There are only a few teams who really have no playoff hopes left this year, but Week 12 is going to prove to be a tipping point for a lot of clubs. We'll see which teams have the best hopes to continuing on to factor into the playoff picture based on the line movement this week.
Note: All current NFL odds listed as of Thursday morning. Check up-to-the-minute odds at BookMaker.eu.
Vikings vs. Falcons, Sunday 1:00 p.m. ET
Opening NFL Odds: Atlanta -2
Current NFL Odds: Pick 'Em
The Falcons and Vikings would be the two Wild Card teams in the NFC if the playoffs started today, and this would be a huge win for either team. The Vikings might've been beaten by the Packers last week, but they're still perceived to be the better of these two teams. The betting line has dropped from Atlanta -2 down to a pick 'em, and we wouldn't be all that surprised if Minnesota ended up favored on the road at the Georgia Dome when the ball kicked off. Bettors had confidence early in the week that Teddy Bridgewater, who was dinged up last week, would be ready to go in this one, and he'll be out there with a chance to take advantage of a suspect secondary on Sunday against a flailing team.
Giants vs. Redskins, Sunday 1:00 p.m. ET
Opening NFL Odds: New York -1
Current NFL Odds: New York -3
The NFC East still has a lot left to play out, and the Redskins can really put a kink in the works if they win this one, as that would leave everyone in this division below .500 with five games to play. That said, the Giants are coming off of their bye week and have to be extremely confident coming into Landover, a place they've had a bunch of success in recent years. Bettors are onboard with this as well, as the G-Men have gone from -1 up to -3 in the first few days of betting, though we think Washington's horrible loss in Carolina last week has just as much to do with this as anything else.
Chargers vs. Jaguars, Sunday 1:00 p.m. ET
Opening NFL Odds: Over/Under 48.5
Current NFL Odds: Over/Under 46.5
Outside of maybe New England and Baltimore, the team which has had the least luck in terms of injuries on the offensive side of the ball this year is San Diego. Philip Rivers has largely had a different set of skill position players alongside him in every game this year, and what's left at this point is a bunch of practice squad guys and the seemingly washed up Antonio Gates. That parlayed with Blake Bortles' propensity to throw picks at the seemingly worst time imaginable time and time again is why this total has come crashing down two full points since the opening number. The only problem? Both of these defenses have been giving up 30+ points at will this year.
Ravens vs. Browns, Monday 8:30 p.m. ET
Opening NFL Odds: Pick 'Em
Current NFL Odds: Cleveland -2.5
It isn't often that we see a team make a quarterback change in the middle of the week and actually improve from a betting standpoint because of it, but that's exactly what has happened with the Browns. Mike Pettine announced that Johnny Manziel will effectively play no role in this game against the Ravens on Monday Night Football after he was caught partying during the team's bye week. Josh McCown, who threw for 457 yards when he faced these same Ravens a couple months ago, mind you, is now back under center once again just days after being told that he was going to be the team's backup the rest of the year. Meanwhile in Baltimore, Joe Flacco, Justin Forsett and Steve Smith are all out for the season, and it's tough to imagine a 35-year old Matt Schaub, who hasn't thrown a meaningful pass in over two calendar years, will be able to make this offense hum, even against such a suspect defense.
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