Well, well, well. We are at the new bonus week in the NFL. Week 18 still looks strange to me. It has been a long journey to get to this point, but we did it. Let’s take a look at how Concet3Cowboy and I did in Week 17.
Week 17 Results:
Blind Owl: 6-10
Concret3Cowboy: 3-13
Yet another victory for the clearly superior picker. It was a putrid week for both of us. Both of us were sub .500 and made some horrendous picks. This may be the worst week in general for us. Now, I was picking not to lose, and the Cowboy was picking to try and make up ground, so maybe that had something to do with it.
But all of that aside, let’s answer the question that is on everyone’s mind. Can the Cowboy catch me? Let’s check the totals and find out.
Totals:
Blind Owl: 140-113-3
Concret3Cowboy: 110-143-3
IT IS ALL OVER!! I put the Cowboy away with a week left. Going into this week I am up 30 games with only 16 left in the season. I could count the Cowboy’s picks as 2 wins and he still probably wouldn’t be able to catch me. You bet your bottom dollar I took a victory lap to end all victory laps. Couple this with the fact I dominated our fantasy league and won the championship, and you’ve got a good football season for me.
My gloating over, let’s get to the real picks. There really is no point for this, but we’ve got some stuff planned for the playoffs. So let’s use Week 18 as a warm up for that.
KC @ DEN: KC -11.5
Blind Owl: For one of the first times all year, I actually get to watch my Broncos play. I love these Saturday matchups for exactly this reason. That being said, unfortunately my Broncos are in a tough spot. They were officially eliminated from the playoffs, and they got a matchup against the potential number one seed in the AFC. The Chiefs are playing to get a bye week and will pull out all the stops to get there. I am so tempted to pick my Broncos just because, but I think it may not be smart. What the hell, I already won. Give me my Broncos!
Concret3Cowboy: Screw Kansas City. I’m going to be a Bengals fan once it hits the playoffs. But my real dudes in orange NEED TO COVER, for no reason other than moral victories.
DAL @ PHI: DAL -4.5
Blind Owl: Dallas has the NFC East wrapped up. There really isn’t much on the line here except some minor seeding issues. Both teams locked up playoff spots and I think are just trying to get through this one unscathed. That being said, I just have to pick the more talented team and go with the Cowboys.
Concret3Cowboy: Is Dallas still playing for something.. I think Philly still has to win to have a chance. I don’t know, Roots.
NE @ MIA: NE -6
Blind Owl: Many moons ago, the Dolphins beat the Patriots, in New England. Tua out played Mac Jones and put the Patriots at the bottom of the AFC East standings. They meet up again in the last game of the year. This game brings up nightmarish memories for Patriots fans. This is another one where I really want to pick Miami. The Patriots basically lost the Division title when they got spanked by the Bills. They then proceeded to obliterate the Jags. The Dolphins finally lost a game after winning seven in a row. Ugh, I am struggling here. I can’t do it. The Patriots will win big.
Concret3Cowboy: Why does Tom Brady stink against one divisional opponent. Before he couldn’t put over the Saints, it was the Dolphins. The Patriots would go to Miami late in the season and lose more often than they should against a team that was usually under .500.
PIT @ BAL: BAL -4.5
Blind Owl: This will (hopefully) be the last game for Big Ben. I’m picking the Ravens here only to send him out with a loss.
Concret3Cowboy: If Pittsburgh wins, the Colts lose and the game between the Raiders/Chargers doesn’t end in a tie, Pittsburgh is in the playoffs. But fuck that.
CIN @ CLE: CLE -6
Blind Owl: Cincy is benching the Cowboy’s boy toy Joe Burrow to save him for the playoffs. Cleveland’s got nothing to lose, so I’ll take Cleveland with all their starters playing.
Concret3Cowboy: Mighty Joe Burreaux isn’t playing this game. But I’m still going with Cincy. Cleveland is that typical treat that falls short of expectations and starts blowing up. I feel better as a Bronco fan because they aren’t the Browns, but I live in constant fear of becoming the next Browns.
WFT @ NYG: WFT -7
Blind Owl: Sometimes, these games are the best ones. Neither of these teams are going to the playoffs and guys are playing for bonuses and contracts. People will do some dumb things and some great things. I’ll take this opportunity to pick the Football Team, because they are actually going to have a name next year.
Concret3Cowboy: Washington really missed an opportunity with not having their name be “Red Tails.” Fly overs with p-47s and p-51s would have been too cool. But yea about this game though. Giants stink.
CHI @ MIN: MIN -5.5
Blind Owl: Another one that doesn’t really matter in the grand scheme. It is simple here. I’m just picking the better team. The Vikings and Captain Kirk are just much more talented. And oh yeah, Ohio State QBs suck in the NFL. Vikings all day.
Concret3Cowboy: Kirk Cousins is still one of my most respected QBs in the league. He’s underrated because he isn’t flashy but he’s efficient. I think Zimmer’s time is done, another lousy season by the Vikings. But they’re playing the bottom of the division and it should be their game.
TEN @ HOU: TEN -10.5
Blind Owl: For the final time this year, I get to say it. HOUSTON BLOWS! The Titans will win big.
Concret3Cowboy: Derrick Henry is practicing again this week. That’s going to breathe a lot of new life into this team just in time for the playoffs. Tennessee did well without Henry and they may be the top AFC team positioned well enough to go on a playoff run now.
IND @ JAX: IND -15.5
Blind Owl: Holy gigantic spread. I don’t think anyone doubts that Indy will win. It’s just a matter of how many points they will win by. What’ll happen here is Indy will get up big and then start resting starters. That being the case, I think the Jags will pull it a little closer. So I’ll take the Jags to cover.
Concret3Cowboy: Jacksonville stinks, Trevor Lawrence stinks. I can’t imagine Taylor is going to get a hefty workload this game but still the Colts will win easily.
GB @ DET: GB -3.5
Blind Owl: For some reason, it looks like Aaron Rodgers is going to play. So I’ll take the Pack to obliterate the Lions. Seems risky to me, but makes my choice easier.
Concret3Cowboy: You know, if I was a lions fan I don’t know if I would be happy with their ATS record or if it would be heartbreaking. I also hate the Lions new uniforms (I like doing franchises in Madden with the lions). Green Bay doesn’t have anything to play for this game, but expect them to trounce the Lions. I’m just picking the Lions because, well it’s just a tip of the hat for doing a good job for me this season.
NYJ @ BUF: BUF -16.5
Blind Owl: The Bills are playing for the AFC East title. All they need to do is beat the Jets. Sounds easy right? Well, guess what? It will be easy. The Bills will beat the piss out of the Jets and win by 30.
Concret3Cowboy: Almost doesn’t account for much in the NFL. Even though the Jets ``almost” knocked off the Buccaneers and watched Antonio Brown pump up the crowd from the end zone as he stripped off anything Tampa Bay themed, they did cover. Zach Wilson has looked like a 1st round QB for much of his time back from injury. The Jets actually have some reason for hope for the future.
NO @ ATL: NO -3.5
Blind Owl: Shockingly, the Saints are actually playing for a playoff spot in this game. I had to look at that twice to be completely honest. I know the Falcons would love to be the ones to knock them out of the playoffs, but it’s not going to happen. I’m taking the Saints here.
Concret3Cowboy: Matt Ryan is like Kirk Cousins, under appreciated. Atlanta isn’t as talented as their record even suggests (still not great) but having Matt Ryan at QB made this team competitive. I don’t know who the hell is going to play QB for the Saints, so give me the birds.
CAR @ TB: TB -8.5
Blind Owl: Tampa had a bit of drama last week. Antonio Brown has dominated the headlines. To quote the great John Dennis, “You could turn on your toaster and hear about this story.” But Tom Brady is the king of ignoring distractions. He’ll have his team ready to go. Not to mention the fact that Carolina is a bad football team. Bucs all the way.
Concret3Cowboy: Antonio Brown may have banged an OnlyFans chick that licked a toilet to prove she can’t get Covid, even though she now has Covid and claims Brown gave it to her (while he was giving her something else) just hours before Brown himself stripped in front of fans. You couldn’t write a story for Netflix like this, now I’m just laughing and lost my train of thought. Screw the Bucs though.
SF @ LAR: LAR -4.5
Blind Owl: This one is going to be fun. Both teams have a lot to play for. As much as I want the 49ers to play spoiler for the Rams (who just so happen to be the Cowboy’s Super Bowl pick), it won’t happen. Cooper Kupp and Matt Stafford are just too good. Those two will lead the Rams to a big victor before the playoffs.
Concret3Cowboy: Von Miller said this Rams team may be more talented than the 2015 Broncos. He may be right, but he also said Teddy was a great leader. The 18 TDs that Teddy threw this season might just be a tribute to Peyton Manning for leadership. And I lost my train of thought again. Stupid California teams.
SEA @ ARI: ARI -6.5
Blind Owl: Another example of this might be the last time I get to do something. This may be the last time I get to pick against Russell Wilson and the Seahawks. It’s looking like Wilson is done in Seattle. Good. So, I’ll take the Cardinals.
Concret3Cowboy: Kyler looked like the early season of himself against the Cowboys. Many people on Twitter assume I’m a Cowboys fan because of my handle being Concret3Cowboy. I’ll get into debates and idk why it always turns into a Dallas bash. But whatever, I’m rambling as I finish these picks. The Cardinals win easily.
LAC @ LV: LAC -3
Blind Owl: I’ve got to ride with the Chargers. I like Justin Herbert and the Raiders are bad. The Chargers could make a deep run into the playoffs.
Concret3Cowboy: The only game of week 18 that actually has value. If the Colts lose to Jacksonville both these teams could get into the playoffs with a tie. I kind of want these AFC West divisional rivals to do that but at the same time, their divisional rivals so why wouldn’t they want to ruin the other’s chance at a playoff run.
