THE CHEAT SHEET
LIONS at PANTHERS
Time: Noon.
Line: Panthers by 3. Total: OFF. Records ( overall/ ATS): Lions
4- 5/ 4- 5; Panthers 3- 7/ 5- 5. Outlook: Panthers likely to be without RB Christian McCaffrey again. Mike Davis is averaging 35 yards and 3.6 per carry in his last five games. Matt Stafford might not play because of a thumb injury, but this is a decent spot for Chase Daniel vs. Panthers’ 22nd- ranked defense. Panthers have lost five straight ( 2- 3 ATS). Lions are 3- 2 SU/ ATS on the road this season. Pick: Lions 23, Panthers 21.
COWBOYS at VIKINGS
Time: 3: 25 p. m.
Line: Vikings by 7. Total: 48 ½ . Records ( overall/ ATS): Cowboys 2- 7/ 1- 8; Vikings 4- 5/ 6- 3. Outlook: After an 0- 3 start, the Vikings can see a path to playoff contention with three straight wins and a playable schedule. Vikings are 6- 1 ATS in their last seven. After getting mostly stymied by the Bears last week, Dalvin Cook will be stoked to face the Cowboys’ 31st- ranked run defense.
Pick: Vikings 30, Cowboys 20.
EAGLES at BROWNS
Time: Noon.
Line: Browns by 3 ½ . Total: 47. Records ( overall/ ATS): Eagles 3- 5- 1/ 3- 6; Browns 6- 3/ 3- 6. Outlook: Two of the least dependable teams in the NFL facing off here. The Browns are 6- 3 but with a minus- 28 point differential and haven’t covered in a month ( 2- 2 SU/ 0- 4 ATS). They’re 4- 1 at home but 2- 3 ATS. But after two inclement- weather games, they could take off here with better sledding.
Pick: Browns 31, Eagles 24.
STEELERS at JAGUARS
Time: Noon.
Line: Steelers by 10. Total: 46 ½ . Records ( overall/ ATS): Steelers 9- 0/ 7- 2; Jaguars 1- 8/ 4- 5. Outlook: Ben Roethlisberger can be confounding at times, but he’s giving Alex Smith a run for his money for the NFL Comeback Player of the Year Award. At 38, Big Ben is picking up steam — 821 yards, nine TDs, zero INTs in his last three games ( 109.3 rating). Pick: Steelers 23, Jaguars 9.
BENGALS at WASHINGTON
Time: Noon.
Line: Washington by 1. Total: 46 ½ . Records ( overall/ ATS): Bengals 2- 6- 1/ 6- 3; Washington 2- 7/ 4- 5. Outlook: Rookie Joe Burrow predictably struggled against the Steelers — 21- for- 40 for 213 yards, one TD, zero INTs and a 76.4 rating. Now he faces Washington’s topranked pass defense. Somehow, that seems more playable.
Pick: Bengals 26, Washington 23.
PATRIOTS at TEXANS
Time: Noon.
Line: Patriots by 1 ½ . Total: 49. Records ( overall/ ATS): Patriots 4- 5/ 4- 5; Texans 2- 7/ 2- 7.
Outlook: Just when the Patriots appeared headed toward disaster, they rallied with back- to- back victories, including a spirited effort vs. the Ravens last week. Texans have beaten only the Jaguars. Pick: Patriots 30, Texans 27.
JETS at CHARGERS
Time: 3: 05 p. m.
Line: Chargers by 8 ½ . Total: 46 ½ . Records ( overall/ ATS): Jets
0- 9/ 2- 7; Chargers 2- 7/ 5- 4 Outlook: Jets are winless but rested coming off a bye after a near- miss against the Patriots. Then again, last year off the bye, they lost to the Eagles 31- 6.
Pick: Chargers 27, Jets 21.
DOLPHINS at BRONCOS
Time: 3: 05 p. m.
Line: Dolphins by 3 ½ . Total: 45. Records ( overall/ ATS): Dolphins 6- 3/ 7- 2; Broncos 3- 6/ 5- 4. Outlook: Dolphins have won five straight ( 5- 0 ATS), including three straight with Tua Tagovailoa starting. But Vic Fangio has a solid record vs. rookie quarterbacks. Pick: Dolphins 17, Broncos 14.
RAMS at BUCCANEERS
Time: 7: 15 p. m. Monday, ESPN. Line: Buccaneers by 4.
Total: 48 ½ .
Records ( overall/ ATS): Rams 6- 3/ 5- 4; Buccaneers 7- 3/ 5- 5. Outlook: After an early hiccup, the Buccaneers bounced back from a 38- 3 loss to the Saints to whip the Panthers. But they’ve struggled vs. good defenses this season.
Pick: Rams 23, Buccaneers 18.