Most of the week I was leaning towards the Rams side. But something about home field advantage typically carries over in the postseason. We saw this in both of yesterday’s postseason openers. On a small number I trust the Detroit potent offense to push the football down the field on a young Rams defense. Close game but Detroit cashes ATS.

With the Jaguars trailing at halftime now is where I see a bit more value on the Buffalo Bills side. Even with the Bills likely to be in with a Jags loss, they still want the momentum of closing out their season strong. Additionally, they could win the division with a win over Miami. Grab the Bills.

We have seen two scenarios so far where resting starters has led to an easy victory for the opposition. We saw Pittsburgh pull away from Baltimore, and Cincinnati blow out Cleveland. With Kansas City, I expect a different outcome. Blaine Gabbert is a long time veteran, and the Chiefs have filled their roster with complimentary players versus a couple of stars. Grab the Chiefs.

Kevin O’Connell has got a few wins simply by rotating quarterbacks. It started with Josh Dobbs, and although they did not win Nick Mullens had success with the offense. Look for Hall to have similar success but to cut out the turnovers. Green Bay is thin in their skill positions. Take the Vikings to complete the season sweep over Green Bay.

Buy the half point on the market here with the Saints. I’ve been big on the Buccaneers during their hot streak, but facing a divisional opponent is where team weaknesses can be exposed. The Bucs needed a last minute touchdown to escape in a recent win over the Falcons, and I believe they’ll be in for a true battle Sunday. Take the points on a sell high spot after Tampa Bay’s blowout over Jacksonville.

New England’s season of high losses is likely to to continue tonight against Denver. Yet, I think the spread is to high here. New England has been a bit better defensively, and Russ Wilson is showing a bit of an end of season slide. Take the points here with the Patriots.

Jacksonville has been dynamite on the road with a 5-1 record, but they did lose at Cleveland and are on a three game losing streak. Tampa Bay has opened up the offense a bit more and Baker Mayfield surprisingly has found a home. Jacksonville may get the early lead here but look for Tampa Bay’s strong end of season to continue. Take the Bucs.

Buffalo has taken care of business on their home field this season. Their issues have been on the road and in Europe. While Dallas projects as the better team I see this as a spot where the Bills continue their push. Look for their new way of grinding out wins to payoff as they handle the Cowboys. Grab Buffalo.

Late in the season we see teams start to over acheive for the following season. The Tennessee Titans could be in that boat with quarterback Will Levi. Houston has had issues with their own quarterback injuries, and depth issues. Take the Titans even on a short week Sunday.

Post bye week I expect the Vikings to have corrected issues with quarterback Josh Dobbs, who is still adjusting after being traded. The Vegas Raiders are going to also have success but this boils down to the Vikings being in a must win situation. Look for Coach O'Connell to utilize his tail backs more and get the play making needed to pull out the win. Grab the Vikings.

Quick write up here but the Bears strength on stopping the run should limit a Lions team offensively. Justin Fields tends to have some of his better games through the air in the division as well. Take the home underdog in the Bears.

To be down to an emergency starting quarterback in Joe Flacco is a rare site in the NFL. The veteran will step in for a team that did not do well offensively as a small road underdog last week against the Broncos. Still, this is a team that has managed to overcome a lot and has not folded multiple weeks in a row. Take the Browns plus the points. 

It is common knowledge that Arizona does not want to win as they try and keep their chances high for a top draft pick. Traveling to face a Pittsburgh team that is rejuvenated offensively is a tricky spot. Still, I expect a good effort more to the tune of what we saw a couple of weeks ago against Houston. Take the big number underdog Cardinals here.

Jacksonville has had just one blemish and that was acceptable since it came at the hands of the San Francisco 49ers. For the Texans this is a chance to show that they are more than an up and coming young team. Look for the Texans to step up to the challenge and sweep the Jaguars this season.

The Pittsburgh Steelers have been truly a fortunate team to get to 6-3. Even facing a backup from the Browns I expect Cleveland to have a better game plan. They’ve had to use backups multiple times this year, and I believe are ready for this divisional matchup. Take the Browns at home.

The surprise element to a team can provide a spark no matter how down the season has been. We have seen this with the Raiders and for one week with Arizona and Kyler Murray. Houston has been potent with their offense but they are 0-3 ATS this year against NFC opponents in the Bucs, Panthers, and Falcons. Grab the points here with Arizona.

A game of importance will be the San Francisco 49ers versus the Jacksonville Jaguars. This is the game many will be watching to see if the Jaguars are the real deal. At 6-2, this could catapult them to a serious AFC postseason threat. Yet, I like the 49ers to come out of their bye week with the mindset they’ve had in the prior years. Take the 49ers to pull out a close road win and cover the number.

The Green Bay Packers have been a hard team to watch. Even with a clear advantage at home last week against the Rams they struggled to move the football. They closed the door finally and in the NFL all it takes is one win to regain a teams confidence. On the road take the points here with the Packers. 

The Raiders made a long overdue switch by firing Josh McDaniels. A move of this sorts typically ignites a team which has been solid at home. They won tight games against both the Packers and Patriots. While the talent is going to need an overhaul look for the Raiders to play inspired football and beat the Giants.

Throughout the NFL we are seeing teams make a change at the quarterback position. Tampa Bay appears they may be headed in that direction as well. Baker Mayfield had several opportunities against the Falcons and could not deliver and struggled for much of the game against the Bills. Take the Texans on a buy low spot coming off a loss to Carolina.

The Packers have not had a home game since late September. As a result they have lost some close calls to the Raiders and Broncos. Facing a resurgent Vikings team look for the Packers to get off to a better start. Protecting their first year starter should be a bit easier at home, and look for the Vikings miscues to occur. Take the Packers. 

The LA Rams are going through a plethora of injuries at the tailback position. It’ll certainly be a challenge against a Pittsburgh Steelers fanbase that travels well and has a hard nosed defense. Yet, Matthew Stafford is playing elite level football and has some big time weapons to throw to. With the Steelers struggles offensively, the Rams will pull out a victory as a small home favorite. Take the Rams.

Often times we have seen a backup quarterback be successful in spots when his name is called. Yet, when the job becomes his the issues come to the fore front. Gardner Minshew has starter experience but will be in a very tough spot against the top defense in football. Look for Cleveland to survive an ugly offensive game to deliver on the road.

Young teams are going to have issues with consistency. That has been the case for the Falcons but there has also been promise. Even with last week’s issues with Desmond Ridder’s turnovers they were still in the game. They have a knack for keeping it close and Tampa Bay appears to be in an offensive rut with a lack of a ground game. Take the Falcons

The Eagles at 5-0 continue to be a bit of a conundrum. They have not won in easy fashion like last year, and are coming off a road game in LA. Still, this is the right matchup for them against a Jets team that has over achieved ATS in multiple weeks against the Chiefs and Broncos. Grab Philadelphia in what will be more of a fluid game than what we have seen. 

The Patriots poor loss last week to the Saints was one of the all time lows during the Belichick era. Poor quarterback play and a lack of talent offensively is assuredly going to make it one of the worst seasons in quite awhile for the Patriots. Yet, I’m not buying the Raiders just yet. Jimmy G’s arm strength is not there which should let the Patriots play safe defensively. Take New England to bounce back on the road.

Kansas City may very well be the team that gets back to the Super Bowl, but they are in a tough spot. They’re on the road against a Minnesota team that tasted a victory that shouldn’t have happened against Carolina. Their simplified offense with Cam Akers and Allie Mattison should help propel Kirk Cousins out of his rut. Take the home dog in the Vikings.

The Eagles are an attraction undefeated and should be as a road favorite week five against the Rams. Los Angeles has been over valued with early season ATS cashes against the 49ers, Seahawks, and last week against the Colts. Matthew Stafford took some hits and seemed to be grimacing late against the Colts, and this is where we see the shift of their season take place. Grab the Eagles to run away and go 5-0 on the season.

The Giants have dug themselves a hole at 1-3 with poor play and an offense that has shown no life. As the NFL has shown you have to ignore the past and look for a value play. Miami’s last home game they poured 70 on Denver, but are coming off a loss. Look for the Giants to show a better effort here and cover a huge number. Take the Giants.

Minnesota has went from being one of the best regular season teams a year ago to 0-3. Now on the road the pressure is on after squandering a golden opportunity late against the Chargers. Facing a rookie quarterback Minnesota will likely get the best of Carolina. Yet, I look for the Panthers to keep this close and cover as a home dog.

The Bengals adjusted for Monday Night football’s win over the Rams. As sloppy as the offense still looks the defense showed an ability to rise to the occasion. That should be in play against a Tennessee offense that looks bottom tier even with Derrick Henry and Ryan Tannehill. Take Cincinnati to get to .500 as they win another close game.

Even on a short week look for the Cleveland Browns to bounce back Sunday against the Titans. They were an offensive miscue away from being 2-0 on the season. The loss of Nick Chubb is going to force the offense to find new avenues for success. Additionally, the Titans have a knack for keeping opponents in games, as we saw in two close contests to begin the season. Take the Browns ATS.

Washington quickly discovered they are going to need to do a better job protecting the football. Sam Howell struggled with ill advised throws against the Arizona Cardinals. On the road expect Ron Rivera and Washington to run the ball much more, to open up the passing game. This will be a close tight game with the half point being crucial. Take Washington.

Divisional games in consecutive weeks to start the season is very tough. Cincinnati has to answer for a bad performance against the Browns. More often than not good teams respond but outlier plays become a factor ATS. Look for turnovers and a crucial miscue late to benefit the Ravens ATS. Take the underdog. 

The Seahawks were a team that surprised many last season under Geno Smith. Now many expect Seattle to take that next step forward with more weapons at their disposal. They will get the job done Sunday as the LA Rams fit the bill of a Super Bowl winner that declines quickly.

Over the last five years the Tennessee Titans are just 1-4 ATS to begin the season. Sunday is a favorable matchup against a Saints team with a new quarterback under center in Derek Carr. Look for Carr’s turnover issues to be a deciding factor with the Titans executing a tad bit better. Take the points with Tennessee.

The AFC North figures to be one of the tightest division races in the NFL. Out the gate week one the Browns should have an edge early on. Yet, expect Joe Burrow to shake off rust and continue to be one of the best finishers at the quarterback position. The small spread here pays off on the road team here.

Any big line move in most sports I’ll tail against it. As great as the Bills are a 4.5 point line move to two full touchdowns is too much in the post-season. Miami finished the year as a stout covering team in the division, with covers against New England, Buffalo, and the Jets. Skylar Thompson will play better than he did last week against the Jets, and the Bills since week five are 0-4 on spreads higher than 9.5.

Typically I’m one that will bypass the final week of the NFL season. We know there are plenty of teams that have nothing to play for and primary focus is the off-season or post-season. Yet, I love the turn around I’ve seen from the Panthers under Steve Wilks. The building blocks are in place and I believe they finish off the season on a positive note. Take the underdog Panthers against a Saints team that’s value is a bit skewed off of three straight wins. 

After a loss last week to the Carolina Panthers the pressure is on the Detroit Lions. They’ll face a Bears team that has lost eight straight games but played the Lions tough earlier this season. Chicago had a 24 to 10 lead, before the Lions stormed back and won in the fourth quarter. Look for the Bears to play a bit of a spoiler role with a competitive game and road cover. Play Chicago.

The Indianapolis Colts woeful performance on Monday Night looked like a team that has the offseason on their minds. For the Giants they’ve been an underdog five weeks in a row, and Sunday will mark the highest they’ve been favored all season long. As poor as the Colts looked six days ago, the NFL always showcases to forget what you last saw. Expect a sloppy game but for the Colts to finish within the number. 

Look for the Green Bay Packers to make things a little more interesting in their slim postseason chances. Their offense may still not look like prior years, but their defense has limited opponents to twenty points or under in three of four weeks. Miami’s three game slide was all on the road, but puts pressure on their 5-1 home record Sunday. Play the points with the Packers. 

One of the toughest spots in the NFL is building off of a showcase victory. The Cincinnati Bengals did so last week after defeating the Kansas City Chiefs the week prior. Now though they have to go on the road against a desperate Tampa Bay Buccaneers team. There will be moments where it looks like the Bucs will end the Bengals five game winning streak, but look for the Bengals to continue to showcase themselves as a legit contender in the end. Grab Cincinnati.

Winning suddenly with an interim coach and a completely reshuffled roster is not supposed to happen. Yet, Sam Darnold has looked healthy and has accepted the Panthers run heavy script. With a Buccaneers loss Sunday they would have the tie breaker and division lead if they win Sunday. Grab the Panthers as they build a season high third straight win and defeat the Steelers. 

Seattle still has momentum offensively but it has been waning. Traction to their favored side has teetered. Even with their playoff hopes clinging against a bottom level NFL team, there is value to bet against the Seahawks. Carolina has played inspired football under their interim coach Wilks, and has the checks and balances of safe football with Sam Darnold. Play the points with Carolina. 

Throughout their down years the Detroit Lions have had a knack of playing solid football in the division against the Minnesota Vikings. Looking back at their week three loss they had the game in hand before a fourth quarter melt down. Yet, they have grown from a string of close losses early in the season and won four of their past five. They are correctly favored against the 10-2 Vikings. Play Detroit.

Late add on MNF’s action with the Saints. The Saints prime time woes tied with Andy Dalton are well known. The division as a whole has been a mess and that has created value to go against Tampa Bay and Brady tonight. For all the success Tom has had this is a different level of a team for Brady to try and dig out of a hole. They’ll still have a great chance to win the division with a subpar record but look for the Saints to be competitive on the big stage. Play the points.

It’s evident that the Falcons have missed out on several golden opportunities to win close games. They may have five wins but they are beginning to look like a team that may stumble as we enter December. This is also the point in time where the coaching staff may want to assess their rookie quarterback in Desmond Ridder. This very well could be Marcus Mariotta’s last chance to show his value into next season for the Falcons. Look for that pressure to be to much as the Steelers prevail again.

The New York Jets had no issue with their quarterback change in last week’s home rout over the Bears. But that was a Bears team playing their backup quarterback and a home game for the Jets. Can they produce on the road and show that they can be a true caliber playoff team. I believe so as the Vikings were more fortunate than dominant in their win against the Patriots. Take the Jets in a close one.

Post bye week is an opportunity for the Seahawks to keep their first half of the season momentum rolling. Problem is after the bye week can often times derail a team just a tad. The Vegas Raiders are not a conventional 3-7 team as they squandered opportunities all season long in winnable games including the Cardinals, Chiefs, Titans, and more. Take the Raiders plus the points. 

The Tennessee Titans brand of football is rare this day and age in the NFL. Both sides of the football they can lean on to execute for two halves. Yet, they have not been challenged to score in volume in a long time. Look for the Bengals to crack through offensively and spur a road victory at Tennessee. Play the ML. 

               Sunday I’ll recommend the small number on the Detroit Lions. Detroit’s won consecutive games and are a much better team than their record shows. We are already starting to see teams that have had great records hit a bit of a pre December wall. The Giants have been fortunate to have a generous schedule yet have not seen their spreads rise. Take Detroit plus the points.

Prior to their bye week the San Francisco 49ers looked as dangerous as ever in a rout against the Rams. The addition of Christian McCaffrey is going to key plenty of drives for San Francisco. Yet, the 49ers have struggle outside of the division, with a 1-4 record. Look for their inability to execute outside the division to haunt them on a spread that is far too big. Take the Chargers.

The Tennessee Titans string of fortune nearly propelled them to a huge win on the road last week against Kansas City. Continuing their methodical ground attack by Derrick Henry can only work for so long. Expect the Denver Broncos defense to be fresh off their bye week, and for the Broncos to get the necessary big plays to propel them ATS. Take Denver.

It’s not often that a team is a bigger favorite on the road then they are at home in the same matchup. That’s the case Sunday as Arizona was a steeper favorite in their road mid-October matchup against Seattle. It was a woeful offensive performance as Arizona generated just one field goal. Yet the offense is much different with DeAndre Hopkins in the fold, and I expect some regression from Seattle’s three game win streak. Take the Cardinals.

The Packers four-game losing streak and 3-5 ATS mark have made them one of the hardest teams to assess. Sunday’s matchup will mark their third straight road game, but it is a divisional matchup. Over the years Aaron Jones has torched the Detroit Lions through both the ground and out of the backfield. Detroit’s pour defense should position the Packers for a breakout performance offensively, and their first road win. Take the Packers.

The product displayed on a week to week basis may be bottom five in the league from the Green Bay Packers. Sure they may have three wins but they’re struggling to muster any type of offense. In what seemed like a great prime time game before the season, has likely turned into a true barometer test on how poor the Pacers have declined. Buffalo is one a few elite teams that does not take any opponent lightly. This should get ugly. Take Buffalo.

In sports we have seen the theme of a team making in-season moves that would appear to make a team worse, but in all actuality they get better. Firing Matt Rhule, the injury to Baker Mayfield, and trading offensive starters has made the Panthers a more of a team. They’re playing sound football and took a big leap forward in their win last week against the Buccaneers. Atlanta is not trustworthy as this big of a favorite. Take the underdog in Carolina.

A four game win streak for the New York Jets may have been more of a fortunate schedule than on the field performance. They faced two backup quarterbacks from the Dolphins and Denver, and also rookie Kenny Pickett’s first start in the NFL. Sunday, expect an angry Patriots team after Monday’s embarrassment against the Bears. Take the road favorite in New England to beat the Jets at their own game.

Sometimes a key loss is a wake up call for a team. With the Broncos losing Russell Wilson this week against the Jets, the entire team now needs to step up in different areas. As great as the Jets have been the challenge of being on the road consecutive weeks is a daunting task. Expect miscues to occur whether via special teams, turnovers from second year quarterback Zach Wilson, or blown defensive assignments. Take the Broncos as the home underdog.

The love affair with the Atlanta Falcons from an ATS stand point can finally wane. Sunday it comes to an end against a Bengals team that will be primed for a good performance. They survived playing a very difficult part of their schedule with four of their past five on the road. This may have the typical pattern of a Bengals game that is mundane for the first half and a portion of the early third, but look for the Bengals to turn it on when it matters. Buy the hook and lay the points.

It’s apparent that Browns backup Jacoby Brissett is struggling as of late. He made a key unnecessary interception late in the Chargers game, and could not muster anything against his former team in the Patriots last week. Cleveland has now dropped three straight but are not a typical 2-4 team. Look for a performance as the Browns hold within the spread.

Monday is an opportunity for the Denver Broncos to get to .500 and take advantage of the easiest portion of their schedule. Following tonight the Broncos will face the Jets, Jaguars, have a bye week, and then the Titans. I expect the Broncos to hang around in this game as the Chargers are coming off consecutive road games in Houston and Cleveland. Take the Broncos as their prime time woes subside at least from an ATS stand point. 

The Baltimore Ravens already won and covered the spread earlier this season at MetLife Stadium against the New York Jets. Sunday, they’ll aim to win at MetLife Stadium once again but against the New York Giants. It’s truly amazing to see the Giants be at 4-1, but Baltimore will be a huge obstacle for them. The Ravens showed that they are playing better defense after a solid performance last Sunday against the Bengals. They also have that extra gear when it’s time to make winning plays led by quarterback Lamar Jackson. Take the Ravens as the road favorites to knock off the Giants.

The Baltimore Ravens already won and covered the spread earlier this season at MetLife Stadium against the New York Jets. Sunday, they’ll aim to win at MetLife Stadium once again but against the New York Giants. It’s truly amazing to see the Giants be at 4-1, but Baltimore will be a huge obstacle for them. The Ravens showed that they are playing better defense after a solid performance last Sunday against the Bengals. They also have that extra gear when it’s time to make winning plays led by quarterback Lamar Jackson. Take the Ravens as the road favorites to knock off the Giants.

The Chiefs will try and win consecutive prime time games after defeating the Buccaneers last Sunday. They’ll face a Vegas Raiders team that finally gained a win last week but still showed some grey areas against a struggling Broncos team. Although they are 0-2 on the road they had shown a knack for playing in close games. All three of their losses have been by six points or less. Take the full touchdown here on the Raiders. 

The 49ers once again toppled the LA Rams in front of a nationally televised prime time audience. The offense did just enough under Jimmy Garopollo but the story was how stout the defense was in preventing a Rams touchdown. Yet, Carolina is playing their third straight road game and in desperation mode. Take the points here and buy the hook to seven. 

The Chargers showcased last week against the Texans that they still lack the ability to play for four complete quarters. They let a double-digit comfortable lead quickly falter with poor defense and a special teams miscue. Yet, the Browns are a good matchup for them and I expect the Chargers to clean up the sloppiness from their second half against the Texans. Take the Chargers to win their second straight on the road.

The LA Chargers continue to not be able to shake the year over year label of inconsistencies. Now they’re plagued with a combination of injuries that could derail their season. In week four though this is a beneficial spot against the Texans. Houston plays a conservative style that allowed the Colts and Broncos to come back from deficits. Take the Chargers to take their frustrations out on the Texans.

There is concern for the Bills and the way that their offense looked against the Dolphins. Regrouping in another tough road spot will be an immense challenge at Baltimore. With how much weight of the offense that is on Lamar Jackson’s shoulders, there should be some opportunities for the Bills defense to boost their offense. Take Buffalo in what will still not be a Buffalo type game, but nonetheless they’ll win the 50/50 type plays. Grab Buffalo.

After two road games to begin the season the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will finally host a home game in week three. It will be against a Packers team they have had success against with a blowout regular season win and NFC championship game upset two seasons ago. Even though the Buccaneers are 2-0, they have had issues in the red zone converting touchdowns. Look for the Packers to match their level of intensity and get the road win Sunday.

A new team that surges forth to new expectations should not knock down their opponent. This is the case with Philadelphia crushing the Vikings Monday Night Football. For the Vikings they will move forward and face a divisional opponent for the second time in two weeks. I expect Minnesota to execute their game plan much more fluidly as they did against the Packers week one. Take the Vikings as Detroit sustains their first ATS loss of the season.

Through two weeks the Pittsburgh Steelers offense has been protected by their sound defense. In week one they forced several turnovers from Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow. In Sunday’s contest the Patriots simplicity kept the Steelers comfortable offensively. In Thursday’s game look for the Browns to heavily feature their ground game and screen offense to get an early lead. That will force the Steelers hand offensively, which in turn will lead to Steelers miscues or short fields for Cleveland. Take the home team in the Browns. 

Grading a team that loses outright as a big road favorite is one of the common over reactions assessing NFL ATS. This is boosted even more after week one of the NFL season. San Francisco played in poor conditions in Chicago and are still bringing along inexperienced quarterback Trey Lance. Expect the game plan to unfold much better at home against a divisional opponent in the Seahawks.

The New York Jets stock pile of injuries on both sides of the football made them look like the same New York Jets week one. Offensively it will be a challenge to muster much through the passing game with Joe Flacco, but I think they can work on establishing the run game against the Browns. This spread is a bit too high even against the Browns stout rushing attack. Take the Jets getting the 6.5.

A pattern with teams on the obvious decline is predictable where their season will end. Often times though a team with lowered expectations such as the Pittsburgh Steelers will create a glimmer early in the season. After losing to the Bengals by double digits of fourteen and thirty-one, this is a chance for the defense to be motivated and let their offense take the safe approach. Take the points here with the Steelers. 

The Miami Dolphins reloaded in all areas on the field and on the sidelines. Meeting new expectations at home can be a hard burden to shoulder especially against a division opponent. The Patriots don’t have the top to bottom roster that exudes the standard of past teams, but they have the coaching pedigree to get the edge when it matters most. They will keep it close enough that if the spread comes into play you will be happy to have the full three and a half. Take New England.

Laying a big number on the road is always a tricky spot in the NFL especially in week one. For Baltimore game one is important because of how bad their season free failed last year. After October third they won just one road game the remaining of the season, and lost six straight to conclude the year. Even against a much improved Jets team look for the Ravens to execute in detail in all phases, and push enough past this number. Take Baltimore.

The LA Rams are back in the NFC Championship and will host against the San Francisco 49ers. With so many well known name players on their team this seems like their moment. But San Francisco has had their number, and continue to find gritty ways to win games. Continue to ride the hot hand of San Francisco and take the points here. 

The San Francisco 49ers come into their playoff game today against Green Bay streaking. It’s going to be a very difficult matchup for Green Bay based on Kyle Shanahan and the 49ers success against Green Bay. Yet, the Packers have been a team on the cusp for years. This is their moment to override and ride their potent offense to the NFC championship game. Take Green Bay to have a flurry to take down San Francisco. 

A team that has surged before the playoffs have been the San Francisco 49ers. They are 7-2 their last nine games and picked up a huge win last week against the Rams. Look for their confidence to carry over in a tough road spot against Dallas. San Francisco has the experience edge from their Super Bowl run a few years back, and will compete at a high level. 

Growth during a regular season changes fast in the month of December and into January. For the LA Chargers they withstood a tough overtime loss to Kansas City and a disastrous loss to Houston. Controlling their playoff destiny expect the Chargers to complete the difficult task of sweeping a divisional rival in the Raiders. Take the Chargers as the Raiders close out another regular season just short of the playoffs.

Nothing has been pretty for the Saints offensively since losing Jamies Winston to injury. Throughout it all they find themselves in the drivers seat for a postseason birth. To get there they will need to defeat a divisional foe in the Atlanta Falcons on the road. This is a spot where Sean Payton shines. He’ll have enough play calls offensively and ride his defense for the turnover edge. Take the Saints on the money line.

With Joe Burrow out the Cincinnati Bengals offense will be in trouble in the season finale against the Cleveland Browns. Last year the Bengals showcased just how ill prepared they are with the backup quarterback position. Sunday’s starter in Brandon Allen averaged just 185 yards passing in five starts a season ago. Look for the Browns to finish off their season properly even minus Baker Mayfield. Take Cleveland.

Two weeks ago the LA Chargers appeared destined for an AFC playoff berth at 8-5. Consecutive losses have them on the outside looking in. They’ll aim to bounce back from an inexcusable loss last week against the Texans, against an injury-riddled Denver Broncos. Expect the Chargers to take full advantage and not leave a window for a possible Broncos comeback. Grab LA.

Last Sunday, the Washington Football were embarrassed in prime time, 56-14 to the Dallas Cowboys. Poor losing streaks have been a staple for Ron Rivera coached teams dating back to his final years with Carolina. Look for the Eagles to accomplish the difficult task of defeating a divisional opponent two times in twelve days. 

One of the more predictable teams this year in the NFL have been the Washington Football team. After winning four straight they’ve now back pedaled in losing consecutive games. Expect the Dallas Cowboys to build upon the defensive schemes that frustrated quarterback Taylor Heinicke two weeks ago. In the outing Heinicke had a season low eleven completions and threw for just 122 yards. Take Dallas as they sweep the Washington Football team.  

The Buffalo Bills will aim to avoid a season series sweep via their division rivals in the New England Patriots. In the prior matchup the Patriots dominated the line of scrimmage and threw the football for just nineteen yards with quarterback Mac Jones. Expect the Bills to open things up offensively and force the Patriots into a completely different game plan. Take Buffalo as they tie the divisional race tightens up in the AFC East.

One of the first teams to have Covid issues this NFL season were the Green Bay Packers. Throughout it they’ve maintained their upper echelon play, and are coming off a thrilling offensive performance against the Bears. With Covid issues now plaguing the NFL, look for the Packers to not show any mercy even in a December road game against Baltimore. Play the Packers. 

The Atlanta Falcons pulled off an impressive win last Sunday against the Carolina Panthers. It boosted Atlanta to 6-7, which still gives them a small chance for a playoff spot. Yet, the last time they played consecutive road games they had their worst loss of the season, 43-3 to Dallas. Look for San Francisco to have no issues as they finally play to a high level at home. Take San Francisco. 

The spotlight Sunday night will be on Bears rookie quarterback Justin Fields. Statistically he has struggled but Sunday can be a turning point to his season. Mentally Fields should be a bit more relaxed as the Packers will be the first team Fields has ever seen twice. Expect the Bears to have a safe approach but build upon a 24-14 loss against the Packers earlier this season. Take Chicago to keep this within the double-digit spread.

Sunday, we will continue to buy stock on teams coming off a Monday Night loss. Buffalo has dipped to 7-5, and will face a streaking Tampa Bay Buccaneers team. Weather will not be an issue, and expect the offense to bounce back significantly under Josh Allen. Take the Bills in a game they need for a confidence booster.

Just as they did last season the Washington Football team has put themselves in playoff position. They’ve won four straight games but have seen a dip in offensive production their last two games. Expect the Dallas Cowboys to utilize having had consecutive Thursday games to their advantage. Take the Cowboys to remain unblemished against the spread in their division this season.

One of Andy Reid’s specialities is having his team prepared post bye week. I know the Chiefs have had their issues this year ATS-wise, and especially in prime time. But Teddy Bridgewater is a game manager that’s not suited for this type of game. Expect the Chiefs to dictate the pace early and make things difficult. Grab the Chiefs. 

Zack had a bit of a family emergency Saturday so his apologies for his later than usual Sunday NFL postings. But he had his board finalized and one play involves the Seattle Seahawks. We’ve seen poor teams on short weeks of a MNF loss have value the following Sunday. I expect that from the Seahawks who defeated the 49ers earlier this season. Play the home underdog here.

Throughout the season the Baltimore Ravens have been fortunate to get wins late in games. They were able to do so yet again last week against Chicago, and that was minus Lamar Jackson. Yet, look for Cleveland to take advantage of an odd schedule. They’ll have a bye week next week before hosting the Ravens again. Look for Cleveland to have the extra motivation before and post bye week.

The Miami Dolphins have now won three consecutive games, as they’ve been able to thrive off their defense. Yet, they have had glaring issues offensively with quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. Expect the Panthers offense to be more settled in with Cam Newton’s second start, and for the Panthers to end the Dolphins win streak. Grab the road favorite Panthers. 

Last Sunday against the Packers, Russell Wilson’s return from injury went about as poorly as one can imagine. The offense did not sustain drives and were shutout. Yet, Arizona is not in dominating form as their 8-2 record would suggest. Look for the Seahawks to bounce back and end the Cardinals undefeated road record this season. 

The Minnesota Vikings are going to look back on this season with a should be mentality. All five of their losses have been by seven points or less, and four by four points or less. Look for their win against the Chargers on the road to serve as the turning point for the Vikings. Take Minnesota against a Packers team that will feel the pain of not having Aaron Jones available. 

The New York Jets find themselves in a tough predicament Sunday against the Miami Dolphins, with Joe Flacco as their starting quarterback. Over his last fourteen starts Flacco’s teams are just 2-12 overall. Additionally, he last every start as a Jet last season including a 24-0 loss to the Dolphins. Take Miami to win their third straight.