🏈 Christmas Full of Surprises

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Happy Tuesday! We hope Santa didn’t bring you coal. Well, if you’re a member of the Dallas Cowboys, we know what you’re stocking is filled with after back-to-back loses on the road. Due to yesterday’s holiday and our staff heavily indulging in eggnog, we have a shorter letter than what you’re used to seeing. We’re keeping it simple with an NFL Week 16 recap of every game, highlight the NBA Christmas action and the College Bowl scores from the weekend. Let’s have a holly, jolly Blitzmas!

WTF Stat: In 10 Christmas Day games, Warriors’ Steph Curry has only scored 20+ points once (33 PTS in 2021).

🏈 Playoff Races Tighten

NFL Week 16 Recap

• Las Vegas Raiders (7-8) 20, Kansas City Chiefs (9-6) 14: Raiders won on Christmas morning without scoring an offensive touchdown as the defense had a fumble recovery for a TD and a pick six stifling Patrick Mahomes (235 YDS, 1 TD, 1 INT) at Arrowhead Stadium keeping their playoff hopes alive - Vegas CB Jack Jones made a young Chiefs fan’s Christmas day after his pick six!

• Philadelphia Eagles (11-4) 33, New York Giants (5-10) 25: Philly avoids a fourth straight loss getting the Christmas Day divisional win as Jalen Hurts (301 YDS, 1 TD, 1 INT, rush TD) started the game with a tush push TD to set the record for most rushing touchdowns in a single season by a QB (15) while Giants back-up QB Tyrod Tayor (133 YDS, 1 TD, 1 INT) came in for a benched Tommy DeVito (55 YDS) only to come up just short of tying the game with a late drive - Eagles take back NFC East lead with Cowboys loss

• Miami Dolphins (11-4) 22, Dallas Cowboys (10-5) 20: Fins led most of the game until Dak Prescott (253 YDS, 2 TD) found Brandin Cooks for a go-ahead TD with 3:27 to play, but Tua Tagovailoa (293 YDS, 1 TD) marched down the field to set up a Jason Sanders (5 total FGs) for a 29-yarder as time expired for the home win - Cowboys lost two straight road games to AFC East squads as the Dolphins clinch a playoff spot

• Baltimore Ravens (12-3) 33, San Francisco 49ers (11-4) 19: Brock Purdy for MVP and Niners best team in football? Lamar Jackson (252 YDS, 2 TDs, 45 rush YDS) says not so fast while the Ravens D picked off Brock Purdy (255 YDS, 4 INT) four times en route to a dominating win on the road Christmas night - both teams hold the #1 seed in their respective conferences & Brock Purdy left late in the 4th quarter with an injury and never returned (looked ready too but game was out of hand already)

• Buffalo Bills (9-6) 25, Los Angeles Chargers (5-10) 22: QB Easton Stick (23-33, 215 Yards, Rush TD) rebounded after an embarrassing first start vs Vegas last week (63-21 loss) and had the Chargers leading late in the 4th quarter but Josh Allen (237 YDS, 1 TD, 1 INT, 2 Rush TDs) kept his composure and led the Bills down the field for a last minute FG to snag the win - after being the 10 seed just a few weeks ago, the Bills have jumped into the playoff picture holding a Wild Card spot

• Pittsburgh Steelers (8-7) 34, Cincinnati Bengals (8-7) 11: This game was over at halftime as George Pickens (4 REC, 195 YDS, 2 TDs) proved he doesn’t need to block and QB Mason Rudolph (290 YDS, 2 TDs) keeps the Steelers playoff hopes alive in his first start of the season

• Atlanta Falcons (7-8) 29, Indianapolis Colts (8-7) 10: Falcons rolled at home behind a big day from rookie RB Bijan Robinson (122 Tot YDS) and a five-FG day from kicker Younghoe Koo

• Detroit Lions (11-4) 30, Minnesota Vikings (7-8) 24: Lions clinched their first NFC North Division title in 30 years with 400 yards of total offense keeping Minnesota out of the end zone on their final drive with under a minute to play

• Cleveland Browns (10-5) 36, Houston Texans (8-7) 22: Amari Cooper (11 REC, 265 YDS, 2 TD) set a franchise record for single game receiving yards as the Browns further cement their playoff position - CJ Stroud did not play due to injury and Joe Flacco (368 YDS, 3 TDs, 2 INTS) is confirmed ELITE

• Seattle Seahawks (8-7) 20, Tennessee Titans (5-10) 17: Seattle is the king of the comeback although instead of Drew Lock, QB Geno Smith (227 YDS, 2 TDs) was the hero this week finding TE Colby Parkinson for the go-ahead TD with 57 seconds left

• New York Jets (6-9) 30, Washington Commanders (4-11) 28: The Jets dominated the first half with a 27-7 halftime lead and then the Commanders benched QB Sam Howell (56 YDS, 2 INTs) and back-up QB Jacoby Brissett (100 YDS, TD) led three TD drives to retake the lead but a 54-yarder from Greg “The Leg” Zuerlein ended the game with the J-E-T-S on top - neither team is making the playoffs but happy for you, New York

• Green Bay Packers (7-8) 33, Carolina Panthers (2-13) 30: Three missed PATs from Packers K Anders Carlson made this game close but Carlson had the guts to hit a game-winning 32-yard FG and Bryce Young (312 YDS, 2 TD) couldn’t clock the ball in time to set up a tying FG attempt as the Pack sneak out of Carolina with a W and a chance at the playoffs still alive

• Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-7) 30, Jacksonville Jaguars (8-7) 12: Trevor Lawrence (211 YDS, 1 TD, 2 INT) started the game but left with a shoulder injury and Baker Mayfield (283 YDS, 2 TDs) gave the home crowd the gift of an NFC South divisional lead - game started 30-0

• Chicago Bears (6-9) 27, Arizona Cardinals (3-12) 16: Chicago ran all over the Cards for a total of 250 ground yards led by RB Khalil Herbert (112 YDS, 1 TD) and QB Justin Fields (170 YDS, 1 TD, 97 rush YDS, 1 rush TD) - Bears could actually sneak into the playoffs, but need a million things to happen

• New England Patriots (4-11) 26, Denver Broncos (7-7) 23: A wild back and forth game may have ended Denver’s playoff hopes as the Broncos scored 16 unanswered points in the 4th quarter only to be beaten by a game-winning Chad Ryland FG from 56 yards with 2 seconds left on the clock - Bailey Zappe (256 YDS, 2 TDs) outplayed Russell Wilson (238 YDS, 2 TD)

See the full box scores here and the current NFL standings here.

Blitz Prime Results:

• ✅ Lions -3 vs. Vikings

• ✅ Ravens +5.5 vs. 49ers

• ✅ MIA / DAL under 50.5

• ❌ DET / MIN under 47

• ❌ IND / ATL over 44.5

• ✅ Chris Godwin over 5.5 catches

• ✅ Garrett Wilson over 5.5 catches

• ❌ Christian McCaffrey Under 80.5 rush yards

After a 5-3 week, which we’re very proud to be plus money again, we move to 11-5 in Blitz Prime bets on the year. Sign-up for Blitz Prime to get this Friday’s email with our best bets for NFL Week 17 and College Football Playoff! Time to invest in yourself.

NBA Christmas Day Games

• New York Knicks 129, Milwaukee Bucks 122: Jalen Brunson (38 PTS, 6 AST) was able to combat the Bucks’ dynamic duo of Giannis and Damian Lillard who each had 32 points

• Denver Nuggets 120, Golden State Warriors 114: Every Denver starter scored 16+ points with Nikola Jokic (26 PTS, 14 REB, 8 AST) having a typical Joker night

• Boston Celtics 126, Los Angeles Lakers 115: Much like Denver, the Boston starters came to play with all of them scoring 18+ points despite a 40-point double-double from Anthony Davis (40 PTS, 13 REB) - Celtics have the most wins in the NBA (Timberwolves behind them at 22 wins)

• Miami Heat 119, Philadelphia 76ers 113: Miami took advantage with Joel Embiid out of the Sixers lineup with Jamie Jaquez Jr. (31 PTS, 10 REB) looking like a Rookie of the Year candidate with Blitzer Duncan Robinson staying hot knocking down five three-balls

See the full NBA scoreboard here and the current standings here.

College Bowl Games (All Weekend Games)

• Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl | Georgia Tech 30, UCF 17

• Birmingham Bowl | Duke 17, Troy 10

• Camellia Bowl | Arkansas State 21, Northern Illinois 19

• Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl | Air Force 31, James Madison 21

• Famous Idaho Potato Bowl | Georgia State 45, Utah State 22

• 68 Ventures Bowl | South Alabama 59, Eastern Michigan 10

• SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl | Northwestern 14, Utah 7

• EasyPost Hawai'i Bowl | Coastal Carolina 24, San Jose State 14

See the full scoreboard here.

In partnership with Mood

Which NBA player holds the record for most points on in single game on Christmas day?

A. Bernard King

B. LeBron James

C. Michael Jordan

D. Rick Barry

NBA

• Indiana Pacers @ Houston Rockets 8:00pm ET, NBA TV

• Charlotte Hornets @ LA Clippers 10:30pm ET, NBA TV

• Full Schedule

College Football Bowl Games

• Quick Lane Bowl - Bowling Games vs. Minnesota 2:00pm ET, ESPN

• SERVPRO First Responder Bowl - Texas State vs. Rice 5:30pm ET, ESPN

• Guaranteed Rate Bowl - Kansas vs. UNLV 9:00pm ET, ESPN

• Full Schedule

Grab $20 off tickets to your favorite games, concerts and events using code TORCH20 at Vivid Seats - Promo is for first-time buyers and orders over $200!

Trivia Time Answer

A. Bernard King. He dropped 60 in a Knicks loss. King ended up leading the league in scoring that season averaging 32.9 points per game. Brunson’s 38 yesterday was the most by a Knicks player since King’s magical night.

Prime Lock of the Day

Subscribe to Blitz Prime to unlock this betting slip. For those already signed up, enjoy the winner!

• Indiana Pacers @ Houston Rockets: Pacers +2.5 

Hope you’re not working this week and taking on this holiday week in full glory. See you tomorrow!