FILL UP ON PATS’ SPREAD
THE JETS-Patriots game Saturday in Foxborough is a tougher call than meets the eye. Patriot-pickers get a team that’s 12-2 and can clinch the top seed in the AFC with a win and a Raiders loss to the Colts. The Jets have lost by 31 and 21 within the past three weeks, and were trailing 17-0 against the one-win 49ers before a comeback out of nowhere. This is a 4-10 team that already is thinking of anything but football, as the Sheldon Richardson Snapchat fiasco showed.
But then, there’s this for brave Jets-backers: Since the 2011 season, the Jets are 0-6 at Gillette Stadium, but the margins were by nine, three in overtime, three, three in overtime, two and seven. Nothing came even close to this spread. And less than a month ago at MetLife, it was 22-17 Patriots in a game the Jets could have won.
The choice here is to lay the number. The Jets are bad on offense, defense and special teams, so this should come down to how badly Bill Belichick and Tom Brady want to beat them. Can see this getting to 31-10, even if they are being nice. The pick: Patriots -16½. BEARS (+3) over Redskins: Washington still has faint playoffs hopes, but that Monday night home loss to the Panthers has to be a mental smackdown. The Bears have perked up with Matt Barkley at quarterback. They lost by just three to both the Lions and Packers in the last two weeks.
Dolphins (+4½) over BILLS: Even with a win, the Bills could miss the playoffs for the 16th season in a row. Dolphins currently hold the second AFC wild card and get a break with the weather forecast — 40 degrees with a little rain. It could be a lot worse in Orchard Park during the day on Christmas Eve.
Buccaneers (+3) over SAINTS: The Buccaneers gave it a good go against the Cowboys, but couldn’t overcome Jameis Winston’s three interceptions. Winston will fare better here, and the Buccaneers’s defense will rebound from the schooling it received from Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott.
Falcons (-3) over PANTHERS: Matt Ryan threw for 503 yards and four touchdowns in a 48-33 win over the Panthers in October. It has been a great season for Dan Quinn’s Falcons, but they still have some work to do to finish off the NFC South title.
PACKERS (-6½) over Vikings: Minnesota is alive for a playoff berth, but you wouldn’t know it from the 34-6 home beatdown it took from the Colts last week. Can’t go against Aaron Rodgers at Lambeau in what should be perfect conditions — 35 and sunny.
Titans (-4½) over JAGUARS: The Titans need to win this one and then beat the Texans next week to take the AFC South. Mike Mularkey has his young team on a mission, while the 2-12 Jaguars can’t have much juice after seeing their coach get fired before the plane ride home last week.
BROWNS (+5½) over Chargers: This could be the week for the Browns to stave off ignominy. Chargers have a long trip and an early game on a short week after a loss to the Raiders in which coach Mike McCoy let Oakland kneel to victory despite having a timeout left. Why not just hold up a sign that says “We Quit!”?
RAIDERS (-3½) over Colts: Line of home team minus-three is an even game in Vegas language, but how can that be the case with an 11-3 versus a 7-7? Raiders still have the Chiefs on their tails and will keep pushing until the AFC West is clinched.
RAMS (-4) over 49ers: In an almost impossible scenario, the 1-13 Niners go up against the one team that has a revenge motive against them. Great spot for John Fassel to hang up his first NFL head-coaching “W.”
SEAHAWKS (-7½) over Cardinals: Seattle is 7-0 at home, with the last three by 11, 33 and 21 points. Seahawks still are trying to nail down a first-round bye, while the Cardinals appear to be just waiting for this nightmare season to end.
Bengals (PK) over TEXANS: Houston kept its AFC South title hopes alive with a big comeback against the Jaguars after in- serting Tom Savage for Brock Osweiler. Key word in that sentence was “Jags.” Bengals are out of it, but are a hell of a tough spoiler with A.J. Green likely back. SUNDAY STEELERS (-5) over Ravens: Seven of the last 11 games in this matchup have been decided by three points or fewer. The Ravens won by seven in Baltimore last month. Pittsburgh returns the favor in similar fashion at home.
CHIEFS (-3) over Broncos: Kansas City has lost two of its last three at home (both 19-17 to the Buccaneers and Titans). But the Chiefs perked up against the Raiders and won by eight and can do the same versus the flawed Broncos. MONDAY NIGHT COWBOYS (-7½) over Lions: Detroit has given up 20 or fewer points in eight straight games, but the Lions have a lot of injury concerns. Don’t think they can hang with the ’Boys for three hours. BEST BETS: Titans, Packers, Chiefs. LOCK OF THE WEEK: Titans (Locks 6-9 in 2016). LAST WEEK: 10-5-1 Overall, 2-1 Best Bets. THURSDAY NIGHT: Giants (L)