Entering Week 16, just two playoff spots have been clinched in the AFC (no division titles) with three spots up for grabs in the NFC (but just one division crown remaining).
Odds courtesy of OddsShark.com
Two games again on Saturday this week, starting with the Washington Redskins at Tennessee Titans. Both are alive for a wild-card spot and in their respective divisions, although it’s still unlikely either makes the postseason. Tennessee is a 10-point favorite and covered seven of its past nine at home.
In prime time, the Baltimore Ravens visit the Los Angeles Chargers in what could be a wild-card round preview. The Ravens currently hold down the AFC’s final playoff spot, while the Chargers are assured no worse than a wild-card spot but could be the conference’s No. 1 overall seed as well. Los Angeles is a 4.5-point favorite but has covered just two of seven at home this season.
The Dallas Cowboys try again to clinch the NFC East title and are 7-point home favorites over a Tampa Bay Buccaneers squad playing out the string under a lame-duck head coach. Tampa Bay has lost its past nine road games against teams with a winning record.
Reigning Super Bowl champion Philadelphia is still alive but needs to win out and get some help for a chance to defend that title.
The Eagles were huge upset winners at the Los Angeles Rams in Week 15 behind backup QB Nick Foles and face another good team this week in the visiting Houston Texans, who look to clinch the AFC South. That opened as a pick’em but is now Philly -2, and Foles will start again. Philadelphia is 1-5 straight up in its past six after a victory.
The Rams’ formerly high-powered offense has gone missing on a two-game losing streak, although they still control their destiny for a first-round playoff bye. Los Angeles visits a terrible Arizona Cardinals team on Sunday as a 14-point favorite. The Rams crushed the Cardinals 34-0 earlier this season and have covered the past three in the series.
The Sunday night game is a terrific one as the Kansas City Chiefs visit the Seattle Seahawks in an old AFC West rivalry. Kansas City controls its destiny to be the AFC’s top seed but comes off a stunning home loss to the Chargers in three times blowing 14-point leads. Seattle would clinch a wild-card spot with a victory but is a 2.5-point underdog. Kansas City has covered 11 of its past 15 night games.
