We have made it, people. Week eighteen of the regular season. A bittersweet moment, as we get to see seven hours of commercial free football for the very last time, but some of the best weekends of football are coming up, with the Wild Card Weekend and Divisional Round. I have had a blast writing these regular Sunday articles, but I am also really looking forward to previewing the playoffs and seeing where we can get to with the predictions. Thanks again for everyone’s support, I hope you enjoy the final regular week publication of the 2021 season.

NAP: 10 – 4.

CURRENT RECORD: 95-98.

Seattle Seahawks @ Arizona Cardinals: Cardinals -5.5 (NAP)

Seahawks:

• Current Record: 6-10 (3-5 away).
• Offence (Yards Per Game, ESPN): Overall – 317.2 (23rd) // Passing – 200.2 (25th) // Rushing – 117.0 (12th).
• Defence (Yards Allowed Per Game, ESPN): Overall – 383.8 (30th) // Passing – 270.4 (31st) // Rushing – 113.4 (18th)
• Points Per Game Stats, ESPN: PPG Scored – 22.3 (17th) // PPG Allowed – 21.0 (10th).
• Turnover Differential: +6 (9th).
• Injury Report (Out): John Reid – CB, Brandon Shell – T, Bobby Wagner – LB.

Cardinals:

• Current Record: 11-5 (3-4 home).
• Offence (Yards Per Game, ESPN): Overall – 377.9 (8th) // Passing – 255.6 (8th) // Rushing – 122.4 (9th).
• Defence (Yards Allowed Per Game, ESPN): Overall – 322.9 (10th) // Passing – 213.5 (8th) // Rushing – 109.4 (11th)
• Points Per Game Stats, ESPN: PPG Scored – 26.2 (11th) // PPG Allowed – 20.5 (5th).
• Turnover Differential: +11 (4th).
• Injury Report (Out): Chase Edmonds – RB, Rondale Moore – WR, Jordan Philips – DE, Marco Wilson – CB.

The Seahawks are heading into this game with one foot in Cabo. This is only the second time they have missed the playoffs since Russell Wilson got drafted in 2012. It will be interesting to see if the front office makes any major changes in the locker room, during the offseason. Will we see Pete Carroll and/or Russell Wilson back for the 2022 season? But that’s into the future, their game with the Cardinals is in the here and now, and it’s not looking good for them. With nothing to play for, it’s going to be hard to see where the major motivation will come. They are professionals at the end of the day, but I don’t see them putting Arizona under too much pressure, who are fighting for the division title. The Cardinals have won three of the last four meetings between the pair, and it looks like they should get the job done here. Arizona have been poor at home, but this will be a nice confidence booster game for Murray, as the Seahawks have been haemorrhaging passing yards in 2021. Arizona will be without Chase Edmonds and potentially James Conner, but Bobby Wagner is also out for Seattle, so whoever fills in for Arizona should get the job done on the ground. The Cardinals win the NFC West with a victory and a Rams loss.

Kansas City Chiefs @ Denver Broncos: Under 45.5

Chiefs:

• Current Record: 11-5 (4-3 away).
• Offence (Yards Per Game, ESPN): Overall – 397.3 (3rd) // Passing – 283.5 (2nd) // Rushing – 113.8 (16th).
• Defence (Yards Allowed Per Game, ESPN): Overall – 369.3 (26th) // Passing – 256.3 (28th) // Rushing – 113.0 (17th)
• Points Per Game Stats, ESPN: PPG Scored – 28.3 (4th) // PPG Allowed – 21.3 (13th).
• Turnover Differential: +3 (11th).
• Injury Report (Out): Clyde Edwards-Helaire – RB, Lucas Niang – OL.

Broncos:

• Current Record: 7-9 (4-4 away).
• Offence (Yards Per Game, ESPN): Overall – 328.4 (19th) // Passing – 213.8 (19th) // Rushing – 114.6 (14th).
• Defence (Yards Allowed Per Game, ESPN): Overall – 322.1 (9th) // Passing – 212.3 (7th) // Rushing – 109.8 (14th)
• Points Per Game Stats, ESPN: PPG Scored – 19.4 (23rd) // PPG Allowed – 18.4 (3rd).
• Turnover Differential: +2 (13th).
• Injury Report (Out): Teddy Bridgewater – QB, Dalton Risner – G, Kareem Jackson – S, Ronald Darby – CB, Pat Surtain II – CB.

For the Chiefs to have any chance at the number one seed in the AFC, they will need to win this game. They are coming off a disappointing loss away to the Bengals last week, where Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase cut them to shreds. Mahomes looked really good, but the defence let them down massively. The same will not happen in this game, as the Broncos obviously don’t have the same offensive strengths as the Bengals. Teddy Bridgewater is out, and Drew Lock is in once again. To be fair, he played ok last week against the Chargers, throwing for 245 yards and one touchdown, with no INTs.

The under is a strange pick for this game, with Kansas being an offensive powerhouse, as well as two CBs being out for Denver. The reason I like it is that the weather is looking pretty bleak in Denver, as snow and rain is predicted. Another reason is that when the two teams last met in week 13 in Arrowhead, the score line finished 22-9. I don’t think Denver will put up more than 14 points and it would be tough to see the Chiefs putting up more than 31 points against a defence that is only conceding 18.4 points per game. I could see this game finishing around the 27-13 mark. Take the spread if you are more comfortable with that, I just worry that Andy Reid will take off the starters with a few minutes left, allowing the Broncos to get a late touchdown, covering the 10.5.

Carolina Panthers @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Bucs -8

Panthers:

• Current Record: 5-11 (3-5 away).
• Offence (Yards Per Game, ESPN): Overall – 297.8 (30th) // Passing – 189.5 (29th) // Rushing – 108.3 (21st).
• Defence (Yards Allowed Per Game, ESPN): Overall – 299.5 (2nd) // Passing – 183.9 (2nd) // Rushing – 115.6 (20th)
• Points Per Game Stats, ESPN: PPG Scored – 17.9 (29th) // PPG Allowed – 22.7 (19th).
• Turnover Differential: -11 (30th).
• Injury Report (Out): Sean Chandler – S, Doubtful.

Bucs:

• Current Record: 12-4 (6-1 home).
• Offence (Yards Per Game, ESPN): Overall – 405.8 (1st) // Passing – 306.6 (1st) // Rushing – 99.2 (27th).
• Defence (Yards Allowed Per Game, ESPN): Overall – 332.4 (14th) // Passing – 240.9 (22nd) // Rushing – 91.4 (3rd)
• Points Per Game Stats, ESPN: PPG Scored – 29.4 (2nd) // PPG Allowed – 21.0 (11th).
• Turnover Differential: +8 (8th).
• Injury Report (Out): Shaq Barrett – LB, Ronald Jones – RB, Jason Pierre-Paul – LB, – Rashad Robinson – CB, Justin Watson – CB.

I am back on the Bucs this week after taking the Jets +14 against them last Sunday. Brady left it close to take home the W and will look to improve on that result this week. The Bucs have some defensive injury woes, but the Panthers are in major panic mode, in terms of their offence, so I don’t see that being too much of a worry for Tampa. Tampa have scored at least 30 points in every home game, except for the 9-0 loss to the Saints. And we all know that the Saints are the Bucs bogey team.

This Bucs beat the Panthers 32-6, in their own backyard, in week sixteen. This will probably get ugly again, but the Panthers will keep it a smidge closer. Bucs 30-17.

New England Patriots @ Miami Dolphins: Patriots -6.5

Patriots:

• Current Record: 10-6 (6-1 away).
• Offence (Yards Per Game, ESPN): Overall – 351.8 (16th) // Passing – 225.8 (14th) // Rushing – 126.1 (8th).
• Defence (Yards Allowed Per Game, ESPN): Overall – 311.6 (3rd) // Passing – 192.4 (4th) // Rushing – 119.3 (22nd)
• Points Per Game Stats, ESPN: PPG Scored – 27.4 (8th) // PPG Allowed – 16.9 (1st).
• Turnover Differential: +10 (5th).
• Injury Report (Out): Kyle Dugger – S, Ronnie Perkins – LB.

Dolphins:

• Current Record: 8-8 (5-3 home).
• Offence (Yards Per Game, ESPN): Overall – 307.6 (25th) // Passing – 221.8 (15th) // Rushing – 85.8 (31st).
• Defence (Yards Allowed Per Game, ESPN): Overall – 334.9 (15th) // Passing – 226.6 (14th) // Rushing – 108.3 (10th)
• Points Per Game Stats, ESPN: PPG Scored – 19.3 (24th) // PPG Allowed – 21.8 (16th).
• Turnover Differential: -3 (22nd).
• Injury Report (Out): Malcolm Brown – RB, Patrick Laird – RB.

The Patriots clinch the AFC East title, with a win and Buffalo loss/tie, or a tie and a Buffalo loss. There will be no slowing down here for Big Ole Billy’s Patriots against another AFC East rival, Miami Dolphins. The Dolphins got the better of the Patriots in week one, taking home the spoils in a 17-16 battle. Miami Head Coach Brian Flores worked under Belichick in the past and certainly knows how he operates, but I think the old Jedi Master will take home the necessary victory here.

The Patriots are coming off an impressive victory over the Jaguars, in week 17. They ran the ball well and Mac Jones did what he had to do in the passing game. The Dolphins on the other hand, lost to the Titans, to seal their 2021 fate. The Titans dominated on the ground and completely overpowered Miami 34-3, in the Tennessee rain. Since their week one matchup, New England has become one of the best defensive teams in the league, ranking first in points allowed. I like them to put Tua & Co. under pressure here and squeak out the W, by around 7-10 points.

All Week 18 Picks:

• Kansas City Chiefs @ Denver Broncos: Under 45.5
• Dallas Cowboys @ Philadelphia Eagles: Cowboys -4.5
• Chicago Bears @ Minnesota Vikings: Over 43.5
• Cincinnati Bengals @ Cleveland Browns: Browns +6
• Green Bay Packers @ Detroit Lions: Under 44.5
• Indianapolis Colts @ Jacksonville Jaguars: Under 44
• Pittsburgh Steelers @ Baltimore Ravens: Ravens -3.5
• Tennessee Titans @ Houston Texans: Texans +10
• Washington Football Team @ New York Giants: WFT -6.5
• Carolina Panthers @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Bucs -8
• New England Patriots @ Miami Dolphins: Patriots -6.5
• New Orleans Saints @ Atlanta Falcons: Over 39.5
• New York Jets @ Buffalo Bills: Bills -16.5
• San Francisco 49ers @ LA Rams: 49ers +4.5
• Seattle Seahawks @ Arizona Cardinals: Cardinals -5.5
• LA Chargers @ Las Vegas Raiders: Chargers -3

€5 to €500 Challenge

J.