First Call: Antonio Brown finally scores for Tampa; Le’Veon Bell may get more carries for K.C.
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Monday’s “First Call” examines a potentially expanding role for Le’Veon Bell in Kansas City. Antonio Brown finally scores for Tampa Bay. Win No. 1 for the New York Jets may actually prove costly. And the odds are out for the College Football Playoff.
Leaning on Le’Veon?
The Kansas City Chiefs may be relying on former Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell quite a bit moving forward.
That’s because leading rusher Clyde Edwards-Helaire suffered an awkward-looking injury Sunday during a win in New Orleans. Via ProFootballtalk.com, “Chiefs coach Andy Reid said after the game that X-rays on Edwards-Helaire’s leg and hip were negative. The rookie will undergo further evaluation Monday.”
The rookie running back appeared to get pressed into doing a split while being tackled in the fourth quarter. And he couldn’t put weight on his left leg while leaving the field.
Edwards-Helaire is tops on the team with 724 yards rushing. He had 79 yards on the ground before leaving the game Sunday. That was a high-water mark for the LSU product since the Oct. 19 win over the Buffalo Bills.
Bell may become the feature back in Kansas City’s offense. Bell had 62 yards on 15 carries versus the Saints. Those are season-high numbers for him in either a Chiefs uniform or a Jets uniform. New York traded Bell to K.C. in October.
A TD for A.B.
Antonio Brown finally scored his first touchdown as a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday.
It took six games, but it occurred during Sunday’s Bucs’ 31-27 win over the Atlanta Falcons.
Float like a butterfly, sting like AB
: #TBvsATL on FOX pic.twitter.com/awpX5CuPDL
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) December 20, 2020
The Buccaneers needed it. They were trailing 27-24 at the time. Those were the deciding points with just over six minutes remaining in the game.
Mr. Big Chest had five catches for 93 yards. That was a season high for the former Steelers receiver in terms of yardage. And it matched his single-game-high output for receptions, too.
The Bucs improved to 9-5, good for the sixth seed in the NFC as of now.
They can’t even win right
The New York Jets managed to get their first win of the season Sunday. It came against the Los Angeles Rams 23-20.
Cause for celebration, right? Well, not so fast.
The Jacksonville Jaguars lost to the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, 40-14. So the Jags still only have one win as well.
And based on tiebreakers — opposing strengths of schedule — if both the Jets and the Jaguars lose out, Jacksonville would get the top overall draft choice in 2021.
Presumably, that would be Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence.
Based on current strength of schedule, if both the #Jets and #Jaguars finish the season 1-15, it will be the Jags that will end up with the number 1 overall pick, not New York.@Trevorlawrencee would go to Jacksonville.
The #Jets final 3 games are #Rams, #Browns and #Patriots pic.twitter.com/ovwyxk6Qz0
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) December 17, 2020
The Jaguars still have to host the Chicago Bears and visit the Indianapolis Colts. Those teams are combined 17-11. The Jets host the Cleveland Browns and welcome the New England Patriots. Those clubs are 16-12.
So pretty even from here on out. But both teams should lose both of their remaining games.
If the Jets don’t have the rights to Lawrence and fall into the second hole, it’ll be interesting to see if they keep Sam Darnold and trade down, or perhaps take Ohio State’s Justin Fields or maybe another quarterback.
Place your bets!
BetOnline.Ag has odds out for the College Football Playoff.
Alabama is a 19.5-point favorite over Notre Dame in the Rose Bowl semifinal. The over/under point total for that game is 64.5.
And Clemson is a 7-point favorite over Ohio State in the Sugar Bowl. The over/under there is 65.
Here are the odds to win the whole thing.
Odds to Win the #CFBPlayoff
Bama -170
Clemson +200
Ohio St +600
Notre Dame +1800— Dave Mason (@DaveMasonBOL) December 20, 2020
The two semifinal games are on Friday, Jan. 1.