PHILADELPHIA (+2.5) over New York Giants – It’s the penultimate game in Carson Wentz’s rookie season, and he is the main reason the Eagles have at least been competitive. The only unfortunate thing about spoiling the Giants is it actually helps the Cowboys…like they need that. Eagles 23, Giants 20
Washington (-3) over CHICAGO –After laying an egg on Monday night, the Redskins absolutely need this one to keep their scant playoff hopes alive. This game could tell us if Kirk Cousins’ $20 million gamble will pay off or not. Redskins 27, Bears 21
BUFFALO (-3.5) over Miami – Don’t be fooled by Miami’s dominance last weekend, I just think the Jets are really that awful. Bills 24, Dolphins 20
Tampa Bay (+3) over NEW ORLEANS – The Bucs got something of a comeuppance in Dallas on Sunday night, maybe not quite ready for prime time. Lucky for Jameis and company, the Superdome hasn’t been prime time at all this season. Buccaneers 28, Saints 27
CAROLINA (+2.5) over Atlanta – Somehow, the Panthers are still alive in the playoff picture, but need a lot of help. Beating division-leading Atlanta? That would qualify as help. Panthers 31, Falcons 28
GREEN BAY (-6.5) over Minnesota – Even a healthy Adrian Peterson wouldn’t help the Vikings at Lambeau, let alone a gimpy one. Packers 30, Vikings 17
NEW ENGLAND (-16.5) over New York Jets – The only thing that keeps this game close is if the Patriots get bored, but it’s not like them to fall asleep at the wheel…too soon? Patriots 45, Jets 16
Tennessee (-5) over JACKSONVILLE – Huge win for Tennessee last week, with a favorable match-up against Jacksonville as the reward. Titans 35, Jaguars 14
San Diego (-6) over CLEVELAND – The Browns are too close to perfection to screw it up now (although it would be a totally Browns thing to do). Chargers 33, Browns 19
OAKLAND (-3.5) over Indianapolis – Something special about this Raiders team, as if you needed me to tell you that. Raiders 28, Colts 23
San Francisco (+3.5) over LOS ANGELES – Colin Kaepernick > Jared Goff. 49ers 20, Rams 17
SEATTLE (-8.5) over Arizona – By the time this game kicks, Seattle could be locked into the #2 seed, so they’d need some sort of motivation. A division foe who always seems to give you fits. That should do. Seahawks 30, Cardinals 20
HOUSTON (-1) over Cincinnati – Gutsy call by Bill O’Brien to bench the $72 million mistake and ushering in the Tom Savage era. Texans 22, Bengals 20
Baltimore (-5) over PITTSBURGH – This just feels like a field goal game to me. Steelers 19, Ravens 16
KANSAS CITY (-3.5) over Denver – No way the Chiefs lose two in a row at Arrowhead, and that could mean curtains for the defending Super Bowl Champions. Chiefs 24, Broncos 17
Detroit (+7) over DALLAS – It’s hard to hate Dak Prescott (I mean, he plays for Dallas so I do). The kid is humble, soft spoken, scores a touchdown and just hands the ball to the referee. Classy. Zeke Elliot on the other hand? Easy to hate. A great back, don’t get me wrong. But do I need to see you spoon-feeding your fat face after every run? And the Salvation Army bucket celebration? Not funny, nor clever. Way too overblown if you ask me. But hey, Merry Christmas, Cowboys fans. Lions 24, Cowboys 21
Week 15: 10-6 Straight up; 7-9 Against the spread
2016 Season: 137-85-2; 114-108-2
Washington (-3) over CHICAGO –After laying an egg on Monday night, the Redskins absolutely need this one to keep their scant playoff hopes alive. This game could tell us if Kirk Cousins’ $20 million gamble will pay off or not. Redskins 27, Bears 21
BUFFALO (-3.5) over Miami – Don’t be fooled by Miami’s dominance last weekend, I just think the Jets are really that awful. Bills 24, Dolphins 20
Tampa Bay (+3) over NEW ORLEANS – The Bucs got something of a comeuppance in Dallas on Sunday night, maybe not quite ready for prime time. Lucky for Jameis and company, the Superdome hasn’t been prime time at all this season. Buccaneers 28, Saints 27
CAROLINA (+2.5) over Atlanta – Somehow, the Panthers are still alive in the playoff picture, but need a lot of help. Beating division-leading Atlanta? That would qualify as help. Panthers 31, Falcons 28
GREEN BAY (-6.5) over Minnesota – Even a healthy Adrian Peterson wouldn’t help the Vikings at Lambeau, let alone a gimpy one. Packers 30, Vikings 17
NEW ENGLAND (-16.5) over New York Jets – The only thing that keeps this game close is if the Patriots get bored, but it’s not like them to fall asleep at the wheel…too soon? Patriots 45, Jets 16
Tennessee (-5) over JACKSONVILLE – Huge win for Tennessee last week, with a favorable match-up against Jacksonville as the reward. Titans 35, Jaguars 14
San Diego (-6) over CLEVELAND – The Browns are too close to perfection to screw it up now (although it would be a totally Browns thing to do). Chargers 33, Browns 19
OAKLAND (-3.5) over Indianapolis – Something special about this Raiders team, as if you needed me to tell you that. Raiders 28, Colts 23
San Francisco (+3.5) over LOS ANGELES – Colin Kaepernick > Jared Goff. 49ers 20, Rams 17
SEATTLE (-8.5) over Arizona – By the time this game kicks, Seattle could be locked into the #2 seed, so they’d need some sort of motivation. A division foe who always seems to give you fits. That should do. Seahawks 30, Cardinals 20
HOUSTON (-1) over Cincinnati – Gutsy call by Bill O’Brien to bench the $72 million mistake and ushering in the Tom Savage era. Texans 22, Bengals 20
Baltimore (-5) over PITTSBURGH – This just feels like a field goal game to me. Steelers 19, Ravens 16
KANSAS CITY (-3.5) over Denver – No way the Chiefs lose two in a row at Arrowhead, and that could mean curtains for the defending Super Bowl Champions. Chiefs 24, Broncos 17
Detroit (+7) over DALLAS – It’s hard to hate Dak Prescott (I mean, he plays for Dallas so I do). The kid is humble, soft spoken, scores a touchdown and just hands the ball to the referee. Classy. Zeke Elliot on the other hand? Easy to hate. A great back, don’t get me wrong. But do I need to see you spoon-feeding your fat face after every run? And the Salvation Army bucket celebration? Not funny, nor clever. Way too overblown if you ask me. But hey, Merry Christmas, Cowboys fans. Lions 24, Cowboys 21
Week 15: 10-6 Straight up; 7-9 Against the spread
2016 Season: 137-85-2; 114-108-2