WEEK 18 NFL PREDICTIONS

Record Last Week: 11-5

Record For The Season: 170-84

Saturday, January 4th, 3:30 PM CT

Cleveland Browns 3-13 @ Baltimore Ravens 11-5

With a win, the Ravens clinch the AFC North Division title, while Cleveland looks forward to vacation. Baltimore should have no problem getting to 30 points on the Browns, and getting the win.

Browns 14 Ravens 35

Confidence Level:10

X-Factor: Lamar Jackson

Best Bet: Derrick Henry anytime TD

Saturday, January 4th, 7:00 PM CT

Cincinnati Bengals 8-8 @ Pittsburgh Steelers 10-6

The Bengals season is on the line with a win, and they need some help, but they would still be alive for the final AFC Wild Card spot, with a loss, it won’t matter what happens on Sunday. Pittsburgh is hoping for a Cleveland win and then if Pittsburgh wins, they’d clinch the AFC North. With my prediction of Baltimore winning, Pittsburgh may not push their starters and thus, I’ll pick Cincy to get the win on the road.

Bengals 29 Steelers 24

Confidence Level: 6

X-Factor: Joe Burrow

Best Bet: Joe Burrow over 2.5 passing touchdowns

Sunday, January 5th, Noon CT Games

Carolina Panthers 4-12 @ Atlanta Falcons 8-8

The Falcons have to win and hope for a Bucs loss to win the NFC South. The Panthers have

played better in the last few months, but they’re still a bottom of the barrel team, and I have

Atlanta getting the win.

Panthers 17 Falcons 27

Confidence Level:9

X-Factor: Bijan Robinson

Best Bet: Bijan Robinson anytime touchdown

Washington Commanders 11-5 @ Dallas Cowboys 7-9

The Cowboys season is over, but the Commanders, who already have a playoff position locked up, are playing for seeding in the NFC Playoff Picture. Dallas has played with a lot of pride the last month, so I think it’ll be close, but Jayden Daniels and the Commanders win.

Commanders 24 Cowboys 20

Confidence Level:9

X-Factor: Jayden Daniels

Best Bet: Cowboys +6.5

Chicago Bears 4-12 @ Green Bay Packers 11-5

The Bears have lost 10 straight games and now face a Packers team who looks to move ahead of the Commanders in the NFC Playoff Seeding. I’ll roll with Jordan Love and the Packers offense bouncing back after a lackluster performance in their loss last week.

Bears 17 Packers 31

Confidence Level:10

X-Factor: Jordan Love

Best Bet: Packers moneyline

Houston Texans 9-7 @ Tennessee Titans 3-13

The Texans have struggled down the stretch but they locked up the AFC South with no problem. Also, The Texans probably aren’t playing their starters but I’ll still pick Houston because the Titans are really that bad.

Texans 23 Titans 13

Confidence Level:8

X-Factor: N/A

Best Bet: N/A

Jacksonville Jaguars 4-12 @ Indianapolis Colts 7-9

Both these teams have nothing to play for and with the report about the toxic Colts locker room, you have to wonder if the Jags get the upset, but ultimately the Jags are truly terrible, and I’ll pick the Colts to finish their season with a win.

Jaguars 14 Colts 20

Confidence Level:5

X-Factor: Jonathan Taylor

Best Bet: Jonathan Taylor anytime touchdown

Buffalo Bills 13-3 @ New England Patriots 3-13

Buffalo will rest their starters and prepare for the playoffs next week. New England played a

good game vs Buffalo a few weeks ago, this time against the backups, I’ll take the Patriots to

get the win.

Bills 19 Patriots 20

Confidence Level:2

X-Factor: Drake Maye

Bets Bet: N/A

New York Giants 3-13 @ Philadelphia Eagles 13-3

The Giants got a nice win over the Colts last week giving them their first home win of the

season, now they face the Eagles who will, like other teams, rest their starters this week in

preparation for the playoffs. Even with that being the case, I’ll take the Eagles at home to give another loss to a miserable Giants team.

Giants 23 Eagles 24

Confidence Level:3

X-Factor: N/A

Best Bet: N/A

New Orleans Saints 5-11 @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers 9-7

The Bucs win and they’re in it’s that simple, but with a loss and a Falcons win, they’d be

eliminated. The Saints haven’t put together a good game in awhile, and with Tampa knowing

what’s at stake, they’ll come out prepared and get the win.

Saints 17 Bucs 36

Confidence Level:10

X-Factor: Mike Evans’

Best Bet: Mike Evans over 100 receiving yards

Sunday, January 5th, 3 PM CT Games

Kansas City Chiefs 15-1 @ Denver Broncos 9-7

The Broncos win and they make the playoffs for the first time since 2015, but with a loss, they

open the door for either the Bengals or Dolphins to steal their spot. The Chiefs have home field advantage wrapped up in the AFC so they’ll be resting several key starters, and with Denver knowing they can’t mess around, they’ll get the win.

Chiefs 16 Broncos 24

Confidence Level:7

X-Factor: Bo Nix

Bets Bet: Broncos moneyline

Los Angeles Chargers 10-6 @ Las Vegas Raiders 4-12

It seems like the Chargers will be playing their starters even though they have clinched a spot in the playoffs. The Raiders are on a mini win streak, but they’ll lose this week.

Chargers 20 Raiders 17

Confidence Level:5

X-Factor: N/A

Best Bet: N/A

Seattle Seahawks 9-7 @ Los Angeles Rams 10-6

Another game with starters resting as the Rams have already clinched the NFC West. The

Seahawks will be playing for pride and should get a win to end their season on somewhat of a high note.

Seahawks 26 Rams 16

Confidence Level:9

X-Factor: Geno Smith

Best Bet: DK Metcalf over 62.5 receiving yards

Miami Dolphins 8-8 @ New York Jets 4-12

Miami needs a win to maintain their playoff hopes, but the status of quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is up in the air as he’s dealing with a hip injury. The Jets seem to be ready for the offseason and whether Tua plays or not, I’ll pick the Dolphins to win.

Dolphins 21 Jets 18

Confidence Level:3

X-Factor: Tyreek Hill

Best Bet: Tyreek Hill over 50.5 receiving yards

San Francisco 49ers 6-10 @ Arizona Cardinals 7-9

Both teams will be playing for pride as the Niners had a disappointing season, and the Cardinals, who not long ago sat atop the NFC West faltered down the stretch. Brock Purdy will most likely be out this week, so I’ll take the Cardinals to get the win at home.

49ers 20 Cardinals 27

Confidence Level:5

X-Factor: Kyler Murray

Best Bet: Trey McBride over 68.5 receiving yards

Sunday, January 5th, 7:20 PM CT

Minnesota Vikings 14-2 @ Detroit Lions 14-2

This game has the potential to be game of the year. The loser will be a 14-team Wild Card, and the winner wins the NFC North and clinches home-field advantage in the NFC playoffs. Two Super Bowl contenders with explosive offenses in primetime? I can’t wait. The Lions can’t stop a nosebleed right now, but no one can stop them either. Being at home, I’ll take Detroit to do just enough to win.

Vikings 34 Lions 37

Confidence Level:5

X-Factor: Jared Goff

Best Bet: Jared Goff over 1.5 passing touchdowns