Category: Week 18

Indianapolis at Jacksonville Prediction, Game Preview

Indianapolis at Jacksonville prediction, game preview, how to watch and lines for Week 18 of the NFL season, Sunday, January 9

Indianapolis at Jacksonville prediction, game preview, how to watch: Sunday, January 9

Indianapolis at Jacksonville How To Watch

Date: Sunday, January 9
Game Time: 1:00 ET
Venue: TIAA Bank Field
How To Watch: CBS
Record: Indianapolis (9-7), Jacksonville (2-14)
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Indianapolis at Jacksonville Game Preview

Why Indianapolis Will Win

The Colts don’t have a playoff spot locked up quite yet.

They’re in with a win or with a little bit of help, but they can lock up – at least – the 6 seed by taking down a Jacksonville team that’s trying, but just doesn’t have the offense.

The defense went bye-bye against New England in the 50-10 loss last week, but the offense that’s last in scoring, isn’t getting anything out of the passing game, and has only scored more than 17 points once in the last ten games.

New England ran all over the Jaguars, the Jets ran even better, and Indianapolis isn’t going to do anything crazy here. It’s going to run, it’s going to avoid turnovers, and it shouldn’t have a problem with a few early scores.

But …

– NFL Expert Picks, CFN Week 18

Why Jacksonville Will Win

Jacksonville has a weird way of rising up any being competitive once in a while.

The Colts also have a weird was of coming up with inexplicably mediocre performances, like last week with an offense that picked an awful time to come up with its worst performance of the season in the 23-20 loss to the Raiders.

It’s not a turnover problem – sometimes, the Colts just stop.

Jacksonville should be able to run a bit. Indianapolis hasn’t been bad against ground games lately, but the Jaguars will pound a bit and control the clock to slow things down, but …

– NFL Week 18 Schedules, Predictions

What’s Going To Happen

Nah.

Jacksonville will be plucky in a final-game-of-season way, but the defense won’t be able to do much of anything right.

After the Las Vegas flop, the Colts will come up with points on their first two drives and have this in hand with ease.

Indianapolis at Jacksonville Prediction, Line

Indianapolis 31, Jacksonville 15
Line: Indianapolis -14.5, o/u: 43.5
ATS Confidence out of 5: 2.5

Must See Rating: 2

5: Elmo
1: Rocco

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Green Bay at Detroit Prediction, Game Preview

Green Bay at Detroit prediction, game preview, how to watch and lines for Week 18 of the NFL season, Sunday, January 9

Green Bay at Detroit prediction, game preview, how to watch: Sunday, January 9

Green Bay at Detroit How To Watch

Date: Sunday, January 9
Game Time: 1:00 ET
Venue: Ford Field, Detroit, MI
How To Watch: FOX
Record: Green Bay (13-3), Detroit (2-13-1)
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Green Bay at Detroit Game Preview

Why Green Bay Will Win

Aaron Rodgers is taking a break from attempting to draw more attention to himself by playing in a football game.

The Packers already have the No. 1 seed in the NFL but they’re going to keep pushing with a week off to rest up. The idea will be to get some work in and get this over fast.

Detroit will obviously try to give it a shot to close the season out on some sort of a high note, but the defense has folded up – it didn’t do a thing in the loss to Seattle – without enough takeaways to help the cause. However …

– NFL Expert Picks, CFN Week 18

Why Detroit Will Win

The Lion offense hasn’t been all that awful even with QB Jared Goff out. He’s expected to be back and starting, but it’s up to the running game to take over.

The passing attack has to be decent, but the ground game should produce against a Green Bay D that held Dalvin Cook and Minnesota to a dead stop, but was lousy over a three-week run before that.

For all of Detroit’s problems, the offensive line hasn’t been totally awful as the year has gone on – relatively speaking. It’s been productive enough to take the heat off the quarterbacks, and in this, it’s going to matter to control the game because …

– NFL Week 18 Schedules, Predictions

What’s Going To Happen

Green Bay will come up with a few early scores, and then it’ll pack it in. That’s when the Detroit offense starts to slowly come back.

For all of the good things the Packers have done over the five-game winning streak, they’re not all that hot on third downs. Goff will be okay, the red-hot Amon-Ra St. Brown will have a decent day, and Detroit will make this a bit of a fight.

Green Bay won’t give the maximum effort and it’ll still be enough to get by.

Green Bay at Detroit Prediction, Line

Green Bay 26, Detroit 23
Line: Green Bay -3.5, o/u: 44.5
ATS Confidence out of 5: 1.5

Must See Rating: 3

5: Elmo
1: Rocco

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Cincinnati at Cleveland Prediction, Game Preview

Cincinnati at Cleveland prediction, game preview, how to watch and lines for Week 18 of the NFL season, Sunday, January 9

Cincinnati at Cleveland prediction, game preview, how to watch: Sunday, January 9

Cincinnati at Cleveland How To Watch

Date: Sunday, January 9
Game Time: 1:00 ET
Venue: FirstEnergy Stadium, Cleveland, OH
How To Watch: FOX
Record: Cincinnati (10-6), Cleveland (7-9)
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Cincinnati at Cleveland Game Preview

Why Cincinnati Will Win

Cincinnati is about to sit out – or miss because of COVID – its stars, and it still has a shot because Cleveland just doesn’t score.

There’s still a chance the Bengals can get the No. 1 seed and a week off – they have to win and Tennessee, Kansas City, and New England all have to lose – but they’re likely settled in as the 3 seed.

Case Keenum is likely going to get the call at quarterback for the Browns with Baker Mayfield hurting. A few other parts are out with COVID, the team is playing out the string, and …

Overall, the Bengal defense has held up.

Kansas City was able to move the ball, but that’s Kansas City. This is still among the league’s best run defenses, the offense should still be able to push the ball down the field at times – JaMarr Chase is likely going to play a wee bit – and the Brown O that failed to get past 14 points in five of its last seven games isn’t about to go off.

But …

– NFL Expert Picks, CFN Week 18

Why Cleveland Will Win

There’s still a reason for the Bengals to care and try to win, but let’s just say the team is already in playoff mode.

They’re not going to extend themselves too much. Job One is to be fully healthy for next week.

Cleveland might have a slew of issues, but the running game should still be fine with Nick Chubb and – maybe – Kareem Hunt barreling away against a run defense that’s been a tad soft lately.

The Bengal defense is still good, but it allowed 100 rushing yards or more in three of the last four games. And yes, Case Keenum is just fine as a fill in for the passing game.

– NFL Week 18 Schedules, Predictions

What’s Going To Happen

It’s a true playing-out-the-string game with Cincinnati already getting ready for what’s next. The two quarterbacks will bring the fight, though, and this should be relatively entertaining even if the stars aren’t shining.

In the last game of the year, Cleveland will get a bit more out of the running game as it cares about finishing out with a win in front of the home folk.

Cincinnati at Cleveland Prediction, Line

Cleveland 27, Cincinnati 17
Line: Cleveland -6.5, o/u: 37
ATS Confidence out of 5: 2

Must See Rating: 2

5: Elmo
1: Rocco

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Dallas at Philadelphia Prediction, Game Preview

Dallas at Philadelphia prediction, game preview, how to watch and lines for Week 18 of the NFL season, Saturday, January 8

Dallas at Philadelphia prediction, game preview, how to watch: Saturday, January 8

Dallas at Philadelphia How To Watch

Date: Saturday, January 8
Game Time: 8:15 ET
Venue: Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, PA
How To Watch: ESPN/ABC
Record: Dallas (11-5, Philadelphia (9-7)
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Dallas at Philadelphia Game Preview

Why Dallas Will Win

The Cowboys are all but locked into the middle of the NFC playoff pack, but this would lock in a home field game in the first round. Lose, and that opens the door for Arizona to host with a win over Seattle on Sunday.

Just how cranked up can the Dallas offense get? It has hardly stalled – it ripped Washington to shreds in a breathtaking first half a few weeks ago – but it hasn’t been the humming machine it should be going into the playoffs. This is the game to try getting on track.

The passing game is still fantastic – even with WR Michael Gallup done for the year with a knee injury – and the running game has been okay even with Ezekiel Elliott not quite himself.

The top-scoring team in the league could just out bomb an Eagle team that still doesn’t have a dangerous passing game, but …

– NFL Expert Picks, CFN Week 18

Why Philadelphia Will Win

Again, Dallas hasn’t been nearly as sharp as it should be.

It’s been great, and hitting 21 points or more without a problem on a regular basis, but it stalls way too often when the defense isn’t helping the cause with a ton of takeaways.

Dallas took the ball away multiple times – with 14 of them – over a four game stretch, and won all four. It didn’t come up with a takeaway against Arizona, and lost.

The team is 1-3 when it doesn’t generate a turnover, and Philadelphia has been very, very careful with the ball over the last month – it didn’t turn it over in three of the last four games.

The Eagle running game leads the NFL in yards and touchdowns, and the defense has stepped it up against the run over the second half of the season.

So …

– NFL Week 18 Schedules, Predictions

What’s Going To Happen

Which Dallas team shows up?

It’s more complete than Philadelphia – who has a playoff spot clinched, but might face the No. 2 NFC team if it doesn’t win – and it’s more explosive, but by gametime it’s going to be about 25 degrees.

The Eagle running game will handle the cold better, and it’ll take over late in the game to rally back after the Cowboys jump out to an early lead.

For the first time all year, Dallas will get just one takeaway, but it won’t get two or more.

Dallas at Philadelphia Prediction, Line

Philadelphia 26, Dallas 23
Line: Dallas -4.5, o/u: 43.5
ATS Confidence out of 5: 2

Must See Rating: 4

5: Elmo
1: Rocco

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Kansas City at Denver Prediction, Game Preview

Kansas City at Denver prediction, game preview, how to watch and lines for Week 15 of the NFL season, Monday, January 8

Kansas City at Denver prediction, game preview, how to watch: Saturday, January 8

Kansas City at Denver How To Watch

Date: Saturday, January 8
Game Time: 4:30 ET
Venue: Empower Field at Mile High, Denver, CO
How To Watch: ESPN/ABC
Record: Kansas City (11-5), Denver (7-9)
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Kansas City at Denver Game Preview

Why Kansas City Will Win

The Chiefs can put the pressure on Tennessee for the No. 1 seed.

It’s the opening game of the weekend so Kansas City obviously gets to go first. Win, hope for Tennessee to lose at Houston, and Patrick Mahomes and company will get the much-coveted week off.

Denver has fallen off a map over the last three weeks, losing four of its last five games, with only a win over Detroit breaking the gloom.

The ground game has gone bye-bye with no one believing Drew Lock can get the job done with the passing game, and the points aren’t there with 13 or fewer in four of the last five games and five of the last seven, including a 22-9 loss to the Chiefs.

But …

– NFL Expert Picks, CFN Week 18

Why Denver Will Win

So what can Denver possibly do to keep up?

The passing game has to start bombing and keep it going.

The Broncos don’t have a pitch-and-catch combination like Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow to JaMarr Chase, but there’s talent at the skill spots with the upside to start doing far more.

The running game rumbled for over 150 yards in the first meeting, and getting that many is a must as a starting point. Do that, start to push the ball deep – Kansas City allows close to seven yards per pass – and let it all hang out, because there’s nothing to lose.

It’s sometimes fun to play the spoiler’s role.

– NFL Week 18 Schedules, Predictions

What’s Going To Happen

Kansas City will strike fast as it tries to get this over fast, but Denver’s defense will be plucky in the final game of its season.

There will be takeaways, there will be a running game, and there will be too many drives that stall. The Broncos just don’t score enough, and they’re not going to be able to keep up as the Chiefs start to pull ahead late in the first half.

Kansas City at Denver Prediction, Line

Kansas City 27, Denver 16
Line: Kansas City -11.5, o/u: 45
ATS Confidence out of 5: 2

Must See Rating: 3

5: Elmo
1: Rocco

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NFL Game Previews, Schedule, Predictions, Lines, How To Watch: Week 18

NFL Week 18 schedule, predictions, and game previews with all of the game times, lines, and how to watch, highlighted by the Chargers vs Las Vegas, Dallas at Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh at Baltimore

NFL Week 18 schedule, predictions, and game previews with all of the game times, lines, and how to watch, highlighted by the Chargers vs Las Vegas, Dallas at Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh at Baltimore

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Click on each game for the game preview

Results So Far
SU: 166-88-1, ATS: 145-108, Point Total: 142-113-1

– NFL Expert Picks, CFN Week 18

Saturday, January 8

Dallas at Philadelphia

8:15, ESPN/ABC
Line: Dallas -6.5, o/u: 43

Kansas City at Denver

4:30, ESPN/ABC
Line: Kansas City -10, o/u: 44.5

Sunday, January 9

Cincinnati at Cleveland

1:00, FOX
Line: Cleveland -6, o/u: 37.5

Green Bay at Detroit

1:00, FOX
Line: Green Bay -4, o/u: 44.5

Chicago at Minnesota

1:00, FOX
Line: Minnesota -4, o/u: 44.5

Washington at New York Giants

1:00, FOX
Line: Washington -7, o/u: 38

Indianapolis at Jacksonville

1:00, CBS
Line: Indianapolis -15.5, o/u: 44

Pittsburgh at Baltimore

1:00, CBS
Line: Baltimore -6, o/u: 41.5

Tennessee at Houston

1:00, CBS
Line: Tennessee -10, o/u: 43

New Orleans at Atlanta

4:25, FOX
Line: New Orleans -4.5, o/u: 40

New York Jets at Buffalo

4:25, CBS
Line: Buffalo -16, o/u: 41

San Francisco at Los Angeles Rams

4:25, FOX
Line: Los Angeles Rams -4.5, o/u: 44.5

New England at Miami

4:25, CBS
Line: New England -6.5, o/u: 40

Seattle at Arizona

4:25, FOX
Line: Arizona -6.5, o/u: 48

Carolina at Tampa Bay

4:25, CBS
Line: Tampa Bay -8, o/u: 41.5

Los Angeles Chargers at Las Vegas

8:20, CBS
Line: Los Angeles Chargers -3, o/u: 49.5

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– NFL Expert Picks, CFN Week 18