Week 18 picks – what a concept. Here comes an extra week of NFL action, an extra week to pocket cash before the playoffs.
Check out the predictions with odds midweek courtesy of FanDuel sportsbook.
Bengals -2 @ Steelers – Play Cincinnati
Pittsburgh lives to fight another day if they lose here, Cincinnati must win and get help to sneak into the playoffs at 9-8. Cincy has been terrific as road chalk this season covering all five times and they ride a 4-game win streak while the banged-up Steelers ride a 3-game losing streak.
We doubt that Miami and Denver will both lose, meaning Cincy still doesn’t get in, but we see them doing their part Saturday night.
Kansas City +11 @ Denver – Play KC
The Chiefs will rest everyone but they are 15-1 for many reason and depth is one of them. Laying 11 points is a lot for Denver and expecting KC to roll over – even with a lineup of second stringers – is silliness.
They have won 8 straight January games and 17 of 17 games against the Broncos. Can they beat the motivated Broncos? Maybe not. Can they keep this game within double digits? Sure can. They are 15-4-1 ATS as dogs over recent seasons.
Giants +5 @ Eagles – Play NYG
Philly probably won’t play regulars and probably won’t let Saquon Barkley chase a rushing record against his old team. That means we are handicapping a care-free Giants team that erupted last week vs a semi-interested Eagles team resting for the first round.
The Giants have lost 11 straight seasons here but are 6-2 ATS past 8 visits to Philly. Given the circumstances, we believe the Giants will hang around and possibly spring the upset here. We see good value at +5 on the Giants.
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Archived Week 18 NFL picks article from Jan. 5, 2024
Minnesota Vikings at Detroit Lions (-3.5): Lions
The Vikings’ quarterback situation and the team has now lost three in a row. They were particularly sad in a Week 17 home loss to the Green Bay Packers. I doubt there’s much gas in the tank. To be safe, though, I’d buy this down to -3.
Cleveland Browns at Cincinnati Bengals (-7): Bengals
The Bengals are eliminated but the Browns have nothing to play for and are phoning this in. Meanwhile, many Bengals players — including quarterback Jake Browning — will want to make statements in the team’s home finale. They’ll roll in a blowout.
Dallas Cowboys (-13) at Washington Commanders: Cowboys
The Cowboys win big. It’s sort of their thing. We saw it when they crushed Washington by 35 points earlier this season, which is one of eight 20-plus-point Dallas wins this season. After a few off weeks, they’re due for another lopsided win against a team that is much better off losing for draft capital purposes. Watch Dallas feast on the league’s worst scoring defense.
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Archived Week 18 NFL picks article from Jan. 7, 2023
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (-10.5) AT DENVER BRONCOS: CHIEFS
This will still matter to the Chiefs, who should be fired up after a tough loss and should benefit from the expected return of left tackle Orlando Brown in a blowout victory.
DALLAS COWBOYS (-7) AT PHILADELPHIA EAGLES: COWBOYS
I wouldn’t bet on this game because it’s impossible to know how seriously either team will take it, but the Eagles look more worn down from their recent playoff push than Dallas does. The Cowboys are also the much better team on paper.
