Games of the Week
Cowboys 31, Chiefs 28
The Dallas Cowboys are rolling right now, winning three straight, including back to back victories over Philadelphia and Kansas City. The offense continues to hum with CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens each topping 80 yards, and Dak Prescott looking more and more like the high end starter he was a few years ago.
The Chiefs, meanwhile, now find themselves outside the AFC playoff picture and not even the top team on the bubble. Patrick Mahomes did everything he could with four touchdown passes and 261 yards, but the defense could not get a key stop. Kansas City now faces a steep climb just to get back in the mix.
Packers 31, Lions 24
This matchup had major wild card implications, and the Packers came out on top. They currently sit as the #6 seed in the NFC.
Even though it was a one score game, it never really felt that close. Jordan Love threw four touchdowns, was not sacked once, and looked totally comfortable. Jared Goff, on the other hand, spent most of the afternoon under siege with no run game to help him. Green Bay won this game in the trenches, which is where so many games are decided.
Broncos 27, Commanders 26 (OT)
Nobody expected this to be such a tight game, but backup QB Marcus Mariota played phenomenal, leading Washington in both passing and rushing.
Denver survived by stopping the Commanders’ two point attempt with just under three minutes left in OT. The Broncos keep winning, but Bo Nix has been shaky and that has to be a concern heading into the playoffs.
Top Performers
Bryce Young, Panthers
The yardage totals were modest (206 passing, 23 rushing), but Young completed 75 percent of his throws and made several clutch plays late. He led the Panthers to a huge upset of the Rams and deserves serious credit.
Bijan Robinson, Falcons
Bijan was electric with 193 total yards and a touchdown. He shredded the Jets defense and reminded everyone why he was a top pick in both the NFL Draft and fantasy drafts.
AJ Brown, Eagles
Brown did everything he could in the loss to Chicago, posting 10 catches for 132 yards and 2 touchdowns. The bigger question is how the Eagles still struggled offensively even with Brown dominating.
The NFC North: What Is Real and What Will Change?
The NFC North is as bizarre as any division in football considering preseason expectations. The Bears are unrecognizable under Ben Johnson and have flipped nearly every close game they used to lose. The Vikings gamble at quarterback looks rough, with Darnold thriving in Seattle and McCarthy looking like an even bigger project than expected.
So who is the real contender here? The Lions are sitting outside the playoff picture and have to take a hard look at their defense and offensive line. Green Bay has several confusing losses and the next few weeks should tell us whether they have truly figured things out or if the inconsistency will continue.
At the moment, Chicago is the best team in the North and arguably the best team in the NFC until someone proves otherwise.
Betting Strategy Adjustments After Week 12
Dallas is a Live Play, Even Against Detroit
The Cowboys are clicking in every phase. Even if Detroit starts fast, Dallas can go punch for punch with an underperforming Lions squad.
Expect a Rams Bounceback
Stafford was clearly affected by the rain in Week 13, and the offense never found a rhythm. After losing their top spot in the NFC, expect an angry rebound performance against Arizona.
Monitor Jayden Daniels Injury Status
If Marcus Mariota starts again, the Commanders are already in good shape against Minnesota. But if Jayden Daniels is cleared, the line will swing heavily toward Washington. If you like the Commanders, get in early on the moneyline.
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