what is the secret of this tie that binds
Week 15! TNF
Each teams odds to make the playoffs if they win or lose, heading into week 15:
A few take aways:
The Chicago Bears, who currently hold the number five pick in the draft, are one game out of an NFC Wild Card spot.
The Patriots have been eliminated from the playoffs
Bill Belichick has won two Super Bowls since Mike Tomlin last won a playoff game
The 1967 Baltimore Colts finished the regular season 11-1-2 but DID NOT make the NFL playoffs.
Looking at their record, I was struck by the two ties. I looked it up, an and overtime didn't exist yet. Regular season overtimes added in 1974.
In 1967, they introduced an actual tiebreaking system. Unfortunately, it only had 2 tiebreakers:
Head-to-head point differential
Less recently played in a title game
The rules, starting in 1946, only allowed for a sudden-death overtime in playoff games and the Championship game. Preseason and regular season wouldn't get overtime until 1974. In 2021, the NFL removed overtime from preseason games.
As for the tiebreakers, the head-to-head point differential was +24 Rams as the two teams tied 24-24 in their first game and the Rams won 34-10 in the second.
If the head-to-head point differential had been even, the Rams would have won the "Less recently played in a title game" tiebreaker. The Colts last played a title game in 1964. The Rams in 1955.
Ties also used to just not count as anything. In other words, a 6-0-6 team would be considered to have a 1.000 win% rather than count the ties as half a win and half a loss.
The Packers ended up winning the Superbowl in 1967, getting in at 9-4-1.
Numbers with Bet Openly
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5: The Seahawks have now lost more games to the 49ers in 15 months (5) than they did from 2012-2021 (4)
0: The Raiders have about $50M invested in their top 3 wide receivers. The team scored 0 points on Sunday
1: Bills are the 1st team to beat Mahomes 3 times in his career. Also, Mahomes is now 35-10 at home in regular season. 0-3 vs Bills and 35-7 vs everyone else.
15 [TRIVIA]: Which starting QB has now thrown an INT in 9 straight games and 15 of his last 17?
Quotes
“I understand North Dakota State isn’t the National Football League but I’m used to winning.”
Chargers QB Easton Stick. He was 49-3 in college
“There was a lot more football in Matt’s head. Brock was a clean slate.”
Kyle Shanahan on the difference in Matt Ryan and Purdy adapting to his offense.
"I know this organization likes to score points, but dammit, you win championships with defense."
Raiders’ Coach, Antonio Pierce
“I’m the best. I don’t feel like we’re the two best. I’m the best.”
Ja’Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson top two? Ja’Marr would only say he’s No. 1.
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Picks
Monday, 12/14 @ 8:15pm
Chargers (+3) at Raiders
Heads up, this isn't an official prediction, but: Stick anytime TD is +600 on Pointsbet. (You can also create your own line on BetOpenly and get matched with someone to take the other side.)
Stick racked up an impressive 49-3 record in his four seasons as the NDSU Bison quarterback, the most wins by any QB in FCS history. And guess what Stick loves to do? Take a quick drop step near the end zone, freeze for a beat, and then dive headfirst for a touchdown. He racked up 41 rushing TDs at NDSU, including a whopping 17 in his perfect 15-0 championship season. Stick even crossed the line for at least one score in 10 out of 15 games in each of his last two seasons.
Don't sleep on his legs – they're arguably his strongest asset. He's a genuine threat to take it to the house, just like Justin Herbert did against the Raiders twice this season. Even in his limited preseason appearances, Stick's found the end zone five times, including two in just three games this year.
Record
ATS: 39-37-4 (-1.51u)
O/U: 28-28-3 (-2.52u)
Highlights
Zach Wilson evades the pass rush, throws 35 yards across his body in the pouring rain, sets up a go-ahead touchdown
Bengals defensive tackle B.J. Hill takes on five offensive linemen with confidence