big boss man, can't you hear me when I call
TNF! Week 14
Tonight’s Patriots-Steelers Over/Under is set to be lowest in NFL game in three decades, one of lowest all-time.
StatMuse.com says there hasn’t been a total that low for an NFL game since 1993.
The Patriots’ last three games were losses by scores of 6-0, 10-7 and 10-6.
That makes the Patriots the first team since the 1938 Chicago Cardinals to lose three straight games while allowing 10 or fewer points in all three of them.
The Chicago Cardinals, who played at Wrigley Field, were owned by Charles Bidwill.
Prior to his ownership of the Cardinals, Bidwill was a successful businessman and wealthy lawyer in Chicago, with ties to organized crime boss Al Capone.
Despite initially portraying himself as a businessman, Bidwill's lavish lifestyle and unexplained wealth fueled speculation about his income sources, particularly during the height of Prohibition.
While no concrete evidence exists linking Bidwill directly to bootlegging activities, various historical accounts and investigations suggest his involvement was an open secret within Chicago's criminal circles.
Bidwill was a major shareholder in Sportsman's Park, a horse racing track founded by Al Capone. He even acquired full ownership in 1946, after the previous owner was threatened and intimidated.
His involvement in various businesses earned him the nickname "Blue Shirt Charlie.”
Numbers with Bet Openly
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10: The Patriots are 1-3 this year when they allow 10 or fewer points. The rest of the NFL when doing so? 53-0.
8: Since 2013, the Bears are 8-13 against the Lions. Matt Nagy was the head coach for seven of those wins.
154: The Eagles defense has played a record-breaking 154 snaps across their last two games.
3 [TRIVIA]: Three players this season have hit speeds of 20+ MPH on both a carry and a reception this year. Can you name all three?
Quotes
"That's a good question. I don't know, I'm down to earth. So, I pretty much be cool with it. Tight hugs. Long hugs. Crying hugs. I'm cool with whatever. I love the fans, man."
Lamar Jackson on how he handles it when fans are starstruck by him
“Of course we have carts.”
Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence said he declined to take a cart back to the locker room on Monday night and admits that might’ve been dumb on his part.
"Disrespect is disrespect, so, I responded. I knew when I did hit that tweet, I wasn’t in it to win it. At the end of the day it was to get him to understand, ‘Leave me the hell alone. When others go low, I go lower.”
Jamal Adams after making fun of a reporters wife
“Probably the greatest to ever play that position.”
John Harbaugh on Aaron Donald
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Picks
Thursday, 12/7 @ 8:15pm
Patriots (+6) at Steelers (O30)
It’s worth noting that the Patriots have actually out-gained their opponents by 52 yards a game over their last three contests. Their defense has also helped keep them competitive all season.
Running back Rhamondre Stevenson has been ruled out, meaning Ezekiel Elliott will be the Pats’ lead RB tonight. Elliott has played fairly well this year. He ranks 16th (out of 68 RBs) in success rate while Stevenson ranks 26th.
The Patriots average 15 points per game prior to those three games, with an average offensive Expected Score of 16 points. And that came despite a harder schedule in those first nine games, where their opponents ranked 16th on average defensively compared to 22nd on average in the most recent three-game stretch.
There may also be a bit more upside with Zappe. He's had a higher yards per attempt and yards per completion.
The downside is Zappe has had a higher sack rate than Jones, but only by about a percentage point, which isn't going to matter as much against a Steelers team that is league average in pressure rate.
Record
ATS: 34-34-4 (-3.06u)
O/U: 26-23-3 (-0.66u)
Highlights
Puka Nacua trying to convince Cooper Kupp to watch anime
“Here we go" - Dak Prescott