NFL
NFL Week 18 preview: Injury ridden Dolphins to make last push for playoffs
The NFL is back in action this week with the Los Angeles Chargers taking on the Denver Broncos for an AFC West showdown. Elsewhere the Miami Dolphins hope to better the New York Jets in a last bid to make the playoffs.
We preview the best of the action below.
Los Angeles Chargers @ Denver Broncos
The Los Angeles Chargers have already secured their spot in the postseason playoffs and head into this matchup eager not to injure any of their key men ahead of its start. The Chargers will kick off as the 10/17 favourites and are -3 in the spread.
They travel to Empower Field at Mile High on a four-game win-streak following their 31-10 bruising win over the Los Angeles Rams last weekend. Quarterback Justin Herbert will hope to improve on his already impressive performance where he threw for 212 yards in the game, assuming he isn’t rested ahead of the playoffs.
Defensively, the Chargers will need to shut down the threat that the Denver Broncos pose with their rushing offence. The Broncos RBs ran for 117 yards last weekend with Russell Wilson notching two touchdowns from his four carries.
The Broncos know their playoff hopes are long gone for this season, but that doesn’t mean they won’t come out with menace in front of home crowds for this AFC West showdown. Jerry Rosburg’s side are 6/4 to come out on top.
The Broncos are 4-12 this season, landing them last in the AFC West table, although they showed promise in defeat against the Kansas City Chiefs last weekend, coming within four points of a win (27-24) against worthy opposition.
This highly entertaining matchup is also anticipated to be a relatively low scoring affair compared to recent weeks, with both teams not to score at least two touchdowns priced at 20/21. This should make the fixture all the more tight and it may come down to just a few points separating the sides.
Check out the latest betting odds at William Hill
New York Jets @ Miami Dolphins
Both teams come into this game on a five-game losing streak, but for the Miami Dolphins, it means make or break time. The Dolphins desperately need a win this weekend and the Buffalo Bills to better the New England Patriots if they are to make the playoffs this season.
Mike McDaniel’s side has been unfortunately riddled with injuries after a week 16 concussion saw star quarterback Tua Tagovailoa out of the action for his third head injury this season. The replacement quarterback Teddy Bridgewater then proceeded to injure his hand last weekend which puts the Dolphins in a precarious position with several other key players injured too.
Nonetheless they will kick off as the slight 20/23 favourites in front of their home crowd and will look to restore the form they were in earlier this season, when they were 8-3 instead of 8-8. The question remains if it will be too little, too late.
The New York Jets have had their own troubles this season, having not won a game since late November and losing again last weekend to the Seattle Seahawks in a 23-6 embarrassment. The Jets are the slight underdogs at 20/21 to better the Dolphins.
Despite quarterback Mike White having thrown for 240 yards, he allowed two interceptions and threw for no touchdowns resulting in another disappointing performance. The Jets’ offence has a lot of work to do if they are too really challenge the Dolphins on the road.
Overall, this matchup makes for good viewing, especially with playoff sized stakes on the line for the Dolphins. Odds of 19/4 on both teams not to score at least one touchdown each might be appealing, if you fancy the Jets to replicate their touchdown-less performance from last weekend.
