Turnabout was fair play last week, as Adam swept all six games disputed with me and took three of five from Joe; Joe ended up grabbing six of seven from me. Fortunately the stuff we did agree on worked out well, leaving me with a mediocre mark for Week 15 while Adam ended up tying the best ever mark for a full week's worth of games.
As a result of Adam's bipolar picking tendencies, he's somehow managed to work his way back into contention as he's just one off Geoffrey's pace. I fell off but remain just a few games back. Six of the seven folks in our group are above .500 for the year; Matthew is the only one below, and even then, to be just ten games under for his first time isn't too bad.
You can view how we've all picked in relation to each other here. I can no longer boast about a perfect hero record, as that was one of my disputed picks with Joe and Adam. We all also hit on two consensus picks last week to bring our record there back above the .500 mark.
And so as we look ahead to Week 16, we have history this week. While there will never be a week where any of us completely match each other barring some level of shenanigans (likely on my part), this is the first time that our disputed counts all match as we each disagree with each on four separate games. Let's get to it!
Thursday Night
Denver Broncos @ Los Angeles Chargers (-2.5)
Lucas: Chargers. Seems like a good game, and the line seems to agree. I'll take the home team here.
Adam: Broncos. Starting off, we have a road dog in an effective dog fight. Not really sure what to make of this game; the Chargers have been ok, but Denver has been much better that I expected all season. I’ll take the points in what should be a decent Thursday night game.
Joe: Broncos.
Saturday, Early Afternoon
Houston Texans @ Kansas City Chiefs (+1.5)
Lucas: Texans. With Mahomes up in the air after suffering a mild high ankle sprain in the win at Cleveland last week, I can understand the line. I'll ride it regardless of whether we get Mahomes or Wentz on Saturday.
Adam: Texans. This may be one of like two or three underdog picks this week. Just seems like a prime spot for KC to falter. They're coming off a win by more than a touchdown, and Mahomie is less than 100% and not really playing all that great, so just seems like the right time to pick Houston.
Joe: Chiefs.
Saturday, Late Afternoon
Pittsburgh Steelers @ Baltimore Ravens (-5.5)
Lucas: Steelers. Another game, another ankle injury that helps determine my pick. TJ Watt has a low ankle sprain and the Steelers sound optimistic about him. Given that I'm getting points, I'll ride that hope.
Adam: Steelers. Because we cannot have nice things... But no, this will tough, hard-nosed game. Henry has faltered a bit the past few weeks fantasy wise anyway and I just see a closer game than 5-6 points.
Joe: Ravens.
Sunday, Early Afternoon
Cleveland Browns @ Cincinnati Bengals (-6.5)
Lucas: Bengals. Jameis, you had one job. Now I don't have a perfect hero record anymore and you're riding the bench. Those two things aren't really connected, but they might as well be.
Adam: Browns. Because this would just make the Bengals' season that much more of a sad season. Pastor Winston over here shouting from the mountain top. Alas, Burrow aka Kevin will not defend his home. The Wet (or Sticky, depending on your preferred Home Alone) Bandits will prevail.
Joe: Bengals.
New York Giants @ Atlanta Falcons (-9.5)
Lucas: Falcons.
Adam: Giants. All things considered, this line seems a bit high. Old man Cousins is about to be shipped off, or at least may have played his last meaningful downs in the NFL. The Falcons are starting Penix this week. Now we get to see if that pick was genius or a travesty.Is 15 Weeks too long to wait to put your Penix in? https://t.co/nMOqcAi3sa
— Johnny barks (@Johnny_Barks) December 18, 2024
Joe: Giants.
Detroit Lions @ Chicago Bears (+6.5)
Lucas: Lions. I kind of expected Thomas Brown to give the Bears a little bit of a shot in the arm, but they are flat out broken at this point. The cycle continues!
Adam: Lions. I am honestly surprised this is not a higher line. The Bears should shut down Williams. That’s about all I want to say here.
Joe: Lions.
Tennessee Titans @ Indianapolis Colts (-4.5)
Lucas: Colts. RIP, Will Levis memes.
Joe: Colts.
Los Angeles Rams @ New York Jets (+3.5)
Lucas: Rams. Kind of a step up in difficulty for Jersey/B in this one, though credit the Rodgers-to-Adams connection for rekindling.
Adam: Rams. The much better team with way more to play for. Let the final ride of A A Ron to O’Shaq Hennessy’s office be one of treachery and defeat.
Joe: Rams.
Philadelphia Eagles @ Washington Commanders (+3.5)
Lucas: Eagles. Convenient that ESPN put this game and the next one back to back, because I can go themed now. Nick Sirianni has a strong shot to be in a good mood given that Mount Union is hosting a semifinal on Saturday. Though he may be less happy about the potential next opponent...
Adam: Eagles. I am not sure what to say here other than I like the Eagles' offense better than the Commanders' offense at this point. Barkley’s rushing is better thanthe Daniels-McLaurin connection.
Joe: Eagles.
Arizona Cardinals @ Carolina Panthers (+3.5)
Lucas: Cardinals. You already know. Beat Susquehanna.
Welcome to club pic.twitter.com/AzkphTICPa
— Steve Garrigan (@garrigan92136) December 15, 2024
Adam: Cardinals. Don’t get me wrong, the Panthers are much better since the resurrection of Bryce Young. But Arizona is the better team here. Plus, Carolina wants to “preserve” its high pick, at least for the first round (their 2nd round to the Bears of course to finish off the trade from several years ago).
Joe: Cardinals.
Sunday, Late Afternoon
Minnesota Vikings @ Seattle Seahawks (+2.5)
Lucas: Vikings. I know the last result in Seattle got the Vikings into the playoffs so this game means some, but not as much, but God, Sunday night was cathartic.
Adam: Vikings. I really should be going the other way, as I saw a stat that said of the 12-2 teams, the others' strength of victory is basically .500 whereas the Vikes are .280 or something like that. So yes they are 12-2, but only because they have just outlasted bad teams.
Lucas note: To be fair, it's not the NFC North's fault that the rotation has given them the AFC South (lol) and the NFC West (still kinda lol). I credit the Vikings for winning the games they arguably should have, but I agree with the assumed premise here that the Vikings are ultimately still frauds who will choke in the playoffs.
Joe: Vikings.
New England Patriots @ Buffalo Bills (-13.5)
Lucas: Bills. This ought to help Josh Allen's MVP candidacy, if nothing else.
Adam: Patriots. Look, I get it. The Bills are a juggernaut, and at home and against a meh at best New England team. But Allen has to return to the earth at some point... right? RIGHT? Bills win easy, but I like the Patriots to cover.
Joe: Bills.
Jacksonville Jaguars @ Las Vegas Raiders (+0.5)
Lucas: Jaguars.
Lucas note: This makes *checks note* 12 out of 13 so far? Not the weirdest thing Adam's done, though.
Joe: Jaguars.
San Francisco 49ers @ Miami Dolphins (-1.5)
Lucas: Dolphins. I know, I know; Miami in December. But the Niners are super banged up and I only have to lay a point and a half.
Adam: Dolphins. Unless my quick glance playoff math is wrong, I believe this is a win you still have a chance at the playoff, and loss and you are out game for both teams. At home, I just like Miami’s chances better than SF.
Lucas note: Went to play with the playoff machine. So it is an elimination game for the Niners, but the Dolphins can make it into the playoffs at 8-9 if they're in a three-way tie for seventh with the Chargers and Colts.
Joe: Dolphins.
Sunday Night
Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Dallas Cowboys (+3.5)
Lucas: Buccaneers. We're due to add more to the graphic.
Adam: Buccaneers. I cannot believe there are talks that McCarthy may still be the coach next year in Dallas. He has basically everything but his head out the door. But we have seen that Jerra doesn’t do the right thing a lot of the times... so maybe that should tell me he will be back next year. In any case, Tampa by 10, next.
Joe: Buccaneers.
Monday Night
New Orleans Saints @ Green Bay Packers (-13.5)
Lucas: Packers. All hail Toyotathon Jordan Love.
Adam: Packers. This line seems off kilter, but then again, the Saints are on their third sting QB? Or is he the 4th? I lost track. And it is in Lambeau in the cold, so I am going to let my concern about the line fade off and lay the two touchdowns and hope my gut was off on this line.
Joe: Packers.
Records So Far
Lucas: 116-108 (7-9 last week)
Adam: 119-105 (13-3 last week)
Joe: 113-111 (12-4 last week)
Geoffrey: 120-104 (10-6 last week)
Jim: 119-105 (12-4 last week)
John: 115-109 (11-5 last week)
Matthew: 107-117 (8-8 last week)
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