Tennessee has misplaced 5 straight video games and can nearly actually lose this one, however 10.5 factors are lots to offer at residence — particularly contemplating that the Titans are in a dogfight with Jacksonville for the A.F.C. South division. The Titans plan to begin the rookie quarterback Malik Willis, rather than Ryan Tannehill (ankle harm), and may very well be seeking to tread water till going through the Jaguars head-to-head in Week 18. Choose: Titans +10.5
Sunday’s Finest Video games
Minnesota Vikings (12-3) at Inexperienced Bay Packers (7-8), 4:25 p.m., CBS
Line: Packers -3.5 | Whole: 47
In opposition to all odds, the Packers are nonetheless alive within the playoff race. Winner of three straight, Inexperienced Bay enters Sunday’s recreation tied with the Lions and Seahawks and simply outdoors of a wild-card spot. Although the Packers play the ultimate two divisional video games at residence and commenced the week as favorites on this one, the Vikings are on an unbelievable run of shut wins: Minnesota is 11-0 in one-possession video games this season, probably the most such wins in N.F.L. historical past.
The Packers are having a tough time stopping the run, and Dalvin Prepare dinner has been potent in opposition to them previously. It will be powerful to select Inexperienced Bay successful by 4 in opposition to the luckiest crew within the N.F.L. at full energy, however the Packers rookie receiver Christian Watson injured his hip final week and is questionable for this recreation, so we’re taking the “underdog.” Choose: Vikings +3.5
Miami Dolphins (8-7) at New England Patriots (7-8), 1 p.m., CBS
Line: Patriots -3 | Whole: 42
Each of those groups are limping towards the tip of the common season. New England has misplaced 4 of their final 5, and the offense has regressed sufficient that there are rumors of a shake-up coming to Invoice Belichick’s employees.
Miami has misplaced 4 in a row, and Coach Mike McDaniel introduced on Wednesday that he deliberate to begin Teddy Bridgewater rather than Tua Tagovailoa, who self reported concussion signs after final week’s loss to the Packers. Miami wants this win to hold onto a wild-card berth, with the Patriots only a recreation behind within the A.F.C. East, and the Dolphins can clinch right here. Bridgewater is able to throwing to Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle and would possibly even fare higher than Tagovailoa did in opposition to the press protection previously two weeks. Choose: Dolphins +3
Carolina Panthers (6-9) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-8), 1 p.m., Fox
Line: Buccaneers -3 | Whole: 39
The Buccaneers will clinch the N.F.C. South with a win, however they face a Panthers crew extremely motivated to maintain that from occurring. Sam Darnold has averaged 8.6 yards per try since Week 12 — a interval by which the crew has gone 3-1 — and the Panthers solely turned the ball over as soon as throughout that stretch (in contrast with the Buccaneers’ 11). Regardless of buying and selling Christian McCaffrey early within the season, Carolina nonetheless has a speeding recreation Tampa Bay ought to envy: D’onta Foreman and Chuba Hubbard assist the crew put up a median of 187 speeding yards per recreation since Week 12 (the Buccaneers averaged 90 in that stretch).
The Buccaneers have stayed on prime of this division by grinding out ugly wins in opposition to dangerous groups, needing miraculous late-game scores to come back out on prime. If Tampa Bay’s offense performed total video games the way in which they do in the course of the remaining two minutes, the Buccaneers may need been Tremendous Bowl contenders. Choose: Panthers +3
