Week 12 proved to be the longest week of professional football and now we have to wait until SUNDAY for more games. The Steelers and the Ravens had their game moved from Thanksgiving night to Sunday afternoon. Then, they were rescheduled until Tuesday so the Ravens could have time to return some of their players to the field. Then the game was moved to Wednesday afternoon so the Ravens could have adequate time to practice. The NFL bent over backwards to let the Ravens have a practice before their matchup with the Steelers. Remember earlier this season when the 49ers closed their practice facility and were still forced to play the Packers a day later? It seems that this season there will be special allowances made for some teams and not others. The league needs to standardize the rescheduling of Corona games so that each team has an equal shot heading into the postseason. Everyone but the Jets. (Sorry boys!)
Sunday, 6 December 2020
1:00p.m. EST
Indianapolis Colts (7-4) @ Houston Texans (4-7)
After losing to the Titans last week, Colts fans are wondering If QB Philip Rivers really has all the tools he needs to lead this Colts team into the playoffs. The Titans also put up more than 40 points on the previously top three ranked Colts defense. Going up against an offense with real pressure saw the Colts crumble a little bit. Considering the Texans also scored over 40 points last week in their win over the Lions, this could spell trouble for the Colts, taking to the road for the first time since Week 10. The Texans have now won two games straight look for them to pick up another win this week.
Detroit Lions (4-7) @ Chicago Bears (5-6)
The Lions are coming off their annual Thanksgiving Day loss. The Texans doubled their score before their bout was over. The Bears on the other hand are coming off a loss to Green Bay. While both of these teams are mediocre this season, the Bears should be able to edge out the Lions. The Bears are trying to return to their beginning of the season form and to push through for wins to drive through to the postseason. WR Allen Robinson II should have another big game for the Bears, propelling them above the Lions for a win at home.
Cleveland Browns (8-3) @ Tennessee Titans (8-3)
Titans RB Derrick Henry is one of the hottest fantasy players in the league right now. He is unstoppable on offense and seems to find the endzone almost every week. According to Sportsnaut, “Henry racked up 133 yards against the Ravens in Week 11. He then tore apart the Indianapolis Colts to the tune of 178 yards and three touchdowns last Sunday. Henry now leads the NFL in attempts (256) and rushing yards (1,257).” But the Browns have a defense that is really gelling right now and is finding a way to make big stops. On offense the browns also have RB Nick Chubb, another fantasy favorite, who should also be able to find the endzone this week. However, I think the Browns will waiver in the second half and the Titans come up with this win.
Las Vegas Raiders (6-5) @ New York Jets (0-11)
The Raiders have been struggling in the past several weeks, but nowhere near as much as the Jets have been struggling for all of the 2020 season. However, when the Raiders are comfortable with their opponent, they find ways to underestimate them. Playing the Jets should give the Raiders the opportunity to work on their play on both sides of the ball. Jets RB Frank Gore may be able to have a breakout game since the Raiders do not have a very strong run defense. With that being said, QB Derek Carr should perform admirably and the Raiders should win on the road.
Jacksonville Jaguars (1-10) @ Minnesota Vikings (5-6)
The Jags have been struggling to move the chains anywhere this season. They have lost ten straight games after winning their season opener, but every game they are consistently outscored. Vikings WR Justin Jefferson should have a big game against this Jaguars defense, becoming “just the fifth rookie to reach 1,000 receiving yards in the first 12 games of his career during the Super Bowl era,” according to ESPN. If he can put up more than 80 yards this week, he will do just that. Vikings TE Kyle Rudolph should also be able to find the endzone this week and lift the Vikings to a win at home in Minnesota.
Cincinnati Bengals (2-8-1) @ Miami Dolphins (7-4)
While the Bengals are still trying to find a reliable QB in the wake of the injury to Joe Burrow, the Dolphins may have a dilemma this week because their QB Tua Tagovailoa could play. If this is true, the Dolphins will have to decide between playing Tua or QB Ryan Fitzpatrick. However, both QBs should be able to secure a win for the Dolphins over a Bengals squad with no one at the helm.
New Orleans Saints (9-2) @ Atlanta Falcons (4-7)
The Saints have won eight games in a row, even without QB Drew Brees. The Saints’ defense has really come together in the past several weeks, giving up “28 points over the last four games,” according to Sportsnaut. The Falcons won big over the Raiders last week, but their defense generated several turnovers instead of being walked on like usual. This should be a decent game to watch with the Saints coming up with a road win due to a superior performance of QB Taysom Hill.
4:05p.m. EST
New York Giants (4-7) @ Seattle Seahawks (8-3)
Seattle QB Russell Wilson has comfortably sat his team at rank two in the NFC with the help of WR D.K. Metcalf. Metcalf is considered one of the top receivers in the NFL and has been able to generate big points for his team all season long. This has helped to mask some of the poor defense coming out of Seattle. Since they outscore their opponents their defense’s weaknesses are less glaringly obvious. The Giants narrowly beat a struggling Bengals team last week so they should not have anywhere near the offensive power it would take to topple Russ and the Seahawks this week. Seahawks win at home.
Los Angeles Rams (7-4) @ Arizona Cardinals (6-5)
Cardinals QB Kyler Murray has been doing the most to try and secure a victory for his team. He has had several last-minute attempts to come up with a win or at least play in OT, but the Cardinals come up short. Even with a “winning” record on the season, the Cardinals’ defense is what keeps them from winning. Since the Rams have one of the best D/ST in the league, we can expect more of the same from the Cardinals this week. The Rams defense should put the pressure on Murray and his offense enough to let Rams QB Jared Goff shine and put up some big points against the Cardinals with the assistance of WR Cooper Kupp finding the endzone.
4:25p.m. EST
New England Patriots (5-6) @ Los Angeles Chargers (3-8)
Chargers rookie QB Justin Herbert has put up crazy stats for fantasy and for his team with little to show for it in terms of wins. But the Patriots and QB Cam Newton found a way to win last week over the Cardinals. Not thanks to the stats posted by Newton. He didn’t throw a single touchdown, but he did throw two interceptions. He will be looking to pick himself up, dust himself off, and prove that their win wasn’t a fluke. This game should be a battle of quarterbacks. Look for Herbert to come up big at home and lead the Chargers to victory.
Philadelphia Eagles (3-7-1) @ Green Bay Packers (8-3)
The Eagles don’t even have a hold on their division anymore with their loss last week to the Seahawks. The Giants are sitting atop the worst division right now with only four wins. The Packers are coming off their win against the Bears last week after a superior performance by RB Aaron Jones, WR Davante Adams, TE Robert Tonyan, and QB Aaron Rodgers. Look for Jones, Adams, and Rodgers to have another lucrative day for their team. The Eagles, on the other hand, are struggling under QB Carson Wentz’s leadership. The Packers should have no problem pulling out a win at home this week.
8:20p.m. EST
Denver Broncos (4-7) @ Kansas City Chiefs (10-1)
The Chiefs have been playing exceptionally well under the offensive leadership of QB Patrick Mahomes. WR Tyreek Hill should also be able to find the endzone for the Chiefs and put up big fantasy points this week. The Broncos have been struggling to generate points and to make big plays on defense. Their game is weak on all sides of the ball. The Chiefs have almost quadrupled the score of the Broncos in the last four games, so the Broncos defense has their work cut out for them if they want to stay in this game. Chiefs have a decisive win at home.
Monday, 7 December 2020
5:00p.m. EST
Washington Football Team (4-7) @ Pittsburgh Steelers (11-0)
After their big test playing the Ravens on Wednesday afternoon, the Steelers have proven they are up for the challenge of staying undefeated. While the Ravens were decimated by positive Corona tests, they did have players like RB Mark Ingram II return to play Wednesday. The Steelers still emerged victorious with superior play on both sides of the ball. The Football Team did have excessive time to prepare for this bout with the Steelers coming off the shortest weak imaginable. If the Steelers could generate big downfield plays at the hands of QB Ben Roethlisberger, they should have no problem securing win 12 over the likes of the Football Team.
8:15p.m. EST
Buffalo Bills (8-3) @ San Francisco 49ers (5-6)
Bills QB Josh Allen has been exceptional in and outside of the pocket as of late. He can scramble, he can run to pick up yards, and he has been generating plays when it looks like there’s nowhere to go. He has truly found his rhythm this season and is not wasting any more time. The 49ers defense has been struggling and will not be able to hold back the explosive Allen and his WR core of Stefan Diggs and Cole Beasley. RB T.J. Yeldon has also been having an exceptional year with the Bills, and this momentum should carry into Arizona this weekend. The 49ers are extremely injured and Corona prone, and they don’t have a home field because of Santa Clara county restrictions, so this bout will take place ‘at home’ for the 9ers in Arizona. CELEB thinks it’s weird too, but at ‘home’ or not, the Bills have this win.
Tuesday, 8 December 2020
8:05p.m. EST
Dallas Cowboys (3-8) @ Baltimore Ravens (6-5)
The Ravens are headed into obscurity really quickly with a record that is barely ‘winning’. According to Sportsnaut, “They’d be on the outside looking in if the playoffs were to start today as the third-place team in the AFC North.” That doesn’t seem like the Ravens team from the beginning of this season. They are coming off of a very short week after playing the Steelers Wednesday afternoon, and they still have several powerhouse players out with Corona like their TE Mark Andrews. The Cowboys have been struggling with their losing record all season. Head Coach Mike McCarthy seems to be making the same play calling mistakes for them that cost Green Bay wins when he was still HC there. With Ravens QB Lamar Jackson coming off of the Corona list on Saturday, he should get one practice under his belt before the Ravens FINALLY come up with another win.
Games of the Week
Teams on Bye: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-5) and Carolina Panthers (4-8)
This will be the LAST week of byes.
