Key events
Patriots 21-0 Bills 2:31, 2nd quarter
Buffalo need a score and quick. New England are swarming on defense though and force a 3rd down with five to go. Allen drops back and hits Dawson Knox to give Buffalo the 3rd and Goal.
Jaguars 21-7 Jets 9:53, 2nd quarter
The Jets have a touchdown chalked off for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on a punt return.
TOUCHDOWN! Bengals 0-7 Ravens 4:35, 2nd quarter
A short pass out to the right and Ali is in for the score. Finally.
TOUCHDOWN! Patriots 21-0 Bills 5:53, 2nd quarter
Patriots take out a HUGE lead after Henderson’s punishing long run. The offensive line bulldoze the Bills leaving a huge gap to the right and he is home free. Did anyone have the Patriots down for a blowout win? Not me.
Chiefs 7-3 Chargers 10:17, 2nd quarter
Horrrible pick from Justin Herbert hands the Chiefs excellent field position. Herbert is taking a sack and decides to throw it sky high, wobbling straight into a defenders arms. KC in the red zone.
Bengals 0-0 Ravens 8:34, 2nd quarter
Still no score in Cincinnati. Since my last no-score bulletin both Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrow have thrown an interception. Shocker.
TOUCHDOWN! Texans 17-7 Cardinals 13:41, 2nd quarter
Arizona hit back through the mighty tight end McBride. The fantasy darling. If you know, you know.
Patriots 14-0 Bills 10:31, 2nd quarter
Josh Allen sacked again, this time at midfield. Big 3rd down & 15 coming up after Harold Landry takes the QB down. Allen throws it short of the sticks and the punt team are out for Buffalo for a third time.
TOUCHDOWN! Giants 0-10 Commanders 13:38, 2nd quarter
Washington doing NY a favour at present as the Giants look to stay locked in at the bottom in the race for the No 1 overall draft pick next year.
TOUCHDOWN! Jaguars 21-7 Jets 14:14, 2nd quarter
Told you it was going swimmingly.
TOUCHDOWN! Bears 14-0 Browns 1:29, 1st quarter
Chicago also take out a healthy lead on their struggling opponent. All going swimmingly for Houston, Jacksonville and Da Bears.
Bengals 0-0 Ravens 14:16, 2nd quarter
No score yet in the big dustup in the AFC North. Defense on top.
TOUCHDOWN! Patriots 14-0 Bills 0:25, 1st quarter
What a start for New England’s young quarterback. He scans the field, sees no one open and puts his head down and bursts through the gap in the middle of the field. Two rushing TDs now for Maye.
TOUCHDOWN! Jaguars 14-7 Jets 1:47, 1st quarter
Maybe I spoke a little too soon about Brady Cook. Jets are fighting back with the rookie slinging his first NFL touchdown.
TOUCHDOWN! Texans 17-0 Cardinals 6:12, 1st quarter
Another game that looks over before it has hardly begun after Houston take a three-score lead.
Patriots 7-0 Bills 4:31, 1st quarter
Aaaand Buffalo punt it away again after Josh Allen is swallowed up on 3rd down by Jack Gibbens. Two three and outs to start for the Bills.
TOUCHDOWN! Bears 7-0 Browns 7:35, 1st quarter
Patriots 7-0 Bills 7:51, 1st quarter
New England punt it back to Buffalo who take over on offense at their 17-yard line.
TOUCHDOWN! Jaguars 14-0 Jets 6:24, 1st quarter
Jacksonville out of sight already. Not entirely unexpected considering Brady Cook (who?) is in at quarterback for the Jets.
Patriots 7-0 Bills 9:17, 1st quarter
Patriots take over after a three and out and punt from the Bills. Chance to take an early, juicy lead now.
TOUCHDOWN! Chiefs 7-0 Chargers 8:51, 1st quarter
TOUCHDOWN! Eagles 7-0 Raiders 7:51, 1st quarter
Patriots 7-0 Bill 10:14, 1st quarter
The Bills start on offense with excellent field position at midfield after a 45-yard return by Ray Davis. Brandin Cooks then has them immediately camped in the red zone … until he doesn’t a monster catch is called back incomplete after a review. 2nd & 10 at the 50.
TOUCHDOWN! Jaguars 7-0 Jets 10:18, 1st quarter
TOUCHDOWN! Patriots 7-0 Bills 11:11, 1st quarter
The hot shot gives the home fans something to scream about as he scrambles away on the QB keeper. He runs out to the left and finds the pylon.
Patriots 0-0 Bills 12:31, 1st quarter
Early slice of luck for the Pats as they pick up 30 yards on a catch that definitely was not a catch. Kayshon Boutte catches a beautfilly thrown long pass but uses the ground to hold on to it. The refs completely miss it and New England rush to get the next play off. They are 1st and Goal now.
TOUCHDOWN! Texans 7-0 Cardinals 14:11, 1st quarter
Well that didn’t take long. Arizona’s defense pick up from the nightmare they had against the Rams last week. Collins collects a short pass and houses it just like that.
Patriots 0-0 Bills 15:00, 1st quarter
We are go! Let’s start with a focus on the big one in the early window. Buffalo boot it away as the snow flutters down at Foxborough. A first look at Drake Maye and company … next.
It is -12C at Soldier Field in Chicago. Brrrrr
The big injury news for today is Tee Higgins is out with concussion for the Bengals and a trio of QBs are out with Geno Smith for the Raiders, Tyrod Taylor for the Jets and Jayden Daniels for the Commanders all missing.
I believe the majority of fantasy players will be starting their playoffs today so how did we all get on in the regular season and are we confident of making the championship game?
I sneaked the No 1 seed in my dynasty league by one catch as it happens after Ladd McConkey’s singular grab against the Eagles on Monday night won me a pivotal matchup by 0.15 pts. Without it the Chattanooga Chinchillas would be duking it out tonight but thanks to Mr McConkey I am sitting pretty on a bye week. Fine margins.
A litter later we are playing with house money across five encounters from 3.25pm CST/4.25pm EST/9.25pm GMT (home teams listed first):
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(11-2) Denver Broncos v Green Bay Packers (9-3-1)
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(10-3) Los Angeles Rams v Detroit Lions (8-5)
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(3-10) New Orleans Saints v Carolina Panthers (7-6)
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(9-4) San Francisco 49ers v Tennessee Titans (2-11)
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(10-3) Seattle Seahawks v Indianapolis Colts (8-5)
We have a heavyweight bout between Super Bowl contenders in Denver and Green Bay. The NFC leading Rams taking on a Lions team that need a huge upset on the road to keep themselves on the postseason bubble. Then there are the Carolina Panthers looking to take control of the NFC South with a win agains their rivals. And finally the soaring Seahawks are out to pour a bowl of freezing cold water on the ultimate heart-warming comeback story: Philip Rivers’ return to save the Colts. I can’t do the legend justice so enjoy his words on a shock return to the NFL …
“No Zoom! Let’s GO!”
Preamble
Hello football family, it is week 15 and what a treat the NFL has in store. It is quite simply the best early and late Sunday slates yet this year with heavy hitter after heavy hitter on the schedule. And we have the pleasure of being able to share every pick, every sack and hopefully even a few touchdowns together starting with eight matches at 12pm CST/1pm EST/6pm GMT (home teams listed first):
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(9-4) Chicago Bears v Cleveland Browns (3-10)
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(4-9) Cincinnati Bengals v Baltimore Ravens (6-7)
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(8-5) Houston Texans v Arizona Cardinals (3-10)
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(9-4) Jacksonville Jaguars v New York Jets (3-10)
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(6-7) Kansas City Chiefs v Los Angeles Chargers (9-4)
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(11-2) New England Patriots v Buffalo Bills (9-4)
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(2-11) New York Giants v Washington Commanders (3-10)
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(8-5) Philadelphia Eagles v Las Vegas Raiders (2-11)
The pick of this litter is New England v Buffalo. The Patriots can wrap up the AFC East with a win and keep pressure on Denver for the No 1 seed while Buffalo could still claim the division crown from the Pats if they win today. A real prove it game for hot shot QB Drake Maye going up against the reigning MVP Josh Allen. You can read more about the keys to victory here …
Elsewhere, Kansas City are playing for their postseason lives against their AFC West rival LA Chargers. Baltimore need a big bounce back against Cincinnati’s explosive offense to avoid slipping further in the AFC North and Philadelphia, up against Las Vegas, will be desperately seeking some life on offense to avoid their season unravelling and a fourth defeat in succession. Then there are the Texans, Jaguars and Bears out to keep chugging along to January football with a quiet, composed victory against a weak opponent. Maybe there’s a bump in the road speeding into view? Let’s find out.
