We’ve made it y’all. It’s been a long year but here we are. It’s the end of the regular season in the NFL. I honestly can’t imagine how or why we’ve decided to do this. It’s been fun. I’m sure all 12 of you that read this regularly question it as much as I do. But hey, I’m glad Concret3Cowboy, BrendawnoftheDead and I could be a part of your weekend routine.
Sappy shit aside, let’s take a look at how we did last week.
Week 17 Records:
Blind Owl: 6-9
Concret3Cowboy: 5-10
BrendawnoftheDead: 7-8
Wow. Brendawn won a week. It’s been all Brendawn and I the last few weeks. Is the Cowboy phoning it in at this point? Actually, he did better the week he actually called me and dictated his picks to me. Is it too little too late? Let’s see the overall records.
Total Records:
Blind Owl: 110-134-8
Concret3Cowboy: 117-127-8
BrendawnoftheDead: 112-132-8
Would you look at that? It’s actually really tight. It’s not likely (seeing how the Cowboy will be the last to make his picks), but one of us could overtake him. But to be honest, I’m just trying not to come in last. If I end up winning, that’s just an added bonus. It’s time for our picks for Week 18 in the NFL. Well, here goes nothing.
KC @ LV: KC -9.5
Blind Owl: I did Saturday games. Unfortunately we’ve got a stinker to start it off. The Chiefs are clearly better and should win by a lot. The question then becomes will KC play all of it’s starters. I’m not even going to try and understand how the seeding is going to work, so I’ll say they play everyone. KC wins big.
Concret3Cowboy: KC is not good against the spread! But at the same time… fuck the Raiders.
BrendawnoftheDead: The Raiders did exactly what they have done all season last week. Find new and exciting ways to lose! Sometimes they lose in close fashion, sometimes they get bodied. This week, they get bodied.
TEN @ JAX: JAX -6
Blind Owl: Come on Jags. I’m actively rooting for you now. Just beat the Titans by a TD.
Concret3Cowboy: Tennessee covers?
BrendawnoftheDead: Tennessee is dead in the water. They have one path to victory, Derrick Henry. Last time these teams played, Henry had well over 100 yards in the first half and they still lost. They will lose again and be forced to take a good hard look in the mirror this offseason. They crippled themselves by trading AJ Brown and there will be a reckoning. Jags win and thankfully make the playoffs with a winning record.
NE @ BUF: BUF -7
Blind Owl: This game will be emotional. The Bills are going to come out firing on all cylinders. The Patriots won’t know what hit them. Also, to make the playoffs, New England doesn’t have to win this one. The only question here is which idiot Boston sports personality will say the game was “fixed” so the Bills would win to honor Damar Hamlin?
Concret3Cowboy: No one circles the wagons better than the Buffalo Bills.
BrendawnoftheDead: If the Bills decide to play their key guys for seeding rather than rest, the Patriots have ZERO chance at victory. With the terrible events of Monday night, the seeding situation has become infinitely less cut and dry. Does the NFL attempt to finish the postponed game? Do they call it a draw or a no contest? When do they make the call? If it is a draw or no contest, then the Chiefs are the one seed provided they defeat the hapless Raiders. If they decide to finish the game, it is going to have to be prior to wild card weekend, so does Buffalo choose to sit players for the easier matchup in New England to be fresh for Cincy while not potentially playing 3 games in 8 days? Yeah, there are a lot of questions. I’m going to assume the Bills play enough guys to dispatch the hopeless Patriots offense and cover while some Patriots BS happens and they sneak into the playoffs with a losing record… gross.
LAC @ DEN: DEN -2
Blind Owl: Looking at this spread I’m assuming the Chargers are going to rest starters. Either way I’m picking LA because I’m bitter about the Broncos season.
Concret3Cowboy: When you expect Denver to do things they fall flat on their face.. But they better not get swept by the entire AFC West this season… its almost over
BrendawnoftheDead: I think the Chargers rest some guys. They clinched a playoff spot already and can go no higher. Provided Baltimore loses to Cincy, a loss doesn’t hurt the Chargers’ seed. Can the Broncos starters muster enough pride to beat the Chargers’ backups? I think so.
TB @ ATL @ ATL -4
Blind Owl: I’d really like to see the Bucs fail their way into the playoffs. Go Dirty Birds.
Concret3Cowboy: Falcons because it’s week 18 and one of these teams are going to the playoffs.
BrendawnoftheDead: A lot of this happening this week, Tampa will rest key starters as they have clinched the trashcan booty-butt division they play in but cannot improve their seed in any way. I think Atlanta can beat an unmotivated JV squad.
MIN @ CHI: MIN -7.5
Blind Owl: I kind of want to pick the Bears. My mind is telling me I’m an idiot, but my heart thinks it’ll be funny if they cover. But I can’t see Nathan Peterman doing it. I’ll take the Vikings.
Concret3Cowboy: Fields had his “coming out” season and the Bears have lost 8 straight games or something to that extent. The Bears are bad, but I’m beginning to doubt the Vikings as we get into the playoff season. They’ve had magical moments but they really haven’t been that great outside of Justin Jefferson. You have to take them here though, so give me the Vikings.
BrendawnoftheDead: Minnesota kind of has something to play for and Chicago is short the only player that makes them an NFL team. Minnesota by a bunch of TD’s.
BAL @ CIN: CIN -7
Blind Owl: Again with the emotion. If I’m the Bengals I’m kind of mad. Yeah last Monday was unprecedented but the Bengals kind of ended up getting screwed. They’ll take it out on Baltimore who has almost nothing to play for.
Concret3Cowboy: The Bengals have a lot to gain with taking care of their inferior divisional opponent. I’m glad my pick of Cincinnati for the AFC champ is looking a lot better than it did a few months ago.
BrendawnoftheDead: See my NE/ Buffalo pick regarding the seeding situation. I’m assuming Cincy will play enough guys to beat a severely compromised Baltimore team who just might rest guys for next week. Cincy takes it.
HOU @ IND: IND -2.5
Blind Owl: This game means nothing. Not a soul outside of these two markets will be watching this game. I’ve got to make up ground so I’ll take the Colts i suppose.
Concret3Cowboy: Umm, can I pick neither? At least Houston was supposed to be bad. Give me Lovie’s squad.
BrendawnoftheDead: Who in the world is playing QB for the Colts? Houston with the upset!
NYJ @ MIA: NYJ -1
Blind Owl: Don’t let Brendawn fool you with his explanation. He just wants the Jets to win so his sorry ass Patriots can limp into the playoffs and get spanked by a good team. I’m picking the Phins because the Jets are starting Joe Flacco.
Concret3Cowboy: Jets it is.
BrendawnoftheDead: Miami is in dire straits. Down to their 3rd string QB against a pretty good defense in a must win game… The Jets are going to try to end their season on a high note by denying Miami a playoff spot and they will do just that.
CAR @ NO: NO -3.5
Blind Owl: These two teams have screwed me all year. Can I pick a push just to be annoying? No. Ok well then I’ll take the Saints because the Panthers blew the opportunity to keep the Bucs out of the playoffs.
Concret3Cowboy: Hey the Saints defense did things last week.. Carolina didn’t do too many things last week. I don't know about this spread though. Saints cuz they’re kinda my boys.
BrendawnoftheDead: P.U. Carolina just to be different.
CLE @ PIT: PIT -2.5
Blind Owl: Gross. The Steelers just because I want the Patriots to miss the playoffs.
Concret3Cowboy: Steelers, because Tomlin is incapable of having a losing season.
BrendawnoftheDead: If Miami and Pittsburgh both lose, the Patriots sneak into the playoffs regardless of the outcome of their game vs Buffalo. The football gods are going to give us all the finger and make that happen. Here's to watching another massacre in prime time! Pittsburgh loses, it is the will of the gods.
NYG @ PHI: PHI -14
Blind Owl: Holy big ass spread. This will be a good team’s starters taking on a bad team’s backups. Eagles will fly.
Concret3Cowboy: Samesies
BrendawnoftheDead: The spread is huge but… seeding. The Giants can’t improve and the Eagles can clinch a first rd bye with a win. They will want that and will run roughshod over the Giants backups.
ARI @ SF: SF -14
Blind Owl: Ok. Here’s what’s going to happen. The 9ers will get up HUGE early. Maybe 21-0 in the 1st quarter. Then they’ll yank key players and the Cardinals will slowly creep back with 10 or something.
Concret3Cowboy: San Fran is that dark horse that isn’t so dark in the NFC. Arizona is getting ready for big changes this offseason.
BrendawnoftheDead: SEEDING. SF needs to win for an outside shot at a bye and to guarantee home field at least until the NFC championship game. Arizona has been dead and buried for quite some time. They’re already dead, no harm in rolling them over again. SF wins YUGEEEE
LAR @ SEA: SEA -6.5
Blind Owl: I would love the Rams to ruin Seattle’s season. Will it happen? Probably not. But screw it. I’ll take the Rams.
Concret3Cowboy: Seattle because they’ll try.
BrendawnoftheDead: This is my philosophy that I’m sticking to for the week. Teams with something left to play for will most likely beat teams that are already making vacation plans. The Rams are far too beat up to care about this game, plus they’ve already clinched the worst record ever for a defending super bowl champion so what’s another loss? Seattle wins.
DAL @ WAS: DAL -7
Blind Owl: I can’t pick a team who chose Carson Wentz over Taylor Heinicke. The Heinie crushing days are done in Landover, MD. Dallas easily.
Concret3Cowboy: In a surprising QB change there was a surprising moment with a well respected head coach. The Commanders got eliminated from the playoffs and he didn’t think it was possible. I still believe in Wentz but Heinicke had that team going as good as that pathetic franchise could go. Dallas has their last hoorah of the season before falling on their faces in the playoffs.
BrendawnoftheDead: The Commanders are done, they hitched their season on Carson Wentz and it predictably blew up in their faces. It is unlikely but Dallas has a shot at winning the division if they are able to win. Philosophy wins out, Dallas has something to play for (sort of) and Washington does not.
DET @ GB: GB -4.5
Blind Owl: There isn’t a person outside of Wisconsin that wants Green Bay to make the playoffs. The stars are lining up for that to be possible. First off, I refuse to pick the Packers again this year. Second, this one will follow the Cowboy’s rules. And thirdly, the whole world is with this pick. GO LIONS!!
Concret3Cowboy: Rules are rules.
BrendawnoftheDead: This is where things get interesting. If the season ended right now, both teams are out. If the Seahawks lose, the winner of this game goes. I think Seattle wins, so this is about pride. I’m picking Dan Campbell in the pride department. DETROIT FTW.
