Tennessee faces a must win Sunday and their youth might get in the way
Overall for the Season: 109-103-10, .517 PCT.
Saturday, Dec. 29: 1:00 PM ET
New York Giants (+14) over New England Is an NFL regular season finale that will have no effect on the playoff picture really interesting? This particular regular season finale has never meant so much. With so many records at stake for the New England Patriots, the one that matters most is the chance to complete a perfect NFL season. Besides Tom Brady and Randy Moss having impressive league records within their reach on Saturday night, New England still seems likely to rest many of their starters in its pursuit of a 16-0 record. After all, Coach B and quarterback Brady know the bigger picture, and that is a championship. Take the hometown Giants and the points.
Sunday, Dec. 30: 1:00 PM ET
Philadelphia (–7.5) over Buffalo Just a couple of weeks ago there was talk that this game could be Donovan McNabb's last in a Philadelphia Eagles uniform. That belief could be further squashed if McNabb continues to show he's still capable of being their franchise quarterback. Philadelphia closes a regular season with McNabb under center for the first time in four years when it meets the Buffalo Bills on Sunday in a matchup of teams trying to finish at .500. Injuries have prevented McNabb from playing for Philadelphia (7-8) in the last three regular-season finales, including a torn ACL that forced him to miss the final six games in 2006 and two playoff games. McNabb has regained his mobility and touch in three games since getting back on the field. He has not thrown an interception since returning, completing 63.2 percent of his passes for 650 yards with five touchdowns, and has rushed for 101 yards on 19 carries. The Eagles role and finish the season with a .500 record.
Tampa Bay (+3) over Carolina The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are heading back to postseason play, and coach Jon Gruden wants to make sure his team is still healthy once the regular season ends. Gruden's starters will only limited action on Sunday when the Buccaneers wrap up the regular season at home against the Carolina Panthers. With the NFC South title already wrapped up, Gruden removed most of his key players in the second half of Sunday's game against San Francisco, even though Tampa Bay (9-6) still had a chance to earn a No. 3 seed in the NFC playoffs. The Buccaneers lost 21-19, a defeat that along with Seattle's 27-6 victory over Baltimore assured Tampa Bay of the No. 4 seed. Still, Gruden, whose team will host the fifth-seeded New York Giants during the first weekend of the playoffs, didn't regret his decision to rest his players. The Bucs' second and third stringers are better than the Panthers starters. Take the Bucs at home plus the points.
Miami (+3) over Cincinnati Regardless of Sunday's outcome, Miami (1-14) will finish with the fewest wins in franchise history. After starting the year 0-13, the Dolphins won their first game by beating the Baltimore Ravens 22-16 on Dec. 16, but they followed that victory with a 28-7 loss to the New England Patriots last Sunday. What remains to be seen after this game is the direction Bill Parcells will take Miami during the offseason. Parcells was hired last week to be executive vice president of football operations, a title that means he'll oversee "anything that has to do with football, directly or indirectly," owner Wayne Huizenga said. One of the biggest questions is that of the future of first-year coach Cam Cameron. Cameron said as of Tuesday he had not spoken with Parcells, whom he did not refer to by name. "He and I haven't talked, strictly that," Cameron said. "It's not that I'm not acknowledging something. It's just the fact that he and I will sit down one on one. He and I haven't talked." Parcells told ESPN on Monday he was planning on flying down to Miami and meeting with Dolphins personnel sometime this week, but Cameron said during a conference call with Cincinnati reporters that he doesn't expect much talk to be about the future of the team. "These things will be addressed at another point in time," Cameron said. "Right now our focus is going to be for our guys to play this Sunday." Cameron isn't the only one whose job may be in trouble so look for a strong effort from the Dolphins Sunday in Miami.
Detroit (+4) over Green Bay The Green Bay Packers are heading back to the playoffs but after a disappointing showing last Sunday against division rival Chicago look like they are coasting into postseason play. Detroit hasn't won in Green Bay since 1991 - the year before Brett Favre came to Green Bay but that could change this weekend. Green Bay (12-3) has missed out on the postseason the last two seasons, but won its last four games last season and carried that momentum into this season after Favre decided not to retire. The Packers had a chance at earning the NFC's top seed before losing 35-7 in frigid conditions in Chicago last weekend. The defeat however, along with Dallas' win over Carolina on Saturday, locked Green Bay into the No. 2 seed. The Packers are still assured of a first-round playoff bye and one home playoff game making the Lions the team to back Sunday.
Houston(-6.5) over Jacksonville The Jaguars are likely to give many of their starters a full day of rest Sunday. Jacksonville (11-4) owns the fifth-best record in the NFL, but will settle for second place in the South behind defending Super Bowl champion Indianapolis. The Jaguars are locked in as the No. 5 seed in the AFC and will open on the road at either San Diego or Pittsburgh - two division champions that Jacksonville has already beaten this season. With nothing at stake in this trip to Houston, Jacksonville coach Jack Del Rio has little concern other than to get out of the game as healthy as possible. Houston has enjoyed more success versus Jacksonville than against its other division rivals, going 6-5 and only being swept once. The Texans minus the points Sunday is the play.
Seattle (+1) over Atlanta Seattle head coach Mike Holmgren still regrets resting his players at the end of the 2005 season and faces the same situation in the team’s season finale at Atlanta Sunday. Seattle (10-5) has already clinched the No. 3 seed in the NFC and will face the No. 6 seed in the first weekend of the playoffs regardless of the outcome of this game. However, Holmgren has not decided whether or not to rest his key players on Sunday or play them in the hopes of keeping them sharp. "My inclination right now is that we're going to keep playing and hopefully keep our momentum up a little bit," Holmgren said. Take the second string Seattle offense and defense plus the point.
Cleveland (-10) over San Francisco The Cleveland Browns blew their chance last week to clinch their first playoff spot in five seasons. Now trying to secure the AFC's final slot is largely out of their hands, and coach Romeo Crennel knows not to expect any favors. The Browns must win and have Tennessee, who plays in the last Sunday night contest vs. the Colts, lose. Give double digits to San Francisco without concern.
Chicago (+2) over New Orleans New Orleans (7-8) and Chicago (6-9) met in last year's conference championship game with the Bears ending the Saints' improbable season with a 39-14 victory at Soldier Field. Both teams had been expected to challenge for the NFC title this year, but each under performed and struggled to deal with injuries. With question marks at running back for the Saints, look for the Bears to close out the season with two straight home victories.
4:15 PM ET Minnesota (-3) over Denver The Vikings will need to rebound from a disappointing loss and get some outside help to make the playoffs for the first time in three seasons when they visit the Denver Broncos on Sunday. Because of the loss, Minnesota must now win at Denver and hope Washington loses at home to Dallas on Sunday. With the Vikings playing before Washington, look for Minnesota to crush Denver with their staunch running attack. Take the Vikings over the Broncos.
San Diego (-8) over Oakland The San Diego Chargers have the league's leading rusher, a defense getting healthier and the inside track for the AFC's No. 3 seed in the playoffs. The Oakland Raiders, meanwhile, will give rookie quarterback JaMarcus Russell his first start. Enough said. Take the Chargers and lay the points as the road favorite.
St. Louis (+6.5) over Arizona The Cardinals are shooting for their first three-game home winning streak since Oct. 3 - Nov. 13, 2004, and their third since moving to the Southwest. Last Sunday, Neil Rackers kicked a 29-yard field goal as time expired in regulation, and added a 31-yarder in overtime for a 30-27 win over a weak Atlanta club. In Arizona, if it can go wrong, it will go wrong. Offering the Rams almost a touchdown is just too generous.
Kansas City (+6) over N.Y. Jets This battle of two teams jostling for position near the top of next April's draft won't get much national attention. It looks like the Jets will go back to Kellen Clemens at quarterback; and Chiefs' head coach Herm Edwards will face the Jets for the first time since being pried away by the Chiefs when the teams conclude their disappointing seasons at the Meadowlands on Sunday. Take KC and the points.
Pittsburgh (-3) over Baltimore The Steelers (11-5) need a victory and a loss by AFC West champion San Diego in Oakland to claim the No. 3 seed and a wild-card playoff game against either Cleveland or Tennessee. A win in that game would mean a matchup the following week at Indianapolis. What better team to finish the season strong against than Baltimore. Take Pittsburgh and lay the field goal.
Washington (-9) over Dallas Since Thanksgiving, the Washington Redskins have played inconsistent, seen one of their best defensive players murdered and their quarterback suffer a season-ending injury. But still, with a win on Sunday at FedEx Field against the rival Dallas Cowboys, the Redskins can clinch a playoff spot for just the second time since the 1999 season. The Cowboys on the other hand plan to do nothing more than show up. Take the Skins and lay the big number.
8:15 PM ET Indianapolis (+6) over Tennessee On the final day, playing in the final game, of the NFL season, the Tennessee Titans need only win to advance to postseason play. If the Titans beat the Indianapolis Colts at the RCA Dome on Sunday night in the final game of the NFL's regular season, they will clinch the last AFC wild card spot and go to the playoffs for the first time since the 2003 season. If they lose, they are eliminated, and Cleveland will advance to the postseason, regardless of the result of the Browns' game against San Francisco. Whichever team makes it will play at either San Diego or Pittsburgh in a wild card game next week. This is just too much pressure for such a young team. Look for the second teamers for the Colts to play well enough to cover.
