It Should Be Playoffs, But Here are Week 18 Picks

Make no mistake, the season should be over. There should be no Week 18, but sadly, there is, so we must push on with picks. Also, it’s year 12 of the all-division-games final regular season week, and I don’t hate it one bit less than I did when it was first introduced in 2010. I’m at .500 entering the final regular season week, so I’m going to pick a bunch more games this week just because.

Last week: 3-2

Season: 17-17 (.500)

Green Bay (-3.5) at Detroit

Call me crazy, but I think the Lions have played hard and are not as bad as their record indicates. Sure, they lack talent and should probably still only be about 5-11, but this is a chance to end on a high note against a Packers team with nothing to play for. Somehow I think they make this a close game at the very least, if not pull the upset. Pick: Lions.

Indianapolis (-15.5) at Jacksonville

The Colts simply need to win to get in and the Jaguars should comply, but all the pressure is on Indy, so I’ll take the Jaguars to lose by a gentlemanly two touchdowns after losing by 40 last week to New England. Pick: Jaguars.

Washington (-7) at New York Giants

Let those dogs keep barking! I’m taking the woebegone Giants to squeeze out a cover here. They should have won the first meeting in Washington and found a way to lose, 30-29. This game won’t feature nearly as many points, but should be tight throughout. Pick: Giants.

Pittsburgh at Baltimore (-6)

No WAY the Ravens lose six straight to end the season after starting 8-3, right? I say right indeed. The Steelers gave Big Ben his emotional little send-off last week but Pittsburgh is no more a playoff team than Baltimore, though the reality is both teams are likely not playoff-bound this season. Give me the Ravens to end the skid and make the Steelers exactly what they should be – 8-8-1. Pick: Ravens.

Cincinnati at Cleveland (-6)

No Joe Burrow for Cincinnati? No Baker Mayfield for Cleveland? Well, they will still play this Battle of Ohio game, and for no other reason than Cleveland needs to end on a high note and the Bengals could have a letdown after last week’s big upset of the Chiefs, I’ll take the home team here to cap the sweep. Pick: Browns.

New England (-7) at Miami

So this is tricky, because if the Bills are blasting the Jets at the same time, the Patriots may ease up on the gas and get some regulars out of the game. Miami hit a wall after winning seven straight, getting annihilated, 34-3, in Tennessee last week, but I like Brian Flores’ squad to give a strong effort in the finale and potentially get a season sweep over the Patriots. That would be Miami’s first since Bill Belichick’s first season with the Patriots in 2000. Pick: Dolphins.

Carolina at Tampa Bay (-8)

The Bucs can still get the two seed, which would be important in a potential divisional round game against the Rams, who have beaten them the last two years. Carolina is in another free-fall, losers of six straight in a season that looks a lot like 2019, when they began 5-3 and then lost eight straight. The Bucs may not win by 26 like they did two weeks ago, but they should win comfortably enough to cover. Pick: Bucs.

New Orleans (-4.5) at Atlanta

The Saints can still get in, and they owe Atlanta one after being upset at home by them earlier this year. Give me the New Orleans defense to stifle Matt Ryan and keep their playoff hopes alive. Pick: Saints.

Seattle at Arizona (-6.5)

Arizona needs a good showing at home in a year in which they have a losing record in the Big Toaster. Seattle should have a let down after putting up 51 on the Lions last week, and the Cardinals will be motivated with a possible NFC West title on the line. Pick: Cardinals.

Los Angeles Chargers (-3) at Las Vegas

I’ve been calling this since the world tragically lost John Madden last week – the Raiders will rally for a somewhat-improbable playoff berth in the 2021 season. Last week’s road win in Indy was a great start, and now destiny is in their hands on Sunday night. The Chargers may be talented, but they sure are a foolish team and not the least bit trustworthy in clutch situations. With all the adversity the Raiders have been through this year, I think they will cap this wild season with a postseason berth (and then subsequently likely get pummeled by the Chiefs for a third time this year). Pick: Raiders.