The revenge factor in pro sports is commonly overlooked – athletes love nothing more than sticking it to their old teams. Revenge cannot be measured by statistical analysis, but one thing experienced DFS players know – revenge is real! Football and basketball provide the perfect setting for one player to make the ultimate difference in any given game.
Each week this article will explore certain players, coaches, and teams with something extra to play for. I am not necessarily advising everyone to play these guys, but the extra motivation will be there, so these plays are something to consider.
V for Vendetta – NFL Week 10
Josh McCown’s NY Jets at Ryan Fitzpatrick’s Tampa Bay Bucs
The ultimate game of revenge! The visiting McCown started 11 games for Tampa in 2014, leading the Bucs to only one victory. Now, he’s leading a 4-5 Jets team that has outplayed everyone’s expectations and still has playoff aspirations. The Jets put the smackdown on Buffalo last Thursday in a big upset, and the extended layoff should give them an advantage in this matchup.
Fitzpatrick QB’d the Jets from 2015-16, putting up career numbers in 2015 (3900 yards and 31 TDs). He led the team to a 10-6 season, but will always be remembered for laying an egg in the final week against the Bills. His three INTs that day cost the Jets a playoff spot, and his career spiraled downhill after. He was replaced as starter in 2016 after starting 3-8 and being completely inept in building off his career season. Every Jets fan will remember the nightmare performance in Week 17 of 2015, and this guy will be hated forever in NY.
The Bucs have fallen off the face of the Earth, losing four straight, falling to 2-6, and becoming one of the worst offenses in the league. Jameis Winston’s ridiculous pregame speech last Sunday in New Orleans only worsened with his childish finger pointing, which led to the suspension of star WR Mike Evans. Winston looks like Florida State Jameis again, and head coach Dirk Koetter appears to quickly be on his way out of town. I can’t decide if Winston’s “injury” is legit, or if this injury helps or hurts the team at this point.
Despite being completely unproductive in 2014, McCown has actually revived his career – he’s played exceptional football for a mostly talentless offensive team. He would love nothing more than to destroy his old team, and I guarantee you his teammates are looking for revenge on the old QB who let them down two seasons ago.
The Jets and head coach Todd Bowles will be ready and willing to dominate Fitzpatrick and give payback for his lousy performances of the past. Bowles has coached his ass off in 2017, and his squad will be prepared to take advantage of a reeling opponent and a QB they don’t like. All in on the Jets!
New England Patriots vs Brock Osweiler’s Denver Broncos
November 29th, 2015 – Sunday Night Football – Brock Osweiler led the Broncos from behind at Mile High for an improbable 30-24 overtime upset of Tom Brady’s Patriots. Brock hit Andre Caldwell with a four yard TD pass with just over a minute remaining to give Denver the lead before CJ Anderson’s game winning TD romp in OT. This was THE GAME of Osweiler’s career – many believed he showed the stuff necessary to be the heir apparent to Peyton Manning.
This success was short-lived, as Peyton took his job back and led the Broncos to a Super Bowl victory, which included a captivating AFC Championship victory over New England. Now Tom Brady returns to Denver, and Brock has returned as the temporary starting QB in Denver following his massive failure as the starter in Houston.
Brady leads the league’s top offense against a defense that gave up in Philly last week. It’s hard to predict how hard they’ll play vs TB12 this week, but I have feeling those playoff type feelings will return to a talented and prideful Denver D. But the defensive unit has zero belief in the offense, and specifically the QB situation. This team has imploded already – how do these guys come back from last week’s embarrassment?
Belicheck and Brady hate Denver, and this game poses the perfect chance to kick them while they’re down. I believe the defense will play hard early, but Brock’s offense won’t move the ball, and the defense will quickly lose interest. The Pats will run this one up as revenge for 2015 and to further make Osweiler look terrible.
Where the hell is former #1 pick Paxton Lynch?
NY Giants at San Francisco
2017 TOILET BOWL GAME happens Sunday at Levi’s Stadium! These two franchises are headed in opposite directions – the Giants have given up, head coach Ben McAdoo literally has no answers in his pressers, everyone knows McAdoo will be fired soon, and the future of Eli Manning looks bleak in New York.
San Francisco is rebuilding the roster behind GM John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan, and for a time period this year the team was competitive, despite losing every game. Now this bad roster as seen the few good players lost to injury, but the franchise was given hope last week with the trade for Jimmy Garoppolo from New England. The Niners finally have their franchise QB, so the rebuild truly begins now.
Remember the incredible hard-hitting battle for the NFC title between these teams in 2011? How times have changed! The Giants lucked out that day when WR Kyle Williams fumbled two punts, leading to 10 NY points in a 20-17 OT win at Candlestick. Sunday marks a perfect chance for a little revenge – make The Faithful feel better about that disappointment from six years again.
The G-men have given up on the field, their coach has thrown in the towel, so there is no excuse for San Fran being unable to pickup its first win for the new HC. Both of these squads are garbage, but NY was supposed to challenge for an NFC East title this year. SF had low expectations, but losing every game will always be unacceptable. Sunday should be the day – Let Cleveland have the #1 overall pick – the front office will screw it up anyways.
