Thursday night schedule ends with whimper
The final Thursday game of the year couldn’t be much more forgettable.
Denver and Indianapolis are hard enough to watch with a full week to prepare. On short notice: UGH!
The Broncos (4-9) have been one of the league’s major disappointments. They broke an eight-game skid last Sunday by manhandling the undermanned Jets.
Indianapolis (3-10) has dropped four straight and seven of eight. Enough said.
Denver is a one-point favourite at Lucas Oil Stadium. At least the Colts won’t have to freeze in a blizzard as they lose this one. Broncos, 13-10 Green Bay (plus 2) at Carolina After barely escaping Cleveland, not buying the Packers, not even
with Aaron Rodgers. Best Bet: Panthers, 26-20 L.A. Rams (plus 2.5) at Seattle
The Seahawks are too darn undisciplined as well as injured. Upset Special: Rams, 31-21 New England (minus 2.5) at Pittsburgh
Not quite Game of the Millennium anymore, but still a good one.
Patriots, 33-27 Los Angeles Chargers (plus 1.5) at Kansas City, Saturday
Another huge matchup. The Bolts are charging, but ... Chiefs: 21-20 Dallas (plus 1) at Oakland The other AFC West contender is getting desperate. Raiders, 24-21 Philadelphia (minus 7.5) at New York Giants Foles won’t fail the Eagles, at least Eagles, not 20-10 this week. Cincinnati (plus 10) at Minnesota
Will the Bungles, uh, Bengals show up this time? We have our doubts. Vikings, 27-16 Atlanta (minus 3.5) at Tampa Bay It’s simple: the Falcons are a better team by more than this spread. Falcons, 27-17 Houston (plus 9.5) at Jacksonville A win and the Jaguars are in playoffs. Say what? Jaguars, 26-10 N.Y. Jets (plus 16) at New Orleans How, exactly, are the Jets going to score? Maybe on defence, but ... Saints 30-6 Arizona (plus 6) at Washington Two teams destroyed by injuries. Cardinals, 22-17 Baltimore (minus 7) at Cleveland
Seems a matter of time before the Browns win one. Actually, no. Ravens, 17-13 Tennessee (plus 2.5) at San Francisco The Titans could short-circuit playoff chances by flopping here. Titans, 20-16 Chicago (plus 5.5) at Detroit, Saturday The Last Jedi opens this week. Good time to go see it. Lions, 16-13 Miami (OFF) at Buffalo Forget last week, the Dolphins don’t like Western New York. Bills, 17-15
Last week: Against the spread (6-82). Straight up (8-8)
Season Totals: Against the spread (96-96-8). Straight up: (128-78)
Best Bet: 8-6 against the spread, 9-5 straight up. Upset special: 8-6 against the spread, 8-6 straight up