THE STORY CONTINUES BELOW THESE SALTWIRE VIDEOS
Damar Hamlin continues a rapid recovery from Monday night’s near-death experience in Cincinnati.
The Buffalo Bills announced Saturday that the 24-year-old Safe continues to be “breathing on his own and his neurological function is excellent,” according to doctors at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center.
Still, Hamlin remained in critical condition.
Hamlin suffered two cardiac arrests after hitting his chest in Buffalo’s eventually canceled game against the Bengals, and we’ve only received encouraging reports of Hamlin’s recovery.
By Friday, he was off an intubated oxygenator and even spoke to his teammates back in Buffalo via social media live video platforms.
Saturday’s Twitter bill showed a special patch that players will wear over their jersey hearts during Sunday’s home vs. New England game.
ESPN reported Saturday that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell will be attending the Bills-Patriots game.
The NFL marked the field at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas (the venue for Saturday’s Chiefs-at-Raiders game) with only a white 30-yard marking “3” outlined in blue in honor of Hamlin.
Patz Punter fights back
Jake Bailey, one of two players suspended from the New England Patriots, is fighting back.
On Friday, the Patriots moved both punter Bailey and cornerback Jack Jones off the injured list to reserves/suspensions and back on Dec. 31. Meaning his last two games for New England.
The club did not give a reason. Each player will lose two-eighteenths of his 2022 salary, potentially voiding contract terms in the future.
Jones attended IR on New Year’s Eve in Bailey on November 19th.
Bailey’s agent, Doug Hendrickson, reportedly released a statement on Saturday, saying, “During Jake Bailey’s time on the IR, he has not missed a single treatment, meeting, or practice. He had hoped to play away from the IR last weekend but was informed that Jake has been suspended for the last two games, during the injury reserve period. It’s surprising considering he fully participated.I filed a complaint to counter this unclear[reason]suspension.”
Earlier, Jones said his suspension was caused by a “misunderstanding.”
Dolphin boosts QB
With Teddy Bridgewater (knee, finger) in question, the Miami Dolphins on Saturday promoted newly signed journeyman QB Mike Glennon to Sunday’s home game against the New York Jets. Perhaps Glennon will back Skyler Thompson if Bridgewater can’t play.
viking safety out
Minnesota added veteran safety Harrison Smith to Saturday’s injury report, excluding him from Sunday’s game in Chicago, saying he “started experiencing knee pain Friday afternoon.” more commonly known as Nathan Peterman for starting the
additional points
Cincinnati promoted QB Jake Browning in Sunday’s game against Baltimore. Neither Bengals starter QB Joe Burrow nor backup Brandon Allen were on this week’s injury report. … Cleveland downgraded DE Jadeveon Clowney (regardless of injury) to relegation ahead of Sunday’s game in Pittsburgh … Denver’s owners have reportedly made a deal for Sunday’s no-win against the visiting Los Angeles Chargers. Paid $400,000 to re-turf the home field for a meaningful finale… Dallas signed C/G Dakoda Shepley — a former CFL starter from Windsor, Ontario. — to the active roster from the practice team he was on all season.
5 important questions
-
Can the Bills focus and beat the desperate Patriots?
No one can blame them if they can’t. However, Dummer Hamlin has improved significantly and it’s been three days since he showed positive signs about his recovery, so perhaps Dummer will win, just as Bills fans want him to. -
Can the Ravens beat the Bengals without Lamar Jackson?
Probably not, even if they had the starting QB, who came out again (knee). But if possible, his game home his field in the Baltimore vs. Cincinnati playoffs will be determined by a coin toss. -
Pittsburgh or Miami?
If New England loses in Buffalo, the final AFC playoff berth will be decided between those two teams. Dolphins vs. Jets or Steelers vs. Browns if either wins. -
Packers, Seahawks, Lions?
If Seattle beats the LA Rams, the Lions won’t make the playoffs by winning the puck. Otherwise, Detroit enters with a win or draw. -
Who will get the first overall draft pick at the end?
Houston got it by losing to Indy. Otherwise, Chicago if they lose to Minnesota.
big number
64
Seattle’s Kenneth Walker III became the fourth rookie to reach 1,000 yards against the Rams, joining Ezekiel Elliott in 2016, Squon Barkley in 2018 and Jonathan Taylor in 2020.
funky factoid
Of the 10 teams with a winning record, only Minnesota entered the final weekend of the season with a negative points margin. Viking was minus 19. None of the 14 teams with a losing record had a positive points difference.
quote of the week
“Sometimes it’s hard to understand who you’re really angry with.”
—
Aaron Rogers
Packers QB.
Unless this weekend’s picks are near-perfect (15-1), the season’s goal of accurately predicting the NFL winner 65% of the time will not be met.
Not after starting as low as 56.3% after 10 weeks, but we did. Since then, 77-27-1 (73.8%).
Thank you for reading this season. I hope my selection will help you with your choice.
By week 18:
Kansas City, Las Vegas, Saturday
KRYK PICK: Kansas City
With the AFC’s top seed still within reach, it seemed unlikely that Andy Reid would rest or pull the starter unless a win was guaranteed. When it comes to Vegas, what could Jarrett Stidham do for an encore?
Tennessee, Jacksonville, Saturday
KRYK PICK: Jacksonville
I didn’t think the Titans could score enough to keep up with the ferocious offense of Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars, and the Jags’ only losses since October were to KC and Detroit.
Tampa Bay, Atlanta, Sunday, 1:00 p.m. ET
KRYK PICK: Tampa Bay
Tom Brady wants to play, and Bucks head coach Todd Bowles sounded like he would play most of the key starters. and they won 41-17.
Buffalo, New England, Sunday 1:00 p.m. EST
(via CTV, RDS and CBS nationwide except BC, Alberta and Winnipeg)
KRYK PICK: Buffalo
Bills players can focus more on the game now that Dumar Hamlin appears to be on the fast track to recovery. This means everything for the Patriots.The Bills win for Damar.
Chicago, Minnesota, Sunday 1:00 p.m. EST
(CTV Winnipeg; CTV2 BC, Alberta; via FOX)
KRYK PICK: Minnesota
Together, this game and the one below will determine who gets April’s No. 1 Overall Draft pick. If the Bears lose and the Texans win, Chicago wins. Otherwise it’s Houston.
Houston, Indianapolis, Sunday, 1:00 p.m. ET
KRYK PICK: Houston
Texans manager Robbie Smith claims he is aiming to win at Lucas Oil Stadium, where Colts interim coach Jeff Saturday lost. And Indy started unwinnable QB Sam Ehrlinger.
New York Jets at Miami, Sunday, 1:00 p.m. ET
(CTV2 Toronto, Ottawa, London/Windsor, Atlantic; via FOX)
KRYK PICK: New York
When those teams first met in October, Miami was still down at QB to Teddy Bridgewater and Skyler Thompson. The Jets won 40-17. Jets’ best QB, Joe Flacco, will start.
Carolina, New Orleans, Sunday, 1:00 p.m. ET
KRYK PICK: New Orleans
The Saints have won three in a row and would have won four in a row had they not lost in Tampa. Both teams lost. Who knows which starter will sit, but take the hot team, the home team.
Cleveland at Pittsburgh, Sunday at 1:00 PM ET
KRYK PICK: Pittsburgh
The Browns played spoilers in Washington last week and certainly have the ability to do so again.
Baltimore, Cincinnati, Sunday, 1:00 p.m. ET
(TSN; via CBS)
KRYK PICK: Cincinnati
Ravens QB Lamar Jackson has yet to recover from a knee sprain. He would have given the Ravens their only chance. Even if he could have played, I would have won the Bengals.
LA Chargers at Denver, Sunday, 4:25 PM EST
KRYK PICK: Denver
The Chargers made the playoffs as an AFC wildcard, with only a seed (5th or 6th) pending. They may rest an injured person at a great distance or pull early on. Edge, Broncos.
New York Giants in Philadelphia, Sunday, 4:25 PM ET
(via Manitoba, Ontario, CTV in Quebec, CTV2 Atlantic, RDS, CBS)
KRYK PICK: Philadelphia
The Eagles have yet to secure the #1 seed in the NFC East and the playoffs. QB Jalen Hurts (doubtful, shoulder) is expected to return. The Giants, firmly established as the No. 6 seed in the NFC, have little chance of winning.
Arizona, San Francisco, Sunday 4:25 p.m. EST
KRYK PICK: San Francisco
The card is shutting down Colt McCoy, top RB James Conner, WRs DeAndre Hopkins and Robbie Anderson, and starting QB David Blau. Nine are gunning for the top spot in his NFC seed. easy pick.
LA Rams at Seattle, Sunday, 4:25 PM ET
(CTV BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan via FOX)
KRYK PICK: Los Angeles
The Rams can knock Seattle out of the playoffs.
Dallas, Washington, Sunday, 4:25 p.m. EST
(TSN; via FOX)
KRYK PICK: Dallas
Losing this is the same as the Cowboys. But the NFC East and his NFC No. 1 seed are still within reach, so don’t expect one starter to rest unless Philly blows the Giants.
Detroit in Green Bay, Sunday, 8:20 p.m. EST
(TSN; CTV2; RDS; via NBC)
KRYK PICK: Green Bay
How many lions have won Lambeau Field since 1992? Three. It’s the only time Aaron Rodgers has started and not been knocked out. Both teams are hot. It could be a shootout.
– – –
Record of Week 17:
12-3 (.800).
Season record:
161-92-2 (.635), until Week 17, the Buffalo game in Cincinnati was suspended, postponed, and eventually cancelled.
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