The Gambling Show: Week 17

Season Record: 24-20-4

Sometimes you get what you ask for. And when you hitch your wagon to the three misfits of the NFC East, you get pain. Which is what we asked for. A now unflattering record requires a 6-0 finish to keep the 60% streak alive. And while many will think it's an impossibility and a waste of time to even try, it's moments like this that define who you are. Moments when you need to dig your feet in the dirt, wipe off the tears of the last week and pick the shovel back up despite your energy levels being below zero.

So let's get digging, for one last push.

Gold Medal Game: Browns +3

The Browns in the dawg pound are teetering on becoming a system play. They seemingly cover every spread at home, regardless of the opponent, including last week where they made Josh Allen look more like Clark Kent than Superman.

With this being an in-division game, with Pittsburgh without their only WR in DK Metcalf, and an immobile QB in Rodgers, I can see the Brownies pass rush having a good day. Pittsburgh is already limited on a downfield passing attack, and without the only guy who poses a real threat to a defense, I can't see a world where that opens up on Sunday.

I think Myles Garrett breaks the sack record, Rodgers cusses out all his receivers at least once, and the dawg pound gets one last Christmas present.

If Baltimore loses Saturday night, which is very possible given Lamar's likely absence, Pittsburgh will already have the division wrapped up, so their desire may be slightly inhibited. This game feels like a FG game regardless, so we'll take the points.

Silver Medal: Seahawks -7

I mentioned it in the six-pack this week, but this Panthers squad is as easy to understand as weather patterns above base camp on Everest.

They've beaten the Packers and Rams, swept the Falcons and got swept by the Saints. They've lost by two touchdowns twice, and two of those were by 29 and 31 points. As I said, if you say you have a pulse on this team you're lying.

So in a game where people might actually believe in the Panthers, I'm going to follow the trend where they get demolished a week after a win, which has been the case for the last two months.

The Seahawks are elite run stoppers, and Carolina’s offense starts and for the most part ends with the run. If Seattle can take the run game out of sync, it could be a long day for the Panthers offense.

It also helps the Seahawks are one of the best road teams in the league, 6-1 with a +81 point differential in their seven contests outside the PNW. The Seahawks are on a crash course with the 49ers next week, with the winner taking the one-seed in the NFC and the loser scheduled to play a month full of road games. I don’t think the Panthers are getting in the way of that fight.

The Panthers can lose this game without effecting their postseason hopes. Their season comes down to next week against the Bucs, and a 30-point blowout loss to the Seahawks might make me even more confident they win week 18. Cause that's who this team is.

Bronze Medal: Eagles +1.5

No one likes betting against Josh Allen. Watching this game will match the anxiety of waiting for the roulette ball to fall into place after it starts its descent from the side wall.

But shouldn't this line be bigger? I mean it was, just earlier this week, when it opened at 2.5.

There's no way the betting public is going against Josh Allen at home, where he's won 12 straight December/January regular season games, so some people know something.

What I think they know is that Buffalo can't stop the run (29th ranked rush defense so far this year). The Eagles offense isn't totally fixed, but Saquon has notched 20+ carries for three straight weeks, the first three game stretch he's done that all year, so they're starting to pull their head out of their play calling asses.

If they don't give Saquon the ball 25+ times this game then Patullo's house will get another coating of Eggland's Best next week. I think they do and he has a good day.

Josh is banged up, and if his foot even slightly minimizes his ability to be MVP Josh Allen than that bodes well for us too. The Bills also have a bunch of other starters with questionable injury designations, and it’s possible the Eagles get a buffer on the offensive line.

Let's ride with the Birds to break the Josh/Bills late season home streak. Luckily Buffalo has the Jets in week 18 to close out Highmark Stadium with a win.