BEST BET
JETS at BILLS
Time: Midday, CBS 2.
Line: Payments by 8½.
Complete: 46½.
Information (general/ATS): Payments 12-3/9-6; Jets 4-11/5-10.
Can anybody beat Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs?
Not solely have the Chiefs continued to defy the results of the wage cap and a spate of accidents by going 15-1 and clinching the No. 1 seed within the AFC, however the pool of great challengers appears to be shrinking.
The Payments (12-3) and Ravens (11-5) nonetheless loom as the highest AFC threats to the Chiefs’ reign, nevertheless it’s shaky after that. The up-and-coming Texans (9-7) are 4-6 of their final 10 video games after a 5-1 begin — with all 4 victories over doubtless non-playoff groups (the Colts, Cowboys, Jaguars and Dolphins). The Steelers have misplaced three straight (to the Chiefs, Ravens and Eagles) and are 2-4 after an 8-2 begin.
After that, the doubtless AFC playoff groups are the Chargers (9-6) and Broncos (9-6). Each of these groups have performed the Chiefs robust this season — the Chargers misplaced 17-10 at house and 19-17 at Arrowhead; the Broncos misplaced 16-14 at Arrowhead.
However that’s what the Chiefs do — offer you hope within the common season and play at a special degree within the playoffs.
The Payments and Josh Allen know this all too effectively. Allen is 4-0 in opposition to Mahomes and the Chiefs within the common season after handing the Chiefs their solely loss this season, 30-21 on Nov. 17 at Highmark Stadium. However they’re 0-3 in opposition to the Chiefs within the playoffs, dropping in 2021 (38-24 at Arrowhead), 2022 (42-26 in an all-time basic at Arrowhead) and final yr (27-24 at Highmark Stadium).
(Although Allen is without doubt one of the greatest quarterbacks within the NFL and a contender with Lamar Jackson for the MVP award this season, sooner or later the Payments are going to remorse buying and selling the No. 10 choose of the 2017 draft to the Chiefs that allowed them to draft Mahomes and gas what’s changing into an all-time NFL dynasty.)
After lacking their probability to eradicate the Chiefs at Highmark final yr, the Payments now face the prospect of getting to beat them at Arrowhead to get to the Tremendous Bowl. The stigma of these three playoff losses could be as a lot of an impediment as profitable a convention championship sport on the highway.
However the Payments need to get there first (as do the Chiefs, who regardless of their uncanny knack for profitable are nonetheless susceptible to getting burned by enjoying with fireplace too typically).
Coming off an unimpressive 24-21 victory over the Patriots final week, after they needed to overcome a 14-0 deficit, the Payments have to rebuild momentum for the playoffs.
Choose: Payments 27, Jets 17.
TOP PLAYS
COLTS at GIANTS
Time: Midday.
Line: Colts by 8½.
Complete: 40.
Information (general/ATS): Colts 7-8/9-6; Giants 2-13/3-11-1.
Outlook: The Colts have slim playoff possibilities, however that’s higher than none, and so they nonetheless will likely be going all out on this one in opposition to a Giants group that doesn’t have something to play for. The Giants have misplaced 10 straight (1-9 ATS), together with the final two by 27 factors to the Falcons and 21 factors to the Ravens. A win might drop the Giants from No. 1 to No. 6 within the draft order.
Choose: Colts 27, Giants 13.
DOLPHINS at BROWNS
Time: 3:05 p.m.
Line: Dolphins by 6½.
Complete: 40½.
Information (general/ATS): Dolphins 7-8/6-9; Browns 3-12/4-11.
Outlook: Dolphins’ slim playoff hopes might be dashed if the Chargers and Broncos win Saturday. However with their rally since Tua Tagovailoa returned — profitable 5 of their final 7 after shut losses to the Cardinals and Payments — they’ll be centered on a robust end heading into 2025. The Browns have misplaced 4 straight (0-4 ATS).
Choose: Dolphins 17, Browns 10.
PACKERS at VIKINGS
Time: 3:25 p.m., Fox 32.
Line: Packers by 1.
Complete: 49.
Information (general/ATS): Packers 11-4/9-6; Vikings 13-2/10-4-1.
Outlook: Vikings’ Kevin O’Connell is a deserving favourite for Coach of the 12 months for profitable 13 video games with Sam Darnold. However these Vikings look too much like O’Connell’s 2022 group that went 13-4 and misplaced at house to the Giants within the playoffs. Packers are on a roll (5-0 ATS) and out to avenge a Week 4 loss to the Vikes.
Choose: Packers 31, Vikings 27.
OTHER PICKS
CHARGERS at PATRIOTS
Time: Midday Saturday, NFL Community.
Line: Chargers by 4. Complete: 42.
Information (general/ATS): Chargers 9-6/10-5; Patriots 3-12/6-8-1.
Outlook: After beating the Broncos impressively to snap a two-game dropping streak, Jim Harbaugh’s Chargers can clinch a playoff spot with a victory (or losses by the Colts and Dolphins). The Patriots have misplaced their final 5 (2-3 ATS) however confirmed some spunk in a 24-21 loss to the Payments final week. And rookie Drake Maye has a 92.6 score (70.3%, 7 TDs, 5 INTs) in that span.
Choose: Chargers 26, Patriots 20.
BRONCOS at BENGALS
Time: 3:30 p.m. Saturday, NFL Community.
Line: Bengals by 3½. Complete: 49.
Information (general/ATS): Broncos 9-6/11-4; Bengals 7-8/9-6.
Outlook: Joe Burrow and the Bengals have received three straight (3-0 ATS) in a determined bid for an unlikely playoff spot. However these victories got here in opposition to dropping groups — the Cowboys, Titans and Browns. Now they get the Broncos, who’ve form of finished the identical factor however not less than have crushed the Falcons and Bucs and lined in opposition to the Chiefs.
Choose: Bengals 27, Broncos 24.
CARDINALS at RAMS
Time: 7:15 p.m. Saturday, NFL Community.
Line: Rams by 7. Complete: 47½.
Information (general/ATS): Cardinals 7-8/9-6; Rams 9-6/8-7.
Outlook: Sean McVay’s Rams have taken management of the NFC West with 4 consecutive wins (4-0 ATS), together with three on the highway, and appear like a group you don’t need to face within the playoffs. The Cardinals have misplaced 4 of 5 (2-3 ATS) and had been eradicated from the playoffs with an OT loss to the Panthers final week. Kyler Murray at all times has an opportunity to make it attention-grabbing, however he has an 80.2 score (4 TDs, 6 INTs) in his final 5 video games.
Choose: Rams 30, Cardinals 21.
RAIDERS at SAINTS
Time: Midday.
Line: Raiders by 1. Complete: 37½.
Information (general/ATS): Raiders 3-12/6-8-1; Saints 5-10/6-9.
Outlook: The doable return of Saints QB Derek Carr from a damaged left (non-throwing) hand in opposition to his former group could be the one intrigue on this matchup of non-playoff groups. The Raiders snapped a 10-game dropping streak with a 19-14 victory over the Jaguars at house, however they’re 0-6 SU/2-4 ATS on the highway since beating the Ravens (how did that occur?) in Week 2.
Choose: Saints 19, Raiders 17.
PANTHERS at BUCCANEERS
Time: Midday.
Line: Buccaneers by 8½. Complete: 48.
Information (general/ATS): Panthers 4-11/7-8; Buccaneers 8-7/9-6.
Outlook: Betting in opposition to the Panthers appeared like simple cash after they began 1-7 SU/ATS, however they’re 3-4 SU/6-1 ATS since. Baker Mayfield (103.5, 34 TDs, 15 INTs) is interception-prone but additionally big-play inclined.
Choose: Buccaneers 31, Panthers 23.
COWBOYS at EAGLES
Time: Midday, Fox 32.
Line: Eagles by 8½. Complete: 41.
Information (general/ATS): Cowboys 7-8/8-6-1; Eagles 12-3/9-6.
Outlook: Kenny Pickett is more likely to begin for Jalen Hurts (concussion). Cowboys have received 4 of 5 (4-1 ATS) — the one loss within the final minute to the Bengals. The final time the Eagles’ protection allowed 30-plus factors, they held the Browns to 9 the following week.
Choose: Eagles 24, Cowboys 13.
TITANS at JAGUARS
Time: Midday.
Line: Jaguars by 1. Complete: 40.
Information (general/ATS): Titans 3-12/2-13; Jaguars 3-12/7-7-1.
Outlook: This might come right down to which group desires it much less. The Titans and Jaguars are amongst 5 3-12 groups that would get the No. 1 choose or fall to No. 10 within the last two weeks. Jags received 10-6 at Nissan Stadium on Dec. 8.
Choose: Jaguars 12, Titans 6.
FALCONS at COMMANDERS
Time: 7:20 p.m., NBC 5.
Line: Commanders by 4. Complete: 47½.
Information (general/ATS): Falcons 8-7/6-8-1; Commanders 10-5/9-5-1.
Outlook: The streaky Commanders have received three straight — after dropping three straight — after profitable three straight. The Falcons beat the Giants in Michael Penix’s first NFL begin, however this time they’re enjoying anyone.
Choose: Commanders 30, Falcons 23.
LIONS at 49ERS
Time: 7:15 p.m. Monday, ABC 7, ESPN.
Line: Lions by 4. Complete: 50½.
Information (general/ATS): Lions 13-2/10-5; 49ers 6-9/5-10.
Outlook: Lions can clinch the No. 1 seed within the NFC with a win and a Vikings loss. You’d suppose the 49ers can reap the benefits of the Lions’ accidents on protection, however they’ve scored 17, 6, 10, 10 and 17 factors in 5 of their final six video games — with 38 vs. the Bears the outlier.
Choose: Lions 28, 49ers 23.
