Author: Ezra Bernstein

The regular season edition of Monday Night Football came to a close with a familiar sight. The Detroit Lions walked off the field basking in their fifth primetime win of the season, the 14th win of their campaign, and a perfect road record in 2024. Head coach Dan Campbell’s squad will now look ahead to a critical Week 18 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings, in which the loser will become a 14-win Wild Card team. Meanwhile, the San Francisco 49ers headed to the locker room not only defeated but bruised, too, as starting quarterback Brock Purdy exited the game in…

Fans can’t ask for a much better game than the display put forth by the Washington Commanders and the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday Night Football. Quarterback Jayden Daniels, now the prohibitive favorite to win Offensive Rookie of the Year, dazzled in the type of game that has become a season-long tradition for the Commanders: A back-and-forth show that is eventually closed by a couple of ice-cold plays from Daniels. The Falcons, who entered the game in desperate need of a win to maintain their playoff positioning, gave the Commanders all they could handle, falling short at the buzzer like so…

The player prop series will continue with a look at the Monday Night Football game between the Detroit Lions and the San Francisco 49ers. Anticipated to be a crucial game for the NFC standings, the contest has become an inconsequential one for the 49ers, who have long been eliminated from postseason contention. It remains an important game for the Lions, who, despite owning a 13-2 record, are yet to clinch the NFC North and the first overall seed in the conference. A loss to the same team that dealt them a defeat in last season’s NFC Championship would drop Detroit…

The NFL will nightcap its second Saturday of action with a crucial divisional matchup between the Arizona Cardinals and the Los Angeles Rams. The Cardinals, who were eliminated from postseason contention by the Carolina Panthers last week, have a chance to play spoiler in front of a Los Angeles home crowd. With a loss, the Rams would be forced to play a win-and-you’re-in game against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 18 instead of resting their starters and preparing for a playoff run. It’s a hugely important contest to cap off a good Saturday of football, and there are several attractive…

The Kansas City Chiefs haven’t cruised to many victories this season. In a campaign marked by nail-biting finishes, fourth-quarter heroics, and one-score wins, the Chiefs ended Christmas Day with a dominant win against the Pittsburgh Steelers in a game they led from the first quarter on. It was one of Kansas City’s best performances of the season, contrasted against one of Pittsburgh’s poorest showings of the year. The Steelers were agonizing to watch offensively and ineffectual defensively, a combination that led to their largest margin of defeat of the season. There are plenty of takeaways for each team as both…

The second leg of the NFL’s Christmas debut will feature yet another critical AFC matchup. The Baltimore Ravens will travel down south to face the Houston Texans in a contest that carries critical playoff implications for both teams. The Ravens, winners of two straight games, need to make it three to continue their pursuit of the AFC North crown. The Pittsburgh Steelers play the Kansas City Chiefs earlier on Christmas Day, so there’s a chance Baltimore will be able to move into first in the division with a win against Houston. The Texans have already clinched their division, but a…

The NFL’s first expedition into Christmas Day games begins with a high-profile clash between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Pittsburgh Steelers. Unsurprisingly, this game carries tons of weight for both teams as they jostle for advantageous playoff positioning in the crowded AFC standings. Kansas City, despite a 14-1 record, is yet to secure the first seed and home-field advantage throughout the postseason. One more win will clinch that privilege for head coach Andy Reid yet again. The Steelers, while well out of the running for the first seed, still have the AFC North on the line, as last week’s…

Saturday football is finally back on the schedule, and with it, a couple of excellent, high-stakes matchups between AFC playoff teams. First on the docket is a potential playoff preview between the visiting Houston Texans and the Kansas City Chiefs. The Texans have already clinched the AFC South crown for the second season in a row, but a win combined with a Pittsburgh Steelers loss could help them climb into the third seed down the stretch. The Chiefs have likewise clinched their division, an achievement that has almost been taken for granted by fans in recent years. Nothing but the…

The first Saturday with NFL football in nearly a year will conclude with a classic, age-old rivalry. The Pittsburgh Steelers will visit the Baltimore Ravens in a game that puts playoff positioning, pride, and prestige at stake over a 60-minute span. The Steelers have already clinched a postseason appearance, but the nature of that appearance remains to be seen. With a victory, Baltimore would move into a tie atop the AFC North, making this the most important game of the season thus far for both clubs. There are several excellent opportunities to bet player props in what should be another…

As the NFL season inches closer and closer to the playoffs, divisional matchups that once looked inconsequential take on season-defining meaning. Thursday night’s showdown between the Denver Broncos and the Los Angeles Chargers is one such example. The Broncos, thought to be one of the AFC’s weaker units prior to the season, have put together an excellent campaign behind rookie quarterback Bo Nix. The former Oregon Duck has led his team to a 9-5 record, good for the sixth seed in the conference. The Chargers fielded similarly low expectations during the preseason, only to earn an 8-6 record and a…