Monday’s 6-pack:
Some interesting spreads for Week 16:
— Broncos @ Chargers (-3)
— Texans (-2) @ Kansas City
— Steelers @ Baltimore (-6.5)
— Patriots @ Buffalo (-14)
— Rams (-3) @ Jets
— Eagles (-3.5) @ Washington
Quote of the Day
“I was trying to run up in the pocket, obviously 4th down, trying to make a play happen, and as I threw the ball, I kind of got hit — and I haven’t seen it — but it felt like someone hit me from behind as well. And so I kind of just got rolled up on. It kind of happens in football, and so I tried to bounce back up, but obviously, it hurt a little bit. But now we’ll just get after the rehab part of it and try to be ready for next week.”
Patrick Mahomes, describing his ankle injury
Monday’s quiz
25 years ago, the Rams won the Super Bowl for the first time, behind QB Kurt Warner, who was the backup during training camp. Who was the Rams’ starting QB that summer, before he blew his knee out in an exhibition game?
Sunday’s quiz
Dallas Cowboys won the first Super Bowl played in a domed stadium; they beat Denver 27-17 in the New Orleans Superdome.
Saturday’s quiz
Josh Harris owns the NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers and the NHL’s New Jersey Devils; he also owns the NFL’s Washington Commanders.
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Bills 48,
Lions 42
Bills scored 30+ points for 8th game in a row.
Buffalo won eight of its last nine games (7-2 ATS)
Bills’ first three drives: 25 plays, 221 yards, 21 points.
Buffalo averaged 10.6 yards/pass attempt.
Bills are first team since 1966 to play consecutive games where both teams scored 40+ points.
Detroit’s 11-game win streak was snapped.
Goff threw for 494 yards and five TD’s.
St Brown caught 14 passes for 193 yards and a TD.
Lions are tied in loss column with Vikings atop NFC North.
Detroit-Minnesota play at Ford Field in Week 18.
Packers 30,
Seahawks 13
Packers won eight of last ten games (4-0 ATS last four).
Green Bay outgained Seattle, 369-208.
Green Bay’s first four drives: 33 plays, 277 yards, 20 points.
Packers are 9-0 when they allow less than 24 points.
QB Smith hurt his knee, missed most of 2nd half (check status)
Seahawks/Rams are now tied atop NFC West (Rams won 1st meeting)
Seattle in 2nd half: 35 plays, 83 yards, 10 points.
Seattle allowed 26+ points in its losses, 21 or less in wins.
Ravens 35,
Giants 14
QB Jackson threw 5 TD passes, 4 of them plays of 20+ yards.
Ravens averaged 9.8 yards/pass attempt.
Baltimore is 9-0 if they score 28+ points, 0-5 if they score less than 28.
Ravens are 12-6 ATS in last 18 games as a road favorite.
Ravens were 9-11 on third down, Giants 2-12.
Giants are 0-9 SU/1-8 ATS in last nine games.
Last nine games, Giants were outscored 125-39 in first half.
Giants are 0-8 SU/2-5-1 ATS at home, scoring 10.6 points/game.
Jets 32,
Jaguars 25
Adams caught 9 passes for 198 yards, 2 TD’s, all in second half.
Jaguars led 13-7 at halftime.
Jets in second half: 38 plays, 330 yards, 25 points.
Over is 7-2 in their last nine games.
Jaguars are 1-6 SU/5-2 ATS in their last seven games.
Jaguars are 1-10 if they give up 18+ points.
Backup QB Jones is 19-28 as an NFL starter.
Seven of their last ten games went over the total.
Cowboys 30,
Panthers 14
Dallas led this game 10-7 at halftime.
Cowboys’ first four drives in 2nd half: 27 plays, 176 yards, 20 points.
Cowboys are 5-0 when they allow 20 or fewer points.
Dallas is 12-5 ATS last 17 games as a road favorite.
Carolina drove 72 yards on its first drive, but lost a fumble.
Dallas outgained the Panthers, 410-235.
Over is 10-4 in Carolina games this year.
NFC South home teams are 8-12 ATS in non-divisional games.
Commanders 20,
Saints 19
Down 20-13, Saints scored TD on last play of the game.
They went for 2 points and the win, but they failed.
Saints in first half: 20 plays, 28 yards, trailed 14-0 at half
Saints in second half: 33 plays, 237 yards, 19 points.
Washington’s first three drives: 30 plays, 125 yards, 14 points.
Commanders were 9-17 on third down, New Orleans 3-11
Saints sacked rookie QB Daniels eight times.
Commanders are 8-0 if they give up less than 26 points.
Bengals 37,
Titans 27
Cincinnati converted 10-13 third down plays.
Bengals won their last two games, scoring 27-37 points.
Bengals are 5-0 ATS as a road favorite TY.
Over is 10-3 in their last thirteen games.
Titans turned ball over six times, had 12 penalties for 110 yards
Bengals turned ball over four times, had 14 penalties for 113 yards
Tennessee is 2-8 SU/1-9 ATS in last ten games.
Titans are 2-8 ATS as an underdog this season.
Famous birthdays, December 16:
Joyce Bulifant, 87
Jan van Breda Kolff, 73
Jeff Ruland, 66
Jerry Gray, 62
Benjamin Bratt, 61
Bill Ripken, 60
Alcides Escobar, 38
Bryan De La Cruz, 28
Chiefs 21,
Browns 7
Mahomes sprained his ankle late in game (check status)
Chiefs are 13-1, but this was their first cover in eight games.
Cleveland turned ball over six times on 13 drives.
Kansas City led 14-0 at halftime.
Winston threw three INT’s, eventually got yanked.
Cleveland is 1-10 when they score less than 24 points.
Browns are 2-5 SU/ATS at home this season.
Browns are minus-15 in turnovers the last eight games.
Browns’ team total: under 11-3
Texans 20,
Dolphins 12
Dolphins outgained Houston, 224-181.
Miami turned ball over on four of their last seven drives.
Miami is 1-7 when it gives up 20+ points, 5-1 if they allow less.
Under McDaniel, Miami is 6-9 ATS as a road underdog.
AFC East road underdogs are 6-11 ATS in non-divisional games.
Houston won despite averaging only 3.5 yards/pass attempt.
Texans clinched AFC South when the Colts lost in Denver.
Texans are +16 in turnovers their last nine games.
Houston is 6-4 in games decided by 8 or fewer points.
2nd-year QB Stroud is 19-12 as an NFL starter.
Broncos 31,
Colts 13
Colts led 13-7 early in 3rd quarter; RB Taylor ran for what appeared to be an easy TD, but he was too cool and dropped the ball on purpose, but before he was in the end zone. Not good.
Colts after that play: 32 plays, 96 yards, no points.
Indy lost 5 of last 7 games, are 1-5 ATS in last six games.
AFC South road underdogs are 4-12 ATS in non-divisional games.
Colts turned ball over five times, Denver three times.
Broncos won despite being outgained 310-193.
Broncos won last four games, scoring 38-29-41-31 points.
Denver is 8-0 if they score more than 20 points, 1-5 if they score 20 or less.
Cardinals 30,
Patriots 17
Cardinals were 10-15 on third down, New England 0-6
Patriots lost five of their last six games, are 3-5 ATS on road.
Last four games, New England gave up 28-34-25-30 points.
NE is 11-23-1 ATS in last 35 games as an underdog.
Patriots are 32-50 SU since Tom Brady left town.
Arizona’s first five drives: 40 plays, 235 yards, 16 points.
Patriots’ first three drives: 13 plays, 40 yards, no points.
RB Conner ran for 110 yards, two TD’s.
Arizona is 14-6 ATS last 20 games vs AFC opponents.
Cardinals snapped a three-game losing skid.
Buccaneers 40,
Chargers 17
Buccaneers outscored Chargers 27-0 in second half.
Chargers in second half: 23 plays, 82 yards, no points.
Tampa Bay is 4-0 since its bye, scoring 30-26-28-40 points.
WR Evans caught nine passes for 159 yards, two TD’s.
Tampa Bay is 10-2 ATS last 12 games as a road underdog.
Buccaneers’ team total: over 11-3
Tampa Bay outgained the Chargers, 506-206.
Buccaneers were 9-15 on third down, Bolts 0-6.
Chargers only ran the ball 11 times, for 32 yards.
Chargers are 9-29-7 ATS last 45 games with spread of 3 or fewer points.
Eagles 27,
Steelers 13
Eagles are 10-0 SU/7-3 ATS in their last ten games.
Philly outgained the Steelers, 401-163.
Philly outscored the Steelers 10-0 in second half.
Steelers lost for only second time in their last nine games.
Eagles went out of their way to pad their WR’s stats:
Brown caught eight passes for 110 yards, Brown nine for 109.
Eagles were 10-17 on third down, Pittsburgh 3-10.
Philly is 9-5-1 ATS in last 15 games vs AFC opponents.
Eagles are 7-4 ATS in last eleven games coming off a win.
Conference bowl records (SU/ATS)
Sun Belt 1-0 SU/1-0 ATS
MAC. 0-1 SU/0-1 ATS
Favorites: 1-0 ATS
Totals: under 1-0
