The first playoff spot has officially been clinched with four weeks to go in the season. Carolina not only has its perfect season still intact, and it has the NFC South title already wrapped up. There are other clinching scenarios in Week 14, though the bigger concern is for teams which are still fighting in the middle of those Wild Card battles in both the AFC and the NFC.
NFL Week 14 Opening Odds at BookMaker.eu
Vikings (45) vs. Cardinals (-7)
Steelers vs. Bengals (-3.5)
Bills (47) vs. Eagles (-1)
Falcons (47) vs. Panthers (-7)
49ers (40.5) vs. Browns (PK)
Redskins vs. Bears (-2.5)
Lions (41.5) vs. Rams (-1.5)
Chargers (46.5) vs. Chiefs (-10)
Saints (50.5) vs. Buccaneers (-4.5)
Colts vs. Jaguars (PK)
Titans (43.5) vs. Jets (-7)
Patriots (-3) vs. Texans (44.5)
Raiders (44) vs. Broncos (-8)
Cowboys vs. Packers (-7)
Seahawks (-6) vs. Ravens
Giants (47.5) vs. Dolphins (PK)
GAME OF THE WEEK
The best game of the week could very well be the very first one. We'll talk about playoff clinching scenarios in just a moment. Needless to say, the Vikings and Cardinals though, are both in the thick of things. The Vikes are starting to really get questioned having been blown out by both the Packers and the Seahawks in recent weeks, two of the teams they'll have to beat if they want to get to the Super Bowl this year.
Arizona continues to roll right through its competition, and its passing game with MVP candidate, Carson Palmer is the main reason for that.
There is a growing sentiment that Bruce Arians' side might be the best in football at the moment. There's a reason that the Cardinals opened up at -7 on Thursday Night Football.
WEEK 14 NFL ODDS NOTES
-There are only two road favorites this week. The bigger of the bunch is Seattle, which is one of the hottest teams in the league. The Seahawks have won four games in a row, the last of which was a win going away against Minnesota. They're laying six in this game at Baltimore, though that could change in a hurry if the Ravens don't have Matt Schaub to start the game. Schaub entered concussion protocol after their game in Miami last week.
-For the first time in years, the Chiefs are the biggest favorites of the week. They're the only double-digit favorites when they take on San Diego at -10. This is a bit of a shocking line considering the fact that Kansas City was a disaster just a month ago at this time. The team hasn't been beaten in six straight though, and that's why this parlayed with the Chargers' miserable showing last week against Denver is why this line is so high.
-The highest total of the week is set at 50.5. It's the first total we've seen in the 50s in quite some time. With the way the Saints' defense is going though, it wouldn't be shocking to see them pus this game against Tampa Bay to the total all by themselves. New Orleans has allowed 21 passing touchdowns in its last five games, including five last week to Cam Newton. Jameis Winston's Rookie of the Year campaign is still in full swing, but he has his eye on the playoff push more than anything else for his Buccaneers.
-The lowest total of the week is the 40.5 set between the 49ers and the Browns. By all accounts, this is the worst game of the week. Sure, the Niners won in Chicago last week, but they're still closer to the worst record in the league than the playoffs. Cleveland is the not-so-proud owner of the top pick in the NFL Draft right now, and it has a real disaster on its hands at the quarterback spot. Austin Davis is the assumed starter for this game, but the Browns are still set at a pick 'em in this one.
WEEK 14 PLAYOFF CLINCHING SCENARIOS
-The Bengals can win the AFC North with a win over Pittsburgh
-The Broncos can win the AFC West with a win over Oakland and a Kansas City loss to San Diego
-The Patriots can win the AFC East with a win over Houston and a New York loss to Tennessee
-The Broncos, Patriots and Bengals can all clinch playoff spots with a win this week
-The Cardinals clinch a playoff spot with a win over Minnesota and can clinch the NFC West with a win and a Seattle loss to Baltimore
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