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12/26/2006 - New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The NFL has moved this coming Sunday night's game between Green Bay and the Chicago Bears to 8:15 p.m. (et) as part of the flexible scheduling system.
There were other games moved back to later in the afternoon, as the NFL gears up for a frantic finish to the regular season. Incredibly, six teams are fighting for two playoff spots in the AFC and five clubs are battling for the final berth in the NFC.
Also as part of the flex scheduling, the Buffalo Bills at Baltimore Ravens, Miami Dolphins at Indianapolis Colts, and Atlanta Falcons at Philadelphia Eagles games will move to 4:15 p.m. (et). All three of those contests have playoff implications.
Going into the final week, the New York Jets, Cincinnati, Tennessee, Jacksonville, Denver and Kansas City are all battling for the last two playoff spots in the AFC, although the Broncos and Jets control their own destiny.
Meanwhile, in the NFC, the New York Giants, Green Bay, Carolina, Atlanta and St. Louis are tangling for the final playoff spot, but New York holds a decided advantage going into Week 17.
The New Year's Eve battle at Soldier Field between the NFC North rivals could mark the final game for Packers quarterback Brett Favre, who still hasn't announced if he's decided to retire following this season.
The Bears have already clinched the division title and home-field advantage throughout the conference playoffs, but the Packers could know by Sunday night if they're still in the postseason race. One of five teams at 7-8 in the NFC, the Packers need to win their final game, and get help elsewhere, to have a chance.
Considering the Packers were crushed, 26-0 at home by the Bears in the first week of the season, it could be difficult at best for Favre and company to pull out a win, although Green Bay has won its last three games.
Elsewhere in the NFC, the Philadelphia Eagles control their own fortune to win the East following a 23-7 road victory Christmas Day over the Cowboys. The Eagles can win the division with a victory versus the Falcons, or if the Cowboys lose earlier in the day at home to Detroit.
Despite losing six of their last seven games, the Giants could get into the playoffs, likely with just a win over the Redskins. A New York triumph, plus a strength of victory tiebreaker over Green Bay puts the Giants into the playoffs. New York could still get in with a defeat, but only if Green Bay, St. Louis, Atlanta and Carolina all lose.
Most of Sunday's NFC playoff scenarios would be eliminated if the Giants simply win Saturday night. A New York triumph would knock out Carolina, Atlanta and St. Louis.
In the AFC, the Jets, coming off a 13-10 win at Miami Christmas night, can get a wild card berth with a home win over Oakland. If the Jets somehow lose to the 2-13 Raiders, they could still back in with losses from other teams.
Denver can also get a wild card spot with a home win over San Francisco or with a loss from the Chiefs.
That leaves Cincinnati, Jacksonville, Tennessee and Kansas City on the outside looking in. The Bengals need to win at home against Pittsburgh, and get a loss from the Jets to get in. Cincinnati can also make the postseason with a win, combined with loss from Denver and Jacksonville.
The Jaguars and Chiefs play each other in Kansas City, but the winner of that game would have to get losses from three other teams to have a shot at the playoffs.
The Titans, a dangerous team with six straight wins under the superior play of rookie quarterback Vince Young, have to win at home against the AFC East champion Patriots, and then get losses from Cincinnati, Denver and Jacksonville.
Playoff seed positioning is still up for grabs and it'll all be decided from the late afternoon games. At 13-2, AFC West champion San Diego is currently the top seed in the conference. A Chargers win at home against Arizona would secure that No. 1 seed, but a loss, combined with a Baltimore win at home over Buffalo would give the Ravens the top slot.
The AFC South champion Colts, losers in three of their last four games, still can get a first-round bye with a win, combined with a loss by the Ravens.
There are only two games the final weekend with no playoff implications: Cleveland/Houston, and Seattle/Tampa Bay. The Seahawks have already won the NFC West and cannot get a bye. Chicago and New Orleans have locked up first- round passes in the NFC.
<< Eagles run over Cowboys to clinch playoff berth
Irving, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jeff Garcia completed 15-of-23 passes for 238
yards and Brian Westbrook led a clock-controlling ground game with 122 rushing
yards, as the Philadelphia Eagles clinched a playoff berth and gained the NFC
East l
<< Big Unit going back to Diamondbacks?
Newark, NJ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Randy Johnson's days with the New York Yankees
could be numbered.
According to a report in the Newark Star-Ledger, the Yankees are in
discussions with the Diamondbacks to trade Johnson, a five-time
<< Wade thrives, Heat shut down Kobe
Miami, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Dwyane Wade had a spectacular Christmas
afternoon, scoring 40 points, dishing out 11 assists and tying a career-high
with four blocked shots, as the Heat rolled to a 101-85 over the Los Angeles
Lakers.
<< NFL Inactives (Monday, December 25, 2006)
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The following is a list of the players
placed on the inactive squad for this week's NFL games.
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES AT DALLAS COWBOYS, 5:00 P.M. (ET)
Eagles - RB Ryan Moats, G Max Jean-Gilles, T Pat McCoy
Grizzlies, Wizards meet at Verizon Center >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Memphis Grizzlies try and stop a three-game losing
streak tonight when they pay a visit to the Washington Wizards at the Verizon
Center.
Memphis, the NBA's worst team, suffered a 100-97 loss to the Utah Jazz on
Satur
Pistons welcome Nets to The Palace >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Central Division-leading Detroit Pistons aim for
their fifth straight win when they host the New Jersey Nets tonight at The
Palace of Auburn Hills.
Detroit, which owns a two-game lead over Chicago in the division, ha
Bulls try to continue strong play at Minnesota >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Chicago Bulls are on a roll and will visit the
Minnesota Timberwolves this evening at the Target Center.
Chicago is just two games behind Detroit for the lead in the Central Division
and has won 13 of its last 15 game
Bucks start road trip in San Antonio >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Milwaukee Bucks open a three-game road trip tonight
when they take on the San Antonio Spurs at the AT&T Center.
Milwaukee has won a season-high four straight games and posted a 115-104
victory over the New Jersey Nets
BILLS (+10) at Steelers SPORTSBOOK LINES
It's impossible to gauge how a team will react after something like the Steve Everett situation, and it probably doesn't matter. That being said, the Bills are going to lose several games this year where they keep things close but fall short in the end to superior teams. Ben Roethlisberger and company could have a field day against Buffalo's decimated defense, but I like the Bills to cover.
BENGALS (-7) at Browns SPORTSBOOK LINES
All you can ask out of your NFL team is that it has a plan. You may not always agree with it as a fan, but as long as it appears the organization is going in some sort of direction, you have to go with it. Which brings us to the Cleveland Browns. You flip a coin to determine whether Chuck Frye or Derek Anderson should start the preseason opener. You start Frye in Week 1, but pull him in the first half. And then you deal him to the Seahawks for a sixth-round pick? Hmm... the Bengals could get six turnovers again this week.
COLTS (-7) at Titans SPORTSBOOK LINES
Tennessee signed ex-Colts cornerback Nick Harper in the offseason so that should help slow down Peyton Manning. Just ask Jason David and the Saints. Oh wait... One of these weeks, I'm going to learn to not pick against Tennessee, which has won seven of its last eight games. But it's not happening against Indy.
TEXANS (+6.5) at Panthers SPORTSBOOK LINES
Houston's Mario Williams, the first pick in the '06 draft, has more touchdowns than Reggie Bush after one week. Somehow I don't see that lasting. Meanwhile, Carolina bottled up what was expected to be a pretty high-octane offense in St. Louis in Week 1. Could this be the Panthers' defense everyone expected last year? Maybe. This feels like a 20-16 Carolina win.
RAMS (-3) vs. 49ers SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Absolutely love this game. Everyone's favorite pick for this year's surprise team -- the 49ers -- laid an egg on Monday night (not that anyone was watching with the game ending in the middle of the night for those of us on the East Coast). St. Louis wasn't much better, delivering a lackluster effort against the Panthers that included two Steven Jackson fumbles and panic from his fantasy owners. Jackson rebounds this week, and the Rams get their first win.
PACKERS (+1.5) at Giants SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Do you really trust this guy to win an NFL game if Eli Manning can't go? I say no. I'd feel alot better about this Packers team if it had any semblance of a running game, but I still think Green Bay's defense is good enough to give it a 2-0 start.
JAGUARS (-10) vs. Falcons SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Does it scare me to pick Jacksonville to cover a double-digit spread after it scored just 10 points last week against the Titans? Absolutely. But can I bring myself to pick Atlanta under any circumstances? No. Check out this poll on ajc.com. It asks what Atlanta's most urgent deficiency is: offense, defense, specials teams or all of the above. "All of the above" has 57 percent of the votes. Ouch.
SAINTS (-3) at Buccaneers SPORTSBOOKS LINES
I'm picking way too many road teams this week. Oh well. New Orleans has had some time to reflect on its lackluster showing in the opener, and the Buccanneers just aren't a very good football team. Anyone else surprised Tampa Bay hasn't made a move to sign Byron Leftwich? I thought that's what they do.
VIKINGS (+3) at Lions SPORTS BETTING LINES
Run the ball and stop the run. Minnesota can do both, and that will keep them in a lot of games this season. Even though it was only one week, Adrian Peterson looks like he was a steal at No. 7 in last year's draft. Not only will he produce, but Peterson delivers excitement to what otherwise would be one of the league's most boring teams.
DOLPHINS (+3.5) vs. Cowboys SPORTS BETTING LINES
Lost in the Tony Romo lovefest is just how bad the Cowboys' defense was last week. I know they're banged up, but Dallas' 'D' allowed 438 yards to the Giants' offense, and backup running back Derrick Ward averaged 6.8 yards per carry. Meanwhile, Cam Cameron's decision to split carries between Ronnie Brown and Jesse Chatman sounds about as can't-miss as Larry David's plan to show up to Marty Funkhouser's party a night late. Still, gotta go with Miami to cover at home.
SEAHAWKS (-2.5) at Cardinals SPORTS BETTING LINES
I'm probably missing something, but this game seems too easy. Arizona blew Monday night's game against the 49ers in typical Cardinals fashion, and the Seahawks beat Tampa Bay by two touchdowns. Love Seattle in this one.
BRONCOS (-9.5) vs. Raiders SPORTS BETTING LINES
Special teams was a major story line in Week 1. Take a look at the Broncos. They had to rush on to the field to get a Jason Elam field goal as time expired against the Bills. Denver drove into Buffalo territory on eight of 10 drives but came away with just a pair of field goals and a touchdown. Look for more scoring from the Broncos this week against an Oakland defense that gave up 36 points to Detroit in Week 1.
BEARS (-12) vs. Chiefs SPORTS BETTING LINES
Everyone talks about Rex Grossman when dissecting the Bears' offense, but Chicago's quarterback got no help in last week's loss to the Chargers. Meanwhile, Kansas City confirmed what we all thought while watching Hard Knocks: The Chiefs are going to stink this year. It could be a rough first month for Larry Johnson fantasy owners. Kansas City's RB was limited to 43 yards on 10 carries in Week 1, and the Chiefs face the Bears, Vikings and Chargers the next three weeks, all formidable run defenses.
RAVENS (-10) vs. Jets SPORTS BETTING LINES
A big dose of Willis McGahee and a usual sound defensive effort will give the Ravens their first win. According to Football Outsiders, no team in the NFL rushed only three defenders on pass plays last year more than the Jets. And according to my special Jets correspondent Ben Stauber, New York did the same in Week 1. Whoever starts at quarterback for the Ravens should have all day to throw.
PATRIOTS (-3) vs. Chargers
Friends and I were discussing how Bill Belichick goes about paying his $500,000 fine for cheating. Does he just write one check to the NFL? Do you need some sort of clearance to make such a monstrous financial transaction? I guess I shouldn't complain about the security deposit I have to put down on my new apartment. Anyway, two of the league's best teams square off in what should be a good one Sunday night. The Patriots always respond well just when you think they're in trouble. And their offensive attack was the story in Week 1.
Note: Monday night game will be picked Monday. Lines used are from football betting.
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