Tag: Week 17

Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor (28) rushes for a touchdown Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, during a game against the Tennessee Titans at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

Top 10 Player Props For NFL Week 17

Posted on | by Field Level Media

With NFL games on Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday this week, Week 17’s Sunday slate only features nine games. With several games like Raiders vs. Saints where both teams are bad, putting money on the traditional betting line is challenging. But it is a great week for NFL player props.

The following are our top 10 player prop picks for Sunday’s NFL games. (Odds are from FanDuel unless otherwise indicated.)

Jets vs. Bills

–Breece Hall, O/U 49.5 Rushing Yards at -113/-113

Hall has gone over this number in six of his last seven games. With rain in the forecast for Buffalo on Sunday, there is a good chance the Jets will focus more on the run. Plus, the more they run, the longer they can keep Josh Allen on the sideline.

Hall ran for a season-high 113 yards on the Bills earlier this year. The Bills have been an average run defense this season, which makes me think Hall will easily surpass 49.5 yards.

Take the OVER.

–James Cook, O/U 77.5 Rushing + Receiving Yards at -114/-114

The Bills have leaned into the run the last couple of weeks, with Cook going for 100-plus in two straight games and three of four. With inclement conditions expected, it would be surprising if they didn’t hand off to Cook early and often this week as well.

He could go over the total just running the ball. But in case he doesn’t break off a long run like he did the last two weeks, he’ll make up the difference with a couple of screen passes.

Take the OVER.

Falcons vs. Commanders

–Bijan Robinson, O/U 83.5 Rushing Yards at -113/-113
–Robinson, O/U 18.5 Rushing Attempts at -132/+102

The best thing Atlanta can do to help Michael Penix Jr. is establish the run, which the Falcons should do anyway with a running back like Robinson. He’s gone for 86 or more yards in six of his last seven games (four in a row). He carried the ball 19-plus times in each of them; in the outlier, he only had 12 carries.

Atlanta will make sure Robinson eats against Washington’s lackluster run defense (29th in the NFL).

Take the OVER on both.

–Michael Penix Jr., O/U 207.5 Passing Yards at -114/-114
–Penix, O/U 29.5 Pass Attempts

The Falcons will try to protect their rookie this week, much like they did last week vs. the Giants. Establishing the run will be the focus of the offense, with enough passing to keep the Commanders’ defense (which happens to be one of the best pass defenses in the league) honest.

Penix had 27 pass attempts last week. Teams have been attempting 28.5 per game on the Commanders this season and 32.3 in the last three. If Cousins was still at QB, I’d expect Atlanta to be closer to 32 attempts than 28 — but not Penix.

They’ll play it safe with Penix again. Take the UNDER for both.

Dolphins vs. Browns

–Tyreek Hill, O/U 49.5 Receiving Yards at -114/-114

It hasn’t been the kind of year we’ve come to expect from Hill, but with all the injury issues Miami has dealt with, it’s not surprising. He’s averaging 55.6 yards per game this season and has exceeded 49.5 yards in three of his last six games.

But the Dolphins are still alive for the playoffs and are facing a Browns defense giving up 157.7 yards per game to wide receivers this season. Other pass-happy teams like the Broncos (Week 13) and Bengals (Week 16) saw their wide receivers combine for 200-plus.

Take the OVER.

Giants vs. Colts

–Jonathan Taylor, O/U 102.5 Rushing Yards at -115/-115 (via DraftKings)
–Taylor O/U 22.5 Rushing Attempts at -110/-110 (via DraftKings)

Taylor carried the ball 29 times for 218 yards last week vs. Tennessee, but 135 yards came on two carries. Expecting similar numbers would be unrealistic.

But as long as the Colts decide to abuse the Giants’ 31st-ranked run defense rather than (try to) establish the pass, good things will happen.

Taylor has had at least 21 attempts each time the Colts have won while he was healthy this season. As bad as the Giants’ run defense is, it makes sense to feed Taylor the ball 25 times.

Take the OVER for both.

Cowboys vs. Eagles

–Saquon Barkley, O/U 111.5 Rushing Yards at -113/-113

With Jalen Hurts out this week, the Eagles will likely focus on establishing the run with Barkley to take pressure off Kenny Pickett. It didn’t result in a win last week against the Commanders, but Washington is a better team than the Cowboys this year.

Dallas has held teams to an average of 89.3 yards over their last three games. But the Eagles are playing at home and have a chance to lock up the division with a win. With Barkley and the defense leading the way, they’ll get the job done.

Take the OVER.

–Field Level Media

Nov 17, 2024; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Quentin Johnston (1) celebrates his touchdown scored against the against the Cincinnati Bengals with quarterback Justin Herbert (10) during the first half at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

Week 17 NFL Capsules

Posted on | by Field Level Media

–Saturday
Los Angeles Chargers (9-6) at New England Patriots (3-12), 1 p.m. ET, NFL Network
No. 1 in the NFL in scoring defense at 18.3 points per game, the Chargers have yet to give up more than 20 points in a road game this season. That’s been accomplished only by five teams in league history, most recently the 2010 Chicago Bears and 2001 Philadelphia Eagles. Turnovers have been a challenge for New England. The Patriots have lost five straight games while breaking in rookie quarterback Drake Maye (14 touchdowns, 10 interceptions). Maye has thrown a touchdown pass in seven straight games to tie Jim Plunkett (1971) for the longest streak by a rookie in franchise history. He has completed 67.6 percent of his passes, just behind the rookie record set by Dak Prescott (67.8) of the Dallas Cowboys in 2016. He also has a pick in seven consecutive games. Chargers QB Justin Herbert has only three interceptions — 18 touchdowns — this season, but two of them came in the past two games. New England is 12-2 all-time as the home team in this matchup.

Denver Broncos (9-6) at Cincinnati Bengals (7-8), 4:30 p.m. ET, NFL Network
Everything is at stake for the Broncos as the finish line to a surprising season approaches. Denver lost the inside track to the wild-card berth to the Chargers last week. But the franchise can still land a playoff berth and 10-win season for the first time since 2015, when Peyton Manning piloted the Super Bowl 50 champions. Denver leads the NFL with 51 sacks and rookie QB Bo Nix has six games with two or more TD passes and no interceptions this season. That’s an impressive feat but Bengals QB Joe Burrow is setting the bar far higher. He leads the NFL with 4,229 passing yards and 39 touchdown passes. He’s the fourth player with 4,000 passing yards and 30 touchdown passes in three of his first five seasons (Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes, Dan Marino). Burrow’s consistency is to be commended. He’s the first player ever to record 250 passing yards and three touchdown passes in seven consecutive games, a streak he can stretch to eight on Saturday. WR Ja’Marr Chase leads the NFL with 108 receptions for 1,510 yards and 16 touchdowns, giving him 45 in his career. Only Randy Moss (53) and Jerry Rice (49) had more in their first four NFL seasons.

Arizona Cardinals (7-8) at Los Angeles Rams (9-6), 8 p.m. ET, NFL Network
Beat the Cardinals and the Rams can celebrate a sixth season with double-digit wins under Sean McVay. But to reach the playoffs for the fourth time in the past five seasons, Los Angeles has to wait for Week 18 and a matchup with the Seahawks. The Rams are cooking defensively, a credit to the production of their young front seven. WR Puka Nacua leads the NFL with 57 receptions since Week 10, with five-plus receptions and 50-plus receiving yards in each of his seven games during the span. The Cardinals lost in OT at Carolina last week to take themselves out of the mix for the postseason. It was Arizona’s third loss in a row on the road, and the Rams beat the Cardinals 26-9 in Los Angeles last season. The Rams have won eight of 10 games since their bye week, when they were 1-4. Kyren Williams has provided support for quarterback Matthew Stafford during the Rams’ 4-0 run in December. Williams, a Pro Bowl selection last season, has a career-high 1,243 yards and 13 rushing touchdowns on 303 carries following his 122-yard game against the Jets last week.

–Sunday
New York Jets (4-11) at Buffalo Bills (12-3), 1 p.m. ET, CBS
The Bills are hoping to get wide receiver Amari Cooper going. Acquired from the Cleveland Browns in October, Cooper has 17 receptions for 241 yards and one touchdown in seven games with Buffalo. He had just one catch for 10 yards last week against the Patriots. Buffalo needs a win to finish 8-0 at home — the Chiefs are also undefeated at home — for the third time in franchise history (1988, 1990). Bills QB Josh Allen has 75 career regular-season wins, tied with Russell Wilson for the most regular-season wins by a quarterback in his first seven seasons in NFL history. There are big numbers on the line for the Jets, but none of them relate to the playoffs. Aaron Rodgers has 499 regular-season TD passes. He’s one away from joining the 500 Club of Tom Brady (649), Drew Brees (571), Peyton Manning (539) and Brett Favre (508). Manning (244 games) is the only player to reach 500 in fewer than 250 career games; Rodgers is playing No. 247 on Sunday. The Jets are 1-5 over their past six games and lost the first matchup between these teams 23-20 in Week 6.

Carolina Panthers (4-11) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-7), 1 p.m. ET, CBS
Carolina put up 36 points and took down the Cardinals last week. The Panthers are playing inspired ball and would be thrilled to continue in the spoiler role by bumping Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers out of the top spot in the NFC South. Mayfield, who started for Carolina to open the 2022 season, found his Pro Bowl form under current Panthers coach Dave Canales, Tampa’s offensive coordinator last season. Mayfield has five games with at least 300 passing yards and multiple TD passes this season. That’s the bar Panthers QB Bryce Young aspires to, but he’s content letting RB Chuba Hubbard carry the offense when necessary. Hubbard has career highs in yards from scrimmage (1,366), rushing yards (1,195) and rushing TDs (10) in 2024. The Buccaneers are trying to bounce back from a costly loss at Dallas. Down two late in the fourth quarter, Buccaneers RB Rachaad White lost a fumble that ended the potential game-winning drive. Mayfield is adamant he wants WR Mike Evans to get to 1,000 yards for the 11th consecutive season. Evans needs 182 yards and has owned Carolina with an average of 140.5 yards in his past four home games against the Panthers.

Dallas Cowboys (7-8) at Philadelphia Eagles (12-3), 1 p.m. ET, FOX
RB Saquon Barkley could carry the load this week with QB concerns for the Eagles. Jalen Hurts (concussion) and Kenny Pickett (ribs) were both hurt in the 36-33 loss to the Washington Commanders last Sunday. That’s only part of what’s different since Dallas was whipped 34-6 by the Eagles on Nov. 10. Even with the Cowboys working their way back toward .500, Dallas subtracted another peak playmaker in WR CeeDee Lamb. Second in the NFL with 101 receptions, Lamb is on the shelf for the rest of the season right alongside QB Dak Prescott. The Eagles are primed to lean on their constant threat in Barkley, who leads the NFL in yards from scrimmage (2,114) and rushing (1,838). With Lamb out, life becomes more difficult for QB Cooper Rush at the controls of the Cowboys’ offense. Rush has guided Dallas to wins in four of the last five games, throwing nine touchdown passes and just one interception. The Eagles’ defense had five takeaways at Washington last week but has a minus-10 turnover margin (28 turnovers, 18 takeaways) while the Cowboys are tied for fifth in the NFL at plus-10 (26 takeaways, 16 turnovers).

Indianapolis Colts (7-8) at New York Giants (2-13), 1 p.m. ET, FOX
Indianapolis is mathematically alive in the playoff hunt but trails the Los Angeles Chargers and Denver Broncos by two games with two contests left. The Chargers and Broncos both have games on Saturday. If both nine-win clubs win, the Colts will be eliminated and miss the playoffs for the fourth straight season. Colts QB Anthony Richardson might be held out if there’s no spoils on the line for Indy, as he’s battling foot and back injuries. A heavier workload suits Jonathan Taylor, who rushed for 218 yards and three scores on 29 carries during last weekend’s 38-30 home win over the Tennessee Titans. New York is in danger of losing an 11th consecutive game behind an offense putting up only 14.3 points per game this season. The Giants are starting Drew Lock at quarterback for the fourth time in the past five games. Lock underwent an MRI on his passing shoulder Monday but no damage was found. He hurt it during Sunday’s 34-7 road loss against the Atlanta Falcons. Lock is 0-3 as a starter this season and has completed just 52.7 percent of his passes. He has one touchdown and four interceptions in 129 attempts.

Tennessee Titans (3-12) at Jacksonville Jaguars (3-12), 1 p.m. ET, CBS
For the second time in 21 days, the Titans and Jaguars square off with a spot in the AFC South cellar — and near the top of the NFL draft order — hanging in the balance. It could be argued that the loser will come out ahead in the long run. After all, that team would enhance its chances to earn the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Mason Rudolph, who threw for 252 yards and two touchdowns in last Sunday’s 38-30 loss at Indianapolis, gets the start over Will Levis for the Titans this week. Rudolph also threw three interceptions, adding to the team’s NFL-high total of 32 turnovers. The Titans’ offensive line has permitted 47 sacks this season — 40 with Levis at the helm. Levis also has thrown 12 interceptions and lost two fumbles, while Rudolph has thrown eight picks and lost a fumble. When the teams met on Dec. 8 in Nashville, Jacksonville notched a 10-6 win, holding Tennessee to 272 total yards and limiting Levis to 168 yards passing. It’s the Jaguars’ only road win of the season. Jacksonville is coming off a 19-14 loss last week in Las Vegas, another three-win team. The defeat moved Jacksonville up to the projected No. 3 overall pick, one spot ahead of the Titans. The Jaguars could be without as many as six usual starters on offense this week.

Las Vegas Raiders (3-12) at New Orleans Saints (5-10), 1 p.m. ET, FOX
Las Vegas hired Antonio Pierce as head coach after the team had an encouraging 5-4 record during his stint as interim head coach last season. Still, the disappointing 2024 season leaves Pierce’s future in question. New Orleans is 3-3 under interim head coach Darren Rizzi, who was promoted when Dennis Allen was fired after a seven-game losing streak this season. The Raiders are expected to start second-year quarterback Aidan O’Connell, who has shared that role with Gardner Minshew and Desmond Ridder. Rizzi earned victories in his first two games in charge and three of the first four, but the team had by far its worst performance under him in a 34-0 road loss to the Green Bay Packers on Monday night. Former Raiders quarterback Derek Carr, who is in his second season in New Orleans, is trying to return from an injury to his left (non-throwing) hand. Rookie fifth-round pick Spencer Rattler, who is 0-4 as a starter and played poorly against the Packers, is more likely to start Sunday. Las Vegas ended a 10-game losing streak by beating the visiting Jacksonville Jaguars 19-14 last week.

Miami Dolphins (7-8) at Cleveland Browns (3-12), 4:05 p.m. ET, CBS
Saturday’s NFL slate could determine whether the Dolphins are playing for more than pride. Miami hopes to have a chance at the playoffs, while the only thing Cleveland can do is find a rare winning feeling in a disappointing season. Expected to contend for a second straight playoff berth, the Browns instead have an outside chance to earn the No. 1 overall pick in April’s NFL Draft. A third starting quarterback of the year, second-year pro Dorian Thompson-Robinson, gets the call with Jameis Winston (shoulder) ailing and Deshaun Watson (Achilles) out for the season. In a 24-6 road loss to the Cincinnati Bengals last week, Thompson-Robinson finished 20 of 34 for 157 yards while tossing two interceptions and absorbing five sacks. Thompson-Robinson, who was limited in practice on Thursday because of a quad issue, wants to do a better job avoiding those outcomes. The Dolphins’ defense could help in that matter as they entered the weekend 26th in sacks (31) and tied for 22nd in interceptions (eight). Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel said he won’t rest players even if the Chargers and Broncos push Miami out of the playoffs on Saturday.

Green Bay (11-4) at Minnesota Vikings (13-2), 4:25 p.m. ET, FOX
There is still a lot on the line for the Vikings and Packers, who are behind the Detroit Lions in the NFC North but competing for playoff position. Free agent signee Sam Darnold is the first quarterback to win 13-plus games in his first season with a team since Dak Prescott with the Cowboys in 2016 and first non-rookie since Peyton Manning with the Broncos in 2012. He’s had immense production from former Packers RB Aaron Jones and All-Pro WR Justin Jefferson (92 receptions for 1,387 yards, 10 TDs). Head coach Kevin O’Connell has 13 wins in two of his first three years with the Vikings — only current Packers coach Matt LaFleur and former 49ers coach George Seifert have done that. Green Bay also has a playoff spot clinched for the fifth time in six seasons under LaFleur. Powered by Jones’ replacement Josh Jacobs (career-high 13 rushing TDs) and QB Jordan Love, the Packers fell short of a furious comeback in the Week 4 meeting. Love had 389 yards and four TDs but was intercepted three times. He also had four total TDs in last season’s win at Minnesota on New Year’s Eve.

Atlanta Falcons (8-7) at Washington Commanders (10-5), 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC
A matchup of top-10 draft picks headlines the “Sunday Night Football” showdown in Week 17. With only one career start under his belt, Falcons QB Michael Penix Jr., the No. 8 overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft, attempts to boost Atlanta’s playoff chances against Commanders QB Jayden Daniels, the No. 2 pick. The Commanders are hunting their first playoff berth since 2020. Washington could have a playoff spot wrapped up if the Panthers beat the Buccaneers on Sunday afternoon. If Tampa Bay wins, Washington can clinch with a win over Atlanta. Atlanta is searching for its third straight victory while Washington has won three in a row and could get to 11 wins for the first time since 1991. Penix won his debut start at home last week, completing 18 of 27 passes (66.7 percent) for 202 yards with an interception and led the Falcons to four scoring drives in a 34-7 home win against the Giants. Daniels is coming off a five-touchdown performance, including the game-winner with six seconds remaining, to lead Washington to an upset win over the visiting Eagles. He passed for 258 yards and ran for 81. Daniels has rushed for a team-high 737 yards along with six touchdowns. Washington entered Week 17 third in rushing (152.7 yards per game) and 16th in passing (220.9 yards per game).

–Field Level Media

Dec 15, 2024; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) throws against the New Orleans Saints during the first half at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Hinton-Imagn Images

Falcons-Commanders flexed to SNF, Week 17 Saturday tripleheader set

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Week 17 game featuring rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels and the Washington Commanders against the visiting Atlanta Falcons has been flexed by the NFL to “Sunday Night Football.”

The Commanders (9-5) have won two games in a row and are close to clinching the first playoff appearance in franchise history since the Washington Football Team lost in the wild-card round in 2020.

The Falcons (7-7) trail the NFC South-leading Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-6) by one game for the division lead.

That game, which will be broadcast on NBC, replaces the previously scheduled contest between the visiting Miami Dolphins (6-8) and Cleveland Browns (3-11). The Dolphins and Browns will now play at 4:05 p.m. on Sunday on CBS.

Also on Tuesday, the NFL announced the schedule for the Week 17 games to be contested on Saturday, Dec. 28.

The Los Angeles Chargers (8-6) will kick off the festivities with a visit the New England Patriots (3-11) at 1 p.m. ET in Foxborough, Mass.

The Denver Broncos (9-5) will visit the Cincinnati Bengals (6-8) at 4:30 p.m. ET, and the Arizona Cardinals (7-7) will challenge the host Los Angeles Rams (8-6) in a key NFC West clash at 8 p.m. ET in Inglewood, Calif.

–Field Level Media

Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) looks to wide receiver Tyreek Hill (10) during the 2022 matchup with the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Week 17 NFL Capsules

Posted on | by Field Level Media

SATURDAY
Detroit Lions (11-4) at Dallas Cowboys (10-5): Cowboys TE Jason Witten’s former backup in Dallas has turned out to be a fine football coach. Dan Campbell and the Lions clinched the NFC North last week by beating the Vikings and draw Minnesota again next week hoping to be in position to capture the lone NFC playoff bye. The Cowboys are alive for the NFC East title and already clinched a playoff spot. But Dallas isn’t feeling great of late with back-to-back losses on the road to the Bills and Dolphins. The Cowboys return home Saturday night where they are 7-0 this season and have scored at least 30 points in all seven. Stops could be hard to come by. Both teams are in the top six in the NFL in total offense and passing.

SUNDAY
Miami Dolphins (11-4) at Baltimore Ravens (12-3): Baltimore would claim the conference’s top seed with a victory in a clash of a Miami offense that leads the NFL in scoring at 30.9 points per game and total offense at 411.5 yards per game against a Ravens defense that allows a league-low 16.3 points per outing. Baltimore’s arrow is pointing up after a Christmas night win over a team many view as the team to beat the NFC, the 49ers. Miami coach Mike McDaniel is a former San Francisco assistant in his second season of running a similar system with the Dolphins. The rout of the 49ers was the Ravens’ seventh victory by 14 or more points this season. Miami beat the Ravens in the past two meetings. Lamar Jackson is back in MVP form. The 2019 MVP has passed for 3,357 yards, 19 touchdowns and seven interceptions while also rushing for 786 yards and five scores this season.

New England Patriots (4-11) at Buffalo Bills (9-6): Speculation about the future of Bill Belichick is rampang as these AFC East rivals square off in New York. Bills head coach Sean McDermott tries to avoid that narrative by steering Buffalo back to the playoffs for the fifth consecutive season. It’s not yet a cinch. Winners in four of their past five games, the Bills are still very much in the thick of the playoff race but can secure a postseason berth as early as Sunday. The Bills have 14 clinching scenarios, all requiring a win or tie. Buffalo would then need help from at least two other teams in each scenario. But one of New England’s four wins this season was Oct. 22 against the Bills. The Patriots have won two of their past three games following a five-game losing streak.

Atlanta Falcons (7-8) at Chicago Bears (6-9): Falcons owner Arthur Blank offered no guarantees on the job status of coach Arthur Smith this month, stating he wants to see how it plays out, referring to the final games of the regular season. Atlanta needs two wins and a lot of help to sneak into the playoffs and stands No. 9 in playoff seeding — with the top seven teams getting in — entering Week 17. Playoff probability measures the Falcons’ chances to reach the postseason at 10 percent. Smith said you’d have to live in “Perth, Australia” not to be aware of all the postseason chatter. A win over the Colts last week kept the postseason conversation alive. The Bears have won three of the past four games and had the fourth in their grasp at Cleveland, a sign Chicago could be rounding into form at this late juncture. Will it be enough for head coach Matt Eberflus and QB Justin Fields to stay in 2024? Both say they’re focused on beating the Falcons and nothing else.

Tennessee Titans (5-10) at Houston Texans (8-7): Rookie quarterbacks returning to health is the top storyline in the AFC South showdown with Houston holding onto hope for a playoff bid in C.J. Stroud’s debut season. The Texans are in a three-way tie with Jacksonville and Indianapolis in the division but are currently eighth in conference seeding, on the outside looking in at the postseason picture. However, should Houston defeat the Titans and Colts over its final two games, it will secure its first playoff berth since the 2019 campaign. The Titans have been eliminated from postseason contention, but they are anxious to get additional looks at Will Levis, who is 3-5 as a starter and was lost to an ankle injury in a 19-16 overtime loss to the Texans two weeks ago. Levis, who did not play last week in a setback against the Seahawks, has passed for 1,792 yards and eight touchdowns against four interceptions in his eight starts.

Las Vegas Raiders (7-8) at Indianapolis Colts (8-7): Interim head coach Antonio Pierce is assembling an impressive resume tape for the full-time position with the Raiders as they head to Indianapolis with a plan to slow down RB Jonathan Taylor. Taylor has three consecutive 100-plus-yard outings against the Raiders and neither team can afford another loss in a tightly packed field of teams chasing the final playoff spots in the AFC. The Raiders are 4-3 under Pierce and upset the Chiefs on Christmas Day. Colts QB Gardner Minshew is on high alert after Las Vegas scored a pair of defensive touchdowns in each of the past two weeks. The Colts entered the week in the final wild-card spot in the AFC despite tumbling 29-10 last week in Atlanta. WR Michael Pittman (concussion, shoulder) is expected back from a one-game absence.

Carolina Panthers (2-13) at Jacksonville Jaguars (8-7): It wasn’t all that long ago that the Jaguars were coming off of a 3-14 season in 2021 and looking for a new head coach. Enter Doug Pederson, with Jacksonville going 9-8 in 2022 to crash the playoffs last January. Jacksonville can inch closer to a repeat appearance, but QB questions have dominated December due to a string of injuries to starter Trevor Lawrence. The Jaguars try to snap a four-game losing streak Sunday and might be breaking in C.J. Beathard in place of Lawrence, who has overcome knee and head injuries to return ahead of schedule and is now fighting a shoulder issue. A Carolina loss would guarantee the Panthers the NFL’s worst record and temporarily the rights to the No. 1 pick in the 2024 draft. But that prized selection is headed to Chicago to complete the trade that brought the franchise rookie quarterback Bryce Young in April. Carolina is in full rebuilding mode and with no head coach in place to oversee the U-turn. Carolina knocked off Atlanta two weeks ago and nearly pulled an upset of Green Bay last week before losing 33-30 on a last-minute field goal.

Los Angeles Rams (8-7) at New York Giants (5-10): Don’t look now but few teams can boast a better second half than the Rams, who nearly upset the Baltimore Ravens and have otherwise won five of the past six to shove their way into the playoff picture. That’s not the case for the Giants, who are undergoing another QB change with Tyrod Taylor set to take the starting role from rookie Tommy DeVito. The Rams climbed out of a 3-6 hole and could clinch a playoff spot in Week 17 with a win and a Seattle loss to Pittsburgh. A more indirect route is a Rams win and a tie in the game between the Vikings and Packers. Those scenarios looked unthinkable when the Rams fell 20-3 to the Green Bay Packers in Week 9 when QB Matthew Stafford was out with a thumb injury. A well-placed bye week came next, followed by Stafford’s high-level play starting in a Week 11 victory over the Seahawks. Over the past six games, he has completed 65.1 percent of his passes for 1,578 yards, 15 touchdowns and two interceptions.

Arizona Cardinals (3-12) at Philadelphia Eagles (11-4): The health of Kyler Murray could be a factor after he missed consecutive practices midweek with an illness, but the Cardinals are optimistic he’ll take the field at Philly. It’s a reunion for the team’s head coaches. At this time last season, Jonathan Gannon was the defensive coordinator for a Philadelphia team that was stumbling ahead of a run to the Super Bowl. Gannon returns as Arizona’s head coach to face a team whose current Super Bowl dreams have diminished this month. The Eagles returned to the win column with an up-and-down, 33-25 victory over the Giants on Monday, but didn’t exactly return to Super Bowl form — two turnovers, nine penalties and a shaky finish after grabbing a 20-3 halftime lead. The Eagles did snap a three-game losing streak and moved a game ahead of the Cowboys in the NFC East. They still have a shot at the No. 1 seed in the NFC and a first-round playoff bye with two more wins and some help.

New Orleans Saints (7-8) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-7): Is there a true contender in the NFC South? The Bucs believe it’s them. Tampa Bay has gotten hot at the right time and has won four games in a row, and it can lock down the top spot in the NFC South with a win. Tampa Bay won its first two games but slid to 4-7 after losing seven of nine before the current winning streak began. The Buccaneers have averaged 28.5 points per game during the winning streak after scoring at least 28 points just once in their first 11 contests. They gained a season-high 452 yards in a Dec. 17 victory at Green Bay and had their fifth-highest total (335 yards) last week against Jacksonville. Tampa Bay holds the tiebreaker against New Orleans and Atlanta, who are tied for second in the division at 7-8. The Buccaneers handed the Saints their most lopsided loss of the season — 26-9 — back in Week 4 in New Orleans.

San Francisco 49ers (11-4) at Washington Commanders (4-11): It might take the entire offseason for the Commanders to figure out what’s next in Washington, which limps into Sunday’s home game with Jacoby Brissett at quarterback amid a six-game losing streak. The playoff-bound 49ers have two games to figure out their direction, including their regular-season finale against the Rams. Wins in both matchups will give San Francisco the top seed in the NFC and a bye into the divisional round of the playoffs. The Niners can also clinch the top seed with a win Sunday, along with a Cowboys win over the Lions on Saturday and a Cardinals win over the Eagles on Sunday. But the 49ers are coming off the kind of jolting, humbling loss at home (33-19 to the Ravens on Monday night), that can leave even a confident team questioning its fitness for the postseason. Brissett has been sharp in relief the last two weeks, completing 18 of 23 passes for 224 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions.

Pittsburgh Steelers (8-7) at Seattle Seahawks (8-7): The Seahawks are clinging to the final NFC playoff spot as they host a Steelers squad that cannot afford a loss as one of five 8-7 AFC teams fighting to get in. Mason Rudolph will start under center for Pittsburgh after throwing for 290 yards and two scores against Cincinnati last week, his first win as a starter since 2019. Kenny Pickett (ankle) has been out since Dec. 3 but was back on the practice field this week for the Steelers, who follow the trip to the Pacific Northwest with a Week 18 showdown against top-seeded Baltimore. Seattle is coming off consecutive 20-17 wins against the Eagles and Titans, which followed a four-game losing streak. Geno Smith returned after missing two games with a groin injury to throw for 227 yards and two TDs against Tennessee, including the game-winner to Colby Parkinson with 57 seconds remaining.

Los Angeles Chargers (5-10) at Denver Broncos (7-8): No team still alive in the AFC playoff picture has odds as dim as Denver’s entering Week 17. Sean Payton turned to Jarrett Stidham and away from Russell Wilson in a must-win scenario against the Chargers. “We’re desperately trying to win,” Payton said on Wednesday. There’s a lot more to it, most of it tied to guaranteed money on Wilson’s contract, based on multiple insider reports. Wilson hasn’t played poorly this season, but the Broncos have lost three of four after a five-game winning streak shoved Denver into the playoff picture. They enter the week No. 12 in the AFC playoff field that will ultimately include just seven teams. The Chargers already have been eliminated and are in the market for a new braintrust for 2024. Stidham started the final two games for the Raiders last season, replacing Derek Carr, who was released and went on to sign with the Saints in the offseason. In his first start as Carr’s replacement late last season, Stidham had 365 passing yards and three touchdowns with two interceptions in a narrow defeat to the 49ers.

Cincinnati Bengals (8-7) at Kansas City Chiefs (9-6): With losses in three of their last four games, the Chiefs aim to regain their composure. Kansas City can clinch a playoff berth and its eighth straight AFC West title with either a win or tie Sunday. The Chiefs also can punch both tickets with a Las Vegas loss or tie against Indianapolis and a Denver loss or tie against the Chargers. Kansas City didn’t do itself any favors with Monday’s 20-14 setback to the Raiders. Patrick Mahomes threw for 235 yards and a touchdown. However, his interception was returned 33 yards for a touchdown by Jack Jones to stake Las Vegas to a 17-7 lead in the second quarter. Frustration was evident as star tight end Travis Kelce threw his helmet on the sideline. Mahomes insists the emotion shows commitment, not controversy. Mahomes has matched his five touchdowns with five interceptions in his last four games. The status of WR Ja’Marr Chase looms large for Cincinnati. Chase sat out last week’s 34-11 setback to the Steelers. That snapped a three-game winning streak for the Bengals, who reside in 10th place in the AFC as one of five 8-7 teams in the conference.

Green Bay Packers (7-8) at Minnesota Vikings (7-8): Longtime division rivals look to remain in the playoff chase Sunday night in a wildcard elimination game of sorts. The Vikings would boost their playoff chances to 49 percent with a win this weekend, according to playoff probability metrics. A loss? The playoff chances for the Vikings plummet to 4 percent. They’ll enter with another QB change (rookie Jaren Hall will start) as the Packers try to resolve a wobbly defense on the fly. Green Bay’s playoff chances are 55 percent with a win — but only 1 percent with a loss. Packers quarterback Jordan Love said players are embracing the stakes of the primetime clash. “We all know what’s in front of us, and we know what we’re capable of,” Love said. “We’re just going to go finish this thing off.” The Packers are coming off a 33-30 road win against the Carolina Panthers in Week 16 courtesy of a last-second field goal. Love threw for two touchdowns and ran for another one in the victory, and Aaron Jones rushed for 127 yards.

–Field Level Media

Dec 25, 2023; Santa Clara, California, USA; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) looks to throw a pass against the San Francisco 49ers in the first quarter at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

Catch a New Year’s Parlay: Dolphins, Niners and Rams in Week 17

Posted on | by Field Level Media

We hit our headliner with the Lions in Week 16 but dropped our Cowboys bet when the Dallas defense gave up a last-second field goal to the Miami Dolphins.

This week, we dare to fade the new MVP favorite and sprinkle in some California flavor for a tasty three-leg parlay.

See how this primary parlay wager developed, along with a bonus play and a player prop below.

THE HEADLINER

San Francisco 49ers at Washington Commanders, 1 p.m. ET, 49ers -11

Los Angeles Rams at New York Giants, 1 p.m. ET, Rams -6

Miami Dolphins at Baltimore Ravens, 4:25 p.m. ET, Ravens -3.5

(DraftKings)

Big, big win by the Baltimore Ravens on Christmas night. No doubt about it.

Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson leapfrogged erstwhile MVP favorite Brock Purdy and is atop the leaderboard for the spotlight NFL award.

Jackson must first deal with a form of Kryptonite: His team is a home favorite.

According to Action Network data, Jackson is 14-23 against the spread as a home favorite. Over the past 20 years, he ranks 211th out of 217 quarterbacks against the spread as home favorite.

The Ravens are at home — and favored — against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday.

Baltimore’s tough-guy linebacker Patrick Queen offered the Dolphins a bit of motivation this week, saying Miami’s offense uses “pretty stuff … gimmick stuff” and talking about the Ravens’ mindset “to come out and just hit people in the mouth.”

Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel won’t have any trouble convincing his team to play hard.

“There’s always going to be something that you have to prove,” McDaniel said Wednesday. “A great thing about this profession … is you get an opportunity to define yourself every single game.”

We’ll boost the number to +10.5 and take Miami. To ensure decent value, we’ll add two legs and adjust those spreads, too.

First, the 49ers are in a “get right” game on the East Coast against the spiraling Washington Commanders. If we move the number from 11 down to “even,” we create a nice cushion.

San Francisco can’t coast just yet if it hopes to secure the top NFC seed and a first-round playoff bye.

To make this a plus-money parlay, we need the Rams.

LA is on the road as six-point favorites against the Giants. We secured a seat on the LA bandwagon weeks ago as the Rams secured better health and a great shot at the playoffs.

It’s Tyrod Taylor – not Tommy DeVito – at quarterback for New York but he’s not going to lift the Giants against LA, which certainly needs to win. And that’s the LA leg: the Rams to win the game (no point spread to cover).

The bet: Adjusted-line, three-team parlay.

Dolphins +10.5
49ers moneyline
Rams moneyline
(+102 at DraftKings.)

THEY SAID IT

“I believe we play better under pressure. I don’t think anybody plays like us. We just need to keep playing that way and keep playing the Raven way.”

— Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson.

BONUS PLAY

Patriots at Bills, 1 p.m. ET

The line: Bills -13.5 (FanDuel).

Buffalo survived its lookahead game against the Los Angeles Chargers last week in a forgivable performance in the wake of the Bills’ pasting of the Dallas Cowboys in Week 15.

But the defense is still addled by injury and ineffectiveness. The offense remains a revival in progress with the Josh Allen-Stefon Diggs combo the most troublesome for Buffalo fans.

Diggs, undeniably a top pass-catching talent in the league, has failed to reach 50 yards receiving in five of the past six games.

The sputtering nature of the Bills offense now requires Allen – and running back James Cook – to contribute strongly on the ground.

The Patriots defense has not been the problem in New England this season and ranks among the top 10 in yards per drive allowed in 2023.

QB Bailey Zappe and the Pats’ offense found a couple of things that worked last week and could do just enough to rack up 14 or more points.

This betting number appears too big for a game in which the pressure lies squarely on the Bills.

The play: Patriots +13.5 (FanDuel).

PROP CORNER

This Rams road game at New York is a business trip, and the company leaders are primed to return a nice payout if you invest in their performance.

Veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford provides the calm confidence needed in a game that carries some urgency.

The benefactors will be running back Kyren Williams and veteran receiver Cooper Kupp, who watched teammate Puka Nacua have a huge day last week.

It’s Kupp’s turn to show he still has the tools of a top target for Stafford.

Prop play: Three-leg adjusted parlay.

K. Williams 70+ rushing yards
C. Kupp 4+ receptions
C. Kupp 50+ receiving yards.
(-107 at FanDuel)

–Field Level Media

Dec 24, 2023; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields (1) looks to pass the ball against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports

Bears, Justin Fields fighting to finish fledgling Falcons

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Offseason narratives began weeks ago surrounding the Chicago Bears and where quarterback Justin Fields might fit in 2024.

One speculative destination in the Fields rumor mill is Atlanta, where the 2021 first-round pick could be viewed as the answer to ongoing quarterback concerns and a possible franchise reset.

The Falcons will have a chance to get a close look at Fields on Sunday when they face host Chicago.

“I’ve got too much to focus on today to worry about tomorrow,” Fields said Wednesday of the lively discussions about where he’ll play next season. “Shoot, I don’t know. You all don’t know. Nobody knows. Whatever happens, happens. We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it.”

Falcons owner Arthur Blank offered no guarantees on the job status of coach Arthur Smith this month, stating he wants to see how it plays out, referring to the final games of the regular season. Atlanta (7-8) needs two wins and a lot of help to sneak into the playoffs and stands No. 9 in playoff seeding — with the top seven teams getting into the playoffs — entering Week 17.

Playoff probability measures the Falcons’ chances to reach the postseason at 10 percent. Smith said you’d have to live in “Perth, Australia” not to be aware of all the postseason chatter.

“The reality is, you start to get caught up, it’s just a waste of time. For players and coaches, nothing matters but Chicago. If we don’t play well in Chicago, nothing else matters,” Smith said Wednesday.

Atlanta quarterback Taylor Heinicke (ankle) and four of his starting offensive linemen — Jake Matthews (knee), Kaleb McGary (knee), Drew Dalman (ankle) and Chris Lindstrom (ankle) — were limited during Wednesday’s practice. Heinicke said he would be ready to roll Sunday as the Falcons try to carry over the momentum of beating the Indianapolis Colts on Christmas Eve.

Smith endorsed Heinicke’s return to the starting lineup over Desmond Ridder last week due to Ridder’s chronic turnover issues. Atlanta has 21 giveaways in 15 games, four fewer than Chicago (25).

But the Bears (6-9) have won three of their past four games and had numerous chances to pull out a victory in the lone defeat (20-17 at Cleveland).

Like Smith, Chicago counterpart Matt Eberflus understands there are no guarantees for NFL head coaches if they aren’t producing wins. In that way, Eberflus said he relates to Fields’ approach of being concerned solely with focusing on the here and now.

The Bears have less than a one percent chance to make the playoffs, needing a Rubik’s Cube number of turns in their favor to keep going after the Week 18 finale with the Green Bay Packers.

“You’re always going to get that,” Eberflus said of rumors and suggestions about replacing starting quarterbacks and head coaches. “So you got to keep your eyes forward and your feet where they are. That’s the most important thing. You got to focus on the here and now and improving every single day.

“When you do that, you’re going to get better, and you’re going to be able to stay locked in on your job.”

Bears guard Teven Jenkins cleared concussion protocol and returned to practice Wednesday. Tight end Cole Kmet (knee) and wide receiver Darnell Mooney (concussion) didn’t practice.

Chicago might not be worried about playoff travel plans, but the clock will begin ticking on general manager Ryan Poles and Eberflus the moment Week 18 games go final. The Bears are one Carolina Panthers loss away from securing the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

As per annual tradition, the top prospects include multiple quarterbacks, and Poles said in an on-the-record interview last spring that he wanted this pick as a security measure in case the Bears weren’t fully convinced Fields was the franchise’s answer at the position.

That’s because part of the decision to stick with Fields likely means an all-in type of pay raise with 2024 completing his rookie base contract.

For now, Fields isn’t concerned with the variables.

“I’m focused on Sunday and playing this Atlanta team,” Fields said.

–Field Level Media

Dec 26, 2021; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Brandon Powell (19) reacts with defensive end Mike Hoecht (96) against the Minnesota Vikings during the third quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports

NFL moves kickoff times for two Week 17 games

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The NFL on Monday announced time changes for two games in Week 17.

The league flip-flopped the Los Angeles Rams-Baltimore and Carolina-New Orleans games, moving Rams-Ravens to 1 p.m. ET while making Panthers-Saints the 4:25 p.m. ET contest. Both games will remain on FOX.

Both games have playoff implications, with the Ravens (8-7) and Rams (11-4) both fighting to win their respective divisions. The Saints are trying to fight their way into the playoff picture while the Panthers have been eliminated.

The Saints (7-7) play the Miami Dolphins on Monday night in the finale of Week 16.

–Field Level Media

Aug 13, 2021; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Arizona Cardinals offensive lineman Koda Martin (60) in the second half against the Dallas Cowboys at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Billy Hardiman-USA TODAY Sports

NFL moves Week 17 Cards-Cowboys game to later kickoff

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The NFL on Thursday pushed the Jan. 2 game between current NFC division leaders Dallas and Arizona to a later kickoff.

The Cowboys will now play the Cardinals in Arlington, Texas, at 4:25 p.m. ET instead of 1 p.m. ET.

The Week 17 contest will be televised on FOX and will likely be the network’s national game of the week.

The only other change to the Week 17 schedule involved the Las Vegas Raiders’ game against the Colts in Indianapolis. The contest is still scheduled for 1 p.m. ET but will now be televised on FOX.

–Field Level Media

Jan 12, 2020; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers reacts against the Seattle Seahawks in the fourth quarter of a NFC Divisional Round playoff football game at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Ten teams still vying for last 7 playoff spots

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Heading into the final week of the NFL’s regular-season, half of the 14 playoff spots remain waiting to be pounced on.

Seven teams have punched their playoff tickets and 15 teams have been eliminated, which leaves 10 teams still wrestling for the remaining seven spots (two division titles, and five wild-card positions). Some, certainly, have a clearer path than others.

In the NFC, the Green Bay Packers (12-3, North), New Orleans Saints (11-4, South), and Seattle Seahawks (11-4, West) have clinched division titles, and the Packers can secure the NFC’s lone playoff bye with a victory over the Chicago Bears (8-7) on Sunday.

But if Green Bay falters the Saints can leapfrog them by beating the Carolina Panthers (5-10), and should both leaders lose, the Seahawks could vault past both by beating the San Francisco 49ers (6-9).

The Tampa Bay Bucs (10-5), meantime, are assured of one of the three wild-card spots.

The NFC East remains in control of the Washington Football Team (6-9), which merely needs to beat the Philadelphia Eagles (4-10-1) on Sunday. Should Washington lose, the winner of the Dallas Cowboys (6-9) vs. New York Giants (5-10) would take the division.

The NFC wild-card race, is down to three teams and two games: The Los Angeles Rams (9-6) face the Arizona Cardinals (8-7), with the winner reaching the playoffs, while the Chicago Bears (8-7) can advance by beating the Packers, or even if they lose the Bears advance if the Cardinals lose to the Rams.

The Rams make the playoffs by either winning OR the Bears losing.

In the AFC, the Kansas City Chiefs (14-1) have clinched the West and the conference’s No. 1 seed, which means they get the lone AFC bye in this season’s extended playoff field of seven teams per conference.

The Pittsburgh Steelers (12-3, North) and Buffalo Bills (11-3, East) have clinched their division titles. In the AFC South, the Tennessee Titans can capture the division by winning or if the Indianapolis Colts lose; the Colts capture the division only if they win and the Titans lose.

With five teams (including the Titans and Colts) bunched at 10-5 heading into the weekend, there is room for only four of them in the playoffs.

Of those five teams, four of them can play their way into the AFC wildcard spots with a victory on Sunday: The Titans, Miami Dolphins, Baltimore Ravens, and Cleveland Browns. The Colts, however, need to win and get help with at least one of those other 10-5 teams losing or in some cases tying.

Here is the pecking order in the AFC Wildcard race:

The Browns need to beat Pittsburgh (12-3) OR a loss by the Colts OR a loss by the Titans plus wins for Miami and Baltimore.

The Titans need to beat the Texans (4-11) OR any loss by Baltimore, Indianapolis, or Miami.

The Ravens need to beat Cincinnati (4-10-1) OR a loss by Cleveland or Indianapolis.

The Dolphins need to beat the Bills (11-3) OR a loss by Ravens, Browns, or Colts.

The Colts need to beat the Jaguars (1-14) AND a loss by Titans, Ravens, Browns, or Dolphins.

–Field Level Media