It feels more than a little dirty to be writing an NFL picks column while one of the league’s brothers remains hospitalized. Lord knows the only pick that matters is that Bills safety Damar Hamlin beats the odds and makes a full recovery.
According to Heart.Org, there are approximately 350,000 cardiac arrests that take place each year outside of a hospital. The survival rate is less than 12 percent.
Hamlin was in Paycor Stadium Monday night, not a hospital, when his heart stopped after making a tackle on Cincy WR Tee Higgins, who deserves our wishes. Higgins did nothing wrong. He was playing a violent sport, clearly a life-threatening sport, when he crashed helmet into Hamlin’s chest. Higgins was clearly upset when he left the stadium, comforted by his mother. Hope he finds peace.
Reports out of the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, where Hamlin remains in critical condition, is that the 24-year-old is showing signs of a remarkable recovery. Those who have known Hamlin since he was a child have spoken about his love for the game.
If he plays it again, magnificent. If he doesn’t, but goes on to lead a healthy, happy, and rewarding life, fantastic.
But the reality is that the NFL will go on, even if there has been no resolution as to when the Bills-Bengals game is completed. It is a hugely important game with both teams in contention for the No.1 seed in the AFC.
The Chiefs (13-3) will clinch the No.1 seed with a win Saturday at Las Vegas (6-10) and a Bills (12-3) loss to the Patriots (8-8) on Sunday, assuming that game is played. If the Bills win out, they clinch the No.1 seed. If the Bengals win out and the Chiefs lose, they get the No.1 seed.
Remember, the No.1 seed is the only team that gets a bye.
So let’s look at Saturday’s game without forgetting for one second that the Damar Hamlin should receive all the love, prayers and good thoughts we have. Defiant Damar won’t become a statistic.
Chiefs -9.5 over RAIDERS – This should be a K.C. Best Bet. That No.1 seed is within reach. The Raiders have been eliminated from a playoff spot, their QB, Derek Carr, has left the team and they’ve lost 3-of-4. In fact, it should be 0-4 if not for the Jakobi Myers lateral that will forever be known as the Patriots version of the Jets butt fumble.
However, those three losses were by a total of seven points. Heck, the Raiders could be in the playoffs! They continue to play hard. They’ve covered in five of the last seven games.
The Chiefs have only covered once, ONCE, in their last seven games. This must be a concern to Andy Reid who might want to stop drawing mustaches on Patrick Mahomes and kick the Chiefs in their collective rear ends.
Raiders QB Jarrett Stidham looked great in his only start of the season, completing 23-of-34 passes for 365 yards three touchdowns in a 37-34 OT loss to the 49ers. But he also threw two picks. That first-start adrenaline won’t be there this weekend, and one must ask, “If Stidham is so good, why isn’t he still with the Patriots, whose QB room isn’t exactly a collection of future Hall of Famers?”
+JAGUARS -6.5 over Titans – The Jaguars have won four straight, QB Trevor Lawrence is justifying that No.1 overall pick in 2021 and the most popular drink in Jacksonville is the Jaguarita. Ok, we made that up, but The Loser is copyrighting that bad boy.
The Titans have lost six straight, they’re starting Josh Dobbs, a fourth-round pick by the Steelers in the 2017 who was signed off the Lions practice squad on Dec. 21st. That’s right, Dobbs wasn’t even with the Titans less than a month ago and he wasn’t even Jared Goff’s backup in Detroit.
LOSER LOOK BACK (Expert advice in italics).
FALCONS -5.5 over Cardinals – Falcons, 20-19. Elimination Bowl. Both teams already eliminated – why watch? Why wager?
+CHIEFS -12.5 over Broncos – Chiefs, 27-24. K.C. in contention for the No.1 seed. Is it The Loser or have the Chiefs not looked like a No.1 seed the last four weeks?
+PATRIOTS -2.5 over Dolphins – Patriots, 23-21. Despite Rhamondre Stevenson’s best efforts, Patriots very much alive in the playoff hunt. No running back gained 50 yards. No receiver gained more than 60 yards. Mac Jones threw for less than 175 yards. Pats win. Playoff team? Really?
EAGLES -5.5 over Saints – Saints, 20-10. Eagles can clinch the NFC East. Jalen Hurts better get well soon or Philly might lose the NFC East, which would thrill The Loser.
COMMANDERS -2 over Browns – Browns, 24-10. Carson Wentz tries to resuscitate his career – again. Wentz throws three picks, no TDs. Memo to Wentz: USFL tryouts begin Jan. 14. The Loser will be there.
+49ers -9.5 over RAIDERS – 49ers, 37-34. 49ers can still clinch the No.1 seed in the NFC. Raiders can clinch the title as most dysfunctional NFL team (Denver has edge). Picks like this will make The Loser, Mr. Irrelevant, who became the fifth rookie QB to win his first four starts
Jets -1.5 over SEAHAWKS –Seahawks, 23-6. We’ve gone with the Jets the last two weeks – and lost. And he wonders why he’s called The Loser.
Rams +6.5 over CHARGERS – Chargers, 31-6. The first NFL game played in America in which there is no home team although the Rams will have to find the visiting locker room. Baker “The Commercial Maker,” Mayfield (11-of-19, 132 yards, no TDs) continues to haunt The Loser in what has turned into a grudge match.
RAVENS -2 over Steelers – Steelers, 16-13. Hoping Mike Tomlin avoids first losing season. The Loser wasn’t hoping that much.
HOME team in CAPS
Last Week: 5-10; Best Bets: 0-3
Overall: 114-111-5; +Best bets: 24-21