NFL picks vs. the spread, Week 17: Saints, Seahawks score upsets as Black … – NOLA.com
With one week to play in the 2015 regular season, Black Monday beckons for some NFL coaches.
As many as 10 NFL teams could change coaches this offseason and the movement could start as early as Monday. The hottest seats appear to be in San Diego (Mike McCoy), Indianapolis (Chuck Pagano), New York (Tom Coughlin), Detroit (Jim Caldwell) and San Francisco (Jim Tomsula). The head coaching jobs in Miami and Tennessee are also unsettled, with interim head coaches Dan Campbell and Mike Mularkey currently in charge.
It’ll be interesting to see which teams lay it on their lines for their embattled coaches in Week 17 and which ones lay down.
One way or the other, the merry-go-round starts soon.
A look at the picks for the final weekend of the 2015 regular season:
Saints at Falcons (-4): The Saints are catching their rivals at the perfect time, one week after their seismic upset of the Panthers. Can Atlanta get its collective head out of the clouds in one week? I don’t see it happening. Give me the Saints and a red-hot Drew Brees. Saints 31, Falcons 30
Jets (-3) at Bills: This is the perfect scenario for Bills Coach Rex Ryan: A chance to knock his old club out of the playoffs. The question of whether his team good enough to do it remains to be seen. Bills 23, Jets 20
Patriots (-9) at Dolphins: The Patriots need this win to clinch the No. 1 overall seed in the AFC playoffs. You can bet they’ll be primed for a big effort after squandering last week’s game against the Jets. The Dolphins will have their hands full. The wrath of Miko Grimes awaits… Patriots 27, Dolphins 16
Eagles at Giants (-3): This could be Tom Coughlin’s swansong so I expect the Giants to lay it on the line and send him out a winner. The good news for the Eagles: The loser earns a trip to London next season. Giants 30, Eagles 26
Ravens at Bengals (-7.5): The Bengals must regroup on a short week after Monday night’s heartbreaking loss to the Broncos. Do the injury-riddled Ravens have another upset in them? Call me skeptical. Bengals 28, Ravens 9
Steelers (-10) at Browns: The Steelers inexplicably laid an egg last week in Baltimore. Now they need some major help to get into the playoffs. Beating the Browns is the least of their problems. The Steelers have beaten the Browns in 21 of the clubs’ past 24 meetings. Steelers 30, Browns 18
Jaguars at Texans (-6.5): The Texans have won six of eight to put themselves within a win of the AFC South Division title. And it looks like Brian Hoyer will be back to celebrate the championship with teammates. Texans 29, Jaguars 20
Titans at Colts (E): Back-up quarterbacks and coaching rumors will dominate this otherwise forgettable AFC South matchup. The Colts and embattled coach Chuck Pagano have to have this one. Colts 25, Titans 9
Redskins at Cowboys (E): Look no further than these two franchises to see how teams’ fortunes can change in one year’s time. Jay Gruden and Kirk Cousins are being hailed inside the Beltway. The once high-flying Cowboys, meanwhile, have not scored more than 28 points in a game all season. Redskins 31, Cowboys 23
Lions at Bears (-1): The Lions might be the best 6-9 team in the league, and that’s saying something since there are six of them. But will a third straight victory be enough to save Jim Caldwell’s job? Stay tuned. Lions 28, Bears 26
Buccaneers at Panthers (-10.5): The Panthers got the unbeaten money off their back last week in Atlanta. Not good timing for the reeling Bucs. Panthers 33, Buccaneers 17
Chargers at Broncos (-8): The headline in Tuesday’s Denver Post says it all: “This is Brock Osweiler’s time and team.” Broncos 25, Chargers 20
Rams (-4) at 49ers: The Rams have won thee straight but are one of the most difficult teams in the NFL to read. Just when you think you have them figured out, they surprise you. The impotent 49ers are not difficult to decipher. They are just plain bad. Rams 23, 49ers 16
Raiders at Chiefs (-7): The Chiefs are the hottest team in the NFL and seem to be alternating up-and-down performances. They’re due for a good one this week. Chiefs 29, Raiders 21
Seahawks at Cardinals (-4.5): The Cardinals have clinched a first-round bye but Bruce Arian isn’t wavering from his “no-risk-it-no-biscuit” approach. I like the Seahawks to avenge their 39-32 loss from earlier this season. Seahawks 31, Cardinals 27
Vikings at Packers (-3.5): The NFC North Division title is on the line in what should be a good old-fashioned NFC North brawl. The Vikings are trying to win their first division title in six years, but it’s hard to go against Aaron Rodgers in this situation. Packers 26, Vikings 23
Week 16 overall record: 8-8
Week 16 record vs. spread: 8-8
Overall record: 124-101
Overall record vs. spread: 98-117-10
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