NFL Bold Predictions for Week 18 aside, I think we can all agree that your typical NFL season is, well, there’s no such thing as a typical NFL season.
This year, for instance, we saw…
- …the Chicago Bears going from the worst of the worst to the first of the first.
- …a tight MVP battle between a grizzled vet and a wet-behind-the-ears neophyte.
- …the Kansas City Chiefs missing the playoffs for the first time since the Paleolithic Era.
- …a 44-year-old QB come out of retirement and mostly play like a 44-year-old QB coming out of retirement.
- …the top-three teams in the NFC West posting a combined record of 36-12.
- …the AFC North and the NFC South posting combined records of, respectively, 27-37 and 28-36.
- …Vikings pass catcher Justin Jefferson enter Week 18 as fantasy’s WR34.
And speaking of entering Week 18, there are a small handful of games that legitimately matter, something that can’t always be depended upon.
- On Saturday, the Seahawks visit the Niners with the NFC’s top seed on the line, while Carolina and Tampa Bay duke it out for the NFC South title.
- On Sunday, the Ravens travel to Pittsburgh for a one-game playoff to decide the AFC North, while the Bears and the Rams have designs on the NFC’s two-seed.
But first, here on Friday, we’re getting bold.
NFL Bold Predictions, Week 18
Let’s see who might or (probably won’t) do some crazy statistical stuff on Thursday, Sunday, or Monday.
1) The Chicago Bears and the Detroit Lions Could Have a Track Meet To the Tune of 80 Total Points Scored
First, there’s the revenge factor. Or, more accurately, the double revenge factor.
- Revenge Dish #1: Newsflash, up until this summer, the now-Bears head coach called plays for the Lions. Detroit’s former offensive coordinator last year led his squad to the top of the stat board and the NFC Conference Championship. Yes, he left Detroit of his own volition, but you always want to stick it to a former employer, even if the employer paid you seven-figures.
- Revenge Dish #2: In Johnson’s first game against the Lions in Week 2, his defense didn’t, y’know, play defense, and the Bears were beat down 52-21. Yikes.
With the two-seed in the NFC a reality, Johnson is playing his starters — and those are starters who, last week, put up 38 points in San Francisco against the 49ers.
Lions head coach Dan Campbell indicated he’ll also field his first team. This might not be super-scary for the Bears defense, as over their last two games, Detroit averaged 17.0 points.
But lest we forget, Chicago’s injury-riddled D ain’t exactly elite, as borne out by the 42-points-allowed mess against the 49ers.
So revenge + hot offenses + cold defenses could = a track meet.
Bears QB Caleb Williams vs. Lions PrizePicks Projection: 237.5 Passing Yards
2) 49ers QB Brock Purdy Might Shock the Dominant Seattle Defense
And while we’re on the subject of the 49ers scoring oodles of points, let’s talk about Brock Purdy.
Over his last two games, Purdy totaled 498 yards in the air, 39 yards on the ground, and 10 total TDs, begging the question, if hadn’t have missed eight games with injury, would he be in the MVP convo
Probably.
Anyhoo, the Niners offense has been virtually unstoppable since Week 11, averaging 42.6 (!) points per game since Week 15.
For their part, the Seahawks D has had its moments, but they’re two weeks removed from the Rams dropping a 37-burger on them, so in the right situation, they can be had.
And Saturday, with the NFC top-seed going the winner, Purdy might just have them.
49ers QB Brock Purdy vs. Patriots PrizePicks Projection: 228.5 Pass Completions
3) Panthers QB Bryce Young Could Deliver the Bryce Young Game
There’s exactly no reason to throw statistical shine on Bryce Young.
Last Sunday, the Alabama product was less-than-good — and that’s putting it kindly — managing just 54 yards in the air. (Coincidentally, it was against the aforementioned Seattle defense.) And he hasn’t thrown for more than206 since Week 11.
But let’s revisit Week 14, shall we?
Facing a middling Falcons D, Young went straight-up Madden, racking up 448 yards, 3 passing touchdowns in what was then believed to be the Bryce Young Game.
Thing is, dude was sacked 5 times, and you don’t get sacked 5 times in your game. So with a playoff spot potentially in the offing, Young could potentially blow Week 11 out of the water.
Panthers QB Bryce Young vs. Patriots PrizePicks Projection: 197.5 Passing Yards
4) Bills QB Josh Allen Could Pass for 225 Yards…In One Half
Logic would dictate that since the Bills are locked into the Wild Card spot, Buffalo head coach Sean McDermott would sit his starters to avoid injury, one of those starters being reigning MVP Josh Allen. Allen popped up on the Bills’ injury report, indicating that he might get the week.
The key word there being “might.”
Allen is the kind of guy who’ll go to the mats in order to get on the field, and considering this will be the Bills’ final regular season game at Highmark Stadium, he’ll probably bull his way onto the field. He might, however, compromise by playing only the first two quarters.
And in those first two quarters, he might do terrible, terrible things to a New York Jets defense that has allowed 30+ points in four of its last seven games. And last season, Josh delivered six halves in which he topped 200 yards. So 225 is eminently doable.
5) Two Jaguars Receivers Could Each Rack Up 100 Receiving Yards
Jags QB Trevor Lawrence is en fuego, finishing the last three weeks in FantasyLand as, respectively, QB5, QB2, and QB1.
Week 11 offered us a snapshot of how he works these days, with four Jaguar ball-catchers topping 53 yards, led by RB Travis Etienne Jr.’s 75.
Point being, he spreads the ball.
Carolina visits Tampa Bay with a division title in the offing, and the Bucs coming into the game with the league’s 19th-worst defense, we could see two of the Jags top-three receivers (Jakobi Meyers, Brian Thomas Jr., or Parker Washington) make some box score magic.
Jaguars WR Brian Thomas Jr. vs. Titans PrizePicks Projection: 45.5 Receiving Yards
Get Bold on PrizePicks
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