Cnotes National Football League Week # 17 Rated Plays - Trends - News Etc. !!

[CNOTES]

Books rebound in Week 16
December 28, 2015


One week after the Las Vegas sports books experienced their worst single day of the year with collective losses close to $7 million, they experienced one of their best days on Sunday as most of the popular NFL Week 16 favorites lost outright or failed to cover the number.


The most heavily bet games of the week went sour for bettors and it was a long list of failings. The only heavily bet game that went the bettors way was Arizona (-4) beating Green Bay 38-8, but by the time that game was posted, bettors had already been beaten to a pulp on their parlays with losses.


Last week, everything seemed to go the bettors way with popular teams covering. In Week 16 action, it was the complete opposite. New England (-3), Carolina (-7), Seattle (-10.5) and Pittsburgh (-11) all lost outright and when a popular bet did win like Kansas City (-11.5), they failed to cover.


With so many big favorites failing to cover, it also meant the books scooped up all the chips in big money-line parlays and teasers. By the time the late game with Minnesota (-7) beating the Giants 49-17, there were no games tied to it and while the books lost a little, most of the damage was just on straight bets with no parlay jeopardy.


The Panthers lost their first game of the season, 20-13, in a flat effort at Atlanta. The Falcons covered their second straight game after failing nine straight. It was only the fifth time this season that Panthers failed to cover a number. The Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook has moved Carolina from 4/1 to 9/2 to win the Super Bowl. Arizona was listed at 5-to-1 last week but has been bumped up to 7-to-2 as co-favorites with the Patriots.


The Patriots also looked sluggish in a 26-20 overtime loss at the Jets. They have been winning by an average of 12 points all season, but the Jets have now gone 5-0-1 ATS in the last six meetings with their biggest rivals and are now almost set for a playoff berth.


The Steelers had scored 30 points or more in their last six games, but came out flat in a 20-17 loss at Baltimore who got a great effort out of newly signed QB Ryan Mallett. Pittsburgh was on a 9-1 ATS run in December and was looking like a bonafide Super Bowl contender, but now they need a lot of help just to make the playoffs as they sit outside looking in. The Westgate adjusted their Super Bowl odds on Pittsburgh from 6-to-1 up to 10-to-1 following the loss.


The Chiefs have won nine straight (7-2 ATS), but failed to cover at home against Johnny Manziel and Cleveland in a 17-13 win. They have all kinds of the momentum going for them, but will have to play their playoff games on the road and are listed at 20-to-1 to win the Super Bowl at the Westgate.


While all those popular teams lost bettors millions, the Cardinals took center stage and truly have the look of a Super Bowl caliber team while riding a nine game win streak. They are a popular choice to win it all and its well deserved. They completely dismantled Green Bay in all facets between the offensive line protecting Carson Palmer well and opening up gapping holes for its third string running back David Johnson. There really doesn’t look to be a team in their class -- even the Patriots.


Arizona has the Super Bowl look and usually at this time of the year you can sniff out who those really great teams are. Arizona is that team right now and as long as Palmer stays healthy, they’re the team to beat.


Next up for Arizona is Seattle who just lost 23-17 at home to the Rams which ended a five game win streak. St. Louis swept the Seahawks this season and while Seattle will have to do all its playoff damage of the road, their still rated by most as the top team from a point spread perspective in the NFL. Still, Arizona is a 4.5-point favorite at home this week as they look to sweep Seattle as well.


WESTGATE LAS VEGAS SUPERBOOK UPDATED FUTURES
2016 SUPER BOWL 50 @ LEVI'S STADIUM, SANTA CLARA, CA
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2016


SUPER BOWL 50 GAME LINE
NFC
AFC PK


TOTAL 51.5


SUPER BOWL


CARDINALS 7/2
PATRIOTS 7/2
PANTHERS 9/2
SEAHAWKS 6/1
BRONCOS 10/1
STEELERS 10/1
BENGALS 10/1
PACKERS 16/1
CHIEFS 20/1
VIKINGS 30/1
JETS 30/1
TEXANS 40/1
REDSKINS 50/1
COLTS 2000/1


NFC Championship Odds


CARDINALS 3/2
PANTHERS 2/1
SEAHAWKS 3/1
PACKERS 8/1
VIKINGS 15/1
REDSKINS 25/1


AFC Championship Odds


PATRIOTS 6/5
BRONCOS 9/2
STEELERS 9/2
BENGALS 9/2
CHIEFS 10/1
JETS 15/1
TEXANS 20/1
COLTS 1000/1

 

[CNOTES]

Packers open as 3-point home faves versus Vikings with NFC North title on the line


At 12-3 against the spread (10-5 straight up), the Minnesota Vikings are the second best spread wager in the NFL.


We’ve finally hit the last week of the regular season in the NFL, and with a host of games holding playoff ramifications, no less. Perhaps the most intriguing matchup will take place on the frozen tundra of Lambeau Field, between NFC North rivals Green Bay and Minnesota.


Both teams have already punched their postseason tickets. But the winner of this game wins the division, which comes with the No. 3 seed and a home game in the wild-card round of the playoffs. Both teams also enter this game following Week 16 blowouts, though they were on opposite sides of those results.


Green Bay (10-5 SU, 9-6 SU) went to Arizona as a 6-point underdog and got waxed by the Cardinals 38-8 Sunday. The loss halted a 4-1 SU and ATS surge by the Packers, including 3-0 SU and ATS in their previous three games.


On the flip side, in the Sunday night game, Minnesota manhandled a New York Giants squad that already knew it had nothing to play for, due to the Washington Redskins’ victory at Philadelphia on Saturday. The Vikings (10-5 SU, 12-3 ATS), with the second-best spread-covering record in the league, plowed to a 49-17 home victory laying 7 points.


The Packers and Vikings met Nov. 22 in Minnesota, with the Pack rolling 30-13 as 1-point pups, the win that started Green Bay’s 4-1 SU and ATS streak. John Lester, senior lines manager for Bookmaker.eu, had to hold off on posting a line, waiting to see how Minnesota comes out of the Sunday night game injury-wise, but he expects Green Bay to be a solid home favorite.


“A division title will be on the line, so we’re in for a great Week 17 bout,” Lester said. “The first matchup was completely one-sided, as the Vikings got behind big early, and they aren’t a team that is built to win from behind. But quarterback Teddy Bridgewater has really looked like a more confident player over the past couple of weeks. If everything goes accordingly Sunday night, the Packers will open around touchdown chalk.”


Johnny Avello, executive director of race and sports for Wynn Las Vegas, was seeing things tighter than that.


“I thought about opening this line at 5 or so, but the way Green Bay played against Arizona, and with the Packers having only two quality wins all year, I'll settle around 3 points,” Avello said. “The Vikings haven't beat the Pack in their last five meetings, but this one has more meaning than the last five combined.”


Seattle Seahawks at Arizona Cardinals (-4)


Arizona (13-2 SU, 9-6 ATS) is already guaranteed no worse than the No. 2 seed and a first-round playoff bye. But if somehow Tampa Bay beats Carolina in an early game next Sunday, the Cards could get the top seed by winning their late afternoon game against Seattle.


The Cardinals drubbed Green Bay 38-8 Sunday as 6-point home chalk for their ninth consecutive SU victory (5-4 ATS).


Seattle (9-6 SU, 7-7-1 ATS), locked into a wild-card playoff spot, was a hefty 11.5-point home fave Sunday against St. Louis, but couldn’t find a way to win, let alone cover. The Seahawks trailed 16-0 in the second quarter and ultimately lost 23-17.


Back in mid-November, Arizona went to Seattle as a 3-point pup and held on for a 39-32 outright victory.


“In meeting No. 1 this year, the Cards showed confidence as they jumped out to a big lead, fell behind and then rallied for the victory,” Avello said. “There's a changing of the guard in the NFC West, and the ‘Hawks need to play flawless to win in the desert.”


Lester pointed out that, should Carolina win, Arizona has nothing to play for.


“There was some discussion among our team to make the Cardinals a bit higher favorite, but considering there’s a chance they could sit some personnel, we settled on -4,” Lester said. “Seattle is also already in the second season and could do the same, but we aren’t anticipating that. Early money came in on the underdog, and we moved to -3 within the first half hour.”

Oakland Raiders at Kansas City Chiefs (-7)


Now that Carolina has lost, Kansas City is tied with Arizona for the longest active winning streak in the NFL. The Chiefs (10-5 SU, 8-7 ATS) started out 1-5 SU and ATS, but they haven’t lost since. On Sunday, they won their ninth in a row (7-2 ATS) fending off Cleveland 17-13, though K.C. fell well short at the betting window as an 11.5-point home fave.


The Chiefs have locked up at least a wild-card bid, but could still catch or even overtake Denver and win the AFC West.


Oakland (7-8 SU and ATS) has been hit-and-miss all season, but is still far better than last year’s squad, which dropped its first 10 games en route to a 3-13 SU mark. On Thursday night, the Raiders squeaked by San Diego 23-20 in overtime, just short of cashing as a 4-point fave.


“Even though the Chiefs have clinched a playoff berth, we don’t think they’ll be diverting from the norm in Week 17, especially considering their norm is vanilla,” Lester said. “The Raiders have been a popular play among the public recently, and this spread will probably shift south at some point. I’d be hard-pressed to bet against K.C. at the moment, with the way that defense is playing.”


Indeed, during their current run, the Chiefs have held seven opponents to 14 points or less. But Avello expects a game effort from Oakland.


“Unlike season-ending games where teams have nothing to play for and just want to call it a year, the Raiders will not be experimenting and will bring the entire arsenal,” he said. “A 6- to 7-point spread should be about right here, with K.C.’s home-field advantage.”


San Diego Chargers at Denver Broncos


If Denver (10-4 SU, 8-6 ATS) doesn’t take care of business tonight at home against Cincinnati, it could be fighting for its playoff life against the Chargers. Recent performances certainly don’t bode well for the Broncos, who lost at home to Oakland in an uninspired Week 14 performance, then blew a 27-13 halftime lead at Pittsburgh in Week 15, losing 34-27 as 7.5-point pups.


San Diego (4-11 SU, 7-8 ATS) has a record that could easily be far better. The Chargers have lost seven games by a touchdown or less, including four by four points or less. That included last Thursday night’s 23-20 overtime setback catching 4 points at Oakland.


With Denver in the Monday nighter to cap Week 16, the line will have to wait on this contest. And there’s a chance that Peyton Manning might return for the regular-season finale, too.


“The Chargers have quietly been playing good ball the last couple of weeks, actually all year to some extent, but they don’t get any respect from the betting public,” Lester said. “We’ll have to be generous with the Denver side for this afternoon affair.”


Added Avello: “This one might or might not mean a thing, depending on Denver's Monday night outcome. Denver's offense has relied on its defense all year, and that defense is now starting to show signs of wear and tear.”

 

[CNOTES]

Football bettors must react quickly to these NFL Week 17 odds


A Green Bay loss means schlepping on the road in the opening round, and as their 38-8 loss at Arizona showed, the Packers are not the same team away from home.


Spread to bet on now


Minnesota Vikings at Green Bay Packers (-3)


Five straight wins, three straight losses, three straight wins. And now a 30-point mail-it-in loss to the Cardinals. What’s going on with the Packers?


Aaron Rodgers says not to worry, that when the real season starts the real Pack will be back. Well, this one qualifies as the real season, because it’s winner-take-all for the NFC title, a No. 3 seed in the playoffs and a home game on wild card weekend.


A GB loss means schlepping on the road in the opening round, and as their 38-8 loss at Arizona showed, the Packers are not the same team away from home. GB is 4-3 ATS at home this season, and this line is not likely to move.


Spread to wait on


New England Patriots at Miami Dolphins (+9)


No one is crying about the injury problems facing the Patriots, but being banged up has had a major impact on New England’s offense. The Patriots have scored 30 points in a game only once (Tennessee) since October, and the offensive line is so hurting that NE has gone to a quick passing attack to protect Tom Brady and has almost completely abandoned the run.


Defenses are starting to adjust. Whether the listless Dolphins – who have lost three straight, five of their last six and haven’t covered a spread since Nov. 15 – can take advantage of the Pats’ issues is anyone’s guess.


New England has struggled in Miami, but this Dolphin team doesn’t seem to have any fight left in it. Lots of moving parts here in an awkward line that could shift as we find out who will play for NE, and who won’t.


Total to watch


New York Jets at Buffalo Bills (43)


For all the talk of the Bills being ready to take the next step and finally challenge the Patriots in an AFC East that seems to be owned by New England, it was actually the Jets who have made things interesting this year.


Buffalo can max out at 8-8 this season after going 9-7 pre-Rex Ryan, and for all the talk about Ryan’s defensive acumen, Buffalo has been a below-average defensive team (20th overall).


The Jets, meanwhile, have been the real deal – holding their last five opponents to fewer than 20 points. For comparative purposes, Buffalo won 22-17, in their first meeting.

 

[CNOTES]

Hoyer expected to start for Texans
December 28, 2015


HOUSTON (AP) Houston quarterback Brian Hoyer is in the last phase of the NFL's concussion protocol and will start Sunday against Jacksonville if he is cleared to play.


Hoyer missed the last two games after suffering his second concussion in less than a month on Dec. 13.


''He has progressed well through the protocol and he's basically in the last phase of that evaluation, and so I'll know more on Wednesday,'' coach Bill O'Brien said.


T.J. Yates started the first game Hoyer missed, but tore the ACL in his left knee in the second quarter. He was replaced by Brandon Weeden, who helped Houston to a win over Indianapolis in that game and led the Texans to a victory against Tennessee on Sunday. Despite his solid play the last two weeks, O'Brien said Weeden will likely head back to the bench this weekend.


''Brandon's done a really good job,'' O'Brien said. ''He did a good job in the Indy game, did a good job (Sunday) but if Brian's healthy and clear he's our starter.''


Weeden started three games for the Cowboys early this season after Tony Romo was injured and Dallas lost all of those games. He was replaced by Matt Cassel after that and was released by the Cowboys when Romo returned after his first injury. The Texans signed him on Nov. 19 after Hoyer's first concussion, but he didn't appear in a game until Yates was injured two weeks ago.


Hoyer said last week that he was feeling better but wasn't sure when he would be cleared to return. He missed just one game after his first concussion on Nov. 16, but was concussed again just three games later against the Patriots when he was sacked five times.


Even with Houston in the mix to win the AFC South for the first time since 2012, O'Brien said that wouldn't change how he'd approach Sunday's game and he doesn't plan on resting players.


''We have to focus on the Jacksonville Jaguars,'' O'Brien said. ''Believe me, I understand all those things and the scenarios. But I think this team has to really do what we've tried to do all year, especially in the last half of the season. To show up every day and get better. Try to improve and try to win.''


Notes: O'Brien said that outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney is day to day with an injured foot, but that there is no structural damage and he could play on Sunday. Clowney, last year's top overall pick who has struggled with injuries in his two seasons in Houston, was injured in the fourth quarter against the Titans. ... Special teams star and backup cornerback Charles James, who had been playing for a month with a slight fracture in his foot, fractured it fully on Sunday and will be placed on the injured reserve.

 

[CNOTES]

Agent: Weddle fined $10K by Chargers
December 28, 2015


SAN DIEGO (AP) Agent David Canter says San Diego Chargers safety Eric Weddle has been fined $10,000 by the team for remaining on the sideline at halftime of a Dec. 20 home game to watch his daughter dance in a program sponsored by the team's cheerleaders.


Canter says he plans to file a grievance with the NFL Players Association.


Canter says he and Weddle didn't plan to say anything about the fine, but changed their minds after Weddle and three other players were placed on injured reserve Monday and then told they will not travel to Sunday's game at Denver.


That game could be the team's last as the San Diego Chargers. Chairman Dean Spanos wants to move to a Los Angeles suburb.


Weddle's contract is expiring and the team has declined to offer an extension.

 

[CNOTES]

Injuries force Colts to face QB questions
December 28, 2015


INDIANAPOLIS (AP) The Colts have put Charlie Whitehurst on injured reserve, leaving recently signed Stephen Morris as the only healthy quarterback on the roster.


Starting quarterback Andrew Luck has already missed eight games this season and may miss this weekend's regular season finale against Tennessee. Backup quarterback Matt Hasselbeck has been knocked out of the last four games and is now doubtful after finishing Sunday's game with his injured right shoulder in a sling.


Third-stringer Charlie Whitehurst was barely able to run out the clock in Miami after hurting his hamstring.


The Colts (7-8) had former Buccaneers quarterback Josh Freeman in for a workout and that the team was now debating whether to sign him.

 

[CNOTES]

Wife of 'Fins CB lashes out on Twitter
December 28, 2015


DAVIE, Fla. (AP) The Miami Dolphins' latest loss has prompted a Twitter tirade from the wife of cornerback Brent Grimes directed at quarterback Ryan Tannehill.


Miko Grimes, who has 10,000 Twitter followers, is known for her strong opinions and profane postings, and has criticized Tannehill before. But her reaction to Sunday's 18-12 loss to Indianapolis was particularly vehement.


She tweeted that no legitimate coach will come to Miami as long as Tannehill is the quarterback, and he's the reason for their poor season.


The rant is one more sign this season can't end soon enough for the Dolphins (5-10). They've lost three games in a row and are assured of finishing last in the AFC East for the first time since 2007, when they went 1-15.

 

[CNOTES]

Jets on verge of playoffs - with Rex Ryan standing in way
December 29, 2015


NEW YORK (AP) All that stands between the New York Jets and the playoffs is Rex Ryan.


Well, how's that for an absolutely juicy story line?


The Jets, in their first season under coach Todd Bowles, are facing a win-and-in scenario against the Buffalo Bills and their former coach, who was fired after failing to lead New York to the postseason in each of the last four of his six seasons.


''In the words of the great Steve Smith,'' linebacker Calvin Pace said, referring to Baltimore's loquacious wide receiver, ''`Man, it's going to be a bloodbath.'''


The Jets (10-5) went from being outside the playoff picture to controlling their chances with a 26-20 overtime victory Sunday over the New England Patriots - helped in large part by Bill Belichick choosing to kick off rather than start the extra period on offense.


Ryan Fitzpatrick coolly marched the Jets down the field and won it with a 6-yard pass to Eric Decker.


Pittsburgh, which held a tiebreaker edge over New York, surprisingly lost to Baltimore and slipped behind the Jets in the playoff race. As a result of Denver's 20-17 overtime win over Cincinnati on Monday night, New York can earn a berth with a win or if Pittsburgh loses to Cleveland next Sunday.


''I want it,'' defensive lineman Sheldon Richardson said of reaching the postseason. ''I want it bad.''


He and the Jets get to prove how much next Sunday at Buffalo (7-8). The Bills had high hopes in Ryan's first season, especially when he declared their playoff drought would end. Instead, they'll miss out for the 16th straight year.


So, after spending six years doing everything he could to get the Jets into the postseason, Ryan will be out to keep them from getting in.


''It's just the next game on the schedule,'' cornerback Darrelle Revis said, downplaying the matchup.


Ryan is already 1-0 against his former team after a 22-17 victory over the Jets in a Thursday night game. While Ryan was clearly excited by the win, he also predicted the teams' next meeting would probably help decide who goes to the playoffs.


He was half-right.


On Monday, Ryan praised the Jets, not adding any extra fuel - but, it's early in the week, of course.


''I think, first off, it's about getting the win and we know we are facing a team that is red hot,'' Ryan said in Buffalo. ''This team is a complete football team.''


After their loss to the Bills, the Jets fell to Houston 24-17 to drop to 5-5. A 4-1 start was washed away by inconsistency, lost opportunities and a search for answers.


''We had to come together,'' Pace said, ''or the ship was gonna sink.''


They haven't lost since.


''The past couple weeks have been playoff games,'' Bowles said. ''There really is no pressure. They just play together and we have fun and we try to get better as a team. There's no pressure on us. We know have to win. We've been having to win the past five weeks. ''


Fitzpatrick's steady play during the winning streak has been MVP-like. He has thrown for 1,525 yards and 13 touchdowns with one interception. In three of the last four games, Fitzpatrick has driven the Jets to a win in the final 2 minutes of regulation or overtime.


''Fitz has been amazing for us,'' Pace said.


So has Brandon Marshall, who set the franchise's season record with 101 catches - and counting. Decker has, too, with 75 catches, including 11 TD grabs.


The defense has been terrific the past month, led by a front line that made things miserable for Tom Brady and the Patriots.


These are the things the Jets players expected back in September.


''There was still a ton of belief and I just think you know being in the league and having experience that a lot of us do have, you can recognize when you have a good team,'' Fitzpatrick said. ''So, I think the belief's always been there just because we see the way that everybody works week in and week out and we see the talent level on this team.


''I think that the belief has been there from Day 1 and it hasn't wavered.''


Left tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson echoed that sentiment: ''I think we knew we had a special team even at the beginning of the season.''


Bowles let his team know what's at stake in his postgame speech Sunday, telling the players: ''Win and we're in.''


That's about as far as the coach will go in terms of motivational tactics. Bowles feels none of that stuff is needed at this point with so much on the line.


''We're going to treat it the same,'' Bowles said of the approach for Sunday's game. ''We understand what we're going up against. We've got to continue to do the things we've been doing. We try to do anything else, then we won't have a chance to win.''

 

[CNOTES]

Browns coach to talk with Manziel about latest video
December 29, 2015


CLEVELAND (AP) Johnny Manziel's latest video appearance has the Browns concerned.


The second-year quarterback is expected to have a conversation with Cleveland coach Mike Pettine after another video surfaced over the weekend on social media of him partying. In the short clip, Manziel, wearing a ''Merry Manziel'' shirt, is seen singing along as ''March Madness'' by Future plays in the background. A framed jersey of Tampa Bay's Mike Evans, one of Manziel's Texas A&M teammates, hangs on the wall behind him.


Last month, Manziel was demoted from starter to third-string by Pettine after he denied that a video of him partying in Austin, Texas, was taken during Cleveland's bye week. Manziel had promised Pettine and other coaches he wouldn't be a distraction while the team was off.


On Monday, Pettine said he had not yet seen the new video of Manziel.


''Any time there's something with our players that casts them potentially in a bad light, whether it's Johnny or any of our other guys, it's certainly a concern,'' Pettine said on a conference call. ''I'm sure I'll see it and have a discussion with him about it. These circumstances are different from the incident that occurred before. I'm just not going to go into a ton of detail with it until I get a little bit more information about it, but it's something that I'm sure privately we'll discuss if it needs to be discussed.''


Pettine had promised there would be ''harsh'' repercussions if Manziel had another embarrassing issue. The Browns have been supportive of the 2012 Heisman Trophy winner, who has shown major progress in his second NFL season following a rough rookie year which was followed by a 73-day stay in a rehab facility for an unspecified condition.


When he benched Manziel previously, Pettine said he was doing so because the 23-year-old had violated the team's trust.


Manziel was shot holding a champagne bottle in the video last month, and in the new one he appears to be holding an alcoholic beverage. Pettine was asked if he was troubled that Manziel would be so public with his drinking considering his past issues.


''It falls back into not micromanaging personal lives, and it's very public unfortunately,'' said Pettine. ''The thing that's disappointing is how public it becomes and it's something with all of our players we're going to sit down with them before they get out of here and talk about where they are personally, where they are professionally, and certainly Johnny will be no exception.''


Manziel rushed for 108 yards - the most by a quarterback in team history - in Sunday's 17-13 loss at Kansas City. It was his third straight start and the Browns are hoping to get another look at the 23-year-old on Sunday in the season finale against Pittsburgh.

 

[CNOTES]

Betting Recap - Week 16
December 29, 2015




Overall Notes


NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE WEEK 16 RESULTS


Wager Favorites-Underdogs
Straight Up 9-7
Against the Spread 6-10


Wager Home-Away
Straight Up 11-5
Against the Spread 8-8


Wager Totals (O/U)
Over-Under 7-9


The largest underdogs to win straight up
Falcons (+7, +270 ML) vs. Panthers, 20-13
Rams (+11, +500 ML) at Seahawks, 23-17
Ravens (+11.5, +450 ML) vs. Steelers, 20-17


The largest favorites to cover
Bills (-6.5) vs. Cowboys, 16-6
Lions (-9) vs. 49ers, 32-17
Vikings (-7) vs. Giants, 49-17


Wild Cards


-- The Arizona Cardinals stomped the hard-to-figure Green Bay Packers by a 38-8 score, taking advantage of several turnovers, including a pair of Aaron Rodgers' fumbles for touchdowns which put 'under' (46) bettors on edge for a bit. The Cardinals have won nine in a row since their last setback Oct. 18 in Pittsburgh, and they're unbeaten against teams either already in the playoff field, or those in contention. The Cards have also covered three of their past four games.


Overall at home they are 6-1 SU, but still just 3-4 ATS heading into their Week 17 showdown with the Seattle Seahawks. Arizona topped the 'Hawks 39-32 in the first meeting Nov. 15 in Seattle, as the 'over' easily cashed. Lately, defense has reigned supreme for Arizona, with the 'under' going 4-1 in the past five and the Cards allowing just 12.2 points per game during the span.
Jets Overheads


-- The New York Jets picked up a 26-20 overtime win over the hated visiting New England Patriots to put them in a good spot for a playoff spot, although Rex Ryan and the Buffalo Bills stand in the way in Week 17. After a four-game non-cover skid from Nov. 1-22, the Jets are 4-1 ATS over their past five games, all straight-up wins. In their first meeting with the Bills back on Nov. 12, it was Sexy Rex's bunch with a 17-12 win at MetLife Stadium as 2 1/2-point underdogs.


The Jets opened as 1 1/2-point favorites, with the line quickly moving to 3 as of Tuesday afternoon. New York is 6-1-1 ATS in their past eight against AFC East foes, but remember that one loss was against Buffalo earlier this season. Buffalo is 3-0-1 ATS in its past four divisional games, and 7-3 ATS in the past 10 at home.


AFC vs. NFC


-- The AFC and NFC were matched up just twice in Week 16, and those were the final cross-conference games of the season, with the Week 17 NFL schedule featuring all divisional matchups. The Buffalo Bills chalked one up in the win and cover column with a 16-6 win over the Dallas Cowboys, while the homestanding New Orleans Saints showed a little pride in a 38-27 win over the previously hot Jacksonville Jaguars.


-- The 'over/under' went 1-1 in the six AFC vs. NFC matchups in Week 16, and the 'under' finished 38-19-2 (66.7%) in intraconference matchups this season.


Total Recall


-- It was a high-scoring Week 15, but that was not the case in Week 16. Nine of the 16 games went 'under' the total, including Sunday night's overtime battle between the Cincinnati Bengals and Denver Broncos Bills. 'Under' (39) bettors were worried when the game went to OT tied at 17, as a pair of field goals would have been a bad beat. Denver kicked their FG, but had a sack and fumble recovery to help bettors.


We did see four teams go for 38 or more points, including a 49-spot by the Minnesota Vikings in their Sunday night effort against the New York Giants, but the we also saw 19 of the 32 teams in the NFL post 20 or fewer points, which is something 'under' bettors love to see.


-- The lowest total on the board was in that Cincinnati-Denver game, and it just went 'under'. The Houston-Tennessee game also had a total of 39, and just went 'over' for some, with a the Texans winning 34-6. That line opened as high as 42 1/2 at some shops, so if you bet the total early on this game, the result was quite different. It closed at 39, and hovered around 39 1/2 for most of the week, so we'll call it an 'over'.


-- The highest total on the board was the Jacksonville-New Orleans game (52.5), and that game easily cashed an 'over' ticket with 65 points. Every quarter had at least 14 total points. That's now 6-2 for the over in New Orleans games heading into Week 17. The meet Atlanta on the road in the season finale. The total pushed the last time these teams met, with the Saints winning 31-21 in NOLA.


-- The Vikings flexed a little muscle in Week 17, scoring a season-high 49 points in their win against the G-Men. The 'over' has cashed in back-to-back games for the first time this season for Minnesota after going 10-2-1 in their first 13 games. They face the Packers in Week 17 on the road. The 'over' hit in the rematch with a division foe against the Lions in Week 7, as well as against the Bears in Week 15. Will it be 3-for-3 when they visit Lambeau Field in Week 17?


-- The 'over/under' was 2-2 in four primetime games in Week 16. Officially, the 'over' is 20-27-1 (42.6%) through 48 games under the lights. In 2014, the over went 33-17 (66%) in primetime games, and the over was 28-22 (56%) in 2013. There is just one primetime game in Week 17, the Minnesota-Green Bay game.


Injury Report


-- Bengals QB A.J. McCarron (wrist) was nicked in the Week 16 overtime loss against the Broncos. He is considered day-to-day. He will have an MRI Tuesday. The news comes on the same day it was revealed QB Andy Dalton (thumb) does not think he will be ready for the wild-card round of the playoffs if the team cannot secure a bye.


-- Colts QB Andrew Luck (kidney) has yet to be cleared to return. QB Matt Hasselbeck (shoulder) did not sound optimistic Sunday when asked about Week 17, so it could be QB Charlie Whitehurst trying to get Indy into the postseason.


-- Cowboys WR Dez Bryant (ankle, foot, knee) has an assortment of injuries, and he is a question mark heading into Week 17.


-- Titans QB Marcus Mariota (knee) is being evaluated, and could return in Week 17. WR Kendall Wright (knee) could return to practice this week after aggravating a medial collateral ligament injury.


-- Seahawks RB Marshawn Lynch (abdomen) has a chance to return for the Week 17 game against the Cardinals, head coach Pete Carroll said.


-- Texans WR Cecil Shorts III (hamstring) has already been ruled out for the regular season finale.


Looking Ahead


-- The home team has covered seven straight meetings in the Miami-New England series, with the favorite going 5-1 ATS in the past six and the 'under' 5-2 in the past seven.


-- The underdog is 4-0 ATS in the past four meetings between Atlanta-New Orleans, with the home team going 7-1 ATS in the past eight. The 'under' is 5-1 in the past six in Atlanta, and 4-1-1 in the past six meetings overall.


-- The Jaguars are 3-0-1 ATS in the past four meetings in Houston, and the road team is 7-1-1 ATS in the past nine meetings in this series. The underdog is 5-1 in the past six battles.


-- The Lions are 8-3 ATS in the past 11 meetings with the Bears, while the home team is 7-3 ATS in the past 10 meetings in this series. The 'under' is 4-1 in the past five battles at Soldier Field.


-- The Redskins are 7-1 ATS in their past eight trips to Dallas, and Washington is 8-3 in the past 11 meetings overall. The underdog is 26-9 ATS in the past 35 in this series, and the 'under' has cashed in five of the past six in the series.


-- St. Louis is 4-1 ATS in their past five divisional games, and 6-2-1 ATS in their past nine road games against a team with a losing home record. San Francisco is 1-7-1 ATS in their past nine divisional games, and 6-14-1 ATS in their past 21 games overall.


-- The 'over' has cashed in 10 of the past 11 meetings in Arizona between the Seahawks and Cardinals. The road team is also 4-1 ATS in the past five in this series.


-- The 'over' is 4-0 in the past four meetings between the Raiders and Chiefs, but the 'under' is 6-1 in the past seven meetings at Arrowhead. The Raiders are 7-2 ATS in their past nine trips to K.C., and the road team has cashed in 19 of the past 26 in the series.

 

[CNOTES]

Close Calls - Week 16
December 29, 2015


Each week there are a handful of NFL games that go down to the wire not only on the scoreboard but also relative to the pointspread. Here is a look at the outcome-impacting late game plays from Week 16 of the NFL season with several games nearly featuring a different result.


Oakland Raiders (-4) 23, San Diego Chargers 20 (45): On Thursday night, San Diego took control early in the Christmas Eve matchup in the AFC West billed as potentially the last game in Oakland for the Raiders. Leading 17-10 at the half, San Diego suffered a safety late in the third quarter to shift momentum as both offenses mostly stalled in the second half. On the next two possessions, the Chargers missed a field goal and then had a fumble with the turnover setting up Oakland’s go-ahead touchdown with less than five minutes to go in the game. The Raiders went for two and got it to take a three-point lead. San Diego was able to answer however as Josh Lambo hit a 45-yard field goal for the tie with 55 seconds to go.


The Raiders were not able to advance in the final minute, but they won the toss and got the ball first in overtime. The Raiders survived numerous penalties to grind out a 15-play drive over nearly seven minutes, but ultimately had to settle for a short field goal after going backwards from 1st-and-goal. Those on the ‘over’ hoped for a San Diego equalizer and those that had moneyline tickets on the Chargers needed a late rally after the blown lead, but the Oakland defense held with the Chargers losing narrowly yet again in a tough-luck season.


Chicago Bears (+3) 26, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 21 (43½): The Buccaneers hit a big play in the third quarter to take a 14-13 and Tampa Bay appeared poised to add more points with a drive to the Chicago 11-yard line on the next possession before Jameis Winston was intercepted. Doug Martin fumbled on the next Tampa Bay possession to hand the Bears great field position and early in the fourth quarter, Chicago took the lead with a touchdown to go up 20-14. Chicago added a 50-yard field goal to put the underdog in a commanding position and leave the ‘over’ with an opportunity. Tampa Bay would miss a field goal on the next possession and the Bears added three more points with just over a minute to go to put the total on 40. The Buccaneers would deliver a late touchdown with a 43-yard pass play with a second left on the clock to push the total past the number even on totals as high as 46½ early in the week.

Buffalo Bills (-6) 16, Dallas Cowboys 6 (42): With a 6-6 game at the half, the ‘under’ was a clear winner in this matchup, but the Bills were able to get a field goal in the third quarter to lead 9-6, leaving the favorite with an opportunity to get past a spread that was at -6 or -6½ during the week. A Kellen Moore interception set up the Bills in great position to at least add another three points late in the third quarter, but Buffalo fumbled the ball back to Dallas. After trading punts, Buffalo was able to pick up a few first downs late in the game with a fresh set of downs with just over three minutes to go and Dallas with only one timeout remaining. Moving the chains again would have likely sealed the win for the Bills, but Mike Gillislee broke a 50-yard run to put the Bills in front by 10 for the late favorite cover.


Detroit Lions (-9) 32, San Francisco 49ers 17 (42½): The Lions and 49ers were tied 17-17 late in the second quarter, but Detroit hit a field goal as the half expired. With a third quarter field goal, Detroit went up by six and the Lions were able to pull away in the fourth, adding a Calvin Johnson touchdown and another field goal. With the margin at 15 points, a late San Francisco touchdown would have been enough for a backdoor cover, but two drives around midfield ended on downs for the 49ers with Detroit’s defense stepping up in the second half in a game that was pretty even statistically despite the final margin.


New York Jets (+2½) 26, New England Patriots 20 (45½): The Jets led 17-3 early in the second half in a critical AFC playoff picture game for the team. New England climbed closer with a field goal late in the third quarter, but those on the underdog felt pretty comfortable especially with +3 or +3½ available earlier in the weekend. Disaster struck as Ryan Fitzpatrick fumbled while being sacked and Jamie Collins returned the fumble for a touchdown and it was a four-point game with a potential New England touchdown enough to flip the result for those on the game late. In the fourth quarter, Randy Bullock nailed a long field goal to make it a seven-point margin and late in the game, Tom Brady delivered another great drive with two fourth down conversions to put New England in the end zone with a tie game just after the two-minute warning.


The Jets were able to cross midfield with the help of a big third down pass interference penalty and were getting close enough to consider a long range field goal, but with 37 seconds remaining, a miss might have handed New England a great opportunity. The Jets punted and New England took a knee rather than making an attempt to advance. The Patriots opted to kick in overtime and mismanaged the situation as they intended to choose the direction with wind a factor in the game while assuming the Jets would receive. The Jets hit a big play on second down to enter field goal range and three plays later, New York was in the end zone for the win as Brady never saw the ball in overtime. The overtime touchdown also was enough to flip the total for many with a number that slid from 46½ down to 45 late in the week.


Houston Texans (-3½) 34, Tennessee Titans 6 (38½): The Texans took control of this game early with a defensive touchdown and never looked back. At 17-0 at halftime, the ‘under’ looked promising even with a low total that fell from 41½ to below 40. In the third quarter, the Texans scored two touchdowns behind Brandon Weeden and it was 34-0 entering the fourth quarter. Despite the 12 previous drives all ending in punts or turnovers, Tennessee and Zach Mettenberger were able to spoil the shutout as well as sending the game ‘over’ as they connected on fourth down for a touchdown with less than two minutes to go. The two-point conversion that followed was missed, a key play for many that got involved with the total early in the week.


Denver Broncos (-3½) 20, Cincinnati Bengals 17 (39): The Bengals led by A.J. McCarron looked great against Denver’s excellent defense early in the game with a 14-0 lead early in the second quarter. Denver managed to get on the board before halftime following up a missed kick from Cincinnati and the Broncos were back in the game with a third quarter touchdown. Seven straight drives ending in punts with only one first down followed before C.J. Anderson broke a 39-yard run for a touchdown after the Broncos got the ball in good field position early in the fourth quarter. That put Denver up 17-14 with the spread that briefly touched -3 during the week before climbing back up to -3½ or -4.


McCarron delivered a strong drive with a few big third down conversions to re-tie the game, but it looked Denver would score again and possibly get past the spread. The Broncos faced little resistance with a fresh set of downs in field goal range with just over four minutes to go, but Anderson coughed the ball up. Cincinnati ultimately had to give the ball back and the Broncos were back in field goal range in the final minute, but Brandon McManus missed badly from 45 yards. Denver went first in overtime and had three shots from inside the Cincinnati 20 to reach the end zone before McManus redeemed the miss to put Denver up by three. Two plays later, McCarron mishandled the snap and the fumble was recovered by the Broncos to seal the win, but Denver never got past the home favorite spread.

 

[CNOTES]

Chip Kelly fired after Eagles moves lead to missed playoffs
December 29, 2015


PHILADELPHIA (AP) GM Chip Kelly cost coach Chip Kelly his job.


The Philadelphia Eagles fired Kelly Tuesday night with one game left in his third season, dumping the coach/personnel boss after missing the playoffs in consecutive years.


Kelly was released before the finale of a disappointing season that began with Super Bowl expectations. The Eagles are 6-9 after going 10-6 two years in a row. They were eliminated from playoff contention after losing to Washington at home on Saturday night.


Eagles CEO Jeffrey Lurie issued a one-sentence statement to reporters saying he appreciates Kelly's contributions and wishes him success going forward.


Lurie told fans in an email that he decided to make a change after ''evaluating the many factors involved in our performance as a team.''


The Eagles also fired Ed Marynowitz, who was vice president of player personnel. Longtime NFL executive Tom Donahoe will assume the role of senior director of player personnel.


Kelly gained full control of personnel decisions last offseason, winning a power struggle with then-general manager Howie Roseman. But Kelly tore apart a winning team and several of his bold moves backfired.


Since March 2014, Kelly released three-time Pro Bowl wide receiver DeSean Jackson, traded two-time All-Pro running back LeSean McCoy, didn't re-sign 2014 Pro Bowl wideout Jeremy Maclin, cut two-time Pro Bowl guard Evan Mathis and traded quarterback Nick Foles and a 2016 second-round draft pick for Sam Bradford.


He also gave big money in free agency to running back DeMarco Murray and cornerback Byron Maxwell. Murray has been a bust and Maxwell has underperformed. Kelly even signed Tim Tebow, but released him after he won the competition for the No. 3 quarterback job.


A person familiar with the decision to fire Kelly told The Associated Press Tuesday night that the team didn't consider only stripping him of personnel control, opting to part with him entirely. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because Lurie will address Kelly's dismissal on Wednesday.


Kelly didn't want players perceived as ''me-first'' guys. He alienated some of his players, though the only ones who spoke out against him did it after they were gone.


McCoy, the franchise's all-time leading rusher and a fan favorite, made headlines when he said there's a reason Kelly got rid of ''all the good black players.'' Cornerback Brandon Boykin, who was traded to Pittsburgh, said Kelly was ''uncomfortable'' around black players.


Other players supported Kelly and moves such as signing Murray and Maxwell contradicted McCoy's claim. But Kelly's reputation took a hit anyway.


Shortly after Kelly was fired, former Eagles linebacker Emmanuel Acho tweeted: ''Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.''


Suspended Cleveland Browns receiver Josh Gordon tweeted: ''Shady, Maclin, Foles, Djax.. Smh.''


Two current Eagles players, speaking on condition of anonymity because the team was not publicly discussing the firing, told the AP that several players had met in groups in recent weeks to discuss their frustration with Kelly. They said they expressed relief in text exchanges with teammates after the team announced it had fired Kelly, after most players had left the team's practice facility for the day.


Kelly replaced Andy Reid and led the Eagles to an NFC East title in 2013 after they were 4-12 a year earlier. The Eagles lost at home to New Orleans in the playoffs and missed the postseason in 2014 following a 9-3 start.


They were 7-12 in Kelly's last 19 games.


Kelly was considered one of the most innovative coaches in college when the Eagles lured him away from Oregon in 2013. He brought his up-tempo offense and a unique approach that included monitoring players' sleep habits, changing the menu in the cafeteria and playing loud music during practices. Players had protein shakes waiting for them after practice and the team took the field on Tuesdays, which is a day off for the rest of the NFL.


Kelly's offense was dynamic his first season and set several franchise records. It steadily declined the next two years. The defense has been the worst in the NFL for three seasons.


Offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur will coach the team in the season finale at the New York Giants on Sunday.


Lurie told fans President Don Smolenski and Roseman, the executive vice president of football operations, will assist him in the search for a new coach.


Roseman helped convince Kelly to take the job after he initially decided to stay at Oregon. Kelly ended up taking Roseman's job without the title - the Eagles technically didn't have a GM this season. But Roseman is the last one standing in Philadelphia.


Many fans are thrilled Kelly's gone, celebrating publicly and on social networks.


Dane Lawrence, of Philadelphia, saw the news on his phone while walking down a downtown street and celebrated on the sidewalk.


''Chip Kelly got fired!'' he shouted, gleefully, smiling and shaking his fists like Tiger Woods after sinking a winning putt. ''He got fired! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes!''

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Jets (10-5) at Bills (7-8)
Date: January 03, 2016 1:00 PM EDT

(AP) - All that stands between the New York Jets and the playoffs is Rex Ryan.


Well, how's that for an absolutely juicy story line?


The Jets, in their first season under coach Todd Bowles, are facing a win-and-in scenario against the Buffalo Bills and their former coach, who was fired after failing to lead New York to the postseason in each of the last four of his six seasons.


'In the words of the great Steve Smith,' linebacker Calvin Pace said, referring to Baltimore's loquacious wide receiver, '`Man, it's going to be a bloodbath.''


The Jets (10-5) went from being outside the playoff picture to controlling their chances with a 26-20 overtime victory last Sunday over the New England Patriots - helped in large part by Bill Belichick choosing to kick off rather than start the extra period on offense.


Ryan Fitzpatrick coolly marched the Jets down the field and won it with a 6-yard pass to Eric Decker.


Pittsburgh, which held a tiebreaker edge over New York, surprisingly lost to Baltimore and slipped behind the Jets in the playoff race. As a result of Denver's 20-17 overtime win over Cincinnati on Monday night, New York can earn a berth with a win or if Pittsburgh loses to Cleveland on Sunday.


'I want it,' defensive lineman Sheldon Richardson said of reaching the postseason. 'I want it bad.'


He and the Jets get to prove how much Sunday at Buffalo (7-8). The Bills had high hopes in Ryan's first season, especially when he declared their playoff drought would end. Instead, they'll miss out for the 16th straight year.


So, after spending six years doing everything he could to get the Jets into the postseason, Ryan will be out to keep them from getting in.


'It's just the next game on the schedule,' cornerback Darrelle Revis said, downplaying the matchup.


Ryan is already 1-0 against his former team after a 22-17 victory over the Jets in a Thursday night game in Week 10. While Ryan was clearly excited by the win, he also predicted the teams' next meeting would probably help decide who goes to the playoffs.


He was half-right.


On Monday, Ryan praised the Jets, not adding any extra fuel.


'I think, first off, it's about getting the win and we know we are facing a team that is red hot,' Ryan said in Buffalo. 'This team is a complete football team.'


After their loss to the Bills, the Jets fell to Houston 24-17 to drop to 5-5. A 4-1 start was washed away by inconsistency, lost opportunities and a search for answers.


'We had to come together,' Pace said, 'or the ship was gonna sink.'


They haven't lost since.


'The past couple weeks have been playoff games,' Bowles said. 'There really is no pressure. They just play together and we have fun and we try to get better as a team. There's no pressure on us. We know have to win. We've been having to win the past five weeks. '


Fitzpatrick's steady play during the winning streak has been MVP-like. He has thrown for 1,525 yards and 13 touchdowns with one interception. In three of the last four games, Fitzpatrick has driven the Jets to a win in the final 2 minutes of regulation or overtime.


'Fitz has been amazing for us,' Pace said.


So has Brandon Marshall, who set the franchise's season record with 101 catches - and counting. Decker has, too, with 75 catches, including 11 TD grabs.


The defense has been terrific the past month, led by a front line that made things miserable for Tom Brady and the Patriots.


These are the things the Jets players expected back in September.


'There was still a ton of belief and I just think you know being in the league and having experience that a lot of us do have, you can recognize when you have a good team,' Fitzpatrick said. 'So, I think the belief's always been there just because we see the way that everybody works week in and week out and we see the talent level on this team.


'I think that the belief has been there from Day 1 and it hasn't wavered.'


The banged-up Bills have gone in the opposite direction of the Jets since the previous time the teams met, losing four of five before beating Dallas 16-6 last Sunday. However, they're motivated by the chance to be a factor in the AFC playoff race.


'This will be a playoff game for us,' left guard Richie Incognito said.


Defensive tackle Marcell Dareus hopes to play despite leaving last week's win with a pinched nerve in his neck, but the Bills may be more cautious with leading rusher LeSean McCoy after he sat out last week with a knee injury.


Ryan said he'd rather the Bills were in playoff contention than a spoiler role, and maintained that facing his former team added no extra meaning to the final game.


'Just us getting a win against a good football team is great,' Ryan said. 'I don't care if we play East Carolina, you want to get a win, period.'


Ryan acknowledged that Bills players may be motivated by the opportunity to keep their AFC East rivals out of the playoffs.


'I think guys do get revved up,' Ryan said. 'This is your last shot at it this year, so you get to play against a team that has everything riding on it.'

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Titans (3-12) at Colts (7-8)
Date: January 03, 2016 1:00 PM EDT

The Indianapolis Colts have a chance at winning a third straight AFC South title, albeit a very unlikely one.


First, they need to figure out who they're starting at quarterback.


With Matt Hasselbeck, Josh Freeman and Ryan Lindley vying for nod, the Colts go for a ninth straight win over the Tennessee Titans on Sunday.


Indianapolis (7-8) is one game back of Houston for first place in the division. While a victory combined with a Texans' loss to Jacksonville creates a tie in the standings, the Colts need seven other results to go their way in order to claim the tiebreaker for strength of schedule.


"I just know we are still alive," linebacker Robert Mathis told the team's official website after last week's 18-12 win at Miami, ending a three-game slide.


What the Colts don't know is who's starting under center. Andrew Luck was ruled out for a seventh straight game with a lacerated kidney and a partially torn abdominal muscle, while third-stringer Charlie Whitehurst landed on injured reserve Monday with a hamstring injury.


Hasselbeck is doubtful with an injured throwing shoulder, but he's optimistic he can play after claiming that he feels better than expected. The 40-year-old is 5-3 as a starter, completing 60.9 percent of passes for 1,690 yards with nine touchdowns and five interceptions.


Indianapolis isn't banking on Hasselbeck being able to go, signing Freeman and Lindley. Freeman hasn't thrown a pass in the NFL in over two years, while Lindley was a backup with Arizona from 2012-14.


"I was gearing up for the holidays in Kansas City and continuing to work out when they called," Freeman said. "That's the thing with this game, when you're a free agent you have to stay in shape and you have to be ready to go because you just never know."


Coach Chuck Pagano's future is another mystery since his contract expires after the season. The Colts went 11-5 in each of his first three seasons and reached the AFC title game a year ago.


"I will fight my (behind) off to be the coach here," Pagano said.


He's also going to need the offense to show some signs of life. It's averaging 13.5 points and 255.0 yards over the last four games.


Pagano, though, may find some solace in the Colts winning 13 of their last 14 meetings with the Titans, including eight straight after a 35-33 win in Week 3.


Frank Gore ran for two touchdowns in that matchup, giving him five in three career meetings.


The only race Tennessee (3-12) is involved in has to do with the top pick in the 2016 draft. While the Titans own the same record as Cleveland, a loss at Indianapolis would give them the first selection for the first time since 1978 when they picked Earl Campbell as the Houston Oilers.


Marcus Mariota, the second overall pick this year, is out for the finale due to a sprained right knee as interim coach Mike Mularkey claimed he still wasn't ready to return after sitting out last week's 34-6 loss to Houston.


"It's doing it the right way and being smart about it," Mularkey said. "We were hoping. We knew it was slim. He's a pretty quick healer, but not the case for this one.


"He'd play if he could."


Zach Mettenberger will start in place of Mariota again. He's 0-9 as a starter, losing three games this year while completing 60.7 percent of his passes for 592 yards with two touchdowns, four picks and a 65.2 passer rating.


Mettenberger connected on 27 of 51 passes for 234 yards with one TD and one interception last week while the Titans didn't score until there was 1:31 remaining in the game.


"That's my sole focus every week is to get the win," Mettenberger said, "and hopefully we play good enough football this week to get that."

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Patriots (12-3) at Dolphins (5-10)
Date: January 03, 2016 1:00 PM EDT

New England still controls its own destiny in clinching home-field advantage through the AFC playoffs, but the alarming part might be that it hasn't already been wrapped up.




Week 17 holds relevance for the Patriots, if only because of a questionable decision in their latest loss, though it seems unlikely Sunday's visit to Miami will hinge on a coin toss.


The Patriots (12-3) have already clinched a first-round bye, but Denver can still pass them for the top seed with a home victory over four-win San Diego and a New England loss. If that were to happen, Bill Belichick's decision to kick off to begin overtime of last Sunday's 26-20 loss to the New York Jets could again fall under scrutiny, but what might be more concerning than their possession decisions is that they head into the regular-season finale having lost three of five after a 10-0 start.


Belichick's focus is more basic than clinching any particular seed.


"In the end, you need to play well," said Belichick, whose team had home-field advantage through the AFC playoffs in its last three trips to the Super Bowl and lost in the AFC title game in Denver in 2013.


"Whoever we have to play, wherever we have to play them, whatever it is it is. But I think having a good team and playing well is more important than who or where you play."


Injuries have played a big part in a slowing offense over the past five games, and things were possibly at their worst against New York. The Patriots matched a season low for points and had their fewest total yards (284). After averaging 32.3 points and 412.4 yards over the undefeated start, New England has dipped to 26.4 and 334.2 over the 2-3 span. It was the failure to move the ball that made Belichick elect to kick off in overtime with hopes of playing the field-position game.


Top rushers LeGarrette Blount and Dion Lewis are done for the season, and Danny Amendola again joined fellow wideout Julian Edelman on the sideline last week. Amendola (knee) has missed two of the last five games, and Edelman has been out for six with a broken foot.


That's left Brandon LaFell and Keshawn Martin as Tom Brady's starting receivers as he pursues his second 5,000-yard passing season. Brady is 364 yards shy, and he's only reached that mark once this year in Week 2. It's unsurprisingly not at the forefront of his thoughts as the team tries to work through its recent circumstances.


"The only way to really improve is to go out there and practice and do things at a very competitive level so you can really see how things shake out on a practice field before you get to the game on Sunday," Brady said. "You only have three opportunities a week. So you try to gain confidence in everybody by putting everybody in a position to go out there and see if they can do it and compete hard and develop some confidence in what we're trying to accomplish."


Rob Gronkowski has remained reliable and in at least one way more effective than years past. His 16.5 yards per catch is the highest mark of his career by 1.3 yards, and no tight end has completed a season with an average that high since Jacksonville's Ernest Wilford in 2005 (16.6).


But there's only so much he and Brady can team up on, and a more consistent rushing attack could be the key to sustaining drives. In two games since Blount went down, the Patriots have averaged 3.25 yards per carry and totaled 156 on the ground without a touchdown. Brandon Bolden was limited to 30 yards on nine carries against the Jets, while newcomer Steven Jackson had 15 on seven.


Even with the inconsistencies, the Dolphins (5-10), particularly in their current state, just don't seem like the right team to keep things interesting. Last Sunday's 18-12 home loss to Indianapolis followed defeats to San Diego and the New York Giants, and their only wins over a 2-7 span have come against Baltimore and Philadelphia.


That slump started with a 36-7 loss in New England as Brady threw for 356 yards and four TDs. The Patriots lead the series 9-2 since the start of 2010 with a 14.5 scoring margin, though the two losses came in their last two visits to Miami.


Miami did limit Indianapolis to 268 yards, but that's part of a 400.4 average dating to the loss in New England.


Things have been stagnant offensively for that entire time. The Dolphins haven't scored more than 24 points since a 44-26 win over Houston on Oct. 25, averaging 15.9 points and 297.0 yards.


The health of Ryan Tannehill is unsurprisingly in question after taking a season-high six sacks against the Colts.


"It's frustrating not winning," said Tannehill, dealing with a left leg injury. "I could care less about getting hit if we're winning, you know? It's not easy to win when the quarterback is getting hit, so that's something we want to fix."


New England's 48 sacks are one off Denver's league lead.

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Ravens (5-10) at Bengals (11-4)
Date: January 03, 2016 1:00 PM EDT

The Cincinnati Bengals held a two-touchdown lead over the team they're competing with for a bye through the wild-card round and let it slip away to an emerging quarterback.


They now need their own second-choice signal-caller to guide them to a home victory over the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, and for Denver to lose at home to four-win San Diego for that bye to become a reality.


Past playoff failures aside, the bye is particularly relevant to the AFC North champion Bengals (11-4) with starting quarterback Andy Dalton not expected to return from a fractured right thumb for a potential wild-card date next weekend.


"It's tough," wide receiver A.J. Green said. "We have a lot of guys banged up, so we could have really used that bye. All we have to do is go out there and take care of next weekend, and hope for the best."


Doing their part would at least give the team its first 12-win season since 1988 when Cincinnati reached the Super Bowl, and the immediate results fall on the shoulders of AJ McCarron.


The second-year QB is making his third start and first at home after replacing Dalton in a 33-20 home loss to Pittsburgh on Dec. 13. He played most of that game, won at San Francisco a week later, then shared in the disappointment of Monday's 20-17 overtime road loss to the Broncos.


McCarron has completed 67.0 percent of his passes and thrown for four touchdowns and two interceptions in those three games. The picks came in the impromptu appearance against the Steelers, though a crucial turnover also happened in the latest loss.


His teammates praised his efforts, but McCarron claimed plenty of the blame after a fumble in OT ended the game following the Broncos' go-ahead field goal.


"We just didn't make enough plays when it counted," said McCarron, who injured his non-throwing wrist on the play but isn't said to be in danger of missing the regular-season finale. "We put ourselves in a position to win the ballgame and I failed the team. That is what it comes down to; you aren't always going to score touchdowns."


That's been especially true since losing Dalton. The Bengals had averaged 27.8 points and 376.3 yards of offense in the 12 games preceding the injury with particularly impressive showings in the last three at 33.0 points per game. In the three games dating to Dalton's exit, Cincinnati has averaged 20.3 points and 307.0 yards.


It looked like it had overcome that in the first half against Denver with a 14-3 lead and 204 yards, but the Bengals totaled 90 in the second half and overtime.


"This one definitely hurts, when you feel like you have a lot of momentum and doing some good things out there and kind of spit out the bit in the second half," running back Jeremy Hill said.


The Ravens (5-10) are simply trying to win two in a row for the second time in 2015 and avoid matching their second-worst season ever while again playing spoiler. They complicated things for Pittsburgh last week with a 20-17 home win that ensured they wouldn't equal their franchise-worst inaugural 4-12 season of 1996, though their 2007 mark is still matchable.


"We want to step off as high as we possibly can," coach John Harbaugh said. "Let's get as good as we can get as a football team. The goal doesn't change that way whether you're in the playoffs or not in the playoffs. We need to play the best football we can play because it's a journey. Winning those games is definitely a measuring stick of how good you are."


Baltimore's quarterback and injury issues make Cincinnati's look comparatively stable. Joe Flacco was lost for the season with a torn left ACL and MCL on Nov. 22, and the Ravens have since started Matt Schaub, Jimmy Clausen and Ryan Mallett while also dealing with key long-term injuries to players such as Terrell Suggs, Justin Forsett and Steve Smith Sr.


Mallett faced the Steelers and completed 28 of 41 for 274 yards and a touchdown in his first action since Oct. 18 with Houston, and Harbaugh praised the offense for giving the defense ideal circumstances.


"We didn't give up any points on turnovers," said Harbaugh, whose team stayed clean in the turnover category after committing 15 in its previous seven games. "That's winning football. That's the way we want to play, and to me, that's a blueprint for us going forward. Now we have to try to replicate that blueprint. We have to try to do that again on Sunday against Cincinnati."


Things could come easier for Cincinnati's offense against Baltimore as opposed to Denver's top-ranked defense. The Ravens rank 22nd in points allowed at 25.1 and 10th in total defense at 340.1 yards, though they have had some impressive performances lately, limiting an explosive Pittsburgh offense to 303 yards a week after holding Kansas City to 277.


The Bengals have won the last four meetings and the past three in Cincinnati. The last three overall have been decided by no more than a touchdown, including a 28-24 win in Baltimore on Sept. 27.

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Redskins (8-7) at Cowboys (4-11)
Date: January 03, 2016 1:00 PM EDT

Even though his Washington Redskins can't improve their playoff position, coach Jay Gruden insists he won't just sit starters in the regular-season finale.


At the same time, he doesn't want to lose key players heading into the playoffs.


That's the quandary facing Gruden as the visiting Redskins look to extend their longest winning streak in three years Sunday against the banged-up Dallas Cowboys.


After six last-place finishes over the previous seven years, including a 4-12 showing last season, surprising Washington (8-7) clinched its fifth trip to the postseason in two decades with a 38-24 win at Philadelphia on Saturday.


The Redskins have come alive offensively behind Kirk Cousins, averaging 32.3 points and 407.7 yards during a three-game winning streak that's their longest since a seven-game run that led to their last division title in 2012.


Selected in the fourth round of the draft prior to that season, Cousins has thrown for 285.6 yards per game with 20 touchdowns and three interceptions as the team has won six of nine. He's posted a career-high three straight 300-yard efforts and has tossed eight TDs without a pick in his last two.


Cousins threw for six touchdowns and eight interceptions during a 2-4 start.


'I'm very satisfied to see how the tables have turned,' Cousins said. 'Now we look forward and say, `Where can we go from here?' and `How high can we take it?''


Tight end Jordan Reed has played a major role as Cousins' top target with 25 receptions for 333 yards and five touchdowns during the winning streak.


With the Redskins (8-7) locked into a home game in the wild-card round, Gruden says he's started getting ready for possible playoff matchups. He's trying to balance resting some hurting starters with the desire to keep his club rolling heading into the postseason.


Reed is among the many banged-up Redskins with a sore shoulder. Right tackle Morgan Moses is nursing a foot injury, receiver DeSean Jackson has been playing through a knee issue and running back Matt Jones has a hip injury.


'There's a couple of different ways to look at this," Gruden said. "It's important for us to be healthy come playoff time but also to have some kind of momentum going in. I'd like to end (the regular season) on a four-game winning streak."


Washington is also looking to avoid getting swept by the rival Cowboys for the fourth time in seven years following a 19-16 home loss in Week 13. After Jackson's tying touchdown catch with 44 seconds remaining, Matt Cassel led Dallas on a drive that was capped by Dan Bailey's 54-yard field goal with four seconds left.


The Cowboys (4-11) limited Cousins to 219 yards and one touchdown while sacking him three times. They're fifth in the NFL in pass defense at 223.0 yards per game.


Dallas was in the thick of the division race after the December meeting, but has since fallen out of contention while totaling 29 points in three straight defeats. It's on the verge of its worst finish since going 1-15 in 1989.


'I think you have to have convictions about what you're doing,' coach Jason Garrett said. 'Those convictions won't be shaken at all by the result - good, bad or indifferent. You're always trying to grow and evolve and get better.'


Cassel was benched in favor of Kellen Moore in the second quarter of 19-16 home loss to the New York Jets in Week 15. Moore, the fourth quarterback to start for the Cowboys, will get another opportunity after going 13 of 31 for 186 yards and one interception in last Sunday's 16-6 loss at Buffalo.


Moore won't have Dez Bryant again as the star receiver is expected to have ankle surgery and another procedure on the right foot he broke in the season opener. Bryant played in eight straight games before sitting out against the Bills.


Darren McFadden was limited to 53 yards on 14 carries against the Redskins, but he's totaled 310 on 7.0 per carry over the past three games. He needs three for his first 1,000-yard season since 2010 with Oakland.


Washington ranks 26th against the run, allowing 124.1 yards per game. However, it held Philadelphia to 45 on the ground for its second-best total of the season.


The Redskins have won two of their past three at Dallas, the most recent a 20-17 overtime victory Oct. 27, 2014.

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Eagles (6-9) at Giants (6-9)
Date: January 03, 2016 1:00 PM EDT

While Odell Beckham Jr. is returning to the field for the final time this season, it could be the last time Tom Coughlin coaches the New York Giants.


Coughlin won't be the first NFC East coach to depart after the Philadelphia Eagles dismissed Chip Kelly on Tuesday.


These arch-rivals can't be blamed if they wished they were elsewhere Sunday when they finish up miserable seasons at MetLife Stadium.


The only reason to watch this game may be to see Beckham, who is tied for third in the league with 13 TD receptions and fourth with 1,396 receiving yards. He returns from a one-game suspension for drawing three personal foul penalties, including one for a diving helmet-to-helmet hit on Carolina cornerback Josh Norman in New York's 38-35 loss last Sunday.


"What happened was I wasn't controlling myself and ended up hurting my team, big penalties, and it was a poor display of sportsmanship and not something you would want to put on film," Beckham said. "All you can do in life is move forward, you can't get the moment back, you can't get the opportunities back, you can't go back in time, and you just learn from it."


Kelly won't have to develop a game plan to slow down Beckham since Philadelphia (6-9) decided to part ways with the coach, who guided the club to back-to-back 10-6 seasons before this year's disastrous campaign in his third.


It's clear that the Eagles' poor play and losing record weren't the only reasons why Kelly is gone. The coach didn't have close relationships with many of his players, even though the club was in contention for the division title until last Saturday's 38-24 home defeat to Washington.


Three days later, Kelly's tenure was over. Philadelphia CEO Jeffrey Lurie made clear that his approach was a major problem.


'You've got to open your heart to players and everybody you want to achieve peak performance,' Lurie said. 'I would call it a style of leadership that values information and all of the resources that are provided and at the same time values emotional intelligence. I think in today's world, a combination of all those factors creates the best chance to succeed.'


Offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur, who previously coached Cleveland, will serve Sunday as interim coach.


The Eagles may not be the only team in transition since Coughlin's 12-year tenure with the Giants could be over after this contest. New York (6-9) will miss the playoffs for the fourth straight season with its third straight losing campaign.


Coughlin told the Giants not to worry about his future.


"Basically I said, 'Don't worry about me or my situation. Let's prepare ourselves to play an outstanding football game and try to win a game against the Philadelphia Eagle team,'" he said.


The coach has guided the Giants to three division titles and, more importantly, two Super Bowl victories to give the franchise four.


Unfortunately, his tenure in New York looks similar to how his eight-year stint with Jacksonville ended. The Jaguars went 7-9, 6-10 and 6-10 in his final three seasons, and the Giants will have those same records with a loss Sunday.


Coughlin said he has not talked to management about his job, though he shared an interesting reaction upon hearing that Kelly had lost his.


"Quite frankly, I'm not surprised by anything in this business, but that one was close," Coughlin said.


New York has dropped five of six after getting crushed 49-17 at Minnesota last Sunday one day after it was eliminated by the Redskins' win over the Eagles.


The Giants will try to avenge a 27-7 loss at Philadelphia on Oct. 19. New York, sixth in the league with 26.0 points per game, was held to its lowest total as well as a season-low 247 total yards.


The Eagles' defensive dominance overshadowed Sam Bradford's three interceptions and 61.3 passer rating.


It seems unlikely that Philadelphia will put forth such a defensive effort this week. The Eagles have surrendered at least 400 yards in six straight games, becoming only the second defense in NFL history since 1950 to have a streak that long.


They are third-highest in total yards per game allowed at 394.9, and won't even have Sunday's worst defense. The Giants rank last at 419.3 after never having a defense concede more than an average of 400.


The figure of 419.3 ranks fourth-worst in league history, with defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo responsible for the NFL record-high of 440.1 set by New Orleans in 2012 when he was the coordinator there.


Beckham needs one TD catch and 141 receiving yards to set the single-season franchise records in those departments.


Jordan Matthews has been the player who flourished for Philadelphia in Kelly's system that mostly fizzled. The receiver is 57 yards shy of 1,000 with four of his six TDs in the last five games. Matthews has 263 yards in his last two games.

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Lions (6-9) at Bears (6-9)
Date: January 03, 2016 1:00 PM EDT

While the Chicago Bears should have stability at the top of their coaching staff, Jim Caldwell's status with the Detroit Lions appears a little murkier heading into the season finale.


The Lions will seek to wrap up their losing campaign on a positive note by matching their longest win streak against their NFC North rivals on Sunday at Soldier Field.


Detroit has already switched team presidents with Rod Wood taking over for a fired Tom Lewand in November and the franchise is seeking a new general manager to replace Martin Mayhew. When that GM is hired, he's expected to decide Caldwell's fate with the Lions.


Detroit finished 11-5 and reached the playoffs in his initial season but couldn't overcome a 1-7 start in this one. Caldwell might have aided his chances by winning five of the past seven games, including each of the past two, but the Lions (6-9) will finish with a losing record for the 13th time in 15 years.


"I approach it just like I do any other day that I've coached in my life, 1978, when I first started coaching," he said. "Any day could be my last day, so it's no different for me."


Star receiver Calvin Johnson is among those speaking up in favor of Caldwell's return.


"I love him. Everybody in the locker room would probably say the same thing. He commands respect, but he doesn't have to do much, it's just his character guys gravitate toward," he said. "Guys see that he's a great person, he's a great coach and guys are going to fight for that. We didn't start like we wanted to, but we're going to do our best to finish the best that we can."


Chicago (6-9) wasn't consistent enough in coach John Fox's first season to seriously challenge for a playoff berth, and the Bears have some tough decisions to make while also seeking to fill holes in their roster in the offseason. Top running back Matt Forte and leading receiver Alshon Jeffery are among those who have expiring contracts.


"A lot of us want to stay together," said linebacker Sam Acho, who also has an expiring contract. "I think we all see that we're building toward something. Yeah, our record is 6-9 at this point. But we see the hope and we see that we're building toward something. We see the changes, especially guys that were on the team the past couple years."


Jeffery, limited to nine games by injuries, won't play in this one because of an ailing hamstring. Nose tackle and second-round draft pick Eddie Goldman is out with an injured right ankle.


The Bears also might have to see if offensive coordinator Adam Gase or defensive coordinator Vic Fangio are candidates for head coaching jobs. Gase's hiring appeared to play a role in an improved Jay Cutler, and the quarterback has a career-best 92.8 rating while throwing eight interceptions in 14 games, his lowest rate.


The Lions' Matthew Stafford had a season-high 405 yards and four touchdowns to outduel Cutler (353 yards, 1 TD) in a 37-34 overtime win Oct. 18. That was Detroit's lone victory in its horrendous start.


Stafford has 14 touchdowns and one interception over the past six games, and he needs 36 yards to reach 4,000 for a fifth consecutive season. He had 301 yards and a pair of scores in a 32-17 win over San Francisco last Sunday.


Stafford has averaged 299.8 yards while throwing 10 TDs and five interceptions in the Lions' five-game win streak against Chicago. Cutler has averaged 300 yards in his last four matchups, but has seven interceptions and six TDs.


The Lions have won six straight in the series just once, from 1968-1970.


Johnson had a season-high 166 yards and a touchdown on six catches in the latest victory against the Bears. He has totaled 498 yards and five touchdowns in Detroit's past four matchups.


Lance Moore also had a season-high 106 yards on five receptions.


The Lions have won their past two games in Chicago - by a combined eight points - to match their victory total from the previous 12 visits.

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Saints (6-9) at Falcons (8-7)
Date: January 03, 2016 1:00 PM EDT

For a second straight season, the New Orleans Saints aren't headed to the playoffs. Sean Payton may be headed out of town.




With speculation already growing about Payton's next job, the Saints will try to avoid finishing with their worst record of his tenure Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons.


Payton turned New Orleans (6-9) from a laughingstock to a serious contender in the NFC, winning its only Super Bowl after the 2009 season. The Saints have reached the playoffs in five of the nine seasons under Payton, matching their total over their first 39 years.


Payton, who was suspended for all of 2012 for his role in the bounty scandal, could be on his way out after the season despite having one year left on his contract. He reportedly has a clause in his contract that allows him to leave if owner Tom Benson isn't in control of the team.


There's also rampant speculation that he's looking for a new challenge with the New York Giants, Philadelphia, Indianapolis, Miami and San Diego among the potential suitors.


The speculation isn't limited to only Payton with quarterback Drew Brees, wide receiver Marques Colston, tackle Zach Strief and guard Jahri Evans potentially playing their last game for New Orleans. Brees found the notion outlandish.


"I wonder how some people in this industry have a job, reporting some of the stuff that they report, with their sources or their cousin or whoever," said Brees, who turns 37 next month and has one year left on his contract. "That's why I just kind of laugh.


"Call me naive or just call me somebody who has a feeling. I feel like we're headed in the right direction."


Payton is hoping the immediate future includes the Saints avoiding a 10-loss season for the first time since they went 3-13 in 2005, the season prior to his hiring and the acquisition of Brees.


"Perception is important and I think how you finish the season is important," Payton said. "You work so long and to put the hours in - the players and coaches and everyone involved do. The taste in your mouth if you don't have success is terrible."


New Orleans has won two of three following a four-game skid, beating Jacksonville 38-27 last week behind Brees' 412 yards and three touchdowns despite playing with a torn plantar fascia in his right foot.


He's connected on 69.8 percent of his attempts for 1,065 yards with eight TDs and no interceptions over the last three games.


Brees has been helped by the addition of Tim Hightower, who has rushed for 261 yards and three scores on 68 carries over that stretch. Hightower, who missed the previous three seasons because of a knee injury and related complications, had 122 yards and two TDs on 27 attempts last week.


"All I know is that I've given it my best these last several weeks and plan to do so this final week, if that's good enough to earn me an opportunity next year," Hightower said.


The Saints' offense ranks second in the NFL with 404.7 yards per game, and it's the top passing unit at 309.8. However, those numbers are undermined by a 31st-ranked defense that surrenders an average of 413.4 yards - eighth-worst in NFL history. New Orleans has allowed 459 points, 28 shy of the franchise record for the most in a season set by 1980's 1-15 team.


Despite the Saints' defensive deficiencies, they ended the Falcons' 5-0 start with a 31-21 win Oct. 11. Brees was 30 of 39 for 312 yards with a touchdown.


Atlanta (8-7) never recovered, losing seven of eight games and six in a row before winning 23-17 at Jacksonville in Week 15. The Falcons followed that with a 20-13 win over Carolina last week, ending the Panthers' bid for an undefeated season.


Despite the victories, Atlanta is eliminated from playoff contention for a third straight season.


"We'd been beaten, we'd been embarrassed, and I wanted to see how our guys would react," first-year coach Dan Quinn said. "Over the last couple of weeks, I really think we've been playing more like the team I thought we'd be and can be and will be when I see how hard the guys are playing for one another."


Julio Jones has already set franchise records with league highs of 127 receptions and 1,722 yards, while his eight touchdowns are two shy of his career high set in 2012. He had nine catches for 178 yards last week, 70 coming on a spectacular leaping touchdown grab and run.


Jones, though, only has two TDs in eight meetings with the Saints and none in the last three. He had 93 yards on six catches in Week 5.


Matt Ryan had scoring passes to Devonta Freeman and Roddy White in that matchup, finishing with 295 yards on 30-for-40 passing while being sacked a season-high five times.


Ryan has four TDs compared to five picks over the last five games, and he hasn't tossed more than one scoring pass in any of them.