We are on the final stretch of 2020 and as one of the most particular and strange in the history of mankind, this year we still have some surprises, including the qualifications for the Playoffs of the Cleveland Browns and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
That’s right, the Browns and Buccaneers, the teams with the longest active absences in the NFL’s postseason, 18 and 13, respectively, can put an end to these long and even agonizing droughts in Week 16 of the regular season.
Only two teams can advance to the postseason with a win, the Buccaneers and Los Angeles Rams, who may have secured their place a few days ago, had they not suffered one of the most unexpected and humiliating defeats in recent years.
While some are looking to reach the Playoffs or stay alive to get it, ESPN Sports experts offer their analysis and choices to keep the betting career interesting in 2020.
NOTE: The picks of each expert are in capital letters and fredolics.
ALFONSO Mancilla / Twitter: @poncho_mancilla
– WHO WILL REMAIN WITH THE TITLE OF THE NFC WEST, RAMS OR SEARCHOWS?
At the start of the season, the forecasts were for a fact that the Seattle Seahawks would be in the Playoffs. The route has been more complicated than expected, especially due to the low level of defense, but in their next duel against the Rams, it seems to me that they will tie the division.
The contempt in Los Angeles goes beyond the paperwork done last Sunday to lose against the Chafisimos Jets, is because their performance has been erratic throughout the calendar. That’s why I think Seattle will come out better focused and ready to stay with a win that guarantees they play at least one home game at home in the postseason. The Rams will have another chance next week, when they host Arizona.
FANTASY Predictions
QB with more yards by air: Patrick Mahomes (Kansas City), 380 yards
RB with more yards per floor: Alvin Kamara (N. Orleans), 150 yards
Defensive that will allow fewer points: Baltimore (12 points)
PICKS
MIAMI vs. las Vegas
Indianapolis Vs. PITTSBURGH
PHILADELPHIA against Dallas
Rams Vs. SEATTLE
Tennessee Vs. GREEN BAY
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Giants Vs. BALTIMORE
EDUARDO VARELA / Twitter: @LaloVarelaTV
– IS THE DUEL BETWEEN DOLPHINS AND RAIDERS A GAME BETWEEN SURPRISE AND DISAPPOINTMENT OF THE YEAR AT AFC?
On the role of the Dolphins, I think it’s confirmation of the good work Brian Flors has been doing since last season. On the one hand there is what he learned from Bill Belichick and on the other, there is what he has the vision to develop in the talent he has at his disposal and he seems to know what he wants and knows where he is going. As for the Raiders, it is one of the teams that rose very quickly in the season and have come to less. Yes the word disappointment can be applied to them.
FANTASY Predictions
QB with more yards by air: Tom Brady (Tampa Bay), 350 yards
RB with more yards per floor: Derrick Henry (Tennessee), 150 yards
Defensive that will allow fewer points: Baltimore (10 points)
PICKS
Miami vs. LAS VEGAS
Indianapolis Vs. PITTSBURGH
PHILADELPHIA against Dallas
Rams Vs. SEATTLE
TENNESSEE against Green Bay
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Denver Vs. CHARGERS
SEBASTIÁN M. CHRISTENSEN / Twitter: @SebastianMCESPN
– WHO WILL STAY WITH AFC NORTH, STEELERS OR BROWNS?
Against all odds a couple of weeks ago, it’s feasible for the Steelers to end up losing the division. They have two brave duels left against the Colts and the Browns themselves and the latter could end up being a defining match for the divisional crown, but beyond playing at home or not, especially in a season with virtually no fans in the stands, the more important for Pittsburgh must be rediscovering its identity.
Ben Roethlisberger didn’t look good at all last Monday night and won’t win many games with pure four-yard passes. The Steelers must insist on the ground attack, otherwise you will not go anywhere. Benny Snell, in my eyes, has more explosiveness than James Conner, who, moreover, cannot stay healthy.
At the same time, I understand that the defense has lost a couple of important pieces, but if they are not a dominant unit, the Steelers ’chances are virtually nil.
FANTASY Predictions
QB with more yards by air: Patrick Mahomes (Kansas City), 402 yards
RB with more yards per floor: Nick Chubb (Cleveland), 181 yards
Defensive that will allow fewer points: Indianapolis (13 points)
PICKS
MIAMI vs. las Vegas
INDIANAPOLIS against Pittsburgh
PHILADELPHIA against Dallas
RAMS against Seattle
TENNESSEE against Green Bay
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Carolina Vs. WASHINGTON
CARLOS NAVA / Twitter: @TapaNava
– WHO WILL WIN THE NFC THIS: WASHINGTON, COWBOYS, GIANTS OR EAGLES?
Washington will win the Eastern Division of the National Conference on its own merits and taking advantage of the rules of the game.
The capital team has a game advantage over their nearest pursuer, Dallas, and their last two games are accessible: Carolina and Philadelphia. Also, if the Cowboys miraculously end up with the same mark, Washington is in favor of the tiebreaker criterion, because they swept the annual series against Dallas.
Most importantly, Washington is the team that is playing “most consistently” throughout the division.
FANTASY Predictions
QB with more yards per air: Patrick Mahomes (Kansas City), 415 yards
RB with more yards per floor: David Montgomery (Chicago), 156 yards
Defensive that will allow fewer points: Cleveland (10 points)
PICKS
MIAMI vs. las Vegas
INDIANAPOLIS against Pittsburgh
Philadelphia Vs. DALLAS
Rams Vs. SEATTLE
Tennessee Vs. GREEN BAY
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BUFFALO against New England
PABLO Viruega / Twitter: @PabloViruega
– WILL THE GAME AGAINST TITANS GIVE A CLEAR IDEA OF HOW FAR CAN THE PACKERS GET FROM THE PLAYBACK?
It’s a good measure, because in front of them they will have a team that last year arrived, like them, until the conference final, but, above all, it will be because Tennessee has the strength it can leave in the discovered Green Bay’s weakness: slowing down the ground game.
The Titans are a very physical team on both sides of the ball, especially for running with him with Derrick Henry and in the aerial game, Ryan TANNEHILL makes few mistakes. His defense can pressure Aaron Rodgers and force him to suffer catches or interceptions.
Tennessee is a team that is among the best in the AFC, just like the Packers in the NFC. They’re very even forces, so I could say it will not only serve as a gauge in Green Bay, but also in Tennessee to see if it can repeat the fact the year before.
FANTASY Predictions
QB with more yards by air: Patrick Mahomes (Kansas City), 380 yards
RB with more yards per floor: Derrick Henry (Tennessee), 150 yards
Defensive that will allow fewer points: Baltimore (13 points)
PICKS
MIAMI vs. las Vegas
INDIANAPOLIS against Pittsburgh
PHILADELPHIA against Dallas
Rams Vs. SEATTLE
Tennessee Vs. GREEN BAY
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Atlanta Vs. KANSAS CITY
IVIS ABURTO / Twitter: @IvisAburto
– ARE THE BILLS THE TEAM I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE REGULAR SEASON?
They are already at that level and the most dangerous thing for the other six teams that will go to the Playoffs in the AFC is that Buffalo’s room for improvement is wide with the way Josh Allen commands this offense with Stefon Diggs as a comparsa and a ground attack that reinforces the equation. That is, on offense, the Bills are better than they were last season.
The unit that disappointed at the start of the season in relation to the level it had in 2019 is the defensive, but last month, this group is very similar to what it loaded with the Bills last season. A sample: after his week off, the Buffalo defensive end has allowed 19 or fewer points in three of his last four games, plus seven catches — five interceptions in that period and have scored defensive touchdowns in the last two.
In 2019, the Bills were a defensive threat. Its 2020 version is a double-edged sword.
FANTASY Predictions
QB with more yards by air: Patrick Mahomes (Kansas City), 425 yards
RB with more yards per floor: Ronald Jones (Tampa Bay), 135 yards
Defensive that will allow fewer points: New Orleans (7 points)
PICKS
Miami vs. LAS VEGAS
INDIANAPOLIS against Pittsburgh
PHILADELPHIA against Dallas
RAMS against Seattle
TENNESSEE against Green Bay
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Minnesota Vs. N. ORLEANS