Daniel Jones is making Giants fans forget all about Eli

Every NFL Sunday there are players who capture and break hearts across America. BetAmerica’s weekly Heroes and Villains feature highlights the players who made and lost money for NFL bettors.

Villain: Julian Edelman

The Patriots’ wide receiver was the Buffalo Bills’ Grinch. Julian Edelman spoiled Buffalo’s chances at an AFC East title and secured a cover for the Patriots (-6.5).

Arguably the game of the week, the back-and-forth affair Saturday afternoon in Foxborough had a dramatic fourth quarter. The Bills entered the final period with a 17-13 lead, but an 11-play Patriots’ drive ended with a field goal, which cut the lead to a single point. Even if the Patriots scored a touchdown, the Bills could at least cover, right? Wrong. Edelman capped-off a Rex Burkhead touchdown run by catching a two-point conversion that gave the Patriots a seven-point lead and a half-point cover. Thoughts and prayers to Bills’ bettors.

Hero: Phillip Lindsay

The Denver Broncos running back saved his best for last. Lindsay’s 27-yard touchdown, his longest run of the day, delivered a death blow to the Detroit Lions.

Denver entered the game as an eight-point favorite but trailed entering the fourth quarter. The Broncos needed a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns to win 27-17 and cover the spread. Lindsay finished with 109 yards on 19 carries and the cover-clinching score in the Broncos’ beautiful throwback uniforms.

Hero: Ryan Fitzpatrick

Ryan Fitzpatrick used some Christmas Fitz-Magic to give every Bengals’ fan what they really wanted for Christmas—the No. 1 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.

The NFL journeyman threw for 419 yards and four touchdowns against the one-win Bengals (-1.5), who showed plenty of fight down the stretch. Miami led 35-12 with 11 minutes to play and almost let the win slip away.

Andy Dalton threw three touchdown passes and converted a pair of two-point conversions to force overtime. The Red Rifle ultimately did not get his win—Jason Sanders’ 37-yard field goal put the Fins over the top—but the Bengals got the top pick and Miami bettors got to cash tickets. It was a win-win.

Hero: Daniel Jones

Just like the Miami Dolphins, The New York Giants (-1) blew a fourth quarter lead before they ultimately won and covered in overtime. The Washington Redskins needed two fourth-quarter scores to force the extra period, but in overtime it was Daniel Jones’ time to shine. He completed three of his five passes in the extra period for 35 yards and connected with Kaden Smith for the game-winning touchdown. It was the rookie’s fifth touchdown pass of the day. Eli who?