The hurt meter

I’ve been capping games by a very subjective method with success. When I get off this method, things don’t work out so well. The idea is simple: each week find the teams that are “hurting” the most. And by hurting, I mean emotionally not physically, though physical pain can lead to mental pain, and the desire to hurt someone back. 

Football is an emotional game. It’s also a violent game. Just throw the Xs and Os out. Throw out the weather, injuries and all the other bull shit because that’s all baked into the line. The only edge is that extra juice. That extra bit of motivation that players and coaches have going into a game. And that motivation often comes from being battered and bruised, emotionally, and wanting to take it out on your next opponent.

But in order to for these hurt teams to succeed, in making their opponents feel their pain, they need a good to decent coach and also be in a favorable situation, schedule wise. Just look at what the Lions did last night to the Cowboys, after shitting the bed on Thanksgiving in front of their fans. You don’t think they were hurting? You don’t think Dallas was a little too hasty with its recent accomplishments to have the slightest of let down? Despite being decimated by injuries, which is all we heard about all week, the Lions took care of business at home in front of their fans. This week’s nominees for teams hurting the most are:

The Colts got off to an amazing start this year only to run into two desperate talented teams in the Chiefs and Texans. They lost both games and now everyone is questioning them and writing them off. They have lost 10 straight in Jacksonville!!! And they are playing a Jaguars team that is far and happy after winning 3 straight! Good. Give me the team with the QB playing on one leg. 

Colts -1.5

The Chiefs lost to the Cowboys on Thanksgiving and lost their entire offensive line in the process and their season is all but lost. Even the public had turned on them with a majority of ATS bets on the big bad Texans and their SB defense who are fat and happy after winning several games in a row! Good. Give me the god damn Chiefs without an offensive line in a game to save their season. 

Chiefs -3 

Last we saw the Eagles they were being booed at home and losing to the Bears in humiliating fashion. Their offensive coach had his house vandalized!! If this SB team had any dignity or pride left they will punish the Chargers in a stand alone game to make up for that putrid effort on Black Friday!

Eagles -2.5 

Good luck. 

BOL    (Steelers are really hurting emotionally but then again, they are not a semi-functional team like these others)

Good luck BB.  

Great write up! I think the Chiefs get the calls in their favor this game too. The NFL wants them in the playoffs. My only concern is Mahommes stealing the game late and not covering the -3.5. I might mnyline the Chiefs or throw all three teams in a teaser.

Reid lost this game for KC.

@ActionMagnet

Can’t make this shit up. Some of the worst luck of my gambling years. Jones tears his achilles in the 1st quarter in a winnable game. The rookie QB, not even a serviceable backup, has never played before and the Colts go down in flames. 

KC loses two key starters five minutes into the game, then makes a heroic comeback with all the momentum in the world, with the defense vey close to make a game changing play, and Reid decides to hand the game to the Texans. 

The only one hurting here is me. And after Hurts and company get their asses handed to him tomorrow by the Chargers defense this thread will be the laughingstock of the forum.

Please, for the love of god, just fade me tomorrow night. I’m still on Eagles. Going down with the ship, and believe me, it is all but submerged and the gods will be sure to punish me for this thread, making sure each pick was doomed by some terrible luck. 

@begginerboy

Some might say you are due.  I was 1-1 this week (14-19 on the year)  but the Ravens' loss really ticked me off. It was refball IMO and the outcome was massaged all game long by their calls. It cost the Ravens 11 points total.

The personal foul on the Steeler center was insane (turning a FG into a Steeler TD) and the Likely catch was a TD. I so despise the Steeler organization and the Rooney family for the culeros that they are. I have my reasons.