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Essential Week 17 betting notes for NFL Sunday
Pittsburgh needs to beat the Browns and have the Buffalo Bills knock off the New York Jets in order to earn a wild card spot.
New York Jets at Buffalo Bills (+2.5, 42)
* Led by quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, who is 276 passing yards shy of his first 4,000-yard season, New York knocked off New England 26-20 in overtime a week ago to move to the brink of the playoffs.
* The Bills have the edge in recent head-to-head meetings with the Jets, going 4-0 both straight up and against the spread in the last four.
New England Patriots at Miami Dolphins (+10, 47)
* New England needs to win or see AFC West champion Denver fall to San Diego in order to clinch the top seed in the conference.
* The AFC East cellar-dwelling Dolphins aren't finishing the season with any semblance of strength, having dropped three in a row and seven of nine SU and six-straight and eight of nine ATS.
New Orleans Saints at Atlanta Falcons (-5.5, 53)
* The Saints don't necessarily close the season on a high note at the betting window, going just 2-8 ATS in their last 10 games in Week 17.
* The home team has had a decided edge in this series, going 7-1 ATS in the last eight meetings between the two rivals. The Falcons are currently tabbed as 5.5-point chalk for the regular season finale.
Baltimore Ravens at Cincinnati Bengals (-10, 41.5)
* Baltimore QB Ryan Mallet threw for a career-high 274 yards in his team debut as the Ravens took the Pittsburgh Steelers’ destiny out of their own hands with a 20-17 victory last week.
* Bengals QB AJ McCarron is completing 67 percent of his throws and has recorded four touchdowns and two interceptions in the last three games, but Cincinnati has scored a total of nine points in the second half of the last two contests.
Pittsburgh Steelers at Cleveland Browns (+11, 47)
* Pittsburgh needs to beat the Browns and have the Buffalo Bills knock off the New York Jets in order to earn a wild card spot, and the Steelers are concentrating on their part of that equation. “There's a scenario that hasn't transpired in order to get in the dance,” Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin told reporters. “But the other part of that scenario is us winning," Tomlin said. "I'm not looking for comfort. I'm just trying to meet the challenges of this week. You set yourself up for failure if you view it any other way."
* The Browns have note fared well against teams from within ths division this season, going just 1-4 SU and ATS against the AFC North.
Jacksonville Jaguars at Houston Texans (-6.5, 45.5)
* Jags QB Blake Bortles can set a club record Sunday as he needs 179 passing yards to eclipse Mark Brunell's single-season mark of 4,367, which he totaled in 1996. He has thrown at least two TD passes in nine of his last 11 games and is one of three quarterbacks in league history (Dan Marino and Matthew Stafford) to record 35 scoring tosses in a season while under the age of 24.
* The Texans have won eight of their last 10 meetings with the Jaguars but are just 5-4-1 ATS in those 10.
Tennessee Titans at Indianapolis Colts (Off, Off)
* Zach Mettenberger, who was 24-for-51 for 234 yards in last week's blowout loss to Houston, will most likely get the start again at quarterback for Tennessee, which has just one win since Nov. 8. Mettenberger, however, will be without his top target, Kendall Wright, who re-injured his MCL in last week's loss.
* Indianapolis has to win and needs victories by Jacksonville, Buffalo, Miami, Baltimore, Atlanta, Oakland, Denver and Pittsburgh to earn a playoff berth.
Detroit Lions at Chicago Bears (PK, 45.5)
* A horrific start brought Jim Caldwell's job security into question, but the Lions have won two in a row and five of seven to put themselves in position to escape the NFC North cellar should they record a sixth straight victory versus their division rivals.
* Home hasn't provided much comfort for Bears backers. In their previous 29 home games, the Bears have gone just 7-21-1 ATS.
Washington Redskins at Dallas Cowboys (-4, 39.5)
* Despite having nothing on the line, Redskins coach Jay Gruden on Thursday said quarterback Kirk Cousins will get the start against the Cowboys. "All our guys are starting," Gruden said. "How I substitute throughout the course of the game will be dependent on how we're doing health-wise and the situation of the game."
* One of the few bright spots for the Cowboys has been the play of running back Darren McFadden, who has rushed for 100 yards in five of his last 10 starts and is three yards from reaching 1,000. Dallas ranks fifth in the league against the pass, yielding an average of 223 yards.
Philadelphia Eagles at New York Giants (-3.5, 51)
* Sam Bradford is finishing the season on a high note, following up his 361-yard, two-touchdown performance versus Arizona with 380 yards and a score against the Redskins.
* Team co-owners John Mara and Steve Tisch have not publicly commented on the job security of Tom Coughlin, while the 69-year-old coach himself dismissed that line of questioning Thursday in an effort to focus on the regular-season finale. "I won't let myself go in those other directions because we have a job to do, and that's what we're going to do," Coughlin told reporters. "All these other issues will clear up in time, but not before then."
St. Louis Rams at San Francisco 49ers (+3, 37)
* Hardly considered flashy, Case Keenum's efficient passing ways have enabled Jeff Fisher to move on from offseason acquisition Nick Foles and hand the keys to the 27-year-old. "We're having fun," said Keenum, who has completed just 14 passes in each contest of the team's winning streak - including last week's 23-17 victory over Seattle. "We're playing football. We've got nothing to lose. ... I think that's the mindset our guys have got."
* Missouri native Blaine Gabbert isn't placing any extra emphasis on facing the team he watched with his family as season ticket holders. "No, not at all," the 26-year-old Gabbert told reporters. "It's another division game. It’s a big game for both sides regardless of the situation that we put ourselves in up to this point."
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Carolina Panthers (-10.5, 46)
* It’s been far from a lost season for Tampa Bay, thanks to an encouraging rookie season by top pick Jameis Winston (3,717 passing yards, 22 touchdowns, 13 interceptions) and a bounce-back campaign from Doug Martin (1,354 rushing yards, six TDs). The Buccaneers have had a tough time turning drives into points, though, and have committed five turnovers in their last two games and 24 this season – including a season-high five in a 37-23 loss to Carolina in Week 4.
* The Carolina Panthers no longer are playing to preserve a perfect season, but they still have plenty on the line. The Panthers can clinch the NFC’s top seed and home-field advantage through the conference championship game with a win Sunday.
Seattle Seahawks at Arizona Cardinals (-6.5, 47)
* The Seahawks, who had a five-game winning streak snapped by the St. Louis Rams last week, have locked up a playoff berth and will be on the road for the first round of the postseason.
* The Cardinals have ripped off nine consecutive victories to set a franchise record for wins and already have wrapped up the No. 2 seed and a first-round bye.
San Diego Chargers at Denver Broncos (-10, 41.5)
* Following its bye in Week 10, San Diego was limited to a field goal in three of its next four games and can match the franchise's worst record since a 4-12 mark in 2003. Philip Rivers has managed to put up some big numbers amid the carnage and can eclipse the franchise single-season record of 4,802 yards (Dan Fouts, 1981) by throwing for 239 yards Sunday, but he was limited to 202 in the earlier meeting with the Broncos.
* Denver needs a win and a loss by New England at Miami to snag the top overall seed in the conference, but it also can lose the AFC West title with a loss and a victory by Kansas City.
Oakland Raiders at Kansas City Chiefs (-7.5, 43.5)
* The Raiders attempt to finish with a winning record on the road, where they have won two straight to improve to 4-3. The Raiders have gone 5-2 ATS away from home.
* Kansas City is the first team in 45 years to qualify for the postseason after beginning with a 1-5 record have won four of its last five meetings with the Raiders, including a 34-20 victory at Oakland in Week 13.
Minnesota Vikings at Green Bay Packers (-3, 45.5)
* While both teams have already secured berths in the postseason, the ramifications will be huge: The winner will host a wild card team in the first round of the playoffs while the loser will hit the road as either the fifth or sixth seed.
* Aaron Rodgers has won 10 of his last 11 versus the Vikings, throwing for 28 touchdowns and three interceptions.
Pittsburgh needs to beat the Browns and have the Buffalo Bills knock off the New York Jets in order to earn a wild card spot.
New York Jets at Buffalo Bills (+2.5, 42)
* Led by quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, who is 276 passing yards shy of his first 4,000-yard season, New York knocked off New England 26-20 in overtime a week ago to move to the brink of the playoffs.
* The Bills have the edge in recent head-to-head meetings with the Jets, going 4-0 both straight up and against the spread in the last four.
New England Patriots at Miami Dolphins (+10, 47)
* New England needs to win or see AFC West champion Denver fall to San Diego in order to clinch the top seed in the conference.
* The AFC East cellar-dwelling Dolphins aren't finishing the season with any semblance of strength, having dropped three in a row and seven of nine SU and six-straight and eight of nine ATS.
New Orleans Saints at Atlanta Falcons (-5.5, 53)
* The Saints don't necessarily close the season on a high note at the betting window, going just 2-8 ATS in their last 10 games in Week 17.
* The home team has had a decided edge in this series, going 7-1 ATS in the last eight meetings between the two rivals. The Falcons are currently tabbed as 5.5-point chalk for the regular season finale.
Baltimore Ravens at Cincinnati Bengals (-10, 41.5)
* Baltimore QB Ryan Mallet threw for a career-high 274 yards in his team debut as the Ravens took the Pittsburgh Steelers’ destiny out of their own hands with a 20-17 victory last week.
* Bengals QB AJ McCarron is completing 67 percent of his throws and has recorded four touchdowns and two interceptions in the last three games, but Cincinnati has scored a total of nine points in the second half of the last two contests.
Pittsburgh Steelers at Cleveland Browns (+11, 47)
* Pittsburgh needs to beat the Browns and have the Buffalo Bills knock off the New York Jets in order to earn a wild card spot, and the Steelers are concentrating on their part of that equation. “There's a scenario that hasn't transpired in order to get in the dance,” Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin told reporters. “But the other part of that scenario is us winning," Tomlin said. "I'm not looking for comfort. I'm just trying to meet the challenges of this week. You set yourself up for failure if you view it any other way."
* The Browns have note fared well against teams from within ths division this season, going just 1-4 SU and ATS against the AFC North.
Jacksonville Jaguars at Houston Texans (-6.5, 45.5)
* Jags QB Blake Bortles can set a club record Sunday as he needs 179 passing yards to eclipse Mark Brunell's single-season mark of 4,367, which he totaled in 1996. He has thrown at least two TD passes in nine of his last 11 games and is one of three quarterbacks in league history (Dan Marino and Matthew Stafford) to record 35 scoring tosses in a season while under the age of 24.
* The Texans have won eight of their last 10 meetings with the Jaguars but are just 5-4-1 ATS in those 10.
Tennessee Titans at Indianapolis Colts (Off, Off)
* Zach Mettenberger, who was 24-for-51 for 234 yards in last week's blowout loss to Houston, will most likely get the start again at quarterback for Tennessee, which has just one win since Nov. 8. Mettenberger, however, will be without his top target, Kendall Wright, who re-injured his MCL in last week's loss.
* Indianapolis has to win and needs victories by Jacksonville, Buffalo, Miami, Baltimore, Atlanta, Oakland, Denver and Pittsburgh to earn a playoff berth.
Detroit Lions at Chicago Bears (PK, 45.5)
* A horrific start brought Jim Caldwell's job security into question, but the Lions have won two in a row and five of seven to put themselves in position to escape the NFC North cellar should they record a sixth straight victory versus their division rivals.
* Home hasn't provided much comfort for Bears backers. In their previous 29 home games, the Bears have gone just 7-21-1 ATS.
Washington Redskins at Dallas Cowboys (-4, 39.5)
* Despite having nothing on the line, Redskins coach Jay Gruden on Thursday said quarterback Kirk Cousins will get the start against the Cowboys. "All our guys are starting," Gruden said. "How I substitute throughout the course of the game will be dependent on how we're doing health-wise and the situation of the game."
* One of the few bright spots for the Cowboys has been the play of running back Darren McFadden, who has rushed for 100 yards in five of his last 10 starts and is three yards from reaching 1,000. Dallas ranks fifth in the league against the pass, yielding an average of 223 yards.
Philadelphia Eagles at New York Giants (-3.5, 51)
* Sam Bradford is finishing the season on a high note, following up his 361-yard, two-touchdown performance versus Arizona with 380 yards and a score against the Redskins.
* Team co-owners John Mara and Steve Tisch have not publicly commented on the job security of Tom Coughlin, while the 69-year-old coach himself dismissed that line of questioning Thursday in an effort to focus on the regular-season finale. "I won't let myself go in those other directions because we have a job to do, and that's what we're going to do," Coughlin told reporters. "All these other issues will clear up in time, but not before then."
St. Louis Rams at San Francisco 49ers (+3, 37)
* Hardly considered flashy, Case Keenum's efficient passing ways have enabled Jeff Fisher to move on from offseason acquisition Nick Foles and hand the keys to the 27-year-old. "We're having fun," said Keenum, who has completed just 14 passes in each contest of the team's winning streak - including last week's 23-17 victory over Seattle. "We're playing football. We've got nothing to lose. ... I think that's the mindset our guys have got."
* Missouri native Blaine Gabbert isn't placing any extra emphasis on facing the team he watched with his family as season ticket holders. "No, not at all," the 26-year-old Gabbert told reporters. "It's another division game. It’s a big game for both sides regardless of the situation that we put ourselves in up to this point."
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Carolina Panthers (-10.5, 46)
* It’s been far from a lost season for Tampa Bay, thanks to an encouraging rookie season by top pick Jameis Winston (3,717 passing yards, 22 touchdowns, 13 interceptions) and a bounce-back campaign from Doug Martin (1,354 rushing yards, six TDs). The Buccaneers have had a tough time turning drives into points, though, and have committed five turnovers in their last two games and 24 this season – including a season-high five in a 37-23 loss to Carolina in Week 4.
* The Carolina Panthers no longer are playing to preserve a perfect season, but they still have plenty on the line. The Panthers can clinch the NFC’s top seed and home-field advantage through the conference championship game with a win Sunday.
Seattle Seahawks at Arizona Cardinals (-6.5, 47)
* The Seahawks, who had a five-game winning streak snapped by the St. Louis Rams last week, have locked up a playoff berth and will be on the road for the first round of the postseason.
* The Cardinals have ripped off nine consecutive victories to set a franchise record for wins and already have wrapped up the No. 2 seed and a first-round bye.
San Diego Chargers at Denver Broncos (-10, 41.5)
* Following its bye in Week 10, San Diego was limited to a field goal in three of its next four games and can match the franchise's worst record since a 4-12 mark in 2003. Philip Rivers has managed to put up some big numbers amid the carnage and can eclipse the franchise single-season record of 4,802 yards (Dan Fouts, 1981) by throwing for 239 yards Sunday, but he was limited to 202 in the earlier meeting with the Broncos.
* Denver needs a win and a loss by New England at Miami to snag the top overall seed in the conference, but it also can lose the AFC West title with a loss and a victory by Kansas City.
Oakland Raiders at Kansas City Chiefs (-7.5, 43.5)
* The Raiders attempt to finish with a winning record on the road, where they have won two straight to improve to 4-3. The Raiders have gone 5-2 ATS away from home.
* Kansas City is the first team in 45 years to qualify for the postseason after beginning with a 1-5 record have won four of its last five meetings with the Raiders, including a 34-20 victory at Oakland in Week 13.
Minnesota Vikings at Green Bay Packers (-3, 45.5)
* While both teams have already secured berths in the postseason, the ramifications will be huge: The winner will host a wild card team in the first round of the playoffs while the loser will hit the road as either the fifth or sixth seed.
* Aaron Rodgers has won 10 of his last 11 versus the Vikings, throwing for 28 touchdowns and three interceptions.
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