OK. I can understand why Santa didn’t bring me the new Mercedes-Benz I had on my list, it’s hard to get them in the sleigh. But I can’t understand why there were other items on my list Santa didn’t deliver, like the playoff spot the Ravens should have gotten last week. The Ravens were on the good list by beating the Jaguars but the Patriots, who are on the naughty list, didn’t beat the Dolphins. All we needed was for either the Browns, Colts, or Dolphins to lose combined with a Ravens win over the Jaguars which we knew would happen and we would have taken a playoff spot. Since the Browns, Colts, and Dolphins all won last week, nothing has changed this week, we still need one of them to lose and a Ravens win over the Giants to gain a playoff spot. This is were it gets hard and I mean really hard.

WARNING THE FOLLOWING IS NOT MEANT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART!

We are rooting for the Steelers this week. I know…I know how can we be rooting for the Steelers? They play the Colts who we need to lose. May I suggest spiking our purple Kool-Aid with something strong like my favorite: several shots of Tito’s Vodka? Our only hope to ease the pain is for the Dolphins, who are playing the Raiders Saturday night 8:15, to lose so we won’t have to root for the Steelers like our lives depend on them winning. However, we will still need to root for them to give us a better seed. We just need to “suck it up” and do what’s best for the Ravens. If our Christmas list is answered this week, we won’t need to root for the Steelers next week. May I also suggest that immediately after the Steelers game you take a long hot shower to wash off Steeler stink?

Back to some normalcy, we are rooting against the Browns like we always do. Thank goodness! I would need more than vodka if had to root for the Steelers and the Browns in the same week.

Looking back at last week, the Ravens did what we all expected and crushed the Jaguars. All phases of the Ravens game played well. It was all topped off by Lamar smiling on the bench half way through the fourth quarter with QB Tyler Huntley under center for the Ravens getting some practice time against the Jaguars.

We play the New York Giants in Baltimore this week. The Giants are playing like a wounded animal fighting to win the NFC East. The Giants playing a backup QB lost to the Browns last week, but arguably played them better than we did two weeks ago. So don’t judge the Giants for their 5-9 record they are only one game behind Washington to win the NFC East. Also, the Giants may have their starting QB Daniel Jones playing against the Ravens. If Jones can’t play, Colt McCoy will start for the Giants. Even with Daniel Jones playing, the Giants have the second worst scoring offense in the league. The Ravens may be almost at full strength this week with only Jimmy Smith ruled out. Baltimore will continue to do their part for a playoff spot by winning on Sunday.

GO RAVENS!!!

Wildcard playoff update:

The three teams are in front of the Ravens, the Browns, Colts and Dolphins, all won last week. This leaves the Ravens still in the eighth seed: one spot outside of the wildcard playoffs.

The Dolphins play the Raiders in Las Vegas 8:15 Saturday night. Watch this game so we know how hard to root for the Steelers on Sunday.

The Browns play the Jets in New York 1:00 Sunday. The Jets got their first win of the season last week in LA so nothing is impossible.

The Colts play the Steelers in Pittsburgh 1:00 Sunday. Please see above for life saving instructions.

GO RAVENS!!!

Remember don’t bet all the money you saved not buying gifts that you got to blame COVID for on my picks since they are for who we want to win to help the Ravens not who we think will win.

Friday / Christmas day

(11-4) Saints 52 over (6-9) Vikings 33
Both defenses took Christmas day off.

Saturday 1:00

(5-9) Lions over (9-5) Buccaneers
Don’t want to see Tom Brady in the playoffs.

Saturday 4:30

(8-6) Cardinals over (5-9) 49ers
Both NFC with Cardinals looking for a playoff spot.

Saturday 8:15

(7-7) Raiders over (9-5) Dolphins
This item on my Christmas list is stuck at the main post office waiting to be delivered.

Sunday 1:00

(9-5) Ravens over (5-9) Giants
Statistically the Giants defense is one of the harder defenses to score on. Having played teams in their division like Washington, Philadelphia, and Dallas who have a combined win total of 20 wins for the season, the Giants have note face any QB like Lamar. New York may have a good defense, but their offense is the second worst scoring offense in the NFL. Face that against the Ravens fourth hardest defense to score on. The Ravens defense will have another big QB sack game and Lamar, Mark Andrews and the Ravens offense will have a big game throwing the ball.

GO RAVENS!!!

(11-3) Steelers over (10-4) Colts
I had to override my computer’s auto correct since there was no way my written history would allow this to be correct. The last win the Steelers had was barely beating the Ravens who had two thirds of our starters in COVID protocol four weeks ago. Since them the Steelers have lost their last three games including losing to the Bengals last week. The bottom line is the Steelers stink and have very little chance of winning this game. But we always have hope especially this time of year.

(1-13) Jets over (10-4) Browns
Any given Sunday.

(3-10-1) Bengals over (9-4) Texans
With the Bengals it’s about the draft pick.

(13-1) Chiefs over (4-10) Falcons
If the Chiefs win, they lockup the AFC number one seed with it’s coveted bye week and eliminates the Steelers from getting it.

(1-13) Jaguars over (7-7) Bears
Don’t want the Jaguars to get the number one overall draft pick.

Sunday 4:00

(6-8) Washington over (4-10) Panthers
Keeping the high draft picks in the NFC.

(4-9-1) Eagles vs (5-9) Cowboys
Both NFC teams you pick’em

(9-5) Rams vs (10-4) Seahawks
Both NFC teams you pick’em

Sunday Night 8:00

(10-4) Titans over (11-3) Packers
This late in the season you throw your friends to the curb and say it’s nothing personal just football. We are rooting for the Titans to win the AFC East over the Colts. Since we lost to the Titans and beat the Colts we hold the head to head tie breaker against the Colts but not the Titans. After all, the Packers have clinched the NFC north and are getting greedy wanting the number one seed.

Monday Night 8:00

(6-8) Patriots over (11-3) Bills
Last week the Patriots were eliminated from the playoffs for the first time in way too long.

Enjoy the games knowing the vaccine is on the way and 2021 will be a lot better.

And that’s just The (virtual) View From 151.

GO Ravens!!!