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00:0015 weeks of the NFL regular season now in the books of course now with the
00:05extended regular season 18 total weeks do our quick math only three remain in
00:12Joe as we focus on the NFC playoff picture after the doubleheader of
00:16Monday Night Football in the Vikings winning in the Falcons winning let's try
00:21to correlate where the playoff standings are to what the odds are telling us for
00:27the postseason outlook as well there you see your divisional leaders on the
00:32left again the Lions still that top spot in the NFC still a minus money favorite
00:37to be the one seed at minus 125 and they currently own that tiebreaker
00:42advantage against Philadelphia based on conference win percentage the wild card
00:48spots feel mostly firmed up as well the Vikings are 12 and 2 the Packers are 10
00:54and 4 the commanders are 9 and 5 sure only a game lead over the Seahawks just
01:00two in front of the Falcons who they play next weekend two weekends from now
01:05but Washington minus 430 to reach the NFC playoffs as well so Joe let me start
01:12with the wild card do you think any of those teams currently in the three spots
01:17would change hands or positions in these final three weeks of the regular season
01:22yeah I don't think so Ben I mean it would appear to me I think the Vikings
01:27and the Packers have solidified their their spots they are mostly because I
01:32don't see them catching the Lions here at this point and the commanders again
01:39looking at their schedule Ben down this stretch here it's a very doable schedule
01:44here with they've got the Eagles coming up that might be a problem but the
01:49Falcons as currently playing and the Cowboys oh that puts them at 11 wins 11
01:56and 6 nobody's catching them I think those three are locked in at this
02:00particular point yeah I would agree as well Joe and it's still an important
02:05game this weekend week 16 between the commanders and the Eagles because if
02:09Philly wins outright the Eagles clinch the NFC East the odds not even available
02:15for the NFC East at this moment theoretically a commander's win in
02:20winning out in the Eagles dropping their final three games could allow
02:25Washington to win the division we don't really expect that to be the case and
02:29the birds trying to extend their win streak to 11 consecutive or a three and
02:34a half point favorite in Landover on Sunday that one of the marquee matchups
02:39in the early window kicking at 1 p.m. Eastern time Joe let's talk about those
02:43birds and the Lions in the top spot again Detroit still the favorite to win
02:48the NFC championship right now Detroit despite the injuries still favored at
02:53minus 125 to be the one seed but Joe if you had to bet these two teams right
02:59here right now as they are still the short frontrunners to win the
03:03conference crown in the NFC separated by just 30 cents who would get your wager
03:10she's uh it's I don't know that anybody's playing better than Eagles do
03:15you I it's the Lions there's so many more question marks the Eagles are
03:20really not any of that drama that we were told about Ben I guess between the
03:26quarterback and his wide receiver and you know a defensive player letting the
03:31Canada like all of that water under the bridge like we said you keep winning
03:35games nothing else matters and right now all the Eagles continue to do it
03:40seems like Ben is get better and better and better and meanwhile the Lions keep
03:46getting more hurt more hurt and more hurt and that's not a good recipe you
03:52feel for the fans in the Motor City a generational season for the Lions that
03:56might be defined in the final month by catastrophic and season-ending injuries
04:01we'll look at the injury report for the Lions when we start our NFL news and
04:06notes in our number two and I'll just say this the Lions remain the favorite
04:11right to win the NFC title and to be that one seed if for whatever reason
04:16those odds flip to be the number one overall seed especially if Philadelphia
04:20is and they would host a potential NFC championship game where the Lions have
04:26to go outside to win a conference crown they are no longer that being Detroit
04:31going to be the favorites to win the NFC crown quickly here Joe the three
04:36seed the four seed the Buccaneers and the Rams the favorites currently and in
04:41that top spot in the NFC South and West respectively both teams 14 to 1 to win
04:48the NFC championship do either in your mind present value to make a deeper
04:53postseason run now listen if you're looking for a dark horse here those two
04:59obviously at double-digit prices guess what Ben they can beat just about
05:05anybody on any given day on that list here so that's gonna be very interesting
05:11down the stretch heck they almost beat Detroit last year both organizations
05:15with some playoff pedigree in the last three four years or so power to that we
05:21welcome you to our number two live right here on this Tuesday on the early line
05:26on sports grid and all across the sports grid network that is germinary I
05:30am Ben Stevens we are here together for two more hours up until 11 a.m. Eastern
05:36time Joe to start off this second hour it's a ton of injury news and notes
05:41around the National Football League now that we have just three weeks remaining
05:45in this regular season around the NFL perhaps you are looking at the playoff
05:51picture and you are trying to forecast how your team how your most
05:55bitter rival how everybody will factor in that playoff mix whether it be a spot
06:00a seed or whatever that is what we do here as we will look at the outlook
06:07based on injuries the remainder of the way there is so much unfortunately
06:13injury news to dissect here on the early line on this Tuesday if we see it
06:20unfortunately Ben every time a year right around now don't we where teams
06:24you know they start to looking so good and then all of a sudden the injuries
06:29pile up and then they look a shell of themselves by the end of the year I mean
06:35that's why takes a little bit of luck here Ben in order to be able to write
06:39out a what 18 week season now and try and not lose any of your mainstays guys
06:46that matter to you the most it's not an easy thing to do you need a little bit
06:50of luck here during the season the word mainstay is not even significant enough
06:56to describe one Patrick Mahomes in Kansas City because Joe with eight
07:01minutes remaining in the fourth quarter in Sunday's comfortable win in
07:05Cleveland Patrick Mahomes on fourth and three trying to complete a pass to
07:10extend the drive and move the sticks was kind of sandwiched in between two Browns
07:15defenders had a high ankle injury after the game and on Monday tests done this
07:23was from NFL Network's Ian Rappaport Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes
07:27diagnosed with a mild high ankle sprain following tests and he still considered
07:33week-to-week test confirmed initial thoughts let's take it a step further so
07:39that is the prognosis that is the injury how about the timeline might Mahomes
07:44play this week or practice this week in Kansas City Rappaport furthering on that
07:50idea Joe in saying the Chiefs will monitor his status as the practice week
07:55rolls on it is a short week however for Kansas City as they will play on
08:02Saturday at home hosting the Houston Texans in fact schedule wise timeline
08:08wise it is a very difficult stretch for KC short week Saturday against the
08:14Texans and not even like 830 p.m. Eastern Time 1 p.m. Eastern Time hosting
08:20Houston and then a very short week as they'll get ready for a Christmas Day
08:25game on a Wednesday in Pittsburgh so about two games for Kansas City in the
08:32next 10 days Joe that is not easy for Patrick Mahomes to be out there even if
08:38the long-term effects of this high ankle sprain are in fact with the Chiefs
08:44are calling it mild yeah we had this concern a couple of years ago in the
08:50Super Bowl with him right against he was at the 49ers been where we weren't sure
08:54if that ankle was gonna be a hundred percent well didn't didn't stop him from
08:58winning there but three games in ten days is brutal and he even complained
09:04about it over the last couple weeks going you know how hard that is on your
09:08body well he himself doesn't think he's gonna be ready to go this week and quite
09:13honestly why are you pushing the envelope with him you're going to the
09:18playoffs you're making a playoffs you don't need home field advantage you've
09:22already made that clear you've already shown that I am playing kid gloves here
09:27during this stretch here and I am making sure he's ready to go in January instead
09:32of three games in ten days in December Ben yeah I would completely agree with
09:38you Joe and I think Kansas City is going to have that mindset as well so
09:43let's start first with week 16 and then we'll go beyond the odds makers right
09:49now are not expecting to see Patrick Mahomes on Saturday not only a short
09:55week but it's less time of course to get ready for the Houston Texans the Texans
10:01clinched the AFC South yet again this past Sunday with a victory over the
10:07Dolphins in the Colts losing in Denver so Houston pretty comfortable maybe
10:12trying to figure out its seed line in terms of hosting a playoff game in the
10:17opening round for Kansas City though Joe this is where things get very very
10:23interesting we'll start with the odds for Saturday and then of course as I
10:27said go beyond the Chiefs right now are a two and a half point home underdog in
10:33Arrowhead against Houston this upcoming Saturday in week 16 that of course a
10:39very strong indication the odds makers are not expecting that Patrick Mahomes
10:45plays for the Chiefs on a short week I wouldn't expect it either you know I
10:52mean he could barely walk off the field there against the Browns and although he
10:56said he was if it was a closer game I would have tried to get back in there
11:00well that's all fine and dandy because the adrenaline's pumping but now we all
11:04know what happens with that ankle Ben the books know it the line tells you in
11:09all likelihood this is not a game especially with the Steelers on deck
11:13both teams can get after the quarterback defensively you got to pick your spots
11:19here and be real smart about it there but I'm sure Andy Reid already knows
11:23that he's always gonna want to play we know that but that's why you need a head
11:27coach who's willing to save the player from himself Ben that's how you know
11:31you got a good head coach a minimal total as well at 39 in a hook when the
11:37Texans have been at their best the defense is leading the way this year
11:42Houston just four five and two against the number as the favored side this
11:46season the Chiefs have had to rely on their defense for a lot of this season
11:51to pull out those narrow victories the ironic part if you will call it that
11:57based on Sunday the largest margin of victory for Casey this year a full two
12:03touchdowns 14 points of course also results in an injury to Patrick Mahon the
12:09Chiefs have already clinched the AFC West that is not a divisional chase as
12:13of right now the most important number Joe in my estimation is not the
12:19conference price or the Super Bowl price where the Chiefs are now behind
12:23Buffalo it is that AFC number one seed still at minus 195 that should check out
12:30from the odds component Kansas City is a full two games win-loss record wise in
12:35front of Buffalo but without Patrick Mahon's maybe this week or on another
12:42very short week following with a Christmas Day game in Pittsburgh which
12:47even with a healthy Mahon's might be a pick them Buffalo could be in line to
12:52challenge Kansas City for that one seed Joe when the season is over who ends up
12:58is that number one seed in the AFC playoff picture so I think it's Buffalo
13:03I know I think this injury to Mahon's changes everything and I don't think I'm
13:08understating it or overstating it quite honestly here I mean with the with the
13:14bills bouncing back the way they did with this gauntlet of games that Kansas
13:20City has coming up you know Houston is not the Browns and if you've got to play
13:26Carson Wentz been in a couple of games just in order to be able to survive yeah
13:31I don't see Buffalo slowing down and I think very much so this is the number
13:36one seed is up for grabs I wouldn't be laying that number with Kansas City
13:41thinking that's an or you know minus 195 is an automatic they're gonna be the
13:45one seed I don't think so and that's why I bet Buffalo at a plus 160 price
13:51yesterday the Bills have two games left against the Patriots with the Jets
13:56sandwiched in between that should be three wins for the Bills in Buffalo will
14:01need all three wins more than likely the Chiefs right now their win total as you
14:06saw 14 and a half the under has the slight bit of juice if Buffalo wins out
14:12the Bills are 14 and 3 if the odds makers are correct in case he loses two
14:17of its last three they're 14 and 3 Buffalo has the direct head-to-head
14:22tiebreaker and thus once again the postseason within the AFC would run
14:28through Western New York it didn't benefit the Bills last postseason but it
14:34could be the difference this time around we'll talk more about that in the
14:38injury salon live right here on the early line on sports grid a lot of
14:43injuries to go through around the National Football League it is the
14:47unfortunate part of a long NFL regular season but every team has to deal with
14:53them you just hope they do not hamper the end of your regular season affecting
14:58your playoff outlook or the health of your team for what you were hoping might
15:03be a historic postseason run that is the case Joe in Detroit a Lions defense
15:12that had already been so banged up this season in the long term get names like
15:18Aiden Hutchinson out for the remainder of this year a linebacker in leader in
15:23Alex Anzalone has only gotten longer now for Detroit in the last 48 hours and not
15:31just on the defensive side of the ball two huge ones yesterday now out for the
15:37remainder of this season one of the best offensive tackles in the sport
15:41Aleem McNeil suffering a torn ACL against Buffalo on Sunday David
15:47Montgomery on the other side of the ball a torn MCL he needs surgery he is out for
15:54the remainder of this season and by all standards Joe that includes a playoff
15:59run maybe even an appearance in a Super Bowl as well Carlton Davis a veteran
16:05presence in that secondary has a fractured jaw he is out indefinitely the
16:10Lions are calling it around six weeks could return for a deeper portion of the
16:17postseason maybe an NFC championship game or a Super Bowl birth in Khalil
16:23Dorsey another member of that defensive backfield out for the remainder of this
16:28year with a scary injury on Sunday against the Bills a fractured leg Joe
16:34will give our reactions to this in just a little bit but first let's hear from
16:39the guy calling the shots in the Motor City that would be Dan Campbell listing
16:44off the injuries yesterday for the Lions and how Detroit will try to respond we've
16:51lost players who lost really good players but nobody cares I mean you know
16:55nobody cares and nobody's going to give us a pass or put an asterisk next year
16:59record or so what it means is some guys are going to have an unbelievable
17:04opportunity you know because of what has happened that means now and you're a guy
17:09who's on the vet squad or you're a young player or you're somebody that's been
17:13dying to get an opportunity you're about to get it and and so that's that's a
17:19pretty cool thing that's a pretty inspiring thing you know what are you
17:21gonna do with it and and it's up to us to give them a plan to where they can
17:25succeed and I've said it before we play with three units here and we'll do what
17:30we have to do to win a game and that's all that matters that's all that matters
17:34from here on out is that you just need to have one more point than the opponent
17:37period Joe you knew that Dan Campbell was going
17:41to have the correct mentality and say the right things about that gritty
17:45effort and the next man up idea that Detroit has shown and would continue to
17:50persevere through down this home stretch of this regular season into the
17:55playoffs it's one thing to say those words it's another thing to actually
17:59have the availability and the talent necessary in your reserves to compete at
18:05that highest level when your goal is not to win football games just to make the
18:10postseason but win football games to be in a great spot to start the playoffs and
18:15actually play in a Super Bowl for the first time in franchise history your
18:20heart goes out to those fans in the Motor City that have seen a generational
18:25run these last two years that now we're going to have their season impacted at
18:31this point by the countless injuries the Lions are having to suffer through yeah
18:37and but they at least in my mind Ben have a puncher's chance because of how
18:42they can win games as much as that defense is decimated Dan Campbell's
18:49right it's next man up kind of mentality we've seen this for decades in
18:53the NFL the next man up mentality works especially when they're defensive players
19:00the reality has been they can drop 40 on anybody and they you're never going to
19:05be able they're never going to be out of a game because of their ability to drop
19:0830 and 40 points a game on any defense doesn't matter how bagged up that
19:14defensive there is is they're going to be able to outscore 95% of the teams
19:19that they play they didn't weren't able to outscore Buffalo but you know they're
19:24a long way away how many other Buffalo Bill teams are there right now in the
19:28NFC you're worried about they can weather this unlike Kansas City who
19:33thrives on playing low scoring close games but without Patrick Mahomes they're
19:38dead in the waters yeah you know I hear your point but the Lions had the
19:44argument for most of this season Joe as the most balanced team around the NFL
19:49elite offensively and a defense that would make play after play the last few
19:56weeks if you've been watching Detroit second half of Thanksgiving the Bears
20:01made that game interesting a Lions win a non cover for one of the best cover
20:07teams in the NFL since Dan Campbell took the reins in 2021 last week against the
20:13Packers full week on a Thursday they were up at the break Green Bay scored
20:1824 points in the second half to make that a very high scoring game 34 31 this
20:25week they lose by 6 at home it frankly wasn't all that close in terms of the
20:30actual game itself Buffalo was basically always ahead by double digits the Bills
20:36score 48 points in the highest scoring game of this season Joe a couple of
20:41things from the trend perspective the Lions have now not covered in three
20:46straight they're 9 and 5 against the spread still this year but they were 9
20:50and 2 ATS entering week 13 okay a couple of interesting numbers there the Lions
20:57have played two consecutive games both against Green Bay and Buffalo where the
21:02total has been at 50 points or higher they had done that five previous times
21:06ahead of these last two weeks four of those five though under because the
21:12Lions were the team scoring in limiting the offense on the other side each of
21:16these last two over in by a large margin 65 combined points against Green Bay 90
21:24in total the highest scoring game of the year against Buffalo I have a lion
21:29Super Bowl ticket I am very concerned about Detroit's outlook the remainder of
21:34the way I am NOT concerned with them beating the Bears or the 49ers and at
21:40that point doesn't matter what happens the Vikings because in likelihood they
21:44are still the number one seed and they are still losing games by scoring 30 or
21:50more points I'll take that risk if I'm holding a Lions ticket and we'll talk a
21:56little bit more about the NFC playoff picture and Detroit so the Detroit Lions
22:02are facing numerous significant injuries to end out their year where will Detroit
22:07be then by the time we reach the postseason because Joe the Lions are not
22:12in danger of missing out on the playoffs the two areas Detroit might be a little
22:17bit in danger we start with the one that is least likely to win the NFC North
22:21but still a hefty favorite to win the division they will end out the season
22:25against the Minnesota Vikings and frankly the Lions over the next two
22:29weeks week 16 and 17 have an easier slate than that of the Vikes the most
22:36important one Joe is to be that one seed in the NFC at minus 125 Detroit is 12
22:43and 2 so 2 are the Vikings but mainly the Philadelphia Eagles also 12 and 2
22:50and we know the Knops against the Lions and Jared Goff each and every time boy
22:55if they have to go outdoors in December in January that's when things get dicey
23:00so I ask you Geron Arie you do not seem to be overly concerned about the Lions
23:06holding on to that one seed by the end of this season will Detroit have the NFC
23:12postseason run through the Motor City I think they can then and I listen you
23:19can't not be concerned with the injuries piling up but as they are
23:24constructed if there's any team that can overcome those injuries on the defensive
23:32side of the ball it's a team that can score 30 to 40 points it will in a game
23:37and that's exactly what they can do so I think if they get listen how many plays
23:43does the defense have to make in a shootout they got to make one or two
23:47more plays bend and the other team and if they can do that then Detroit is very
23:52much alive in any game and the remaining schedule outside of that last one
23:57against Minnesota they can out shoot any one of those teams and can outscore them
24:03I still think Detroit and the Motor City that it runs the NFC championship runs
24:09through there Ben yeah I would agree Joe and again when you look at the final
24:14three games for the Lions road trip to Chicago road trip to San Francisco not
24:19exactly the games we expected them to be entering this season home against the
24:24Vikings if that game will even mean anything for week 18 Detroit is going to
24:30be favored in all three of those matchups even slightly the odds makers
24:34love the 49ers that could slightly skew things for next week's matchup between
24:39San Fran and Detroit but still expect the Lions to be a slight favorite
24:43Detroit lay in six and a half on the road in the Windy City on Sunday
24:48afternoon total 47 in the hook keep an eye on those numbers if you watch
24:53Chicago's offense last night I'm not sure they're the offense to provide that
24:58scare to Detroit and we saw the Niners put up six points against the Rams team
25:03that allowed 42 to Buffalo and yeah Detroit allowed 48 to Buffalo but maybe
25:08they figure things out as well the Eagles final three games road trip to
25:14Washington only a three and a half point favorite against the commanders home
25:18games against the Cowboys and the Giants the Eagles also will be favored to win
25:23out but the biggest difference right now Detroit has an eight and one record
25:27against NFC foes Philadelphia is seven and two they all play NFC foes to end
25:34out this season if Detroit wins out in Philly wins out the Lions are going to
25:39be the one seed in the NFC yeah they absolutely are Ben and they've done more
25:45than enough to this point including have the better conference record at eight
25:50and one and I don't see that changing nine and one against Chicago they go ten
25:55and one against the 49ers and then they got Minnesota quite honestly at that
26:00point it's all she wrote because the only team that can catch them in a
26:03tiebreaker would be the Eagles and they still have a couple interesting games
26:07remaining yes they certainly do a huge one on Sunday in Landover Ranieri now
26:15we're gonna hear from Seattle's head coach Mike McDonald about the injury
26:19outlook for Geno Smith who exited Sunday night's loss against Green Bay we'll
26:24hear from Mike we'll discuss we'll come up on the break we'll finish with some
26:28NFL news and notes and then we'll get into college football but first the
26:32first-year head man in the Pacific Northwest you know we're fortunate so a
26:36lot of positive positive like optimistic signs come out of the test so Geno's a
26:43beast man he's in here working out in the morning looking through it I mean I
26:46know he's still feeling it but this guy's tough as nails and hopefully we'll
26:52see him practice throughout the week optimistic and be ready for the game
26:57so Seattle a three and a half point home underdog on Sunday afternoon as they
27:03welcome in the Vikings critically important game for both NFC teams in
27:08terms of that playoff picture Seattle trying to stay in the race for the NFC
27:13West maybe an outside shot at a wild-card berth really same story for
27:17Minnesota we'll continue around the NFL next on the early line so we just heard
27:22from Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike McDonald right before the break calling
27:26Geno Smith a beast already working out bright and early on a Monday morning to
27:31start off a new week after exiting the third quarter of Seattle's loss at home
27:36on Sunday night against Green Bay with a knee injury he said optimistic you could
27:42tell Joe that he was a first-year head coach trying to be very cautious about
27:46what you heard words that he used in terms of the positivity around Smith's
27:51knee injury Seattle a three and a half point home underdog week 16 as they get
27:57ready to host Minnesota being a home dog in front of the 12s should not be
28:03alarming by any means I believe this will be the Seahawks ninth consecutive
28:08game booked as an underdog even in their four-game win streak entering Sunday
28:13night against Green Bay they were a dog against the Packers as well Seattle won
28:18outright in that win streak in all four games as an underdog so just because
28:23Seattle is getting three and a half points at home against the 12 and two
28:26Vikings does not necessarily mean Geno Smith is not expected to play no it
28:33doesn't but it is a little bit worrisome right because they were a dog at home
28:37against Green Bay that didn't work out now they've got the Vikings the Bears
28:42and they finish with the Rams so two out of their three Ben are brutal and
28:48that's a problem essentially since they're gonna go on the road at the Rams
28:53to finish the season with the possibility of trying to close out that
28:57NFC West crown but the Rams can very much you want to be in control of your
29:04destiny at this point right band I mean that's what you want to do win the games
29:08and you're in the Rams have the Jets the Cardinals and the Seahawks to finish
29:12up the season so they still have two divisional games coming up here but they
29:17control their destiny win your games and you're good to go and by the time the
29:22Seahawks flame in week 18 it might not it might not mean anything Ben that's
29:26the reality it is huge show the fact that LA has also already beaten Seattle
29:32this year up in the Northwest they control the tiebreaker if they even up
29:37against the Cardinals next week at home against Arizona the Rams are in a great
29:43position to win the NFC West and if you were to ask people before this year got
29:48started all right who would be favored in their week 16 matchups the LA Rams on
29:54the road against the New York Jets or the Seahawks at home against the Vikings
29:59everybody would have said Seattle of course that what that is what happens
30:03over a long NFL season Rams a full field goal favorite in MetLife against
30:09the Jets sure they beat Jacksonville in Jacksonville this weekend kudos they're
30:15still eliminated from playoff contention the Seahawks are a home underdog against
30:20a good Vikings team still very much trying to impact its own playoff
30:25outlook and as we share the Rams in first place right now and the odds on
30:30favorites at minus 165 here's some other news around the NFL Deontay Johnson in a
30:38precarious year for that young wide receiver left Pittsburgh this offseason
30:42went to Carolina traded midway through this year from the Panthers to the
30:46Ravens to be on a contending team has basically done nothing was dismissed
30:52from practice this week by Baltimore his future with the flock Joe very uncertain
30:58in fact I would say it's probably come to a close yeah I would say so at this
31:03point especially with that organization Ben they're not they're not interested
31:07in distractions right so I would venture to say that's probably all she wrote for
31:13him and it's unfortunate too because he's got all the talent in the world
31:17yeah he certainly does but it has not worked out you would think landing at
31:22Baltimore with Lamar Jackson would be incredibly important speaking of
31:26incredibly important the Ravens will host on Saturday afternoon the
31:31Pittsburgh Steelers Baltimore a six and a half point favorite trying to exact
31:36some revenge on the Steelers when they lost in the Steel City just about a
31:41month ago this game could dictate Joe the AFC North divisional race so the
31:48Pittsburgh Steelers trying to be at full health TJ what who left the game for the
31:52Steelers in Philadelphia late on Sunday was walking off with an ankle injury is
31:58to be said Joe he is walking rather comfortably the quote on Monday
32:04hopefully making his status seem as though he is going to be ready to go on
32:08Saturday short week for a huge AFC North divisional rivalry yeah I think he'll be
32:15just fine though Ben you know you're gone you're not gonna keep him off the
32:19field if he's walking comfortably that means he'll play comfortably as well
32:23there bet again yes six and a half point spread in favor of Baltimore it feels
32:27like a Steelers line at least to stay within the number but if Baltimore wins
32:32we are now tied atop the AFC North once again Pittsburgh minus 160 to win the
32:39division the Ravens have the second best price at plus 130 it has not been a
32:44great season of course for the Cowboys Cowboys excuse me Trayvon Diggs out for
32:50the remainder of this year in Joe his recovery could take up to eight months
32:56if you play out the timeline that would put him at a return right before the
33:01start of next season yeah that's unfortunate it really is but at the same
33:07time you need him a hundred percent man that's what you need him going into the
33:12season was a hundred percent he is a difference maker in that secondary just
33:17unfortunate the way it happened this year for him yeah is for Trayvon Diggs
33:23he is undergoing season-ending knee surgery all right Joe Browns Titans both
33:29out of the playoff picture but might they be able to spoil a couple of teams
33:33that need wins down the home stretch we're not sure who's starting at
33:38quarterback for either Jameis Winston terrible on Sunday against the Chiefs
33:42three interceptions will love us terrible on Sunday for the Titans
33:47against the Bengals three INTs and a fumble as well both head coaches Kevin
33:53Stavansky Brian Callahan undecided of who is going to start at QB for
33:58Cleveland and Tennessee week 16 they're both terrible quarterbacks and
34:04both coaches know that so I don't I mean if what are you what's the
34:08alternative even worse quarterbacks that you're gonna be throwing in there like
34:12stop like you play out their string let the season be over with and move on from
34:17there because as bad as they are Ben both of those guys give those teams the
34:21best chances to win yeah and Joe that's really what it comes down to again
34:26Tennessee and Cleveland trying to play spoiler they will take on two teams this
34:31Sunday that are both two games below 500 in both Tennessee and since are in
34:36Cleveland booked as hefty underdogs the Titans getting four and a half in
34:41Indianapolis the cold still some sort of hope for an AFC playoff berth in the
34:46wild-card race although they did themselves zero favors on Sunday in
34:51Denver the Bengals a full touchdown favorite at home against Cleveland the
34:58Bengals two games out of that wild-card race within the AFC but since he does
35:04play Denver next weekend if they were going to catch anybody in that AFC
35:10playoff picture their best hope is the Broncos weirdly because they could get
35:16the tiebreaker against Denver where they do not own the tiebreaker against the
35:21Chargers LA beat Cincy a few weeks ago in Los Angeles yeah and I don't see that
35:26happening Ben who we get in here I think Denver is shown more than enough
35:31moxie and talent to be able to kind of coast in on the stretch here and be able
35:36to solidify lock up that wild-card spot yeah I would agree Joe just that there
35:42is a theoretical way for Cincinnati in Indianapolis perhaps to earn a playoff
35:49spot the margin though very very slim of course all these things though that you
35:55should take into account from a motivation in what is at stake
35:59perspective for your week-to-week handicapping in the final three of this
36:04NFL regular season Cincy seven-point favorite against the Browns Tennessee
36:09four-and-a-half point road dog against Indianapolis Joe to your point what is
36:14the alternative Dorian Thompson Robinson for Cleveland who threw an interception
36:19as well on Sunday against the Chiefs in Mason Rudolph who also turned the
36:24football over for the Titans against the Bengals boy for both of those games
36:31ugly for both Cleveland and Tennessee but a little bit NFL talk to open up
36:37this third and final hour based on the results of last night a Monday night
36:42doubleheader to end out week 15 the Minnesota Vikings take care of business
36:46as the odds expected at home against the Chicago Bears the Vikings win
36:51comfortably 30 to 12 covering as a seven-point home favorite Joe we have
36:57spent a lot of time on Minnesota's playoff outlook what is at stake for the
37:02Vikes over the final three weeks of this regular season but what do the people
37:07think how far will the Vikings go on their conquest in the NFC postseason
37:12that was the question to all of you and fade the public
37:22at SportsGrid on Twitter how far will the Vikings go this season NFC champions
37:29or at least reaching that NFC title game reaching the divisional round courtesy
37:35of I guess either a victory in the wild card round or perhaps Joe they catch the
37:40stumbling Lions atop the NFC North and earn that opening round behind as the
37:46one seed that would be rather surprising or they reach the postseason but are
37:51bounced in the opening round Joe here's how the public is seeing it right now
37:55actually a lot of the public voting for Minnesota more than likely based on our
38:01current playoff structure to win at least one playoff game and reach the
38:06division around 47% on this fade the public poll Joe what are you saying are
38:11you fading the public I know I'm actually not on this one Ben I believe
38:16they they are more than capable of being able to get it and I just call me crazy
38:21I just don't think and I think we're starting to see it finally although it
38:25took a little bit longer than expected you know when you're playing rookie
38:30quarterbacks boy that defense looks great right when you're playing backup
38:34quarterbacks that Minnesota defense looks great you know else doesn't look
38:39great though Sam Darnold there were a number of throws last night that were
38:45absolutely turnover worthy he is capable of that and although he's played great
38:51this year here Ben I think a lot of things have broken Minnesota's way I
38:56think that changes come the playoffs I wouldn't be backing Minnesota to upset
39:01anybody come the come the playoffs so Joe there are so many components to this
39:07Vikings conversation both down the stretch of this regular season what a
39:12playoff game would be for Minnesota more than likely on the road in the wild-card
39:17round against teams that we'll talk about in just a moment what all the
39:21success that was not anticipated this year in the Twin Cities means for Sam
39:27Darnold and beyond for JJ McCarthy who of course was picked early on in the
39:34opening round by Minnesota as well let's start with the remainder of this regular
39:39season we have talked about the Vikings difficult schedule to end things out more
39:43than likely Minnesota is not going to catch the Lions in the NFC North to win
39:48the division meaning more than likely Minnesota will be on the road to start
39:53off this postseason they do play the Packers for a second time next weekend
39:59taking on Green Bay that game will be at home in the Twin Cities when that one
40:04they're pretty much solidified Joe into that top wild-card spot the five seed
40:10which as of right now would be a road trip to LA to take on the Rams but
40:16really it could be either the Rams as the NFC West champ another team that
40:21would come from nowhere or at least come from behind to win the NFC West or the
40:26champions of the NFC South right now the Bucks a hefty favorite to do that Joe I
40:32think you could make an argument however for whether it's the Vikings or the
40:36Packers in those top two wild-card spots to take on the three or four seed
40:41the champions of the NFC South in West respectively they might be an underdog
40:46on the road but they're not going to be an overwhelming dog and it could
40:51potentially end up as a slight favorite number for the Vikings if they were to
40:56head to Tampa to take on Baker in the Bucks a lot of right styles make fights
41:02man and that's going to be the big issue on how and who they draw but I'll
41:07tell you this right now that offensive line and Dara Sean company being knocked
41:14out they got some issues on that offensive line and against the better
41:19defenses those issues are gonna get really magnified here they were
41:24magnified last night against a Bears front that was coming after him but they
41:30and and hence why you saw Sam Darnold finally struggle and come back down to
41:35earth there a little bit that's gonna get even more magnified the better the
41:40teams are especially when you're playing from behind the Vikings weren't playing
41:44from behind last night we'll see what Sam Darnold has in the playoffs when
41:49they have to play from behind it was not a great game for Sam Darnold nor that
41:54offense despite 30 points against a Bears defense that really just doesn't
41:59have much left in the tank Sammy D entered the game with four consecutive
42:04not throwing an interception and multiple touchdown passes in fact
42:08immediately following a five touchdown and nearly 350 yard performance in the
42:14revenge game against Kirk Cousins a weekend ago in Minneapolis last night
42:20though just 24 of 42 31 a touchdown and a pick Joe they drafted JJ McCarthy 10th
42:28overall in the opening round of the 2024 NFL Draft we actually expected
42:33probably McCarthy to win the job at a training camp and was injured in that
42:38opening preseason game the torn meniscus needing surgery obviously out for the
42:44remainder of this year Sam Darnold signed with Minnesota this offseason on
42:49a one-year ten million dollar deal after a solid season as the backup in San
42:55Francisco they expected Darnold to provide a little bit of veteran savvy if
43:00you will to groom JJ McCarthy into the face of the franchise expected in
43:05Minneapolis and now Sam Darnold is having the best season of his career the
43:11Vikings are 12 and 2 in McCarthy is we having an injury obviously we still
43:16expect the Vikings to make the call to JJ McCarthy next year but if Sam Darnold
43:22gets the Vikings to the divisional round what does Minnesota do
43:27well that it's the same situation with what that just had with Kirk Cousins
43:33isn't it I mean a mid-30s quarterback that you have his replacement ready to
43:38go I mean you're not gonna pay Darnold the money that he's gonna want now
43:42because he delivered this year I think they move on yeah I think that's
43:48probably going to be the case as well we'll get to the start of week 16 next
43:53the start of a new NFL week is never far away even in the final three of this
43:59National Football League regular season huge game on a short week Thursday a
44:04divisional duel between two teams that really can't win the division as the
44:09Chiefs have already clinched the AFC West for a ninth consecutive season but
44:13two teams battling literally against one another not just on Thursday but for
44:18wild-card positioning within the AFC playoff picture we head to Los Angeles
44:24where to start week number 16 the Chargers host the Denver Broncos LA got
44:31beat on Sunday despite having a 17 to 3 lead at the break against the
44:36Buccaneers at home Tampa scored all 27 points in the second half they won big
44:4240 to 17 the Broncos were trailing 13 to 7 early on in the second half as well
44:48at home against the Colts but then the costly fumble at the goal line from
44:53Jonathan Taylor in Denver never looked back scoring the final 24 points of that
44:58game to win 31 13 and cover as a favorite here we are Joe another full
45:05field goal number in favor of LA at home in SoFi total stands at 42 and a
45:12hook divisional duel without divisional implications but huge postseason
45:17ramifications around that AFC playoff picture where do you start the handicap
45:22for Thursday night football in SoFi pretty simple the last ten times that
45:28these two teams have met it's gone under nine of those ten times overall been
45:33eight of their last nine the total under 41 points in this one here I mean call
45:41me crazy the Chargers just in the AFC West games this year have a total of 36
45:4639 27 and 32 points okay how we getting over 42 and a half man the answer is
45:52we're not this is going to be much of the same if it ain't broke we ain't
45:57fixing it I would expect a big big effort from the Chargers defense coming
46:02off a an embarrassing defeat there against Tampa at home I think you see a
46:08much better effort in this one and we already know Denver's defense more than
46:12capable of making life miserable I like the under in this one yeah I completely
46:18agree Joey short week game at 42 and a half for what the Chargers really need
46:23out of this one they need to get back to what worked so well early on in the
46:29season that was taking the onus off of the now banged up Justin Herbert
46:34trusting the ground game in relying on a stout defense under Jesse Minter as
46:39well under in seven of the first eight for the Chargers this year now over in
46:45four of their last six eight wins for LA they have gone under in five of those
46:52eight in fact Joe in the first seven victories for LA they were booked as a
46:58favorite and they had covered in six of those seven so that's where LA is at its
47:05best despite losing as a field goal favorite at home last week to the
47:09Buccaneers Denver has been a great team this year surpassing expectation in year
47:14number two for Sean Payton and the rookie campaign of Bo Nicks Denver's one
47:19of the best cover teams in the National Football League this year not just nine
47:23and five straight up but also Joe when you look at it twelve or eleven and
47:29three excuse me against the spread but where they have been better against the
47:34number is a perfect seven and oh against the spread as the favorite side meaning
47:40they have not been bad as an underdog there's still four and three ATS with a
47:46couple of outright victories in there as well but when Denver has been expected
47:51to beat a team they do and they often do so in impressive fashion when they're
47:57an underdog it might be for a little bit more of the reason as well yeah I I
48:02think that's exactly correct if they're a dog they're a dog for a reason I think
48:07Bo Nicks kind of took a little bit of a step back to last week kind of reverted
48:12back to that the rookie that he really is I mean you got to give him credit to
48:17what what they have done here but yeah I don't trust either of these two teams
48:23to be dropping 28 or more points here unless the defense's play out of their
48:29mind and get some turnovers but I do think that's a good point they are a
48:34favor they are dog in this spot here for a reason I like the charges to win it
48:39but I do think it's gonna be I think it's gonna be closer than some expect
48:44in Denver but woefully under the 42 and a half points yeah I would agree again
48:50short week as well we know how minged up the bolts were especially offensively
48:54entering Sunday Justin Herbert dealing with a ton of injuries at this point
49:01Denver relatively healthy on both sides of the football but still a short week
49:05on the road the Broncos have been favored in four consecutive games to
49:10start off this year though when expectation was not as high in mile
49:14high the Broncos were an underdog in all four of their games to start off this
49:21season they had covered in three winning outright in two Joe they've only been a
49:27dog three other times from the end of week four they have not covered twice
49:33they did cover against the Chiefs of course the game that Casey won by
49:37blocking a field goal in Arrowhead that would have given the Broncos in outright
49:42win again speaking of scoring at a premium Denver is four and three against
49:47the spread this year as an underdog when they have covered the number in a state
49:52under a total just to let you know where that is three of the four times and again
50:00Joe an important game for both of these teams because right now both occupy a
50:05wild-card spot the Chargers in that third and final but still two games in
50:09front of everybody else around the AFC Denver a game in front of LA but the
50:16Broncos lost to the Chargers way back in the middle of October at home the
50:21Chargers now at home as a favorite it could do a lot for them Joe to have the
50:26same record as Denver and during the final two weeks and have that direct
50:30head-to-head tiebreaker to be the sixth seed kind of controlling their matchup
50:34around the AFC playoff picture and not the seventh and final if they do end up
50:40beating Denver at home on Thursday night yeah a big game to say the least for the
50:46Chargers here they have to figure some things out defensively and they have to
50:51be able to get that running game going again otherwise there's a certain way
50:56for them to win this game Ben and I don't think Herbert throwing it 40 times
51:00is the answer yeah I would also say just so you know potentially right now
51:05being the sixth seed he would take on the AFC North champ the seven would take
51:10on the Texans I'm not even sure a better position is more desirable