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The latest
As Wilson has begun to fade, Patrick Mahomes’ MVP case has started to cement itself. After Week 12, Mahomes was -350 for the award while Wilson stood at +650. The Seahawks quarterback fell out of the top three after Week 13, while Mahomes’ position strengthened to a staggering -500.
As we’ve seen this year, however, this race ebbs and flows rather rapidly and we could be seeing a turn in the tide as we stand here today. After Week 13, Mahomes’ odds of winning MVP were sky-high. However, following a Week 14 performance where he threw three interceptions and narrowly escaped Miami with a win, the reigning Super Bowl MVP’s odds have declined to -240.
In lockstep with his struggles, the continued success of Packers star quarterback Aaron Rodgers has also made this race quite intriguing. His odds have improved for three straight weeks after sitting at +500 following Week 12. Coming into Week 15, Mahomes edges Rodgers in passing yards by 523 yards. That said, Rodgers currently bests Mahomes in touchdown passes (39 to 33), completion percentage (1.2% difference), passer rating (119.7 to 112.3), and has thrown one fewer interception.
Chiefs to Open Team-Themed Fitness Center in Overland Park in Spring 2021 | The Mothership
Chiefs Kingdom and fitness enthusiasts alike will have access to approximately 37,000 square feet of state-of-the-art fitness and recovery equipment. This signature facility will feature a strength and conditioning area with new Chiefs-branded free weights, machines and cardio equipment, an indoor turf field and a recovery facility that features cryotherapy treatment, hydromassage machines, recovery systems, a sauna, spray tan booths and full-amenity locker rooms. Group fitness classes and personal training services will also be offered at Chiefs Fit, and to stay on top of nutrition and apparel, the space will include a fuel station and a retail shop that features Chiefs Fit branded gear.
Chiefs Fit will feature the same health and safety protocols used at Arrowhead Stadium which are designed to keep members and guests safe. The facility is being built with sanitization in mind, including touchless water fillers, approved Air PHX HVAC ventilation and will undergo the social distancing, cleaning and sanitization best practices recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In addition, the facility will comply with all state and local orders that govern the operation of gyms and fitness facilities for as long as those orders remain in place during the ongoing pandemic.
The only way the Saints are going to be able to keep things close is if their defense can shut down Mahomes and as we’ve seen for nearly three years now, no one can shut down Mahomes. However, I do think they’ll play well enough to keep this game close.
Also, there’s only one team in the NFL that’s still undefeated on the road this season and it’s the Chiefs. I’m not sure if it’s because they’ve mastered the art of traveling during a pandemic or because they love being away from their families, but the Chiefs are 7-0 on the road this year and this game is on the road for them, so obviously I have to pick the Chiefs.
The pick: Chiefs 30-20 over Saints
Round 1 - Pick 32
Nick Bolton LB
Kansas City
Bolton is a hard-hitting middle-of-the-field spark plug with sideline-to-sideline speed.
NFL Week 14 grades from around the league | YardBarker
Kelce dominance illustrates Chiefs’ near-unstoppable attack
Travis Kelce has 1,250 receiving yards this season — 70 more than anyone else. In the NFL’s previous 100 years, no tight end has led the league in receiving. Kelce will likely obliterate George Kittle’s tight end-record 1,377 yards, and his presence highlights a historically lethal Chiefs attack. Kelce benefits from Patrick Mahomes’ brilliance and Tyreek Hill’s unparalleled deep capabilities, but on a day when Mahomes threw three INTs and took a 30-yard sack, the Chiefs (12-1) were still too much. Kelce’s consistency has made this one of the NFL’s all-time passing armadas, one that will be a nightmarish task to stop in the playoffs.
CHIEFS GRADE: B | NEXT: at Saints (Sun.)
The biggest sports comebacks of 2020 | YardBarker
Chiefs overcome 24-point deficit vs. Texans in AFC Division Round (Jan. 12)
Patrick Mahomes continues to write his legend, and his comeback against the Texans to begin Kansas City’s 2019-20 playoff quest will likely be one of his most memorable. Seemingly everything went wrong for the Chiefs with an early 24-0 deficit vs. Houston, but KC had a quick turnaround with 28 unanswered points in the second quarter before winning 51-31.
Le’Veon Bell’s One-Word Tweet Riles Up Pittsburgh Steelers Fans | The Spun
Bell not endearing himself to Steelers fans
1st
— Le'Veon Bell (@LeVeonBell) December 14, 2020
Le’Veon Bell’s former team, the Pittsburgh Steelers, have moved on quite nicely without him. They got off to an 11-0 start this season and have been battling Bell’s Kansas City Chiefs for the top spot in the AFC. Kansas City has one loss. The Steelers have now lost their last two games, giving the Chiefs the top seed in the AFC.
When the Steelers fell to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday night, the Chiefs vaulted past them for the top seed and a shot at the only bye in the conference for the postseason. After the game, Bell took to Twitter with a one-word tweet that didn’t sit well with Steelers fans. Bell simply posted, “1st.” He added a smiling emoji.
Responding via Twitter, fans blasted Bell for his two carries and 21 rushing yards in Sunday’s game against the Miami Dolphins. “New flash. The Chiefs would be doing this without you,” another person wrote. It seems as if Bell is content with sitting back and enjoying the ride while annoying those who used to root for him.
Around the NFL
What happens if an NFL player needs to use the bathroom during a game?
The answer depends. Is the player trying to kick the extra point, or does he want to go for two?
If a player has to pee, the solution is easy. Just go on the sideline, quickly and quietly. In 2011, former Chargers kicker Nick Novak was famously caught peeing on the field (with a lucky Chargers staffer holding up a towel so that fans wouldn’t see), but this is a relatively common occurrence that generally goes unnoticed. “Guys are peeing all over the sideline in every game, into cups, on the ground, in towels, behind the bench, in their pants, everywhere,” former Panthers center Ryan Kalil told ESPN in 2017. When a fan caught a Washington assistant coach peeing into a Gatorade cup in 2016, TMZ apparently thought the incident was scandalous enough to merit an article—I can imagine one of its editors’ eyes lighting up at the thought of using a headline like “NFL COACH DOES PUBLIC URINATION ... AND INDECENT EXPOSURE … DURING GAME!” But the response from the league was, yeah, whatever, this happens all the time. You might even see an NFL player peeing during live game action and not realize it—you have to watch this clip a few times to notice the sideline pee-er.
Last-play safety in Baltimore Ravens-Cleveland Browns game swings millions at sportsbooks | ESPN
“In the last two hours, we took significant money on the Browns, when we went to 3.5,” Jason Scott, vice president of trading for BetMGM, told ESPN.
Despite the flurry of late money on Cleveland, Scott said his book ended up needing the Browns to cover the spread, primarily due to parlay liability on the Ravens.
“We wish it wouldn’t have happened,” Scott said of the safety on the final play. “We were a little worse on the Ravens, but it wasn’t significant.”
The betting action on the game was relatively balanced and produced mixed results for sportsbooks. Several sportsbooks ended up with slightly more money on Cleveland prior to kickoff, but there was plenty of support for the Ravens.
Bookmaker William Hill U.S. reported taking a $126,000 bet on Baltimore -3, which went from a push to a six-figure payday on the safety on the final play. FanDuel sportsbook director John Sheeran said that, including in-game wagering, the Ravens covering the spread was costly for his shop.
“Pretty big swing. I’d classify it in the seven-figure range,” Sheeran said. “Pretty expensive one, but I think bettors were due one given the way the season’s gone.”
Source: Tampa Bay Buccaneers RB Ronald Jones getting pin put in finger | ESPN
Jones suffered a fractured pinkie early in the game against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, when he was blocking. He was able to return to the game, rushing for 80 yards on 18 carries.
Sources close to the situation said it is unclear at this point whether Jones will miss any time with the injury, with one saying they won’t know until later this week, but that he still has a chance to play.
Eight finalists announced for 2020 Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award | NFL.com
The finalists feature four players from each conference: Ravens defensive end Calais Campbell, Steelers defensive tackle Cameron Heyward, Colts defensive end Justin Houston, Patriots receiver Matthew Slater, Panthers quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, Buccaneers linebacker Lavonte David, Eagles center Jason Kelce and 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk.
The Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award is given to the player “who best demonstrates the qualities of on-field sportsmanship, including fair play, respect for the game and opponents, and integrity in competition,” per the league.
In case you missed it on Arrowhead Pride
Week 15 AP NFL Power Rankings: Chiefs, Packers and Bills make up the top three
9. Baltimore Ravens (9th)
Willing for the Ravens to grab the seventh seed to set up a Wild Card weekend clash between them and the Steelers.
10. Indianapolis Colts (12th)
Kenny Moore – what can we say?
11. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8th)
Bounced back with a win. If they can put it all together, they could run the table.
A tweet to make you think
You know what to do.#WPMOYChallenge • Travis Kelce pic.twitter.com/7TMRcKBO9r
— Arrowhead Pride (@ArrowheadPride) December 15, 2020
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