Playoffs in reach for Colts, Raiders

The Indianapolis Colts refused to concede anything after losing four of their first five games. Neither did the Las Vegas Raiders amid an embarrassing email scandal and a midseason coaching change. Instead, both teams fought back and now find themselves in a position to help clear the muddled AFC playoff picture. The calculation is simple: — If the Raiders win their final two games, they’ll reach the postseason for the second time in 19 years. — If the Colts win Sunday, they’re in.

LAS VEGAS (8-7) at INDIANAPOLIS (9-6)

Sunday, 1 p.m. EST, Fox

BETTING LINE: Colts by 6.5.

AGAINST THE SPREAD: Las Vegas 6-9; Indianapolis 10-5. SERIES RECORD: Raiders lead 10-9.

LAST MEETING: Colts beat Raiders 44-27 on Dec. 13, 2020. LAST WEEK: Raiders beat Broncos 17-13 on Dec. 26; Colts beat Cardinals 22-16 on Dec. 25.

KEY MATCHUP: Raiders’ defense vs. Colts RB Jonathan Taylor. The NFL’s leading rusher has been getting a seemingly heavier workload each week. If Wentz doesn’t play, expect Las Vegas to gang up against the run.

FANTASY TIP: Indy defense. Taylor is a tempting pick, as usual, especially against a defense ranked No. 19 against the run. But Carr and the Raiders have struggled mightily to protect the ball,

especially recently. Expect the Colts to be hungry for takeaways after the short-handed unit forced none last week.

PHILADELPHIA (8-7) at WASHINGTON (6-9)

Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, Fox

BETTING LINE: Eagles by 3.5.

AGAINST THE SPREAD: Eagles 8-6-1; Washington 5-10. SERIES RECORD: Washington leads 88-80-5.

LAST MEETING: Eagles beat Washington 27-17 on Dec. 21. LAST WEEK: Eagles beat Giants 34-10; Washington lost to Cowboys 56-14.

KEY MATCHUP: Philadelphia’s running game against Washington’s front seven. The Eagles rushed for 238 yards in the team’s last meeting, and even with injuries, that’s as much about the offensive line and holes in Washington’s defense than anything else. FANTASY TIP: Hurts against Washington’s 30th-ranked passing defense could win someone a championship.

MIAMI (8-7) at TENNESSEE (10-5)

Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS

BETTING LINE: Titans by 3.5.

AGAINST THE SPREAD: Dolphins 8-7; Titans 9-6.

SERIES RECORD: Dolphins lead 21-17.

LAST MEETING: Dolphins beat Titans 27-20 on Sept. 9, 2018. LAST WEEK: Dolphins beat Saints 20-3; Titans beat 49ers 20-17. KEY MATCHUP: The Dolphins’ defensive front against the Titans’ offensive line. Tannehill has been sacked 45 times, secondmost in the NFL. Miami leads the league with those 45 sacks, 33 over the past seven games, and quarterback hits (116). FANTASY TIP: Brown. The Titans third-year receiver had a careerhigh 11 catches last week for 145 yards and a TD hours after coming

off injured reserve. Eight of his catches came on third downs, with six for first downs. He leads Tennessee with 760 yards receiving.

JACKSONVILLE (2-13) at NEW ENGLAND (9-6)

Sunday, 1 p.m. EST, CBS

BETTING LINE: Patriots by 15.5.

AGAINST THE SPREAD: Jaguars 4-11; New England 9-6. SERIES RECORD: Patriots lead 11-2.

LAST MEETING: Jaguars beat Patriots 31-20 on Sept. 16, 2018. LAST WEEK: Jaguars lost to Jets 26-21; Patriots lost 33-21 to Bills. KEY MATCHUP: Lawrence vs. New England’s secondary. Lawrence’s rough rookie season could find a new pit as he prepares to face a defense allowing only 193.7 yards per game through

the air. The unit is also looking to bounce back after being beaten up by Buffalo’s Josh Allen last week.

FANTASY TIP: Patriots cornerback J.C. Jackson enters the week second in the NFL with seven interceptions behind only Dallas’

Trevon Diggs with 11. Lawrence has gone more than two games without throwing a pick only once this season.

N.Y. GIANTS (4-11) at CHICAGO (5-10)

Sunday, 1 p.m. EST, CBS.

BETTING LINE: Bears by 6.

AGAINST THE SPREAD: Giants 6-9; Bears 5-9-1.

SERIES RECORD: Bears lead 35-24-2.

LAST MEETING: Bears beat Giants 17-13, Sept. 20, 2020.

LAST WEEK: Giants lost 34-10 at Philadelphia; Bears won 25-24 at Seattle.

KEY MATCHUP: Bears OLB Robert Quinn vs. Giants LT Andrew Thomas. Quinn ranks second in the NFL with 17 sacks and is closing in on Hall of Famer Richard Dent’s club record of 17.5 in 1984.

FANTASY TIP: Bears RB David Montgomery has been active in the run and pass games in recent weeks. He has combined for 20 or more rushes and receptions in four of the past five games and has run for two TDs in that span. The Giants have had their

difficulties defending the run.

ATLANTA (7-8) at BUFFALO (9-6) Sunday, 1 p.m. EST, Fox

BETTING LINE: Buffalo by 14.5.

AGAINST THE SPREAD: Atlanta 6-9, Buffalo 9-6.

SERIES RECORD: Falcons lead 7-5.

LAST MEETING: Bills beat Falcons 23-17 on Oct. 1, 2017.

LAST WEEK: Falcons beat Lions 20-16; Bills beat Patriots 33-21. KEY MATCHUP: Bills LB Matt Milano vs. Falcons TE Kyle Pitts. The Bills have limited opponents’ top tight ends to scoring three TDs this season. And only Tampa Bay’s Rob Gronkowski and Jacksonville’s Dan Arnold have had 60 or more yards receiving. Pitts has had 60 or more yards receiving eight times and coming off a six-catch, 102-yard outing against Detroit.

FANTASY TIP: With his entire receiving group set to return, Allen is three TDs passing from matching the team’s single-season

record of 37 he set last season.

KANSAS CITY (11-4) at CINCINNATI (9-6) Sunday, 1 p.m. EST, CBS

OPENING LINE: Chiefs by 5.5.

AGAINST THE SPREAD: Chiefs 8-7; Bengals 8-7.

SERIES RECORD: Bengals lead 15-14.

LAST MEETING: Chiefs beat Bengals 45-10 on Oct. 21, 2018. LAST WEEK: Chiefs beat Steelers 36-10; Bengals beat Ravens 41-21.

KEY MATCHUP: Chiefs RBs Darrel Williams and Derrick Gore against the Bengals’ run defense, which is fourth in the league allowing 92.1 yards per game. The Chiefs are counting on Williams and Gore without Clyde Edwards-Helaire, who hurt his collarbone last week.

FANTASY TIP: You’d be foolish to sit Bengals WRs Chase and

Tee Higgins in the fantasy playoffs, but there’s reason to be nervous about them and Burrow. The Chiefs haven’t allowed more than 250 yards passing in a game since Oct. 24 against Tennessee, and they haven’t surrendered more than 300 yards since

Oct. 10 against Buffalo.

TAMPA BAY (11-4) at N.Y. JETS (4-11)

Sunday, 1 p.m. EST, Fox

BETTING LINE: Buccaneers by 13.

AGAINST THE SPREAD: Buccaneers 8-7; Jets 5-10.

SERIES RECORD: Jets lead 10-2.

LAST MEETING: Buccaneers beat Jets 15-10 on Nov. 12, 2017. LAST WEEK: Buccaneers beat Panthers 32-6; Jets beat Jaguars 26-21. KEY MATCHUP: Brady vs. Jets secondary. Tampa Bay has the No. 1 passing offense and, even without a few key receivers, will try to take advantage of a young and inexperienced New York secondary that had two new starters at safety last week and might be without top cornerback Bryce Hall (COVID-19 list). FANTASY TIP: With Buccaneers star receivers Evans and Chris

Godwin out, Brown figures to have another busy afternoon.

L.A. RAMS (11-4) at BALTIMORE (8-7)

Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, Fox.

BETTING LINE: Rams by 3.5.

AGAINST THE SPREAD: Rams 8-7; Ravens 7-8.

SERIES RECORD: Ravens lead 5-2.

LAST MEETING: Ravens beat Rams 45-6 on Nov. 25, 2019. LAST WEEK: Rams beat Vikings 30-23; Ravens lost to Bengals 41-21. KEY MATCHUP: The Los Angeles secondary vs. whoever Baltimore’s QB is. Lamar Jackson could be back for the Ravens after missing two games with an ankle injury. Baltimore backup Tyler Huntley also returned from the COVID-19 list this week. The Ravens allowed 72 points over the past two weeks, and it’s likely they’ll have a hard time stopping the Rams as well, so Baltimore may need to score quite a bit to win.

FANTASY TIP: It’s a promising week to have Kupp, and given the state of Baltimore’s secondary, Odell Beckham Jr. could be due

for a big day as well.

HOUSTON (4-11) at SAN FRANCISCO (8-7) Sunday, 4:05 p.m. EST, CBS

BETTING LINE: 49ers by 13.5.

AGAINST THE SPREAD: Houston 7-8; San Francisco 7-8. SERIES RECORD: 49ers lead 3-1.

LAST MEETING: 49ers beat Texans 26-26, Dec. 10, 2017.

LAST WEEK: Texans beat Chargers 41-29; 49ers lost to Titans 20-17. KEY MATCHUP: Niners DE Nick Bosa vs Texans OL. Houston has struggled in pass protection this season and will have to contend with one of the best rushers in Bosa, who is tied for third in the NFL with 15 sacks.

FANTASY TIP: With Mitchell and Sermon likely set to return this week, the Niners could have a crowded running back room with Jeff Wilson Jr. also healthy and Samuel likely to steal some carries. That

might make it difficult to count on any of the backs for a big game. DENVER (7-8) at L.A. CHARGERS (8-7) Sunday, 4:05 p.m. EST, FOX

BETTING LINE: Chargers by 6.

AGAINST THE SPREAD: Denver 7-8; Los Angeles 7-8. SERIES RECORD: Broncos lead 70-53-1.

LAST MEETING: Broncos beat Chargers 28-13 on Nov. 28. LAST WEEK: Broncos lost to Raiders 17-13; Chargers lost to Texans 41-29.

KEY MATCHUP: Broncos RBs Melvin Gordon III and Javonte Williams vs. Chargers’ front seven. Denver could not get its ground game going against Las Vegas, getting 18 yards on 16 carries, and putting undue stress on QB Drew Lock to carry the offense. They can’t have it happen again facing a Los Angeles defense that has struggled to stop the run all season, including getting gashed for 189 yards by the lowly Texans.

FANTASY TIP: With Denver having allowed just three touchdown passes in its past four games, it might be worth considering other QB options besides Herbert. In three games against the Broncos, he has thrown six touchdowns against four interceptions and taken seven sacks.

ARIZONA (10-5) at DALLAS (11-4)

Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET, Fox

BETTING LINE: Cowboys by 5.5.

AGAINST THE SPREAD: Cardinals 9-6; Cowboys 12-3.

SERIES RECORD: Cowboys lead 56-33-1.

LAST MEETING: Cardinals beat Cowboys 38-10 on Oct. 19, 2020.

LAST WEEK: Cardinals lost to Colts 22-16; Cowboys beat Washington 56-14.

KEY MATCHUP: Cardinals QB Kyler Murray vs. Cowboys LB Micah Parsons. The Dallas rookie is the most logical choice to track the quick and speedy Murray because Parsons’ speed is a big reason he’s just 1.5 sacks from the NFL rookie record of 14.5 by Jevon Kearse for Tennessee in 1999. Sacks won’t necessarily be the focus against Murray as much as limiting his big gains as a runner. FANTASY TIP: Cowboys RB Ezekiel Elliott might believe he has something to prove. Last season’s loss to Arizona in Week 6 was the

first game after Prescott’s season-ending ankle injury, and the only time in Elliott’s career he lost two fumbles in the same game.

CAROLINA (5-10) at NEW ORLEANS (7-8)

Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET, Fox

BETTING LINE: Saints by 6.5.

AGAINST THE SPREAD: Panthers 5-10; Saints 7-8.

SERIES RECORD: Saints lead 28-26.

LAST MEETING: Panthers beat Saints 26-7 on Sept. 19, 2021. LAST WEEK: Panthers lost to Buccaneers 32-6; Saints lost to Dolphins 20-3.

KEY MATCHUP: Saints RB Alvin Kamara vs. the Panthers’ front

seven. Kamara was held to 5 yards rushing on eight carries and had four receptions for 25 yards in the last meeting. But Kamara remains the Saints’ best offensive player and the Carolina defense has struggled mightily in the second half of the season. FANTASY TIP: With the Saints’ defense playing well lately, chances are Kamara will be among the most productive offensive players in the game against a Carolina defense that has

been good against the pass but has struggled against the run.

DETROIT (2-12-1) at SEATTLE (5-10)

Sunday, 4:25 p.m. EST, Fox

OPENING LINE: Seahawks by 7.

AGAINST THE SPREAD: Lions 9-5-1; Seahawks 7-8.

SERIES RECORD: Seahawks lead 10-5.

LAST MEETING: Seahawks beat Lions 28-14, Oct. 28, 2018. LAST WEEK: Lions lost to Falcons 20-16; Seahawks lost to Bears 25-24.

KEY MATCHUP: One thing the Lions have done well recently is run the ball. Detroit has at least 100 yards rushing in six of the past seven games and should have leading rusher D’Andre Swift back. Seattle’s been stingy against the run, holding four of its past six opponents under 100 yards rushing.

FANTASY TIP: RB Rashaad Penny is making a strong argument to be part of the Seahawks’ plans going into next season. He’s posted 100-yard rushing games in two of the past three weeks.

MINNESOTA (7-8) at GREEN BAY (12-3) Sunday, 8:20 p.m. EST, NBC

OPENING LINE: Packers by 6.5.

AGAINST THE SPREAD: Vikings 8-7; Packers 11-4.

SERIES RECORD: Packers lead 63-56-3.

LAST MEETING: Vikings beat Packers 34-31 on Nov. 21.

LAST WEEK: Vikings lost 30-23 at home to Rams; Packers beat Cleveland Browns 24-22 at home.

KEY MATCHUP: Vikings RB Dalvin Cook vs. Packers’ run defense: Cook has been activated from the reserve/COVID-19 list and should play Sunday night after sitting out the Rams game. The last time the Vikings visited Lambeau Field, Cook rushed for 163 yards and two touchdowns and caught three passes for 63 yards and two more scores in a 28-22 victory over the Packers.

FANTASY TIP: The recent track records of Adams and Jefferson in this series suggest both will have big games, but those guys are must-start players any week. Assuming Packers WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling is back from the reserve/COVID-19 list in

time to play Sunday night, he might be worth starting.

CLEVELAND (7-8) at PITTSBURGH (7-7-1) Monday, 8:`15 p.m. ET, ESPN

BETTING LINE: Browns by 3.

AGAINST THE SPREAD: Browns 7-8; Steelers 6-9.

SERIES RECORD: Steelers lead 77-62-1.

LAST MEETING: Steelers beat Browns 15-10 on Oct. 31.

LAST WEEK: Browns lost to Packers 24-22; Steelers lost to Chiefs 36-10.

KEY MATCHUP: Cleveland’s offensive line against Pittsburgh’s defensive front seven. The Steelers kept Browns star RB Nick

Chubb and company relatively in check in October, holding Cleveland to 97 yards on the ground. It’s been downhill ever since for the NFL’s worst rush defense. With Mayfield coming off a four-pick performance, Cleveland might be better served to just have Mayfield hand the ball to Chubb and let him go to work against a defense that’s allowed 178.9 yards on the ground over its last eight games.

FANTASY TIP: Chubb figures to get the ball early and often against Pittsburgh’s battered defensive front. After only getting 16 carries in the loss in October, expect Chubb to have a far heavier workload as both teams potentially fight for their postseason lives.

— All betting lines are according to FanDuel SportsBook

— The Associated Press

IfLasVegaswinsitsnexttwogamestheRaiderswillclinchaspotinthepostseason. (APPhoto/RickScuteri)