NFL Week 16 Sunday Recap
Sports betting fans had grown chilly on both teams. The New York Giants and Tennessee Titans were each coming off of losses last Sunday. There had been rumblings from NFL betting fans about whether or not either team had peaked and were now slowly getting worse right before the playoffs and not better.
So, what did the New York Giants and Tennessee Titans do? They played games against teams that most likely will be their biggest rivals come playoff time – – the Carolina Panthers and Pittsburgh Steelers respectively, and they won.
We’ll start with those two games in our Sunday recap!
Carolina Panthers vs. New York Giants – – The G-Men entered this game as 3 ½ point favorites in the online betting spread. When Carolina kicker John Kasay had a chance to end the game on a 50 yard field goal at the end of regulation, it looked like those football betting fans who had taken the Panthers and the points might be in for a victory. Even when Kasay missed and the Giants drove down to the twenty yard line, it looked like the online betting fans backing the Panthers would still win against the spread. Then, of course, the Giants pushed the Panther defense back and scored a touchdown in overtime. The Giants have home field advantage and proved once again that they are one of the best teams for online wagering fans to bet on in the BetUS online sportsbook.
Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Tennessee Titans – – The Steelers grew from a 2 point favorite when the BetUS odds makers released the line to a 2 ½ point favorite at kick-off. Early in the fourth quarter, Pittsburgh got a 14 to 10 lead and they looked like winners. But the Titans stormed back, thanks to three Steelers’ turnovers, and ended up smacking Pittsburgh all over the field. The final score ended up being Titans 31 and Steelers 14. Tennessee beat the BetUS online sportsbook wagering spread, scored against the BetUS money-line, and got the over on the BetUS Total as well. They also secured home field advantage throughout the AFC Conference Playoffs.
Washington Redskins vs. Philadelphia Eagles – – What an awful time for that Eagles’ offense to stall! The Redskins defense controlled the Eagles all day, then when the Eagles finally started to get something going they managed the clock so badly that quarterback Donovan McNabb was forced to go to the end zone early. MacNabb’s pass was caught by the wide receiver on the one yard line, but time ran out on the Eagles and the Redskins won the game outright as 4 point underdogs against the spread at home.
Atlanta Falcons vs. Minnesota Vikings – – The Vikings were 4 point favorites in this game, but Atlanta had other plans. Not only did Atlanta go into Minnesota and just beat up the Vikings defense, they secured a wild card playoff spot by beating Minnesota 24 to 17. How great is that for a team that was reeling last season after the Michael Vick revelation and their coach had quit on them? Atlanta beat the BetUS online betting spread and turned themselves into a serious contender for the Super Bowl. The Falcons are a pretty good team.
Arizona Cardinals vs. New England Patriots – – Arizona had no chance in this game. It was snowing like crazy and the Patriots knew that they had to win to continue their quest for the AFC East divisional title. They did as 8 point favorites in the BetUS online sportsbook by pummeling the Cardinals 47 to 7. Arizona got a late touchdown with Matt Leinart throwing a strike to Larry Fitzgerald, but that’s pretty much it. The Cardinals are going into the playoffs as one of the worst teams in the NFC after losing for the third straight week. The Patriots need to win and need some help to make the playoffs. If the Patriots do, then watch out!
Miami Dolphins vs. Kansas City Chiefs – – The Dolphins won one game last season. This season they have won ten after spotting the Chiefs points before storming back and beating Kansas City 38 to 31 on Sunday. Miami covered against the spread as 3 ½ point road favorites. More importantly for them, they set up a huge game against the New York Jets next Sunday. The team that wins might end up gong to the playoffs. The team that loses definitely won’t.
New York Jets vs. Seattle Seahawks – – It was Mike Holmgren’s last home game as Seattle’s coach and finally, after the worst season Holmgren has ever had as the top dog, the Seahawks played a good game and won for Mike. It was at the expense of Brett Favre and the online betting favorite New York Jets who never got into sink in the snow in Seattle. The Jets were 4 point favorites against the spread on the road against Seattle but failed miserably. The Jets are now on the brink of not making the playoffs. Oh, well. I guess the argument about who made the better decision, the Jets going for Favre or the Packers sticking with Aaron Rodgers, is a wash.
Buffalo Bills vs. Denver Broncos – – All the Broncos had to do was win. That was it. They were playing a Buffalo Bills team that had imploded early in the season. Everything set up for Denver to beat Buffalo and win the AFC West division. What happened? Denver, a 6 point favorite in the BetUS online sportsbook, lost 30 to 23 and now has to beat the San Diego Chargers next week in order to win the AFC West. Yes, Denver is once again in the middle of a late season collapse.
San Diego Chargers vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – – All the Bucs had to do was win. That’s it. Win and they were in. But what did the Bucs do? They decided to lose to an eight loss team in the San Diego Chargers at home. Not only did they lose, but Chucky’s team got destroyed against the BetUS online wagering spread by losing as home favorites 41 to 24. Any online football betting fan that took the Chargers on the BetUS money-line deserves kudos. Now, Tampa has to win and hope that the Eagles beat Dallas. The Chargers just have to beat the Broncos at home and they win the AFC West with a stellar record of 8 and 8.
New Orleans Saints vs. Detroit Lions – – Kudos to the Saints who, although eliminated from the playoffs, played with a lot of fire in their game against Detroit on Sunday. If the Lions had any chance to win a game, it was probably against the Saints who at times look like they don’t even want to play football. The Saints were 7 point favorites against the spread to beat the Lions and they didn’t disappoint dropping Detroit to 0 and 15 after scoring 42 points against them. The Lions finished up the day with 7 points. Neither team will be in the playoffs but Detroit does have the distinction of being the first team in NFL history to go 0 and 15. 0 and 16 is a real possibility.
Houston Texans vs. Oakland Raiders – – Last Sunday, as underdogs in the BetUS online sportsbook, the Houston Texans upset the Tennessee Titans. This Sunday, as 7 point road favorites against the BetUS online wagering spread versus the Oakland Raiders, the Texans lay an egg and lose straight-up by a score of 27 to 16. Go figure.
San Francisco 49’ers vs. St. Louis Rams – – The Rams were leading in this game but then Mike Singletary did something to fire up his team, I’m not sure what it was, but it worked because San Francisco came back and beat the Rams by a single point, 17 to 16. Of course, for online NFL betting fans who backed the 49’ers things aren’t that rosy because Singletary’s crew was 3 ½ point favorites against the spread.
Cincinnati Bengals vs. Cleveland Browns – – Man, I feel bad for Romeo Crennel. Okay, I really don’t. I mean, you’re given some high-priced free agents to work with. You’ve got two good quarterbacks to go to when the season starts. You’re even favored against your biggest rivals, the Cincinnati Bengals, at home in Week 16. So, even the BetUS NFL odds makers believe you have a shot. What do you do? You lay a goose egg and lose by a score of 14 to 0. Against the Bengals! The Browns were 2 point favorites against the spread. This game automatically becomes one of the worst I’ve ever seen in my life.
