On April 18, the NFL released their upcoming regular season schedule. Check out a couple of key points about the schedule as well as other big NFL betting news that happened this week!
Check out NFL updates for this week and be sure to keep checking the latest Super Bowl 54 odds at MyBookie!NFL Updates of the Week – April 19th Edition
NFL Schedules are Out and the Patriots Should be Happy
The New England Patriots bid farewell to the great Rob Gronkowski, a sure-fire first ballot hall of fame player, earlier this week. Later this week, though, the sting from Gronk’s retirement subdued some after the NFL came out with the regular season schedules.
For being a Super Bowl winner, the Pats sure have an easy path back to the playoffs. The schedule makers weren’t nearly as forgiving to the Philadelphia Eagles after their 2017 Super Bowl victory.
New England starts the season at home on Sep. 8 against the Pittsburgh Steelers. After beating the Steelers, they don’t face another projected top squad until they battle Cleveland at home on Oct. 27. The Patriots could be 7-0 heading into the matchup with the Browns.
The second half of the schedule is somewhat difficult, they’re at Philadelphia, at Baltimore, and at Houston, but New England battles Kansas City at home on Dec. 8, and they take on Dallas at Foxboro Nov. 24. Even if the Patriots go 4-4 in their final 4 games, they’ll have a shot to win home field advantage throughout the playoffs if they go undefeated, which they should, in their first 8 games.
Cleveland Browns Get Four Prime Time Games
The former worst team in NFL history is favored to win its division this season. That’s what happens when you acquire Odell Beckham Jr. to catch passes from your former first pick in the draft quarterback.
The NFL schedule makers have also taken notice. Interest in the Cleveland Browns should be at an all-time high at least since the early 1980’s, which was the last time they were contenders. Because of that interest, the Browns play in four primetime games this season.
In Week 2, they take on the New York Jets on Monday night. A week later on Sep. 22, they host the L.A. Rams, and then in Week 5 they’re at San Francisco on Monday night. In Week 11, they host the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday night.
If Cleveland’s good, scheduling four primetime games will pay off. If they’re awful, ratings will suffer. The NFL’s taking a risk here.
Russell Wilson Becomes Highest-Paid Player in NFL History
Going back to actual football news, Russell Wilson’s gambit paid off. In March, Wilson gave the Seattle Seahawks an ultimatum. They had until April 15 to give him a new contract, or he was going to play as a free agent and test the open market after the season.The Seahawks handed a massive $140 million contract to Wilson that keeps him in Seattle until 2023. The contract comes with a huge $65 million signing bonus and pays Wilson a salary of $35 million per year. It trumps Aaron Rodgers record-breaking deal that he signed with the Packers before last season.
It makes sense for the Seahawks to keep Wilson. The contract’s sort of mind-boggling, but top tier quarterbacks are difficult to find. Why do you think the Saints keep giving money to Drew Brees even though he’s 40-years-old?
Plus, Seattle is sort of like Silicon Valley II. So, Russell needs the money.
Cardinals Will Take Murray and Trade Rosen
This isn’t news, it’s more of a prediction. The Arizona Cardinals will draft Kyler Murray next Thursday night and trade Josh Rosen. Rosen’s a great fit for Kliff Kingsbury’s system, but Kingsbury wants the player he recruited while a college coaching assistant. That’s Murray.
Not only that, Kingsbury’s system will create rushing lanes for his quarterback and Josh doesn’t have the wheels that Kyler does. No matter. Rosen’s a young, good, quarterback. He could end up in Tampa Bay where he’d be a major step up from Jameis Winston. Not only that, but because every team knows the Cards want to trade Rosen, they can get him for cheap.
Rosen’s a first round draft pick. No way Arizona gets close to that on draft day. The longer they wait, the less they must accept. During the draft, they might get a fourth round pick. If they wait until mid-season, they could get a sixth, or seventh round pick.
If I’m Arizona, I try to trade Josh right now, today or over the weekend, before Monday. No use waiting because it’s just going to hurt the Cardinals in the long run.
Have a great week!
