Our goal before the season was to hit 60% and after finishing 5-1 in Week 17 we are now at 60% with a 64-41-2 overall record, 48-29-2 on sides, and 16-12 on totals. In the final week of the 2022 regular season that decides playoff spots and seedings, we look to close out the season strong and hit our goal.

For all of our Week 18 picks, click here.

Kansas City Chiefs @ Las Vegas Raiders

Week 18 includes an AFC West matchup between the Chiefs and the Raiders. If the Chiefs win this game they get the #1 seed which traditionally grants them a first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. However, this year with the canceled Bills versus Bengals game, the AFC title game will be on a neutral field.

With Derek Carr on the sideline, the Raiders will be led by Jarrett Stidham. They just took the 49ers to overtime and nearly pulled off a huge upset. Stidham, who came over from New England and was previously coached by Josh McDaniels there looked very comfortable in this offense. The arm, the accuracy, and the mobility were all on display. Now he certainly could fall off a cliff this week, but honestly, I don’t see it and the matchup is easier than last week. I expect the Raiders to play well and to be able to put up a lot of points once again. I would also tease the Raiders and over in this game.

The Picks: Raiders +9, Over 52.5

New England Patriots @ Buffalo Bills

I’ve only cried two times in my life while watching sports. The first was in 1995 when the Yankees lost to the Seattle Mariners in game five of the AL Wildcard game. Edgar Martinez’s double down the line off Jack McDowell ended the Yankee’s season and Don Mattingly’s only chance in the postseason. The second and only other time was 27 years later this past Monday Night.

I didn’t see Damar Hamlin initially fall down. I had turned away from the screen but when I came back to watch and saw the fear in both Stefon Diggs’ and Josh Allen’s eyes. Immediately I knew there was something very, very serious happening. I then saw the replay and immediately started to pray and broke out in tears because the world was potentially witnessing a 24-year-old losing his life on the football field. Thank God that since Monday night, Hamlin has made a miraculous recovery. He’s breathing on his own, and speaking with teammates, and appears all the worst-case scenarios have been averted. The Bills now can now breathe a sigh of relief, get back to Football and try to bring home a title for all the Bills Fans, their entire organization, and most importantly for their guy, Damar Hamlin.

The Bills obviously will be playing with a lot of emotion and I expect them to come out electric as they look to secure either the #1 or #2 seed. They should take care of the Patriots just like they’ve done in five of their last six matchups winning by an average of 14 points in those games. The Patriots control their own destiny and if they win they are in, but the Bills are going to prevent that from happening.

The Pick: Bills -7

Baltimore Ravens @ Cincinnati Bengals

The NFL threw the Ravens a bone after the Bengals game was canceled last week,  giving them a chance to host a playoff game despite not winning the division. If they beat the Bengals and the Chargers win as well, it will set up a Bengals and Ravens wildcard matchup with a coin toss determining the home team.

While it’s certainly strange and the Bengals certainly must feel slighted by this, the Bengals will also be playing for the #2 seed. Like Buffalo, I expect the Bengals to come out electric and take care of a struggling Ravens team that really can’t put up points with Tyler Huntley, averaging just 11 points on offense in their last three games.

The Pick: Bengals -9

Thanks for reading and all the best, you can follow me on Twitter @FantasySavvy.