Playoff scenarios aplenty
Giants-Eagles begins a holiday weekend of games with major meaning
Let’s get ready to rock the holidays. It all starts in Philadelphia tonight and the Giants and Eagles can’t be too disappointed with a short week considering they get the Christmas weekend off.
For New York, the focus is on grabbing its first post-season spot in five seasons — or since it won the 2011 NFL title.
Sure, the Giants (10-4) still could win the NFC East, but they need plenty of help there. A wild card is their most probable avenue.
The Eagles (5-9) saw their season fall apart in late November and they’ve lost five straight.
The Giants are 2½-point favourites over the Eagles. Seems like a small number. Giants, 21-13
Minnesota (+6½) at Green Bay It’s all fallen apart for Vikings just as season is looking up for Pack.
Best Bet: Packers 27-16
Atlanta (-4) at Carolina Panthers want to go out in style.
Upset Special: Panthers, 28-23
San Diego (-6) at Cleveland Dare we? Dare we? Why not? Browns, 20-19
Tennessee (-4) at Jacksonville Jags have new coach. Titans have their eyes on playoffs. Titans, 26-20
Tampa Bay (+3) at New Orleans Saints pretty much derail Bucs’ playoff chances. Saints, 26-24
Miami (+4) at Buffalo If Bills players are in Rex’s corner, they pull this off. Bills, 21-20
Washington (-3½) at Chicago
Bears are hanging tough, but Redskins are desperate. Redskins, 20-17
New York Jets (+16½) at New England
Patriots could sit out Tom Brady and win this. Patriots, 30-10
Indianapolis (+4) at Oakland
Colts showed plenty of grit last week. Raiders have done it all season. Raiders, 26-20
Arizona (+7½) at Seattle
Seahawks can smell No. 2 NFC seed — and they don’t fear Dallas. Seahawks, 24-20
Cincinnati (+2) at Houston
Texans dealing with QB mess, but still can handle Bungles. Texans, 17-13
San Francisco (+4) at Los Angeles
Might be a fun hockey or baseball game. Avert your eyes for this one. Rams, 16-13
Baltimore (+5) at Pittsburgh, Sunday
Christmas feast, Part I: great rivalry, division title up for grabs. Steelers, 24-17
Denver (+4) at Kansas City, Sunday
Christmas feast, Part II: great rivalry, huge playoff implications. Chiefs, 15-13
Detroit (+7½) at Dallas, Monday Cowboys secure NFC home-field advantage throughout. Cowboys, 30-20
Last Week: Against spread (11-5). Straight up: (13-3)
Season Totals: Against spread (110-103-8). Straight up: (136-86-2)
Best Bet: 9-6 against spread, 10-5 straight up.
Upset special: 6-8-1 against spread, 6-9 straight up