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NFL News Roundup

With just two more weeks of the regular season before the playoffs, teams are jockeying for position and fighting for their playoff lives. While much of the focus has been on how the NFL playoff seeding will shake out, there has been plenty of news from around the league off the field as well. Here are some of the biggest stories of the week.

Ben Roethlisberger Wants To Play In 2021

Even though he has another year on his contract, there has been some speculation that 2020 could be it for Ben Roethlisberger. According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, though, that does not appear to be the case. 

Schefter reports that Roethlisberger intends to return next year for at least one more go-around with the Pittsburgh Steelers. It is hard to fault him either. Even though the Steelers have struggled as of late, they are still locked in as a playoff team and are in position to win the AFC North.  

This season, Roethlisberger has thrown for 3,292 yards, 29 touchdowns, and nine interceptions.  

The Pittsburgh Steelers are currently +1300 to win the Super Bowl this season, tied for the fifth-best odds of winning it. They are +650 to win the AFC and -7000 to win their division. 

Michael Thomas On IR

The hits keep coming for a New Orleans Saints team that has seen their fair share of injuries this season. Adam Schefter of ESPN has reported that the Saints are placing star wide receiver Michael Thomas on the injured reserve. While the ankle injury, which has hampered him all season, will knock him out for the rest of the regular season, it does appear he should be set to rejoin the team in the playoffs. 

This season, Thomas has only played in seven games, and several of those were without starter Drew Brees, who was dealing with a rib injury. Still, Thomas has 40 receptions for 438 yards this season.

That is still a far cry from last year when he had 149 receptions for 1,725 yards and nine touchdowns for the Saints. This will be by far the 27-year-olds fewest games played since breaking into the league in the 2016 season.

For the Saints, they are currently +850 to win the Super Bowl this season. They are +310 to win the NFC, trailing only Green Bay.

Kansas City Loses Running Back Edwards-Helaire

The Saints aren’t the only team with an injured star. The Chiefs’ running back, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, had to leave Sunday’s victory over the Saints after an apparent leg injury. While initial x-rays were negative, there is a chance that Kansas City holds him out for a bit in hopes of getting him back for the playoffs.

Edwards-Helaire has rushed 181 times this season for 803 yards and four touchdowns for the defending Super Bowl champs. He also has 36 receptions for 297 yards and another score. 

With the 32-29 win over the Saints, the Chiefs now sit at 13-1 and have solidified their reign as AFC West champs. Of course, following last season’s success, they have their sights on much bigger goals. 

Kansas City is currently the favorite to win the Super Bowl at +175. They are -130 to win the AFC championship this season.  

With such lofty expectations, they will certainly hope to get their star running back on the field again sooner than later. In the interim, Le’Veon Bell will likely get most of the work in the backfield. 

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