It’s by no means straightforward when groups should half methods with their finest gamers. I think about it’s even tougher after they should do it mid-season. Come to consider it, I can’t consider many occasions that’s even been needed. If a participant isn’t taking part in effectively, groups can often simply put him on the bench.
That’s not an possibility for the Baltimore Ravens, who’ve a rising Justin Tucker downside. When kickers battle, groups minimize them and signal a alternative. After Tucker missed 2-of-4 area targets in a five-point loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, dropping him to beneath 71% on the season, and in addition missed his second additional level of the 12 months, he’s effectively previous the alternative stage of issues.
However how do you narrow any individual who has meant a lot to your workforce over his 13-year profession. A participant who was often known as essentially the most correct kicker of all-time earlier than his latest struggles? Someone who reached 1,744 profession factors to set an NFL file for the quickest ever in the identical recreation he misplaced for his workforce?
A profession milestone for Justin Tucker… #RavensFlock https://t.co/WptrpQkD2a pic.twitter.com/KD7hqQqczS
— Carita Parks (@CaritaCParks) December 1, 2024
To this point, the reply for the Ravens has been you don’t. “When you’re asking me if we’re going to maneuver on from Justin Tucker, I’m probably not planning on doing that proper now,” head coach John Harbaugh mentioned after the sport. In the event that they need to capitalize on this 12 months’s Tremendous Bowl window, that will want to alter.
Tucker’s misses Sunday have been each kicks that might have given Baltimore a second-half lead, altering how every workforce performed the remainder of the way in which. He additionally missed kicks in every of Baltimore’s different 4 losses, which all got here by one rating, together with two video games that have been inside three factors.
If the Ravens lose a playoff recreation due to a missed area purpose by Tucker, they will’t say there weren’t warning indicators. What we’ve been seeing from him is a huge siren.
“He is been computerized his complete profession. You realize Harbaugh nonetheless trusts him nevertheless it’s getting later and later within the 12 months. I believe he’ll determine it out nevertheless it’s getting shut.”
– Tony Romo after a loud doink from Justin Tucker. pic.twitter.com/F1jhNUM4BE
— Terrible Saying (@awfulannouncing) December 1, 2024
That’s why the Ravens concurrently are sixth place within the AFC at 8-5 and in addition maintain the convention’s third-best Tremendous Bowl odds at +900. They’re ok to beat anyone. However till they repair their Justin Tucker downside, they’ll be onerous to belief in one-score video games in opposition to the NFL’s finest.
Now, for extra of our Week 13 betting recap, with odds by way of BetMGM.
Greatest upset: Eagles (+135) over Ravens
Technically, the three-point unfold for Eagles-Ravens was the identical for Steelers-Bengals, making them near equal upsets on the moneyline. However in no world ought to it’s thought-about an upset for a division chief to beat a workforce it leads within the standings by 5 video games. The Eagles beating the Ravens however had the component of 1 good workforce beating one other at dwelling. That takes the cake right here, even when Justin Tucker helped Philly get it accomplished.
Most-bet moneyline underdogs, by ticket depend, in NFL Week 13 odds at @BetMGM, per @johnewing:
1. Steelers, presently +130 at Bengals
2. Eagles, presently +125 at Ravens
3. Falcons, presently even cash vs. Chargers— Patrick Everson (@PatrickE_Vegas) December 1, 2024
By the pores and skin of their enamel: Jaguars +3.5 (vs. Texans)
For awhile, it appeared Trevor Lawrence’s exit on the soiled hit by Aziz Al-Shaair made a Houston cowl inevitable. Midway via the fourth quarter, Houston led 23-6 and Jacksonville couldn’t get something going offensively. Then, Mac Jones miraculously orchestrated consecutive scoring drives of longer than 70 yards to chop Houston’s result in three and canopy the unfold by only a half-point with 3:30 left within the recreation.
Cookies! 🍪@BrianThomas_11 | #HOUvsJAX on FOX pic.twitter.com/2GmwPASYgi
— Jacksonville Jaguars (@Jaguars) December 1, 2024
Not even shut: Titans +6 (vs. Commanders)
I imply, this recreation was over by the second quarter when Washington jumped out to a 28-0 lead. Tennessee tried to make it attention-grabbing by chopping the deficit to fifteen within the third quarter, however Washington tacked on two extra touchdowns within the fourth quarter to win it 42-19. It’s secure to say the Titans have been by no means actually near masking.
Terry McLaurin is superb at soccer
📺 #TENvsWAS CBS pic.twitter.com/T7NnxX6t2K
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) December 1, 2024
Newest swing *in regulation*: Colts moneyline (at Patriots)
It required a 19-play, 80-yard drive — which appeared unlikely with the way in which that they had performed all through the sport — however Anthony Richardson and the Indianapolis Colts have been in a position to snatch the lead from the New England Patriots with simply 12 seconds left in regulation. However reasonably than kick an additional level and ship the sport to additional time following Richardson’s three-yard landing move to Alec Pierce on fourth down, the Colts went for 2 and succeeded to win and keep alive within the playoff race. The late rating additionally robbed under-41 bettors of a push.
COLTS TAKE THE LEAD ON THE 2-PT CONVERSION.
12 SECONDS LEFT.
📺: #INDvsNE on CBS/Paramount+
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/gZFuDHjLky— NFL (@NFL) December 1, 2024
Worst unhealthy beat: Panthers moneyline (vs. Buccaneers)
When you wager on the Panthers with the factors, congrats, they coated the 6.5-point unfold with ease in what turned out to be a back-and-forth recreation with the Bucs. However when you have been on the moneyline, this recreation was such a tease.
First, the Panthers took a 23-20 lead with simply 30 seconds left, just for the Bucs to go 36 yards in six performs and tie the sport on a 51-yard area purpose as time expired. Then, the Bucs missed a area purpose in additional time, permitting Carolina to maneuver the ball into vary for a possible game-winning kick after an unbelievable one-handed catch by Adam Thielen, just for Chubba Hubbard to fumble the ball again to Tampa the following play. 5 performs later, Tampa was kicking the walk-off area purpose. That’s how Carolina misplaced.
FUMBLE! IT’S BUCS BALL!
📺: #TBvsCAR on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO8ZBqG pic.twitter.com/BqfnAJ9fXq— NFL (@NFL) December 2, 2024
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