United States
United Kingdom
Thursday means just 2 days until NFL action is back, with 4 good Wild Card matchups lined up this weekend.
Lets take a look at some news from around the league, an in depth look at the NFL playoff picture as well, the updated Super Bowl odds for each remaining team, as well as an updated injury report for the teams playing this weekend.
With his 2 touchdowns on Sunday against the Raiders, Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes joined elite company by becoming just the 2nd player ever to throw for more than 5,000 yards and 50 touchdowns in a single season—the other being Peyton Manning, who threw for an unprecedented 5,477 yards and 55 TDs in his 2013 season with the Broncos.
Mahomes effectively led the NFL in passing TDs (50), yards per attempt (8.8), and passes going for 20+ yards (75) while finishing 2nd in yards (5097), passer rating (113.8), yards per game (318.6), passing TD percentage (8.6%) and passes going for 40+ yards (15). His MVP campaign is hard to deny, as no other signal caller this season put up such prolific numbers across the board.
Baker Making His Statement
Browns 1st overall pick Baker Mayfield set an NFL record of his own this season, throwing for the most TDs as a rookie in NFL history. With 3 TD passes in the Browns week 17 loss to the Ravens, Mayfield surpassed Peyton Manning and Russell Wilson to become the only rookie quarterback to throw for 27 touchdowns in a season.
What is even more impressive is the fact Mayfield started just 13 games this season after taking over for Tyrod Taylor, something Manning and Wilson cannot say as they started all 16 games their rookie years. Mayfield has a great case for NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, which only grows with this record.
ESPN
Mayock Makes The Jump
Long reputed as one of the faces of the NFL Draft, NFL Network’s Mike Mayock is making the leap from media to the NFL, as he was hired by the Oakland Raiders to become their new GM.
Mayock has been polarizing as a draft analyst, as he is strong willed and many may not agree with his takes, but is unquestionably hard working and intelligent enough to debate Jon Gruden on internal decisions. He is an inspiration to scouts everywhere, making the leap to one of the most coveted jobs in sports.
NFL Playoffs
Wild Card Round
Saturday January 5th
– AFC
#6 Indianapolis Colts @ #3 Houston Texans
– NFC
#5 Seattle Seahawks @ #4 Dallas Cowboys
Sunday January 6th
– AFC
#5 Los Angeles Chargers @ #4 Baltimore Ravens
– NFC
#6 Philadelphia Eagles @ #3 Chicago Bears
Divisional Round
Saturday January 12th
– AFC
Lowest winning seed in WC round @ #1 Kansas City Chiefs
– NFC
Highest winning seed in WC round @ #2 Los Angeles Rams
Sunday January 13th
– AFC
Highest winning seed in WC round @ #2 New England Patriots
– NFC
Lowest winning seed in WC round @ #1 New Orleans Saints
Championship Round
Sunday January 20th
– AFC 3:05 PM ET
Lowest winning seed @ Highest winning seed
– NFC 6:40 PM ET
Lowest winning seed @ Highest winning seed
Super Bowl
February 3rd 6:30 PM ET (at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta GA)
AFC Champ vs. NFC Champ
Super Bowl Odds
*favourite odds starred
New Orleans Saints +240
Los Angeles Rams +435*
Kansas City Chiefs +470
New England Patriots +650*
Chicago Bears +675
Baltimore Ravens +1300*
Los Angeles Chargers +1500
Dallas Cowboys +2400
Houston Texans +2400
Seattle Seahawks +2700
Indianapolis Colts +2800
Philadelphia Eagles +3000*
Injury Report
BAL CB Tavon Young (groin) – questionable
CHI EDGE Aaron Lynch (elbow) – questionable
CHI S Eddie Jackson (ankle) – questionable
DAL LB Sean Lee (hamstring) – questionable
DAL G Zack Martin (knee) – questionable
DAL DT Tyrone Crawford (neck) – questionable
DAL T Tyron Smith (neck) – questionable
HOU EDGE J.J. Watt (elbow) – questionable
HOU WR DeAndre Hopkins (ankle) – questionable
IND EDGE Jabaal Sheard (knee) – questionable
IND WR Dontrelle Inman (shoulder) – questionable
IND WR T.Y. Hilton (ankle) – questionable
LAC RB Austin Ekeler (groin) – questionable
LAC LB Jatavis Brown (ankle) – out
PHI EDGE Michael Bennett (foot) – questionable
PHI C Jason Kelce (knee) – questionable
PHI DT Fletcher Cox (knee) – questionable
PHI T Jason Peters (quad) – questionable
PHI CB Sidney Jones (hamstring) – questionable
SEA S Tedric Thompson (ankle) – questionable
SEA T Duane Brown (knee) – questionable
SEA S Bradley McDougald (knee) – questionable
SEA WR Doug Baldwin (knee) – questionable
SEA CB Shaquill Griffin (ankle) – questionable
Enjoy the Wild Card matchups, starting Saturday with IND@HOU. Good luck on any action you may have on the games and check back with us Monday for picks for the divisional round. Cheers!
