Friday, December 27, 2024

2024 COAS Pigskin Pick 'Em: Week 17 (Part 2)

Hope you all had a good holiday! The coalition made its early picks already, and now we return for the remainder of the Week 17 slate.

I'm not off to a great start, as I whiffed on both Christmas Day games as well as the Thursday contest; everyone else in the group managed to hit on at least one. This means Joe has pulled to within one game of me, while Adam now has a two game edge with the three of us all taking Seattle in the Thursday game. The top of the board remains the top of the board, and they appear to have pulled clear for the group title this season, with Geoffrey currently boasting a one game lead on Jim.

You can view how we've all picked in relation to each other here. No hero picks were made on Christmas.

Looking ahead to the remainder of the week, Adam and I disagree on just a single game, Joe and I on five, and the two of them on six of the remaining 13. Let's get to it!

Saturday, Early Afternoon

Los Angeles Chargers @ New England Patriots (+5.5)
Lucas: Chargers. While I'm sure Drake Maye will cause some problems (and yes, I think New England's quarterback conundrum, at least for now, is solved), the Chargers are playing for their playoff lives. A win pushes them to a 94% chance of making it, and given that Jim Harbaugh knew about the whole fair catch free kick rule that I've seen implemented a handful of times in my life but never successfully until this past week, I think he'll have his charges ready to go.

Adam: Chargers. The better team here seems like the easy, low-hanging fruit pick.
Joe: Chargers.

Saturday, Late Afternoon

Denver Broncos @ Cincinnati Bengals (-3.5)
Lucas: Bengals. I've slandered the Bengals' defense on here in recent weeks, and look... a lot of the criticism is fair. But Joe Burrow seems determined to drag this team to the playoffs by himself if he has to, and while I was on the Bo Nix bandwagon recently, he's also reverted to rookie form with some mistakes recently. Give me the home favorite.
Adam: Bengals. At home and with an outside chance to still make the playoffs, I like a gritty game where Burrow, the veteran, outplays Nix, the rookie.
Joe: Bengals.

Saturday Night

Arizona Cardinals @ Los Angeles Rams (-5.5)
Lucas: Rams. The solidarity pick worked on the collegiate side, but not on the NFL side. Given the choice between the two, I'll take what happened.

Adam: Rams. Seems like a bit of a tall line, but it is in LA. Puka for two bills and a pair.
Joe: Rams.

Sunday, Early Afternoon

Indianapolis Colts @ New York Giants (+7.5)
Lucas: Colts. Indy still has an outside shot at the playoffs, and the opponent this week helps. I don't think they make it, but maybe Anthony Richardson can show some signs that he's ready for a Year 3 leap.
Adam: Colts. Do the Giants even have anything other than pride to play for? Maybe another top 5 (or maybe even 3) pick. Tank-a-thon for the G-Men.
Lucas note: If the season ended today, they'd have the first pick.
Joe: Colts.

New York Jets @ Buffalo Bills (-9.5)
Lucas: Bills. I probably shouldn't, but I just don't have enough faith in the Jets.
Adam: Bills. These late season games always are dicey. Does one or both teams even have anything left to play for, be that playoff seeding, playoffs in general or maybe “play” for draft position? This game seems like that kind of game.
Lucas note: Buffalo locks up the 2 seed and not having to see the Chiefs until the AFC Championship game with a win.
Joe: Jets.

Las Vegas Raiders @ New Orleans Saints (-1.5)
Lucas: Saints. The Raiders ruined their tank. A Week 17 reversal of course and them getting back in the loss column isn't going to be enough.
Adam: Saints. Trash bowl. Next.
Joe: Raiders.

Carolina Panthers @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-7.5)
Lucas: Panthers. Tampa should not be favored by this much. Not when the Bryce Young Redemption Tour is still well underway.
Adam: Panthers. Carolina really seems like a different team since about Week 7 or 8, so I’ll continue to give them the benefit of the doubt and take them with the points to cover.
Joe: Buccaneers.

Tennessee Titans @ Jacksonville Jaguars (-0.5)
Lucas: Jaguars. Though I almost had to change it because of Matthew's genius idea to rebrand the Titans as the Tennessee Toothbrushes. And the logo is just... *chef's kiss*

Adam: Titans. I may have spoken too early; this may be a better candidate for Trash Bowl.
Lucas note: Only if they go Color Rush.
Joe: Jaguars.

Dallas Cowboys @ Philadelphia Eagles (-9.5)
Lucas: Cowboys. This is me hedging my bets given the injury situation and the fact that the Eagles signed *checks notes* Ian Book for QB depth. This is fine.
Adam: Cowboys Heiferladies. Only to cover; they are still Trash Pandas.
Lucas note: I maintain: This is an insult to Trash Pandas.
Joe: Cowboys.

Sunday, Late Afternoon

Miami Dolphins @ Cleveland Browns (+6.5)
Lucas: Dolphins. Part of me is hesitant to. But the weather forecast as of Thursday afternoon shows rain and a high of 50 in Cleveland for Sunday. That's just enough for me to lay the points, especially with the Browns being the Browns.
Adam: Dolphins. Still in the playoff hunt technically, so I see them winning big.
Joe: Dolphins.

Green Bay Packers @ Minnesota Vikings (-1.5)
Lucas: Packers. You already know.

Adam: Packers. Pretty sure this game means nothing for either team other than which divisional champ they play during wild card weekend.
Lucas note: For Green Bay, yes. The Vikings with a win basically lock their Week 18 tilt with the Lions into the Sunday Night slot for the #1 seed in the NFC.
Joe: Vikings.

Sunday Night

Atlanta Falcons @ Washington Commanders (-4.5)
Lucas: Commanders. Yeah, I think we gotta go Jayden Daniels for Offensive Rookie of the Year at this point, right?
Adam: Commanders. All things considered, this line looks a little low. Probably a situation where Washington cannot get first overall and is always in so may end up playing 2nd/3rd stringers much of the game.
Lucas note: They haven't clinched yet, and I think have an outside shot at the 6 seed still.
Joe: Falcons.

Monday Night

Detroit Lions @ San Francisco 49ers (+3.5)
Lucas: Lions. Detroit will do its part to get home field advantage. They'll need it given all the injuries they've sustained.
Adam: Lions. Even Detroit's backups will outplay San Francisco's “A” squad. Or at least whatever the Niners have cobbled together.
Joe: Lions.

Records So Far
Lucas: 125-118 (0-3 this week)
Adam: 127-116 (1-2 this week)
Joe: 124-119 (2-1 this week)
Geoffrey: 134-109 (3-0 this week)
Jim: 133-110 (2-1 this week)
John: 125-118 (1-2 this week)
Matthew: 120-123 (2-1 last week)

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