SATURDAY GAMES
Los Angeles Chargers (-4.5) @ New England Patriots
The Chargers have a wildcard spot basically wrapped up. Just can’t blow it this week against the poopy Pats or next week against the reeking Raiders. The Pats are torn in a weird spot between wanting to lose to secure better draft position, and wanting to win to see growth and confidence in Drake Maye. Makes them somewhat of a wild card this week and next.
ATD: JK Dobbins / Hunter Henry
Denver Broncos @ Cincinnati Bengals (-3.5)
The Broncos also have a wildcard spot mostly wrapped up. But there are a couple teams breathing down their neck… including the Bengals. The Bengals are in the middle of a miraculous run to even find themselves with a chance in week 17. Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase are firing at all time levels. MVP type stuff if their team’s record wasn’t so bad. The Bengals need to win at home this week to keep the dream alive, and even then they need some other games to go their way. But you’re telling me there’s a chance and that’s all Bengals fans could have hoped for after starting 1-4.
ATD: Ja’Marr Chase / Mike Gesicki
Arizona Cardinals @ Los Angeles Rams (-6.5)
The Rams can finally clinch the ultra tight NFC West with a win here and a handful of other results going their way. At times they look like a really scary matchup in the playoffs that nobody would want to play. Then other times they look sad and disjointed. But the core of this squad won a Super Bowl a few years ago so you can never count them out. The Cardinals meanwhile have skidded through December and completely fumbled a playoff opportunity. They’ll leave this season with far more questions than answers. Sad.
ATD: Trey McBride / Tyler Higbee
SUNDAY 1 O’CLOCK GAMES
New York Jets @ Buffalo Bills (-10)
Not a ton here. The Bills need to win this week or next to clinch the #2 seed, which is huge for them. It would be ideal to do it this week and rest next week before round one. Common sense would tell you they could beat the Jets with one hand tied behind their back this week. Speaking of – they revealed this week that Josh Allen has been playing all season with a broken left hand. What an animal.
ATD: James Cook / Ray Davis
Indianapolis Colts (7.5) @ New York Giants
Well well well. The Colts have found themselves in yet another season where fans will be tempted with a glimmer of playoff hope just to have them crushed in new and inventive ways. They need to win this week and next (next week being in Jacksonville, where Colts’ dreams go to die), and get some help in the form of losses by the Chargers and Broncos. The good news is Anthony Richardson hasn’t practiced all week with some mysterious injury and we’ll probably have a Joe Flacco game in the rain on the shitty MetLife Stadium turd! Did I say turd?? I meant turf. ATD: Jonathan Taylor / Trey Sermon
Carolina Panthers @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-8)
The Bucs are neck and neck with the Falcons for the NFC South lead. For my money – I’d much rather see Baker Mayfield and Mike Evans in the playoffs than whatever the hell the Falcons have going on.
ATD: Mike Evans / Adam Thielen
Dallas Cowboys @ Philadelphia Eagles (-7.5)
The Eagles need a win this week or next to win the NFC East. Unfortunately, Jalen Hurts will miss this game with a concussion and Kenny Pickett will start. The Cowboys have actually been playing better lately, although they just shut down CeeDee Lamb for the season. Obnoxiously little juice in what should have been an electric game.
ATD: Saquon Barkley / Ryan Flournoy
Las Vegas Raiders (-1.5) @ New Orleans Saints
even I couldn’t be caught dead watching this game.
ATD: Alexander Mattison / MVS
Tennessee Titans @ Jacksonville Jaguars (-1)
ATD: Brian Thomas Jr. / Nick Westbrook-Ikhine
SUNDAY 4 O’CLOCK GAMES
Miami Dolphins (-6.5) @ Cleveland Browns
Dead teams. Sad teams.
ATD: Tyreek Hill / DTR
Green Bay Packers @ Minnesota Vikings (-1.5)
Juicy! The Vikings could still steal the #1 seed from the Lions, which would significantly improve their Super Bowl chances. A win here, assuming the Lions also beat the Niners, would set up a potential winner-take-all finale between the Vikings and Lions next week. Yes please.
ATD: Aaron Jones / TJ Hockenson
If it comes down to it, you gotta think the Vikes give Jones one here against his former team.
SUNDAY NIGHT
Atlanta Falcons @ Washington Commanders (-4)
The math is simple for Atlanta: match or beat the Bucs’ record over the final two games and win the NFC South. Anything less and they risk missing the playoffs entirely. The Commanders can secure a wildcard spot with a win.
ATD: Bijan Robinson / Michael Penix Jr.
MONDAY NIGHT
Detroit Lions (-3.5) @ San Francisco 49ers
What should have been… preseason this looked like a potential matchup of the year. Boo on you, Niners. Still, we have some real implications and a spicy revenge factor. By the time this game kicks off we’ll know the result of the Vikings-Packers game. If the Vikings lose, the Lions can clinch the division with a win. Otherwise, we get the winner-take-all game next week between the Lions and Vikings. If that wasn’t motivation enough, the Lions are still pissed about the NFC Championship game last year. When they choked a lead away to the Niners. Now facing their foe in a weakened state, don’t expect Dan Campbell to show any mercy.
ATD: Amon-Ra St. Brown / Brock Wright
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