Tennessee has misplaced 5 straight video games and can virtually actually lose this one, however 10.5 factors are quite a bit to provide at residence — particularly contemplating that the Titans are in a dogfight with Jacksonville for the A.F.C. South division. The Titans plan to start out the rookie quarterback Malik Willis, instead of Ryan Tannehill (ankle harm), and could possibly be trying to tread water till going through the Jaguars head-to-head in Week 18. Pick: Titans +10.5
Sunday’s Best Games
Minnesota Vikings (12-3) at Green Bay Packers (7-8), 4:25 p.m., CBS
Line: Packers -3.5 | Total: 47
Against all odds, the Packers are nonetheless alive within the playoff race. Winner of three straight, Green Bay enters Sunday’s sport tied with the Lions and Seahawks and simply outdoors of a wild-card spot. Though the Packers play the ultimate two divisional video games at residence and started the week as favorites on this one, the Vikings are on an inconceivable run of shut wins: Minnesota is 11-0 in one-possession video games this season, essentially the most such wins in N.F.L. historical past.
The Packers are having a tough time stopping the run, and Dalvin Cook has been potent towards them previously. It could be robust to select Green Bay profitable by 4 towards the luckiest group within the N.F.L. at full energy, however the Packers rookie receiver Christian Watson injured his hip final week and is questionable for this sport, so we’re taking the “underdog.” Pick: Vikings +3.5
Miami Dolphins (8-7) at New England Patriots (7-8), 1 p.m., CBS
Line: Patriots -3 | Total: 42
Both of those groups are limping towards the tip of the common season. New England has misplaced 4 of their final 5, and the offense has regressed sufficient that there are rumors of a shake-up coming to Bill Belichick’s workers.
Miami has misplaced 4 in a row, and Coach Mike McDaniel introduced on Wednesday that he deliberate to start out Teddy Bridgewater instead of Tua Tagovailoa, who self reported concussion signs after final week’s loss to the Packers. Miami wants this win to hold onto a wild-card berth, with the Patriots only a sport behind within the A.F.C. East, and the Dolphins can clinch right here. Bridgewater is able to throwing to Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle and may even fare higher than Tagovailoa did towards the press protection previously two weeks. Pick: Dolphins +3
Carolina Panthers (6-9) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-8), 1 p.m., Fox
Line: Buccaneers -3 | Total: 39
The Buccaneers will clinch the N.F.C. South with a win, however they face a Panthers group extremely motivated to maintain that from taking place. Sam Darnold has averaged 8.6 yards per try since Week 12 — a interval during which the group has gone 3-1 — and the Panthers solely turned the ball over as soon as throughout that stretch (in contrast with the Buccaneers’ 11). Despite buying and selling Christian McCaffrey early within the season, Carolina nonetheless has a speeding sport Tampa Bay ought to envy: D’onta Foreman and Chuba Hubbard assist the group put up a mean of 187 speeding yards per sport since Week 12 (the Buccaneers averaged 90 in that stretch).
The Buccaneers have stayed on high of this division by grinding out ugly wins towards dangerous groups, needing miraculous late-game scores to return out on high. If Tampa Bay’s offense performed whole video games the best way they do through the closing two minutes, the Buccaneers might need been Super Bowl contenders. Pick: Panthers +3
Discussion about this post