BEST BETS
LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (9-6) at NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (3-12)
LINE: L.A. Chargers by 4.5
This is a 10 a.m. start time for the Chargers’ body clocks, but even at that they’ll dispose of the Patriots, who have dropped five straight (three by less than a TD) and will and will have trouble putting up many points against a defence that has allowed the fewest points (274) in the NFL. The Chargers need a win to clinch a playoff spot and are 3-1 ATS as road favourites. Oh yes, and Jim Harbaugh is 9-1 ATS when his team’s body clocks play a 10 a.m. game.
TAKING: L.A. CHARGERS -4.5
Chargers 24, Patriots 17
ARIZONA CARDINALS (7-8) at LOS ANGELES RAMS (9-6)
LINE: L.A. Rams by 6.5
Despite the best wishes of the Seattle Seahawks, the Cardinals are not winning this game. They have nothing to play for (other than the Seahawks), they lost their starting tackles last week, James Conner will be slowed by a banged-up knee, and their defence allowed the previously benched Bryce Young the highest QB rating of Week 17. With their eyes on the division title, the Rams will be looking to pound Arizona for revenge of a Week 2, 41-10 loss in which they had no Puka Nacua.
TAKING: L.A. RAMS -6.5
Rams 33, Cardinals 15
MIAMI DOLPHINS (7-8) at CLEVELAND BROWNS (3-12)
LINE: Miami by 6.5
Dolphins need one of the Broncos or Chargers to lose on Saturday and they’ll still have a chance at a playoff spot when they face the Browns, who appear to be ready to give Dorian Thompson-Robinson another swing. Count on him to miss, and for Miami to prove it can be a cold-weather team when it’s up against a bad team.
TAKING: MIAMI -6.5
Dolphins 24, Browns 10
THE REST
DENVER BRONCOS (9-6) at CINCINNATI BENGALS (7-8)
LINE: Cincinnati by 3.5
Bengals have kept alive their playoff hopes with three straight wins, during which their much-maligned defence has allowed an average of 17.6 points — but that includes holding the Browns, led by the inadequate Dorian Thompson-Robinson, to just six last week. They’ll have much more difficulty with Bo Nix, but I can’t bet against Joe Burrow, Tee Higgins, Ja’Marr Chase and London’s Chase Brown at this point. The line is a late Christmas gift.
TAKING: DENVER +3.5
Bengals 28, Broncos 27
TENNESSEE TITANS (3-12) at JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (3-12)
LINE: Jacksonville by 1.5
Titans lost 10-6 to the Jags three weeks ago largely because Will Levis was at quarterback. Mason Rudolph, who has thrown for 459 yards in the last two games, will change that outcome against the league’s worst pass defence.
TAKING: TENNESSEE +1.5
Titans 17, Jaguars 13
NEW YORK JETS (4-11) at BUFFALO BILLS (12-3)
LINE: Buffalo by 9.5
Aaron Rodgers will gut out a knee issue and he has been looking a lot like his old self of late, averaging 295 passing yards in his last three games and 14 touchdown passes against just one interception in his last eight. With Davante Adams also resembling Davante Adams again, averaging 125 yards and scoring four TDs in his last three, the Jets should move the ball against a Bills defence that has injuries in the secondary. I’d rather the spread was 10, but the Bills only beat the Patriots by a field goal last week.
TAKING: N.Y. JETS +9.5
Bills 29, Jets 20
CAROLINA PANTHERS (4-11) at TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (8-7)
LINE: Tampa Bay by 7.5
The Bucs blew a golden opportunity to keep ahead of the Falcons when they lost in prime time to Dallas last week, so they will be desperate to redeem themselves and stay in the fight for first. But they needed OT to beat Carolina four weeks ago and with Bryce Young seemingly getting his act together, the Panthers have lost only one of their last five games by more than a TD.
TAKING: CAROLINA +7.5
Bucs 27, Panthers 20
LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (3-12) at NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (5-10)
LINE: Las Vegas by 1
Spencer Rattler proved he’s out of his league as the Saints were shut out by the Packers on Monday night, and he’s likely to be under centre again this week with Derek Carr not practicing as recently as Thursday, when Alvin Kamara was still sidelined by a groin injury. If even one of the two was back, the Saints would be worth a wager to bounce back in their domed home, but as is, the Raiders deserve to be favoured to win against a hapless squad for their second win a row.
TAKING: LAS VEGAS -1
Raiders 10, Saints 7
DALLAS COWBOYS (7-8) at PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (12-3)
LINE: Philadelphia by 7
The Eagles haven’t lost consecutive games this season and here they have an opportunity to sweep the Cowboys for the first time since 2011. At the same time, they will be without QB Jalen Hurts (concussion) and the Cowboys have won four of their last visits to Lincoln Financial Field. Can the Cowboys, who have won four of their last five while playing hard for Mike McCarthy despite no real playoff hopes, score more than a Kenny Pickett-led Philadelphia offence without CeeDee Lamb? Against the Eagles’ No.-1 ranked defence? And can they limit the damage done by Saquon Barkley? This is not an easy game.
TAKING: PHILADELPHIA -7
Eagles 23, Cowboys 14
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (7-8) at NEW YORK GIANTS (2-13)
LINE: Indianapolis by 7.5
The Colts almost blew a 38-15 fourth-quarter lead against Tennessee last week, but Jonathan Taylor has found his stride and then some, rushing for three TDs and 218 yards against a Titans run defence ranked 23rd. The Giants have the 31st-best run-stopping unit and have lost 10 straight. Covering the spread is something the G-Men have done just four times and with the first pick of the 2025 draft in their grasp, it would be completely incompetent of them to fumble that away now too.
TAKING: INDIANAPOLIS -7.5
Colts 27, Giants 17
GREEN BAY PACKERS (11-4) at MINNESOTA VIKINGS (13-2)
LINE: Minnesota by 1
The teams meet for the first time since Week 4. In that game, Packers QB Jordan Love was back in the lineup after an injury absence. It took him one half, but he did find his form and almost brought his team all the way back from a 28-0 deficit in what wound up a 31-29 Green Bay loss. Love threw three interceptions that day, but has quit turning the ball over since Week 11. He’ll do enough this week to split the season series.
TAKING: GREEN BAY +1
Packers 33, Vikings 27
ATLANTA FALCONS (8-7) at WASHINGTON COMMANDERS (10-5)
LINE: Washington by 4
Lefty QB Michael Penix Jr. is 1-0 but now faces a team not named the Giants. Washington ranks fourth in pass defence and is coming off a dramatic win over the Eagles. A victory clinches a playoff spot for the Commanders and they’ll be good for it, but Bijan Robinson will keep things close.
TAKING: ATLANTA +4
Commanders 27, Falcons 24
DETROIT LIONS at SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
LINE: Detroit by 3.5
If the Vikings lose to the Packers on Sunday, the Lions would clinch the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs by beating the beat-up Niners, who appear to be ready for the off-season.
TAKING: DETROIT -3.5
Lions 30, Niners 24
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