SAN FRANCISCO vs ARIZONA
When: 12/26/2020 4:30 PM
Where:

TV: 4:30 PM
LINE: -5
PREDICTION: ARIZONA , SAN FRANCISCO

Oddsmakers currently have the ARIZONA listed as -5 point favorites versus the SAN FRANCISCO, while the game’s total is sitting at 49.

The San Francisco 49ers and Arizona Cardinals meet up at a familiar setting when the NFC West rivals duel on Saturday afternoon in Glendale, Ariz.

The rematch of a 24-20 Arizona win in Week 1 has far more significance for the Cardinals (8-6), who remain in the running for an NFC playoff spot, than the 49ers (5-9), whose bid to repeat as conference champs officially ended with last week’s loss at Dallas.

Both teams will be playing on the State Farm Stadium field for the third time in the last four weeks, with the 49ers having been forced to relocate from Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., because of COVID-19 restrictions in the region.

The 49ers have lost their first two neutral-site games in Arizona, beaten in Week 13 by Buffalo 34-24 and then a week later by Washington 23-15.

The 49ers were thumped 41-33 at Dallas last week, and lost far more than just a game that eliminated them from playoff contention. Top running back Raheem Mostert has been ruled out for the season after aggravating a high ankle sprain in the loss, while quarterback Nick Mullens suffered an elbow injury that the 49ers fear could require Tommy John surgery.

Regular starter Jimmy Garoppolo has returned to practice after suffering an ankle injury against Seattle in Week 8, but San Francisco coach Kyle Shanahan noted that he’s unlikely to get medical clearance to return to game action either this week or in the finale against Seattle, another game that will be played in Arizona.

“(He will play) only if the doctors told me it’s 100 percent safe and he feels good, and I’d be very surprised if that happens,” Shanahan reported. “Right now, he’s safe to go out to practice. It’ll be fun for him to throw the ball around a little bit, but we’re going to be very safe with him this week and we’ll see next week. But I’d be very surprised if that changes.”

Shanahan wouldn’t name a starter for the Arizona game as the practice week began, but by process of elimination, the last man standing appears to be C.J. Beathard, who came on in mop-up duty in Dallas and threw a 49-yard touchdown pass to Kendrick Bourne on the final play of the game.

The 49ers have since gone out and plucked veteran Josh Rosen off the Tampa Bay practice squad to serve as Beathard’s backup.

The Cardinals, meanwhile, will take the field in third place in the NFC West, two games behind Seattle (10-4) and one back of the Los Angeles Rams (9-5). Arizona visits the Rams next week.

The Cardinals can clinch a wild card this weekend with a win over the 49ers and a Chicago (7-7) loss to Jacksonville (1-13).

Kyler Murray kept Arizona in a favorable position when he threw for a season-best 406 yards and three touchdowns in last week’s 33-26 home win over Philadelphia.

But like the 49ers, the Cardinals didn’t escape the game unscathed. Veteran wideout Larry Fitzgerald strained his groin and star linebacker Haason Reddick injured his shoulder in the win, leaving both a bit iffy for the San Francisco game.

Murray, who rushed for 91 yards but threw for just 230 in the earlier loss to the 49ers, warned not to overlook a prideful opponent.

“Good team,” he insisted. “They’ll be ready to go, obviously. It’s a divisional game. It’s going to be very competitive.”

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MIAMI vs LAS VEGAS
When: 12/26/2020 8:15 PM
Where:

TV: 8:15 PM
LINE: 3
PREDICTION: LAS VEGAS , MIAMI

Oddsmakers currently have the LAS VEGAS listed as 3 point favorites versus the MIAMI, while the game’s total is sitting at 48.

The Miami Dolphins head into the final two weeks of the regular season occupying the seventh and final playoff spot in the AFC. But as far as coach Brian Flores is concerned, his team must approach Saturday night’s game at Las Vegas with a playoff mentality.

“Our playoff is this week against the Raiders,” Flores said. “We’re in a one-game season.”

The Dolphins and eighth-seed Baltimore are both 9-5 heading into this weekend’s action but the Ravens, who host the New York Giants (5-9) before finishing up at Cincinnati (3-10-1), on paper have a big edge in the remaining schedule. After playing Las Vegas (7-7), which mathematically still has a very slim chance at making the playoffs, Miami must travel to Buffalo (11-3), which has already clinched the AFC East crown.

“It’s good to kind of (go) through that and realize we’re still playing meaningful football,” Flores said.

The Dolphins, who will spend their Christmas Day flying across the country to Las Vegas, eliminated the New England Patriots from the playoff race with a 22-12 victory on Sunday. Undrafted free agent Salvon Ahmed led the way, rushing for 122 yards and a touchdown, as Miami, despite starting six rookies on offense, rushed for 250 yards, breaking the 200-yard mark on the ground in a game for the first time since Dec. 24, 2016 at Buffalo, when it ran for 261 yards.

Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa went 20-of-26 passing for 145 yards and an interception and also rushed for two touchdowns to improve to 5-2 as a starter. The fifth overall pick of the 2020 NFL Draft out of Alabama is completing 63.5 percent of his passes in his starts to go with nine touchdown passes and two interceptions.

Depending on how things go in practice this week, Tagovailoa could be matched up against his fellow Honolulu St. Louis High School alum, Raiders backup quarterback Marcus Mariota.

Mariota took over in relief for Derek Carr, who suffered a groin injury late in the first quarter in Thursday night’s 30-27 overtime loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. He went 17-of-28 passing for 226 yards with one touchdown and one interception before leaving. He also rushed for 88 yards and a touchdown on nine carries, with eight of his runs accounting for first downs.

“I think that would be awesome seeing Marcus (play) because me and (linebacker Kamu Grugier-Hill), we’re both from Hawaii,” Tagovailoa said when asked by reporters after Sunday’s win about the possibility of a potential all-Hawaii quarterback battle. “Marcus is from Hawaii. Me and Marcus went to the same high school. I think that (would) be something pretty cool, something special.”

However, Carr alternated snaps with Mariota in practice on Tuesday and said he’s “doing everything in his power” to try and play on Saturday night.

“We’ll see how it goes this week,” Raiders coach Jon Gruden said. “He’s chomping at the bit to play. We’ll do what we think is right for Derek and this team.”

Carr pulled up and grabbed the inside of his left leg while trying to scramble around right end, hopping out of the bounds and heading straight to the locker room.

“I went to sprint for the end zone and it just went,” he said of his groin.

The loss to the Chargers was the fourth in the last five games for Las Vegas, which ends the regular season at Denver. The Raiders are just 5-13 (.278 percent) in December-January games since the start of 2017. Only the Carolina Panthers (4-12) have a worse mark during that span.

Three defensive starters — safety Johnathan Abram, linebacker Nicholas Morrow and cornerback Damon Arnette — who sat out the loss to the Chargers with concussions were limited in practice on Tuesday, while defensive end Clelin Ferrell (shoulder) remained out. Safety Erik Harris joined defensive back Daryl Worley, cornerback Isaiah Johnson and wide receiver Henry Ruggs III on the COVID-19 list while linebacker Tanner Muse was shifted to injured reserve.

Miami guard Solomon Kindley, carted off with a knee injury in Sunday’s win, did not suffer any structural damage and could play Saturday. Kindley, a rookie who has started 13 games, was the only Dolphin to sit out Tuesday’s practice.

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CINCINNATI vs HOUSTON
When: 12/27/2020 1:00 PM
Where:

TV: 1:00 PM
LINE: -7.5
PREDICTION: HOUSTON , CINCINNATI

Oddsmakers currently have the HOUSTON listed as -7.5 point favorites versus the CINCINNATI, while the game’s total is sitting at 46.

The image of Deshaun Watson gazing in disbelief after another costly late-game fumble against the Indianapolis Colts is sure to linger with Houston Texans fans.

The quarterback and the Texans (4-10) will attempt to rebound Sunday when they host the Cincinnati Bengals (3-10-1).

Watson had once again dragged the short-handed Texans to the brink of victory with his exceptional play against the Colts, only to be undermined by a second red-zone turnover in three weeks. Houston lost each of those two games to Indianapolis on either side of a loss at Chicago.

The juxtaposition of the results for the Texans this season against Watson and his impressive performances will resonate into an offseason during which the Texans will have multiple needs to address, including vacancies at head coach and general manager.

Watson is the one constant. No one would question his bona fides as a top signal-caller, considering he ranks second in the NFL in passing yards (4,134) and passer rating (110.6) despite attrition at the Texans’ skill positions.

“I think all of that will make him better because he’s able to adapt to the receivers that he has on the field and he can still put up the good numbers,” Texans interim coach Romeo Crennel said. “I think that when he gets a consistent crew, that’ll just make him better down the line.

“Even though he’s had good numbers, I think that he will say that the fact that we’re not winning doesn’t satisfy him. I think his choice would be to have good numbers and to have a lot of wins to go along with it.”

The two demoralizing losses to Indianapolis left the Texans assured of a losing record this season following back-to-back AFC South division titles.

The Bengals’ 27-17 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday qualified as impressive at face value. Cincinnati was riding a five-game overall losing streak, had dropped 11 consecutive games against its AFC North rival and was a double-digit underdog entering the primetime affair.

Cincinnati overcame those odds, doing so with a third-string quarterback (Ryan Finley) and without their leading receiver, Tyler Boyd, who was knocked from the contest in the early stages after sustaining a concussion.

The Bengals appear undaunted by the chore of traveling to Houston during the holidays to square off with the Texans. Preparedness hasn’t been an issue.

“It hasn’t been a challenge to get these guys focused at all, to be quite honest, and I think that shows on how we played the other week,” Bengals coach Zac Taylor said. “This week there’s a lot of things to manage. It’s a short week, we’re on the road, you’ve got Christmas. But again, I’ve got a lot of faith in our guys to handle it the right way and we’ve laid out our expectations for them. And we know that they’ll be pros about it.”

Playing out the string of a 16-game schedule is a task in itself. Doing so during a pandemic-altered season can sap enthusiasm. The Bengals might still be without Boyd and quarterback Brandon Allen (knee) against the Texans, but their effort Monday provided a bit of a boost, perhaps enough to carry Cincinnati through the final two games of the schedule.

“This was something that we all needed,” Bengals running back Giovani Bernard said of beating the Steelers. “It’s something that I’m sure everybody is proud of.”

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INDIANAPOLIS vs PITTSBURGH
When: 12/27/2020 1:00 PM
Where:

TV: 1:00 PM
LINE: 1.5
PREDICTION: PITTSBURGH , INDIANAPOLIS

Oddsmakers currently have the PITTSBURGH listed as 1.5 point favorites versus the INDIANAPOLIS, while the game’s total is sitting at 44.5.

The Pittsburgh Steelers and Indianapolis Colts have been moving in opposite directions lately yet will have plenty in common Sunday when they meet at Pittsburgh’s Heinz Field.

The 11-3 Steelers have clinched a spot in the playoffs, due to their 11-0 start, but have lost three in a row and need one more victory to secure the AFC North title.

The 10-4 Colts have won three consecutive and seven of their past nine, with their own spot in the playoffs pending a victory, coupled with a loss by Miami or Baltimore this weekend.

Pittsburgh was the last undefeated team by several weeks, but the three-game losing streak, all by fewer than 20 points, has brought with it a good deal of unrest.

Fingers have been pointing toward the offense, and specifically quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.

Roethlisberger has heard the questions and the criticisms. He doesn’t or can’t throw downfield anymore; he gets rid of the ball too quickly; he doesn’t see open receivers; at 38 he’s nearing the end. TO that, he offered a succinct response.

“I don’t blame them,” he said. “When you play like poo, you should get talked about like that. I need to play better. If I’m not giving them a reason to talk good, then I’m giving them a reason to talk badly. That’s all on me. I need to play better.”

Roethlisberger gave barely a glancing measure of blame at the rest of the offense.

“We all need to perform better, and it starts with me,” he said. “I have to complete passes, if that’s the call. If it’s run, then we have to get hats on hats, if you will. Once again … if I had an answer to it, we wouldn’t be having these issues. We can’t fix anything until we get out there on Sunday, really.”

Roethlisberger revealed that the Steelers had a players meeting Wednesday that was heavy on the offensive side but insisted “it had nothing to do with the losses. It had everything to do with where we are, and where we’re going. It wasn’t a players-only panic meeting.”

Defensive tackle Cam Heyward agreed that Pittsburgh isn’t panicking.

“It’s a three-game losing streak, but that’s coming off an 11-game winning streak,” Heyward said. “I’m looking forward to getting back on this horse.”

The game matches Roethlisberger and a fellow veteran in Indianapolis quarterback Philip Rivers.

“The similarities are they’ve both been incredibly durable. They’ve both been incredibly productive,” Colts coach Frank Reich said. “They’ve been incredibly effective in the pocket.”

That’s just one storyline.

“These are the games you dream about — going to Pittsburgh in December with something on the line,” Rivers said.

It doesn’t matter to Indianapolis what each team has done lately.

“When you go on the road this late in the season and in this means of a game, it’s going to take a complete team effort,” Reich said.

Steelers linebacker Vince Williams was reinstated from the Reserve/COVID-19 list Wednesday, which could give a boost to a position that has been in flux in terms of personnel availability.

In addition, running back James Conner (quadriceps) practiced Wednesday after missing a game. However, tight end Eric Ebron (back), defensive end Stephon Tuitt (back) and linebackers Marcus Allen (stinger), Ulysees Gilbert III (ankle), and Ola Adeniyi (shoulder) didn’t practice.

For Indianapolis, defensive tackle DeForest Buckner (ankle) didn’t practice Wednesday, but that was considered precautionary after he returned from that injury last weekend.

Also sitting out practice were tackle Anthony Castonzo (knee) and receiver Marcus Johnson (quadriceps), along with Rivers, who simply is following his regular routine, Reich said.

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CHICAGO vs JACKSONVILLE
When: 12/27/2020 1:00 PM
Where:

TV: 1:00 PM
LINE: 7.5
PREDICTION: JACKSONVILLE , CHICAGO

Oddsmakers currently have the JACKSONVILLE listed as 7.5 point favorites versus the CHICAGO, while the game’s total is sitting at 47.

Winning successive games on the heels of a six-game skid that seemingly sullied a 5-1 start, the Chicago Bears remain in reach of their 2020 vision of making the NFC playoffs.

Entering a Week 16 visit to the reeling Jacksonville Jaguars, losers of 13 games in a row, the Bears are one game behind the Arizona Cardinals for the final NFC wild card spot.

“We’re excited,” Chicago quarterback Mitchell Trubisky said. “I mean, this is what you play for.”

After navigating offensive struggles for much of the season, the Bears (7-7) have found a resurgence behind a jelling combination on the line that has allowed Trubisky room to operate and created space for running back David Montgomery.

Injuries and inconsistency on the offensive line led coach Matt Nagy to employ six different lineups in the first 10 games. However, in the four games since the Bears have started the combo of Charles Leno at left tackle, Cody Whitehair at left guard, Sam Mustipher at center, Alex Bars at right guard and Germain Ifedi at right tackle, Montgomery has eclipsed 100 yards three times.

The Bears’ highest output in the first 10 games was Montgomery’s 89 yards in Week 8.

“When you watch tape, you see these linemen,” Nagy said. “They’re running to the ball, they’re picking guys up off the ground, they’re celebrating. … So it starts right there and it starts with the belief, and trust then filters down to or moves on to David at running back, to CP (Cordarrelle Patterson) at running back, to Mitchell at quarterback.”

Jacksonville (1-13) has been outscored 71-24 in its past two games while facing AFC playoff contenders Tennessee and Baltimore. In Week 15, the Ravens controlled the line of scrimmage — and most other facets of the game — in building a 26-0 halftime lead en route to a 40-14 home victory.

While Jaguars quarterback Gardner Minshew passed for 226 yards and two touchdowns, he had only 58 yards through the air in the first half. Meanwhile, the Jaguars offensive line allowed five sacks and running back James Robinson, who is battling ankle issues, rushed for only 35 yards, his second-lowest output of 2020.

“I mean, we were getting one or two yards in the play-action game. We weren’t able to make plays,” Jacksonville coach Doug Marrone said. “Either not pulling the trigger, or not being in good position, or pressure coming — it gets to you. It’s a lot of things. When you don’t play that well … it’s not one thing, it’s everything.”

Marrone said Minshew and veteran Mike Glennon, a former Bear, would compete this week for the starting job, adding some intrigue.

After the New York Jets upset the Los Angeles Rams in Week 15 for their first victory of the season, the Jaguars suddenly gained an inside edge for the top pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, a selection that likely would bring Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence to Jacksonville. The Jaguars have the strength-of-schedule tiebreaker on the Jets.

Nevertheless, Marrone said the Jaguars remain focused on ending the losing streak.

“No one has advised me anything different than to go out there and win,” he said. “I understand, I guess, from a standpoint of I was young growing up, you know, and I had a favorite team and was excited to see where they were going to pick.”

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NY GIANTS vs BALTIMORE
When: 12/27/2020 1:00 PM
Where:

TV: 1:00 PM
LINE: -10.5
PREDICTION: BALTIMORE , NY GIANTS

Oddsmakers currently have the BALTIMORE listed as -10.5 point favorites versus the NY GIANTS, while the game’s total is sitting at 43.5.

The Baltimore Ravens look to continue their late-season charge toward a playoff spot when they host the New York Giants on Sunday.

The Ravens (9-5) are taking aim at a fourth straight victory as they navigate what is essentially a four-team derby to claim the three AFC wild-berths.

Baltimore sits outside the playoff race and will need some help over the final two weeks to land a spot. The Miami Dolphins are also 9-5 but hold the tiebreaker edge over Baltimore for the final spot.

“Being honest, we’re just going to let it take care of itself,” Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson said. “We’re not focused on the outside, or other teams and stuff like that. We’re focused on ourselves because we can’t peak too early and we can’t peak too soon at anything right now.

“We’ve just got to focus on the Giants because that’s a good team that we’re going to face on Sunday. It’s about finishing for us right now.”

Left tackle Orlando Brown Jr., who was named a Pro Bowler for the second time earlier this week, doesn’t want to hear anything about scenarios or how oddsmakers rate Baltimore’s chances.

“My focus is on the Giants and going out there and playing the best game of my career,” Brown said. “We understand the playoffs are there, and getting there is important. But it’s important that we win the next game.”

No disputes there as a loss to the Giants (5-9) would leave the Ravens in a dire situation heading into the final week.

New York is one game behind the Washington Football Team in the NFC East but has scored just 13 total points while losing its last two games.

Colt McCoy filled in at quarterback in the 20-6 loss to the Cleveland Browns in Week 15, but the Giants are hopeful starter Daniel Jones will return Sunday.

Jones is dealing with hamstring and ankle injuries and was a limited participant in Wednesday’s practice. Coach Joe Judge said he would like to see how Jones progresses before making a decision.

“Look, in a perfect world, I’d love to have an answer as soon as possible,” Judge said. “I’m not going to go ahead and set a time mark on this. But we’ll come out of Friday, Friday after practice, with some kind of an answer.”

Jones said he is itching to play after sitting out two of the past three weeks. He sees time running out on the season and feels the urgency.

“I’m doing everything I can to get back out there,” Jones said. “Every week you want to play. I did all I could last week, and that’s certainly my approach this week. I’m working as hard as I can. I really do want to be out there with the guys and go after a win on Sunday.”

Tight end Evan Engram (calf) also was limited on Wednesday. Engram, who has a team-leading 54 receptions, was named a Pro Bowler for the first time earlier this week.

Standout linebacker Blake Martinez (128 tackles) leads the New York defense, and the big question on his mind is how to stop Jackson, who has passed for 2,461 yards and 21 touchdowns while also rushing for 828 yards and seven scores.

“Oh yeah, he’s one of those special guys, and I think everyone knows it,” Martinez said. “It’s one of those things you obviously as a competitor, for me, you want to go against guys like that. But it just adds the extra heightened awareness to make sure that you’re extremely perfect in all fundamental aspects of your game going into that.”

Baltimore’s defensive stars include cornerback Marlon Humphrey, who leads the NFL with eight forced fumbles and was named a Pro Bowler for the second time.

Defensive end Calais Campbell (calf) and cornerback Marcus Peters (calf) are among the nine Ravens who missed practice on Wednesday.

No matter who is cleared to play, Baltimore’s focus will remain on itself as it looks to notch a pivotal victory.

“The focus really for us is going to be on taking care of our business,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. “It doesn’t matter what anybody else does if we don’t take care of our job. Our job is to win. We’ve got to find a way to win this week. We can control how we play.”

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ATLANTA vs KANSAS CITY
When: 12/27/2020 1:00 PM
Where:

TV: 1:00 PM
LINE: -10.5
PREDICTION: KANSAS CITY , ATLANTA

Oddsmakers currently have the KANSAS CITY listed as -10.5 point favorites versus the ATLANTA, while the game’s total is sitting at 54.

Home-field advantage in the playoffs is a select prize this season after the NFL amended its playoff structure so seven teams from each conference qualify and only the top seed draws a first-round bye.

The Kansas City Chiefs (13-1) are in prime position to earn the weekend off in the AFC. Nonetheless, the reigning Super Bowl champions are reluctant to acknowledge their superiority entering a home game Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons (4-10).

“Never bank on others; get your guys ready to go,” said Chiefs coach Andy Reid, who insisted he would not study playoff scenarios to shape alternative lineup plans.

“If you go there,” he added, “then you get your tail kicked. I don’t allow myself to go in that direction. We’ve got to maximize ourselves against a team that’s playing hard. These games that they’ve lost, over half of them have gone into the fourth quarter.”

By beating or tying the Falcons, the Chiefs can clinch the top seed in the AFC playoffs and with it, a first-round bye and home-field advantage. Other scenarios could assure the Chiefs of the top spot, but they seem focused on variables they can control.

“If you keep winning games,” said quarterback Patrick Mahomes, “those things have a way of working out on their own.”

Kansas City’s dominance during a season marred by unprecedented challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic includes a nine-game winning streak and the announcement this week of seven Pro Bowl selections.

A 14th regular-season win would establish a franchise record.

Travis Kelce needs 60 yards receiving to break the NFL record for tight ends held by San Francisco’s George Kittle (1,377). Kelce also needs two receptions to become the first NFL tight end with 100 catches in back-to-back seasons.

The fact that each of Kansas City’s last six opponents have kept the outcome to a one-score margin could encourage Atlanta, which has seven losses by one score.

Discouraging, however, is that the Falcons are No. 31 in the NFL in passing yards allowed, especially going against a Chiefs team ranked first in average passing yards.

Mahomes has thrown for 36 touchdowns against five interceptions. He leads the NFL with 4,462 passing yards. The Falcons’ Matt Ryan is third (4,016).

Much of the attention thrust on the Falcons regards openings for a head coach and general manager. The team confirmed Wednesday that Raheem Morris will receive an interview. The interim coach said he looks at the totality of his job in that prism.

“Everything you do in these moments are interview-type moments,” Morris said.

Morris will use the last two games to look at running back Ito Smith, who moved ahead of Todd Gurley in the rotation.

Receiver Julio Jones continues to be slowed by a hamstring injury that kept him out the last two games. Other Atlanta starters who missed practice Wednesday were cornerback Darqueze Dennard (quad), center Alex Mack (concussion) and guard James Carpenter (groin).

Rookie running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire (ankle, hip) will miss the game for the Chiefs, though his injury is not as severe as initially thought. Tyreek Hill (hamstring) was withheld from Wednesday’s practice as a precaution. Linebacker Anthony Hitchens is in COVID-19 protocol but could play.

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LA RAMS vs SEATTLE
When: 12/27/2020 4:05 PM
Where:

TV: 4:05 PM
LINE: 0
PREDICTION: SEATTLE , LA RAMS

Oddsmakers currently have the SEATTLE listed as 0 point favorites versus the LA RAMS, while the game’s total is sitting at 47.5.

Perhaps the Los Angeles Rams were looking ahead.

How else to explain last weekend’s embarrassing 23-20 loss at home to the previously winless New York Jets — when the Rams had a chance to clinch a playoff berth?

“The only thing that makes you feel better is when you say, ‘All right, let’s learn from it, let’s own it, and let’s move forward accordingly,'” Rams coach Sean McVay said. “Because dwelling on it or getting still (ticked) off about it really doesn’t do you any good for how you move forward.”

The Rams (9-5) need to move forward quickly, with a game Sunday at NFC West-leading Seattle (10-4) that could decide the division title.

“As poor as (Sunday) was, we’ve got an opportunity to respond in a division game at their place with a lot at stake,” McVay said. “I do trust the character of this football team. I trust the resilience.”

Los Angeles won the first meeting against Seattle 23-16 on Nov. 15 as Jared Goff threw for 302 yards and Malcolm Brown rushed for a pair of touchdowns. That means the Rams would own the first tiebreaker against the Seahawks should they win Sunday to sweep the season series and go into the final week with matching 10-5 records.

“We have two division opponents coming up. We missed a chance to clinch, now it’s even more important to win the next two games,” said Rams safety John Johnson, whose team will close the regular season at Arizona. “Certain teams have that knack for winning. We’re still learning that.”

The Seahawks clinched their ninth playoff berth in coach Pete Carroll’s 11 seasons with a 20-15 victory last weekend at Washington. Carlos Hyde scored on a 50-yard run and Seattle’s defense turned away a fourth-quarter rally.

“(That) was a really big weekend for us,” Carroll said. “Real happy with the game that we put together, the way that the whole approach of it worked out well. We got the win that we were looking for and we got a little bit of help too, the Jets, getting their game. All of that adds together and sets up a really big opportunity this weekend coming up.”

The Seahawks aren’t just satisfied with a playoff berth. They haven’t won an NFC West title since 2016 and haven’t hosted a playoff game since January 2017.

“It’s pretty cool to clinch it, but we’ve got a big game coming up (this) week, man, and I’ll tell you what, I’m looking forward to that,” said Seattle safety Jamal Adams, who has 9 1/2 sacks this season, adding to his single-season record for a defensive back since the NFL began tracking the stat in 1982.

The Rams will be without leading rusher Cam Akers, who suffered a high ankle sprain in the loss to New York. Akers rushed for 63 yards Sunday and had 50 more yards and a touchdown wiped out by penalties.

Seahawks tight end Greg Olsen (foot) was a full participant in practice this week and will likely come off the injured reserve list. Starting right tackle Brandon Shell (ankle) and cornerback Tre Flowers (hamstring) were limited in practice but could return after missing multiple games. Carroll announced cornerback Quinton Dunbar (knee) will need surgery and will remain on the IR, ending his season.

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PHILADELPHIA vs DALLAS
When: 12/27/2020 4:25 PM
Where:

TV: 4:25 PM
LINE: 2.5
PREDICTION: DALLAS , PHILADELPHIA

Oddsmakers currently have the DALLAS listed as 2.5 point favorites versus the PHILADELPHIA, while the game’s total is sitting at 49.5.

A lot has changed in the past two months, since Week 8, when the starting quarterbacks for the Philadelphia-Dallas game were rookie Ben DiNucci for the Cowboys and veteran Carson Wentz for the Eagles.

For this Sunday’s NFC East rematch in Arlington, Texas, they have sort of flip-flopped behind center, with Philly starting a rookie and Dallas starting a veteran.

Two native Texans will be under center as 22-year-old rookie Jalen Hurts leads Philadelphia (4-9-1) against 33-year-old veteran Andy Dalton and Dallas (5-9).

With the Washington Football Team sitting at 6-8, both teams need to win and get some help to keep their faint playoff pulse going.

Hurts, a second-round pick, is 1-1 as the starter since replacing Wentz. After an upset win against New Orleans in Week 14, the Eagles fell 33-26 last Sunday at Arizona despite 338 yards and four touchdowns from Hurts (three passes and a 7-yard run).

“He led the team. He played mentally and physically tough,” Eagles coach Doug Pederson said. “He’s an extremely hard worker. He’s diligent. He wants to improve. He took the loss (Sunday) very personally. He wants to get back out there and keep going.”

Since taking over for Wentz in the second half at Green Bay in Week 13, Hurts has generated 812 yards of total offense (614 passing, 198 rushing) with six TDs. Most important, perhaps, is that he has turned the ball over only twice in those 10 quarters. Wentz hasn’t played since Dec. 6 and his 15 interceptions are still two more than any other player.

“I think I hate losing more than I love to win,” Hurts said after coming up short against the Cardinals. “It’s not a great feeling. It’s a learning lesson. Everything can be better moving forward.”

The Cowboys have certainly played better since Dalton returned to the lineup in Week 11, winning back-to-back games and three of their last five. He has completed 66.1 percent of his passes for 1,097 yards with 10 scores and three picks during that five-game stretch. He has not been intercepted since Dec. 8.

Signed to a one-year deal to back up Dak Prescott, Dalton’s stay in Dallas could be extended beyond this season based on his recent play.

“He’s doing a great job, and certainly we’d love to have him back,” Cowboys vice president Stephen Jones said on 105.3 FM The Fan after Sunday’s 41-33 win against the 49ers.

“We’ll just have to address that at the end of the year in terms of what goals, what he’s wanting to do, what his opportunities are, but he’s a guy who’s from this area, went to school over at TCU, and I know he makes his home right here in Dallas. … So, I’m sure we’ll have every opportunity to talk through what the business is going to be with Andy, but he’s just a class act.”

After missing his first-ever regular-season game due to injury last week, Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott (calf) did resistance training at practice Wednesday and could be back in the lineup Sunday.

Tony Pollard scored twice and gained 132 yards from scrimmage (69 yards on a 5.8-yard rushing average with two TDs), against the Niners in Elliott’s absence.

Five players missed Wednesday’s workouts for the Cowboys: linebacker Leighton Vander Esch (ankle), defensive tackle Antwaun Woods (ankle), safety Xavier Woods (ribs), cornerback Rashard Robinson (knee) and tight end Blake Bell (illness). Receiver Michael Gallup (hip), linebackers Jaylon Smith (wrist) and Sean Lee (knee) and corners Chidboe Awuzie (ankle/knee) and Trevon Diggs (foot) were full participants.

Cornerback Darius Slay was a full participant in Wednesday’s practice for Philly after missing the Arizona game with a concussion. Rookie wideout Jalen Reagor (ankle) and linebacker Duke Riley (bicep) were both limited, while Pro Bowl defensive tackle Fletcher Cox (neck, rest), defensive end Josh Sweat (wrist), cornerback Kevon Seymour (knee), tight end Richard Rodgers (ankle) and punter Cameron Johnston (concussion) did not participate.

The Eagles are looking to sweep the season series for the first time since 2011. In the first meeting, Philadelphia sacked DiNucci four times and the 2020 seventh-rounder lost two fumbles.

The post PHILADELPHIA vs. DALLAS 12/27/2020 NFL Odds, Pick & Preview appeared first on IdealCapper.

TENNESSEE vs GREEN BAY
When: 12/27/2020 8:20 PM
Where:

TV: 8:20 PM
LINE: -3.5
PREDICTION: GREEN BAY , TENNESSEE

Oddsmakers currently have the GREEN BAY listed as -3.5 point favorites versus the TENNESSEE, while the game’s total is sitting at 55.5.

If you like watching touchdowns and embarrassed defenses, you could be in store for some must-see viewing on Sunday night.

When the Tennessee Titans visit the Green Bay Packers in a matchup of first-place teams, it will pit the NFL’s first- and third-ranked scoring offenses. Tennessee leads the league at 31.1 points per game and Green Bay is third at 31.0.

Both teams are also in the top five in yards per game and top 10 in rushing yards per game. Quarterbacks Ryan Tannehill and Aaron Rodgers have combined for a whopping 71 touchdown passes against just nine interceptions.

“We’re going up against probably the best team we’ve faced all year, and a team that doesn’t lose in December at Lambeau (Field),” said Titans coach Mike Vrabel. “The quarterback has thrown 40 touchdowns, and they rarely turn it over. So it will be a huge challenge.”

And it’s fair to wonder if the Titans (10-4), who are tied with Indianapolis atop the AFC South but hold the tiebreaker, are ready for that huge defensive challenge. With the exception of scattered games, they have been vulnerable to any kind of decent passing attack, let alone the one Rodgers can crank up.

Making it even worse for Tennessee is its utter lack of pass rush. It ranks last in the NFL with 14 sacks. If it can’t at least pressure Rodgers, its chances of slowing down the Packers diminish immensely.

“We certainly have to do a better job of everybody being involved in helping disrupt the passing game,” Vrabel said.

Of course, that sword cuts both ways. While Green Bay’s defense has certainly been better than the Titans’, registering 38 sacks to rank ninth in the league, it still yields more than 24 points per game. And it also has the unenviable task of dealing with NFL rushing leader Derrick Henry.

Coming off 147 yards and a touchdown last week in a 46-25 victory over the Lions that included a stiff arm of an unfortunate defensive back, Henry has compiled 1,679 yards. A big game here and a 2,000-yard season could be within reach.

But the Packers can’t be too fixated on Henry. Tannehill is having the best season of his career, on pace to throw for nearly 4,000 yards. Receivers Corey Davis and A.J. Brown could each finish with more than 1,000 yards and are averaging nearly 16 yards per catch.

With the NFC North title in its hip pocket, Green Bay (11-3) is pushing for the top seed and a first-round bye in next month’s playoffs. It got a scare near the end of its Week 15 game with slumping Carolina, but was able to hold off the Panthers 24-16.

Second-year coach Matt LaFleur wasn’t thrilled that his offense didn’t produce anything but a 51-yard field goal by Mason Crosby in the second half, but saluted his team for getting the result.

“We did what we had to do,” LaFleur said. “We held on.”

This will be the 13th meeting of the franchises, dating back to Tennessee’s existence as the Houston Oilers. The Titans’ 47-25 blowout of the Packers four years ago in Nashville gave them a 7-5 series lead. Green Bay blasted Tennessee 55-7 in 2012, the teams’ last matchup in Wisconsin.

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