It’s crunch time in the NFL. We are truly coming down the stretch with three weeks left in the season.
Here are my picks for this week.
12/16 4:30 ET At Detroit -5 Chicago 44: The Lions need to win out to have any shot of getting in as a wild card. Two weeks ago, this was considered a winnable game. Then the Bears went into Cincinnati and pounded the Bengals. They are no push over and they certainly won’t be in this one. I think Detroit wins but only by three. I’m taking the Bears as a road dog.
12/16 8:25 ET LA Chargers -1 At Kansas City 46: The Chargers are on a roll heading into this game. Los Angeles has won four straight and are the team no one in the AFC wants to play. Both teams are 7-6 and need to win this game in order to keep pace in the division.
It is hard to pick against the Chiefs at home but I am. The Chargers are in the zone right now and playing at Arrowhead isn’t going to change that. I’m taking the Bolts as a one point favorite.
12/17 1:00 ET Philadelphia -7.5 At NY Giants 40: No Wentz, no problem. The Eagles will take care of business with Nick Foles under center and cover with ease.
12/17 1:00 ET At Carolina -3 Green Bay 47: Aaron Rodgers is back but it is not going to matter. Green Bay’s defense just isn’t good enough to get the necessary stops to win this game. Expect a high scoring affair with the Panthers winning this game and covering.
12/17 1:00 ET At Minnesota -10.5 Cincinnati 42: The Bengals were embarrassed by the Bears last week at home. Now they go into Minnesota to play a Vikings team that can wrap up the NFC North with a win.
-10.5 is a big number but the Bengals have quit on Marvin Lewis so Minnesota should have no problem covering in this one.
12/17 1:00 ET At Buffalo -3.5 Miami 38.5: Something tells me the weather will once again be a factor in this game. The Bills took advantage of the weather conditions last week to beat the Colts and the cold will help them against a Dolphins team that will struggle to replicate last week’s performance against the Patriots. I like the Bills as a short favorite.
12/17 1:00 ET At Jacksonville -11 Houston 39: The Jags beat the Seahawks at home last week and are on their way to the playoffs. So you would think picking them is a no brainer. I’m actually going to take the Texans as a dog. -11 is too big a number. It’s a division game. Houston will come to play and keep this game close.
12/17 1:00 ET At New Orleans -15.5 NY Jets 47.5: These aren’t your older brothers high flying Saints. New Orleans is a ground and pound team that leans on their running game to win games. That’s why I don’t like this line. That and the Jets aren’t that bad, even with Bryce Petty starting at quarterback.
I think the Saints will win but they will win by two scores, not three.
12/17 1:00 ET At Washington -4.5 Arizona 43: Face it, both of these teams are playing out the string. Neither is actually a viable playoff contender . That being said, the Redskins are at home and have the better quarterback so taking them at such a reasonable number makes a lot of sense. Washington should cover with ease.
12/17 1:00 ET Baltimore -7 At Cleveland 40: The Ravens usually play good defense but they got exposed last Sunday in Pittsburgh. Obviously they won’t give up as many points this week against the Browns but Cleveland will play them tough. That’s why I’m taking the dogs as a dog. They won’t win but they won’t lose by seven either.
12/17 4:05 ET At Seattle -2.5 LA Rams 47.5: The Rams are a fun and exciting team but they also have a trick or treat side to them and that makes them a dangerous to take in games like this. The Seahawks have been a terrific late season team and I look for that trend to continue. I like Seattle at home as a short favorite.
12/17 4:25 ET New England -3 At Pittsburgh 53.5: I cannot believe the Patriots are favored in this game given how poorly they played last week. That and Pittsburgh has been rolling along the last two months and are at home. I think the Steelers are legit and I am picking them to win this game. It will be a shootout but I like Pittsburgh as a home dog.
12/17 4:25 ET At San Francisco -2 Tennessee 44.5: The Titans are by far the worst of the playoff teams in the AFC. I don’t even feel like they are a playoff team. They are not playing well right now and are coming off of an awful loss to Arizona last week.
The Niners are playing better since Jimmy Garoppolo took over as the starting quarterback. On paper, they should be favored but I have a hard time believing they will win this game. I am taking Tennessee as a road dog. They have to have a sense of pride right?
12/17 8:30 ET Dallas -3 At Oakland 46: Dallas is making a run for one of the two wild card spots in the NFC. They are playing their last game without Ezekiel Elliott so if they can win this game, they can put themselves in the driver seat with Elliott back and make the playoffs.
The Raiders on the other hand are fighting for their playoff lives so they need a win. Something tells me Oakland will rebound after last week and win this game. I’m taking Oakland as a three point dog at home. They will get it done.
Monday Night Football Line
12/18 8:30 ET Atlanta -6 At Tampa Bay 48.5: The Bucs are banged up and have quit on Dirk Koetter. Not even Jon Gruden being in the building is going help them. I’m taking the Falcons as a road favorite with confidence in this one.