NFL MATCHUPS

As the holidays approach, the expanded regular season reaches to grab a chunk of Saturday in addition to the normal Thursday-Sunday-Monday rotation. Add Tuesday to this week, as well.

That schedule has suffered postponements to Monday, and even Tuesday, as the NFL, like the rest of the country, contends with a surge in COVID-19 cases. Last Monday, 37 players tested positive, the league’s highest single-day total since the coronavirus pandemic reached the United States. The outbreaks caused the postponement of three games, not to mention the potential absences of high-impact players who could alter the results of matchups with playoff implications for the teams involved.

Sunday’s marquee game is the potential Aaron Rodgers vs. Lamar Jackson showdown between the Green Bay Packers and the Baltimore Ravens that should show what both teams have left in the tank before playoff runs.

Below is a look at NFL Week 15, with all picks made against the spread.

BROADCAST LOCALLY Cowboys at Giants 11 a.m., Fox

Line: Cowboys -10.5 | Total: 44.5

In a shocking reversal, the Cowboys’ (9-4) offense is now underwhelming while their defense is excelling. Dak Prescott has thrown eight touchdowns and six interceptions in the past six games, a trend that even owner Jerry Jones said is “fair” to characterize as a slump. Offensive lineman Tyron Smith is out with an ankle injury, and running back Ezekiel Elliot is still playing through a knee injury.

Still, Dallas should easily beat the Giants, who will likely be without quarterback Daniel Jones (neck) for a third consecutive game.

Pick: Cowboys -10.5

Bengals at Broncos 2:05 p.m., CBS

Line: Broncos -1.5 | Total: 43.5 At this point, we know the Broncos (7-6) are unbearably average and will beat up on bad teams and lose to good ones. The Bengals (7-6) have shown some up-anddown spurts, too, but have displayed more flashes of talent from their young stars as they continue to grow. Cincinnati pushed the 49ers to overtime last week and nearly won, and that momentum should carry over.

Pick: Bengals +1.5

Packers at Ravens 2:25 p.m., Fox

Line: Packers -4.5 | Total: 43.5 Having vaulted into the NFC’s top seed this week, the Packers (10-3) can put some distance between themselves and the Buccaneers and Cardinals, who are also 10-3, with a win against the Ravens (8-5), who have been one of the most injured teams in the league this season.

Baltimore quarterback Lamar Jackson sprained an ankle last week, but coach John Harbaugh expects him to play. Baltimore is missing its top two cornerbacks, Marcus Peters and Marlon Humphrey, so it needs Jackson to control the clock and cut down his turnovers to keep the ball away from Aaron Rodgers and the Packers’ offense.

Pick: Packers -4.5 Saints at Buccaneers 6:20 p.m., NBC Line: Buccaneers -10.5 | Total: 46.5

Alvin Kamara’s return last week against the Jets lifted the Saints (6-7), who desperately needed their best offensive weapon after he missed four games with a knee injury. But Kamara will likely find little room to run against the Buccaneers (10-3), who allow the third-fewest rushing yards per game (91.2), have won four straight games and are hitting their stride heading into the final leg of the regular season.

Pick: Buccaneers -10.5

Raiders at Browns

3:00 p.m. Monday, NFL Network

Line: Browns -3 | Total: 40.5 This game was postponed from Saturday after the Browns (7-6) placed eight players on the COVID19 list last Tuesday, including two of their best offensive weapons, receiver Jarvis Landry and tight end Austin Hooper, followed by positive tests from quarterback Baker Mayfield and head coach Kevin Stefanski on Wednesday. It is nearly impossible to forecast who will be available as the team deals with an outbreak, but Cleveland should still beat the Raiders (6-7), which has lost five of their past six games.

Pick: Browns -3

Vikings at Bears

6:15 p.m. Monday, ESPN

Line: Vikings -4 | Total: 44 The Bears (4-9) no longer deserve prime time games, yet here we are. The offense is horrible, scoring only 17.8 points per game. Justin Fields’ development has been, well, what you’d expect from a rookie in a bad situation. He’s shown strong glimpses, as in the first-half scoring outburst against the Packers last week, but is completing less than 60 percent of his passes.

The Vikings’ offense is on an upswing in a roller coaster season. Dalvin Cook rushed for more than 200 yards last week and Justin Jefferson has caught at least one touchdown in three of the past four weeks.

Pick: Vikings -4

WFT vs. Eagles

5 p.m. Tuesday, Fox

Line: Eagles -5 | Total: 44.5 This game was moved from Sunday’s early slot with Washington contending with a COVID-19 outbreak. Washington’s (6-7) loss to Dallas last week essentially locked up the NFC East for the Cowboys, and now the Footballers and Eagles (6-7) can scrap for a potential wild-card spot. Washington quarterback Taylor Heinicke (knee) is expected to play, but Terry McLaurin (concussion), the team’s leading receiver and best offensive player, potentially could not. That would be a brutal blow.

Pick: Eagles -5

OTHER GAMES

Titans at Steelers 11 a.m.

Line: Titans -1.5 | Total: 41.5 The spread on this one should probably be larger. Yes, the Titans (9-4) are without running back Derrick Henry (foot) and receiver A.J. Brown (chest), but they have shown that they can still move the ball well on offense — as long as they don’t commit turnovers.

The Steelers (6-6-1), conversely, are inept at stopping the run — they’ve allowed an average of 182 rushing yards over the past three games — and the offensive line must want Ben Roethlisberger to retire even before the season ends. He has taken eight sacks over the past three games.

Pick: Titans -1.5

Panthers at Bills 11 a.m.

Line: Bills -10.5 | Total: 43.5 A slow start doomed them against the Buccaneers last week, but the Bills (7-6) could spot the Panthers (5-8) a touchdown, and Carolina would likely still lose this one. No matter their quarterback — P.J. Walker and Cam Newton have shared snaps since Sam Darnold went down with an injury — the Panthers’ offense has underwhelmed, averaging only 19.8 points per game. Newton has completed only 58.7 percent of his passes since returning as the starter (yuck).

Pick: Bills -10.5

Jets at Dolphins 11 a.m.

Line: Dolphins -8.5 | Total: 42.5 Don’t count the Dolphins (6-7) out of the hunt in the wild AFC. Their postseason chances are teetering at 8 percent, according to the playoff predictor, but if they win out and other teams collapse, there’s still a possibility. A resurgence of the Dolphins’ aggressive, blitz-happy defense and efficient play from quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has Miami on a five-game win streak.

The Jets (3-10) have not been as successful without their top two receivers, Elijah Moore (quad) and Corey Davis (core), giving quarterback Zach Wilson few options in the passing game.

Pick: Dolphins -8.5 Cardinals at Lions 11 a.m.

Line: Cardinals -13.5 | Total: 47.5

Inaccurate passes, turnovers, poor clock management. That sounds like a description for a Lions (1-11-1) game, but those aspects defined how the Cardinals (10-3) lost to the Rams in Week 14.

Arizona is still on top of the NFC West, but slid to the No. 3 seed in the conference. The team will reportedly rest DeAndre Hopkins (knee) for the rest of the regular season before a playoff push. But quarterback Kyler Murray and the Cardinals should still bounce back Sunday because the Lions rank second-to-last in the league in sacks (20) and worked remotely this week while dealing with a COVID-19 outbreak.

Pick: Cardinals -13.5

Texans at Jaguars 11 a.m.

Line: Jaguars -3.5 | Total: 39.5 Both the Jaguars (2-11) and the Texans (2-11) are jostling for draft positioning at this point, and players on those teams who are on expiring contracts are just hoping to put out good tape for potential suitors this offseason. On paper, they may seem evenly matched: Davis Mills, the Texans’ rookie quarterback, snatched back the starting job by merely not being Tyrod Taylor and the Jaguars’ Trevor Lawrence is tied for the league lead in interceptions (14).

But Houston is poised for an “upset” given the disarray in Jacksonville after the firing of first-year coach Urban Meyer on Thursday for a multitude of missteps on and off the field.

Pick: Texans +3.5

Falcons at 49ers 2:05 p.m.

Line: 49ers -9.5 | Total: 46 The formula is out on beating the Falcons (6-7): Cover Kyle Pitts, contain Cordarrelle Patterson and when Matt Ryan hangs onto the ball trying to find an option, sack him.

The 49ers (7-6) have their own version of Patterson — Deebo Samuel — and he’s better. Samuel is tied for fifth in touchdowns from scrimmage (11) and is fifth in total yardage (1,268). He should have fun against Atlanta’s meager defense.

Pick: 49ers -9.5

Seahawks at Rams 5 p.m. Tuesday

Line: Rams -4 | Total: 45 The Rams (9-4) added nine players, including wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., to the COVID-19 list Tuesday after already placing five on the list Monday, causing this game to be postponed from Sunday afternoon. With the team in enhanced mitigation protocols, most work is being done remotely.

The Seahawks (5-8), have reported only one positive coronavirus test this season and have won their past two games, including a game in which they allowed more than 300 passing yards to the lowly Texans. Doing so against a Sean McVay offense won’t produce the same result, though.

Pick: Rams -4