pic.twitter.com/46sQlbi5J4
— Ryan McCrystal (@Ryan_McCrystal) December 20, 2017
Detroit Lions at Cincinnati Bengals (+3.5), O/U: 44.0
Jim Caldwell suddenly finds himself on the hot seat with a playoff appearance the only thing that can save him. All he has to do to stay alive is find a way to beat a Marvin Lewis-coached floundering Bengals (5-9) team. Detroit (8-6) has the talent to get this done for their embattled head coach. They won’t. Bengals 27, Lions 23
Miami Dolphins at Kansas City Chiefs (-10.5), O/U: 43.5
The Dolphins (6-8) have reached the point of their season where they can only win at home. Since they’re playing the Chiefs (8-6) at Arrowhead, that should tell you who to pick. Again, this is a big point spread, but Kansas City might have rediscovered its mojo. Chiefs 42, Dolphins 20
Marcus Peters continues to make plays. 👐 pic.twitter.com/NKiY9htyeO
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) December 21, 2017
Buffalo Bills at New England Patriots (-12), O/U: 47.0
Tom Brady took a nice little beating last week in a 27-24 win with the Patriots (11-3). The Bills (8-6) might be coming into this one looking for blood after Rob Gronkowski’s dirty hit on Tre’Davious White the last time these two teams met up. It’s a dangerous game that can’t be over soon enough for New England. I’m not thinking anything crazy happens here, but I don’t like the -12. Patriots 23, Bills 13
Atlanta Falcons at New Orleans Saints (-6), O/U: 52.5
The last time these two teams played, it came down to a three-point Falcons (9-5) victory. The Saints (10-4) are just barely in control of the NFC South with two games to go and can’t afford to drop this one. I see a big day for Alvin Kamara, but it’ll be close again. Saints 34, Falcons 31
#Saints S Kenny Vaccaro is going on Injured Reserve, sources say. Crazy to think he’s been playing on an adductor completely torn off the bone, as well as an injured wrist. He’ll need surgery to fix both. Big loss for New Orleans.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 21, 2017
Los Angeles Chargers at New York Jets (+6.5), O/U: 42.5
Anthony Lynn comes into this game with a far superior team. Todd Bowles is a far superior coach. Here’s your second real upset of the day. Jets 20, Chargers 17
Los Angeles Rams at Tennessee Titans (+6.5), O/U: 46.5
Here’s a fun fact; The Titans (8-6) are the team the Rams (10-4) traded with to acquire Jared Goff as their quarterback. While the trade made all the sense in the world for Tennessee as it already had a franchise quarterback in Marcus Mariota, it’s important to look at who they acquired with the Rams’ picks; Austin Johnson, Derrick Henry, Corey Davis and Taywan Taylor. Johnson, a defensive tackle, has 21 tackles and one sack in two starts this season. Henry has 668 yards, five touchdowns and is averaging 4.8 yards per carry in a back up role to DeMarco Murray. Davis has seven starts and caught 28 passes for 284 yards and no touchdowns. Taylor has four starts with 16 catches for 231 yards and one touchdown. It’s too early to toss all these guys out as bums, but if at least two of them don’t turn out to be something, it’s time for fire general manager John Robinson. Do it at the same time you chuck Mike Mularkey. Rams 37, Titans 24
152 rushing yards ✅
3 rushing touchdowns ✅@FedEx Ground Player of the Week! ✅Congrats, @TG3II! pic.twitter.com/TIug3G16Ii
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) December 21, 2017
Denver Broncos at Washington Redskins (-3), O/U: 40.5
The season is over for both of these teams, that’s why I expect Brock Osweiler to continue lighting it up. Just to make everyone sick before Christmas. Broncos 27, Redskins 24
Sunday Late
Jacksonville Jaguars at San Francisco 49ers (+4.5), O/U: 42.0
Jimmy Garoppolo is 5-0 as a starter. That has to end sometime and it might as well be to Jacksonville. Still, I think this one will be tighter than the spread. Jaguars 24, 49ers 23
New York Giants at Arizona Cardinals (-3.5), O/U: 40.0
We won’t have Blaine Gabbert to kick around anymore. He’s back on the Microsoft Surface tablet trying to beat his all-time Candy Crush score and protect the Pokemon Gym at University of Phoenix Stadium. Eli’s got a couple more games left. Might as well win them. Giants 30, Cardinals 19
These two go waaaaaaay back. #FBF@nfl @LarryFitzgerald #WPMOY pic.twitter.com/Y4QItxDYYW
— New York Giants (@Giants) December 22, 2017
Seattle Seahawks at Dallas Cowboys (-5), O/U: 47.0
You want an early playoff game? Here it is. Both these teams have to win out to have any chance at the postseason and both will be sorely disappointed if they don’t make it. It’s a kitchen sink game for the Seahawks (8-6), who were beaten like a drunken step dad by the Rams last week. The Cowboys (8-6) have Ezekiel Elliott back after a six-week vacation and the blueprint to dominate Seattle from L.A. I don’t expect the same score differential, but the results should look familiar. Cowboys 33, Seahawks 27
Pittsburgh Steelers at Houston Texans (+9), O/U: 46.0
Are we going to see a pissed off Steelers (11-3) that feel like they were robbed in their last game (they weren’t) or the team that plays down to every single loser opponent they face? I say the latter. Steelers 27, Texans 20
#CoolerTalk: #Texans vs. Steelers preview presented by @RTICCoolers https://t.co/Rc2Ij3C5ui
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) December 22, 2017
Monday Night
Oakland Raiders at Philadelphia Eagles (-9), O/U: 47.0
Now that the Raiders (6-8) have ruined their own season, it’s high time they start screwing up somebody else’s. Because it’s Christmas. Sorry, Philadelphia. Raiders 28, Eagles 24
Last Week
Straight up: 14-2
Against the spread: 12-4
Season
Straight up: 139-85
Against the spread: 119-10
To make a wager on any sport, go to the world famous Diamond Sportsbook by clicking here.
