Weekly Grade and Predictions

Week 18 is in the books and what an incredible week it was. We witnessed the game of the year and who would have thought it would be in the division, WOW!

GRADES
Broncos
This game was very winnable for the Broncos but a costly fumble and 84 yard return for a touchdown in the 4th quarter was the deciding factor. Drew Lock was 12 of 24 (50%) for 168 yards with 4 carries for 35 yards and 2 touchdowns. Melvin Gordon had 12 carries for 110 yards and a touchdown with 1 reception for 6 yards and a game changing fumble. Tim Patrick had 6 receptions for 95 yards. The defense had 1 sack and 1 tackle for loss. Brandon McManus was 1 for 1 on fieldgoals and 3 for 3 on extra points. This was a very winnable game but a late mistake hurt the Broncos chances.
Grade: C+

Chiefs
The Chiefs found a way to pull off the victory in the 4th quarter after looking average at best for most of this game. Patrick Mahomes was 27 of 44 (61.3%) for 270 yards and 2 touchdowns with 9 carries for 54 yards. Derrick Gore had 7 carries for 30 yards. Mecole Hardman had 8 receptions for 103 yards. The defense had 1 sack and 3 tackles for loss with a forced fumble and return for a touchdown. Harrison Butker was 2 for 2 on fieldgoals and 2 for 2 on extra points. The Chiefs are the #2 seed in the AFC but looked very beatable in their last two games.
Grade: B-

Chargers
This was the game of the year and it should have ended with a tie and both teams getting into the playoffs but Brandon Staley called the stupidest timeout in NFL history that led to a 10 yard run and a game losing fieldgoal. Justin Herbert was 34 of 64 (53.1%) for 383 yards and 3 touchdowns with a interception. Austin Ekeler had 16 carries for 64 yards and a touchdown with 5 receptions for 35 yards and a touchdown. Mike WIlliams had 9 receptions for 119 yards and a touchdown. The defense had 3 sacks and 8 tackles for loss. Dustin Hopkins was 1 for 2 on fieldgoals and 3 for 3 on extra points. This loss was on bad run defense and bad coaching decisions plain and simple.
Grade: C-

Raiders
For the 6th time this season, the Raiders won on the last play of the game (NFL Record). After everything this team has been through, to find a way to not only win this game but knock off a division foe and get into the playoffs, that is the stuff dreams are made of. Derek Carr was 20 of 36 (55.5%) for 186 yards and 2 touchdowns. Josh Jacobs had 26 carries for 132 yards and a touchdown with 2 receptions for 12 yards. Bryan Edwards had 4 receptions for 63 yards. The defense had 3 sacks and 6 tackles for loss with a interception and forced fumble and recovery. Daniel Carlson was 5 for 5 on fieldgoals and 2 for 2 on extra points. This game was far from perfect but the Raiders found a way to win.
Grade: B+

 

PREDICTIONS
Pittsburgh Steelers at Kansas City Chiefs
This is the playoffs and anything can happen. These two teams have Superbowl winning quarterbacks and are both cold weather teams. This game should come down to defense and the ability to run the ball as weather is predicted to be 30 degrees.
Chiefs 27 Steelers 20
Spread: -12.5 Chiefs
Over/Under: 46.5

Las Vegas Raiders at Cincinnati Bengals
This is a match-up that saw the Bengals win by 19 points in the regular season. The Raiders will be playing in the playoffs for the first time since 2016. This game will be all about big plays, defense and the running game as the weather is predicted to be 25 degrees.
Raiders 26 Bengals 24
Spread: +5.5 Raiders
Over/Under: 49
Last Week: 2-0 Season: 33-22

Win, lose or draw, the Raiders have made all in the Nation proud of them for actually making it to the playoffs after everything that has transpired this season. With that said, it was 5 times more enjoyable to make it by knocking the Chargers off, ending their playoff hopes, sticking it to all the so called experts that did not give us a chance in this game and most of all, enjoying the pain of the Chargers fans (lord, this means you) that promised they would go full emo if they lost to the Raiders and they did. Thank you for making this win even better.