ARROW POINTS CHIEFS
Fins won’t swim well in chilly K.C.
SUNDAY
CHIEFS(-10¹/₂) over Dolphins: Miami is fresh off chilly no-show when getting throttled at Buffalo. Sunday’s high in Kansas City may reach freezing point, but mid-teens breeze will sting. Chiefs find comfort here, and they capture the AFC West. This is big lay for an Andy Reid team, but conditions couldn’t be more positive.
JETS (+7) over Chargers: Even if they win out, Bolts essentially need to see the Titans lose at home to the Rams and Jags — and a Buffalo split — to make January. That isn’t an inconceivable scenario, but possibility of L.A. drawing off against Gang Green defense in chilly MetLife is hardly a lock.
Giants (+3½) over CARDI
NALS: With Blaine Gabbert having failed to find the end zone in a fortnight, Drew Stanton assumes yet another starting opportunity. Big Blue no grand bargain at price, but Cards haven’t beaten any foe by more than 10 points all season. BENGALS (+5) over Lions: Detroit has been gross disappointment when making forays away from Ford Field during the season’s colder months for so many years. Bengals have scored two touchdowns in two weeks since Steelers left them for dead — but get Vontaze Burfict, Joe Mixon and Dre Kirkpatrick back from concussions. Fewest turnovers wins?
TITANS (+7) over Rams: L.A. in strong shape, should it win at least one of last two to cop NFC West crown. Shaky Tennessee couldn’t hold off surging 49ers, but would give itself best postseason shot with divisional win over Jacksonville in finale. Still tough to fade Tenny, given value advantage at home. Browns (+6½) over BEARS: Chicago’s best game is to consume clock with running game while getting top try out of underrated defense, which has allowed 30-plus points to just Aaron Rodgers and Carson Wentz. Maximizing power-favorite-role against striving Browns side desperate to get off 0-14 is another story.
PANTHERS (-10) over Buc
caneers: If Carolina and New Orleans win this week, and Falcons beat the Panthers in Week 17, half the NFC will be the troika from the NFC South. Carolina has best chance to pace itself into January advantageously, which makes this troublesome at the number — but this is a bad matchup for Tampa Bay. Falcons (+6) over SAINTS: We’re gambling Julio Jones will hold up physically — but Falcons were clearly looking ahead to this when escaping attempted Tampa Bay ambush. Atlanta is by far the healthier side overall. These two rivals could well generate their third meeting in five weeks in the wild-card round, should the Saints win. Weight of evidence — and value — dictate our stance.
REDSKINS (-3) over Bron
cos: Urge exists to take points late in the season between noncontenders, but must nod to homestanding Redskins. Seems odd Brock Osweiler is expected to start here, with Paxton Lynch to go versus Kansas City. PATRIOTS (-11) over Bills: A federal investigation would be justified if New England somehow cedes AFC home-field this postseason, given their finishing slate (with the Jets visiting in Week 17). Don’t expect Pats to go off here — conserving ammunition — but anticipate ample safety-first final margin. 49ERS (+4) over Jaguars: Jacksonville has improved sharply on the raw power of their strengthened defense and the addition of Leonard Fournette, but has lost focus occasionally when laying points on the road on the heels of huge victories. Here we go again.
COWBOYS (- 5 ) over Seahawks: Dallas greets return of Ezekiel Elliott seeing a narrow path to January, which would begin with this favorite beating fully extended Seattle, then taking out the Carson Wentz-less Eagles. After home humiliation by the Rams, much depends on Seahawks’ mindset.
MONDAY
TEXANS (+9) over Steelers: Vaunted visitors off beyond-bitter home loss to the Pats. Tom Savage’s scary season-ending concussion leaves Texans with T.J. Yates under center. Market makers have been straining to make beaten-up Houston resemble an attractive point-spread prop for a month. Steelers are fairly healthy, as JuJu Smith-Schuster stands in for Antonio Brown.
EAGLES ( - 9) over Raiders: Can the Raiders get any more erratic than they were (excepting the early stages of the second half ) against the Cowboys? Maybe! Even if Vikings don’t get by Green Bay, and Eagles are assured of NFC home-field, Philadelphia is expected to get Nick Foles more reps with starters. LAST WEEK: 5-5-3 SEASON: 100-94-12