NFL Week 18: picks, bets and Playoff scenarios

It was not a typical week for anyone. what happened to damar hamlin Monday night came as a shock to all of us, especially NFL coaches and players, particularly the Bengals and Bills, of course.

The league could not think of anything other than the health of Hamlin who, according to reports on Thursday, has shown notable improvement and even asked who had won the Monday Night Football.

Hours later, the nfl He made his position official regarding that game: it is cancelled.

In the absence of a meeting this Friday, this is the resolution recommended by the commissioner Roger Goodell and approved by the Competition Committee:

The AFC Championship Game will be played at a neutral venue if the participating teams played an unequal number of games and both were able to be the number one seed and play the Playoffs at home. Those circumstances imply either Buffalo or Cincinnati qualifying for the Championship on the road, so the NFL envisions the scenarios like this:

If Baltimore defeats Cincinnati in Week 18, it will have beaten the Bengals, a divisional opponent, twice, but it won’t be able to host a playoff game because Cincinnati will have a higher winning percentage for a 16-game schedule than Baltimore will for one of 17.

So if the Ravens defeat the Bengals and both teams must play a Wild Card against each other, the venue will be determined by a toss.

If Cincinnati wins the Week 18 game or if the Ravens and Bengals are not due to meet in the Wild Card round, the venues will be determined by normal tiebreaker procedures.

By canceling the game between the Bills and Bengals, the NFL is not forced to change the dates of the Playoffs, including the Super Bowl.

Let’s go to the picks of a complicated, but interesting Week 18, the last of the regular calendar:

GAME OF THE WEEK

Detroit at Green Bay (-4.5)

A month ago we gave up the Packers for dead; today they control their destiny and if they defeat Detroit on Sunday we will see them back in the Playoffs.

Green Bay has won four in a row. And not only that; he has also had all the help he needed to be able to be in this position and, incredibly, control his destiny.

It won’t be easy against the Lions, who are 7-2 in the last nine, and one of those losses came to Buffalo by a field goal.

Aaron Rodgers He has 25 touchdown passes and four interceptions in 12 games at Lambeau Field against Detroit, including four throws to the end zone last year.

But there ain’t no quarterback with a hotter hand than Jared Goff. The Lions quarterback has thrown 14 touchdown passes and zero interceptions since the loss to Buffalo on Thanksgiving. His last interception was against Green Bay on November 6, when the Lions beat the Packers 15-9 in Detroit.

Although the Lions defense has allowed the most passing yards in the NFL this season, Rodgers did throw up three interceptions in that game nine weeks ago and it will be interesting to see if they can force the four-time MVP into more mistakes on Sunday. in the evening.

A key piece in this game could be Aaron Jonesthe Packers running back who has generated 471 combined yards and scored seven touchdowns (three rushing, four receiving) in his most recent four games against the Lions.

The pick: The Lions have won the last two meetings in this series, both in Detroit, but the Packers are 18-7 against the Lions in games where Rodgers starts. With a playoff berth on the line, there’s no way you’re going against the most experienced team. Packers 31-26 Lions

UPSET SPECIAL

New York Jets (-1) at Miami

Miami still has life: they have to win and wait for help from the Bills. Dolphins 23-19 Jets

SURE PICK

New York Giants at Philadelphia (-14)

reappears Jalen Hurts and the Giants will use backups. Eagles 33-17 NYG

TWO MINUTE DRIVE

Kansas City (-9.5) at Las Vegas

Jarrett Stidham and his two games to try out in Las Vegas: San Francisco last week and Kansas City this Saturday. Wow. Chiefs 31-28 Raiders

Tennessee at Jacksonville (-6)

In all fairness, Jacksonville will win its first division title since 2017. Jaguars 27-20 Titans

Tampa Bay at Atlanta (-4)

At some point in the game, Tampa Bay has to rest the starters, including Tom Brady. Falcons 20-17 Bucs

New England at Buffalo (-7.5)

For obvious reasons, the Bills will come out of this game more than inspired. Buffalo 24-17 New England

Minnesota (-7.5) at Chicago

The Vikes are already NFC North champions and cannot move from the third seed in the NFC. There’s no need to risk the starters in Chicago. Bears 26-20 Vikings

Houston at Indianapolis (-2.5)

Duel that only serves to define positions in the first round of the Draft. Both teams will draft a quarterback, by the way. Colts 27-23 Texans

Carolina at New Orleans (-3.5)

Carolina had her chances last week in Tampa. Today both are eliminated. Saints 23-17 Panthers

Cleveland at Pittsburgh (-3)

Unbelievable, but — with a lot of help — the Steelers can still make the playoffs. At least they will do their part: win on Sunday. Pittsburgh 26-Cleveland 16

Baltimore at Cincinnati (-7)

The Bengals are not only the best team in the North, they are also one of the top three in the AFC. Cincinnati 23-14 Baltimore

Los Angeles Chargers at Denver (-2)

The Chargers is another already ranked team that has no need to use its starters in Week 18. Denver 28-20 LAC

Arizona at San Francisco (-14)

The 49ers can still finish as the top seed in the NFC, and that’s bad news for the Cards. San Francisco 33-17 Arizona

Los Angeles Rams at Seattle (-6.5)

To qualify, the Seahawks need to beat the Rams and then wait for the Packers to lose to Detroit. Seattle 30-20 LAR

Dallas (-7.5) at Washington

Jerry Jones he insisted this week that his Cowboys are going to play the starters. Someone should tell him that by the time this game starts, Dallas will even know that he’s going to have to face Tom Brady in the playoffs. Cowboys 26-13 Commanders

Last week: 10-5

Total in the season: 156-97-2

ON THE LINE OF PLAY