Yes, it’s not Friday. It’s Thursday. If there’s one thing I do know and feel confident writing about is what day of the week it is. But as you know Friday is Christmas and while I won’t say I’ll be taking Christmas Day completely off, you probably will so if I want you to read this (and I do) it goes up today.
Thursday Night
San Diego at Oakland (-5.5)
We kick our weekend off with a game that’s mainly interesting because both these teams want to get the hell out of the cities they’re in and play in Los Angeles next season. The Chargers seem to be as good as gone but the Raiders will probably need to work things out with mom and dad in Oakland. Raiders 28, Chargers 24
Saturday Night
Washington at Philadelphia (-3)
Neither team has a winning record and neither team has been eliminated from the NFC playoff picture. One of those facts will change Saturday night. Redskins 31, Eagles 28
Sunday
Early Games
New England at New York Jets (+3)
All the Jets have done is win games over the last month and for their trouble they’ve been knocked out of the last wild card spot, jumped when the Steelers beat the Broncos last week. This season has one more twist in it and this game is it. Jets 24, Patriots 20
Houston at Tennessee (even)
From the outside you have to ask how this game is “even” until you realize that the most likely starter for the Texans is Brandon Weedon. He’s going against Zach Mettenberger, but still. It’s Brandon Weedon. I’ll never feel comfortable picking a team with Brandon Weedon at QB. But I will. Texans 14, Titans 10
Cleveland at Kansas City (-11)
The Chiefs are the top wild card team, but can’t afford a stumble. Luckily for them, the Browns rarely trip up anybody. Chiefs 44, Browns 17
Indianapolis at Miami (-2.5)
Matt Hasselbeck played last week for what it was worth. He’ll be back again this week going against the Dolphins, who’ve been terrible at everything. It’s tempting to go with the spread here as the Dolphins seem to perform about every three weeks, but if this Colts has any kind of heart they pull this one out. Colts 24, Dolphins 20
San Francisco at Detroit (-9)
Jim Caldwell gets to take a break from trying to coach this week when he welcomes Jim Tomsula and the 49ers. Of course, you could say the same thing to Tomsula. I’m calling this the “Braintrust Bowl” and some Jim has got to win it. Lions 31, 49ers 19
Dallas at Buffalo (-6)
The Bills, under Rex Ryan, are already guaranteed to finish with a worse record this season than they did last year under Doug Marrone, who couldn’t find a head coaching job last offseason. Ryan, on the other hand, was barely out of work a week. Bills 17, Cowboys 14
Chicago at Tampa Bay (-3)
The Bucs are out of the playoff picture and deserve to be, but there’s a chance here to finish with a .500 record and I don’t think Jameis Winston will give that up easily. Bucs 27, Bears 21
Carolina at Atlanta (+7)
If there’s a team left on the Panthers’ schedule that can score with them, it’s Atlanta. Unfortunately for the Falcons they don’t have anybody that can stop Cam Newton in the process. Panthers 38, Falcons 24
Pittsburgh at Baltimore (+10)
Ten points is a lot, but the Ravens will be starting either Jimmy Clausen or Matt Schaub, so that’s probably low. Steelers 45, Ravens 10
Late Games
Jacksonville at New Orleans (-3.5)
Drew Brees hurt his foot last week and the Saints’ defense hasn’t forced a punt in 2015 (*citation needed). The Jags won’t finish with a winning record, but they should be able to pass all over the Saints. Jags 33, Saints 30
St. Louis at Seattle (-13)
Seattle has been one of the hottest teams in the league as Russell Wilson has willed them to the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season. They can do no better than a wild card spot so they’ve got nothing to lose here except to drop a second game against the Rams. They won’t. Seahawks 31, Rams 17
Green Bay at Arizona (-4.5)
It’s too late in the season to get a game this good. The Packers and Cardinals are easily the second and third best teams in the NFC if not the NFL. Both have clinched a playoff spot and the Packers can clinch their division here. I say they do. Packers 34, Cardinals 31
Sunday Night
New York Giants at Minnesota (-5.5)
Of all the teams playing this week, the Vikings probably have the most to lose. Win and they clinch a wild card spot. Lose and they open up everything, especially if the Falcons pull off the upset of the decade. I like their chances to close it out, especially with Odell Beckham Jr. suspended. Vikings 24, Giants 20
Monday Night
Cincinnati at Denver (-3)
After more than a month of horrible Monday night games, Jon Gruden and Mike Terico get a Christmas gift in the game for the No. 2 (and maybe No. 1) seed in the AFC. I like the Broncos at home. Broncos 20, Bengals 17
Last Week
Straight up: 11-5
Against the spread: 9-7
Overall
Straight up: 123-100
Against the spread: 105-118
Survivor pool picks: 33-17
