One more week of regular season football, and three playoff spots have still yet to be handed out. Eight NFL teams have a chance to win one of those spots.
It’s put up or shut up in the final week of the regular season.
Tennessee Titans at Jacksonville Jaguars (-6.5)
The scenario is simple for this game. Win, and you win the division. In fact, that scenario has been in place for a couple of weeks. The Titans rested a number of their NFL players last week in preparation for the win-and-in game in Jacksonville.
At the most important position on the NFL field, however, no amount of resting can help Tennessee. They are down to a third-string quarterback in Joshua Dobbs, and the Jaguars are getting great NFL play from Trevor Lawrence. At home, the Jags win by more than a touchdown and cover the spread.
Detroit Lions at Green Bay Packers (-4.5)
When December began, the Packers were 4-8, and people were calling for the end of the Aaron Rodgers era. Now that we are in January, the Packers are 8-8 and in control of their own playoff destiny. Beat the Lions on Sunday night, and the No. 7 seed in the NFC is theirs.
For the Lions, they too, can get in with a win in this game and help against the Seahawks. If the Rams beat Seattle, and Detroit wins in Lambeau, they are the No. 7 seed. Sadly that is unlikely to happen for Lions fans. Detroit is a very different NFL team on the road, and Green Bay will win and cover.
Los Angeles Rams at Seattle Seahawks (-6.5)
Speaking of those Seahawks, they actually play before the Packers play, so they will do whatever they can to win, even if it is a win without a playoff appearance as a reward. But the Rams also want to win. Beating their rivals, ending the season on a high note, and finding out if there really could be a future with Baker Mayfield are all things on the agenda.
It won’t matter. The 12th man in Seattle will bring it, and at home, the Seahawks will win by a touchdown.
New York Jets at Miami Dolphins (Pick‘em)
The New York Jets have played themselves out of the playoffs with five straight losses. The Dolphins have almost played themselves out of the playoffs with five losses of their own.
If the Patriots win on Sunday, they are in the playoffs. But if New England loses, and the Dolphins win with a backup quarterback, they are the AFC’s final Wild Card team.
It’s a pick’em, and considering the stakes, we’re picking the Dolphins at home.
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