Daily Briefing

AROUND THE NFL What happens if the Vikings and Bears tie (or if you can imagine it, the Steelers and Bengals)?  Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com:   It’s been 45 years since any NFL team had multiple tie games in a season, so if you’ve never given any thought to what would happen in the…

AROUND THE NFL A source tells Peter King that the highest levels of the NFL are concerned with the officiating we are getting in 2018:   Some of the calls in Pittsburgh-New Orleans were just ghost calls. The early Joe Haden pass interference, a big call in a one-score game, was a phantom call, as…

AROUND THE NFL AROUND THE NFL We saw this before Seattle beat Kansas City:   Home teams are now 0-12-2 ATS in Week 16. – – – Michael David Smith looks at teams that have made their bettors money with over win totals or under win totals:   With one game left in the regular…

AROUND THE NFL Sean Payton wants more jobs for NFL players.  Mike Triplett of ESPN.com:   Sean Payton said the 46-man roster on game days has “gotta change” for health and safety reasons.   The New Orleans Saints coach brought up the topic unsolicited Thursday while discussing how the team was down to its last…

AROUND THE NFL The DB can identify three scenarios that would yield a credible Week 17 Sunday night Flex opportunity for NBC and the NFL.   AFC A – The Chargers beat Baltimore, Indianapolis (the Giants) and Tennessee (Washington) win at home.  Indianapolis at Tennessee then is very likely (Houston is a factor) a play-in…

AROUND THE NFL We’ll let Will Brinson of CBSSports.com fill us in on the playoff picture:   The top seed in the NFC is going to be a massive advantage. Not because the Rams have a great home-field advantage, but because taking away the Saints’ home-field advantage is the surest way to beat them. And…

AROUND THE NFL The Watt brothers were 3-0 this weekend, playing on three different days.  Peter King:   Connie and John Watt flew from Wisconsin to Kansas City to watch their son Derek Watt play fullback and special teams for the Chargers in their 29-28 win over Kansas City on Thursday.   Connie and John…

AROUND THE NFL Michael David Smith on what’s happening in Los Angeles:   The Chargers’ win over the Chiefs on Thursday night leaves open the real possibility that the road to the Super Bowl, in both the AFC and the NFC, could go through Los Angeles.   The Chargers are now two wins and a…

AROUND THE NFL Even as NFL players get all indignant at how the owners take advantage of them, it should be noted that they take in about three times as much as they did in the mid 90s, when they still made quite a bit of money.  Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com:   The NFL’s…

AROUND THE NFL If The Season Ended Today –   A lot is similar in each conference, four division leaders, one dominant Wild Card from the West and a scramble around .500 for the final spot.  The one difference, the AFC has a weak division leader that could fall into the Wild Card scramble.  …

AROUND THE NFL NFC NORTH   CHICAGO He’s back.  QB MITCHELL TRUBISKY will start Sunday night against the Rams.  Herbie Teope of NFL.com:   The Chicago Bears are on track to have their starting quarterback back in the lineup for Week 14.   Mitchell Trubisky (right shoulder) put in a full practice Thursday for a…

AROUND THE NFL Limted Briefing this week with travel and connectivity issue.  Hope to be back with you next on Friday morning   – – –   If the Season Ended Today in the AFC:                                                                                          Div            Conf Kansas City                 West  10-2           4-0             8-1 New England               East     9-3           3-0             6-2 Houston                       South   9-3           3-1             7-2…