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BEST BETS
| ATLANTA -13½ vs. Tampa Bay |
| Baltimore -2½ vs. CINCINNATI |
| N.Y. GIANTS -3 vs. Dallas |
| Buffalo vs. NEW ENGLAND (51) UNDER |
| Last week: 2-2 / Season: 37-24-3 |
PFW STAFF SELECTIONS
"PFW" refers to the staff consensus pick. HOME TEAM IN CAPS. Asterisk (*) denotes team will cover pointspread but lose game. (#) selections indicate best bets.
| Early Las Vegas line | Hub | Keith | Mike H | Dan A | Eric | Mike W | Dan P | Kevin | Eli | PFW |
| Sunday PHILADELPHIA -8½ vs. Washington (46) |
Phil. | Phil. (#) |
Wash.* (#) |
Phil. | Phil. | Wash.* (#) |
Phil. | Phil. (#) |
Phil. (#) |
Phil. |
| ATLANTA -13½ vs. Tampa Bay (46) | Atl. (#) |
Atl. | Atl. (#) |
Atl. | Atl. | Atl. | Atl. (#) |
Atl. | Atl. | Atl. (#) |
| San Francisco -10½ vs. ST. LOUIS (34) | S.F. | S.F. | St.L.* | St.L.* | St.L.* | St.L.* | S.F. (#) |
S.F. | S.F. (#) |
S.F. |
| MINNESOTA E vs. Chicago | Minn. | Minn. | Chi. | Chi. | Minn. | Minn. | Chi. | Chi. | Chi. | Chi. |
| Detroit -1 vs. GREEN BAY | G.B. | Det. | Det. | Det. (#) |
Det. | Det. | G.B. | Det. | Det. | Det. |
| NEW ORLEANS -7½ vs. Carolina (52½) | N.O. | N.O. | N.O. | Car.* | Car. | N.O. | Car.* | N.O. | Car.* | N.O. |
| Tennessee -3 vs. HOUSTON (40) | Hou.* | Tenn. | Hou. | Tenn. | Tenn. | Hou. | Hou. | Tenn. (#) |
Hou. | Hou.* |
| Baltimore -2½ vs. CINCINNATI (38) | Balt. (#) |
Balt. | Balt. (#) |
Cin. | Cin. | Cin. | Balt. | Balt. | Balt. (#) |
Balt. (#) |
| Pittsburgh -7 vs. CLEVELAND | Pitt. | Pitt. (#) |
Pitt. | Cle.* (#) |
Cle.* | Cle.* | Pitt. | Cle.* | Pitt. | Pitt. |
| JACKSONVILLE -4 vs. Indianapolis (36½) | Jax. | Jax. | Ind.* | Ind.* | Ind. (#) |
Ind. | Ind.* | Ind.* | Ind. | Ind.* |
| MIAMI -1 vs. N.Y. Jets (41½) | Mia. | Mia. | Mia. | Mia. | Mia. | Mia. (#) |
NYJ | NYJ | NYJ | Mia. |
| NEW ENGLAND -12 vs. Buffalo (51) | N.E. | N.E. | Buff.* | Buff.* | N.E. (#) |
Buff.* | N.E. | N.E. | N.E. | N.E. |
| OAKLAND -3 vs. San Diego (49) | Oak. | S.D. | Oak. | Oak. | Oak. | Oak. (#) |
S.D. | Oak. | Oak. | Oak. |
| DENVER -3 vs. Kansas City (36½) | K.C. | Den. | K.C. | K.C. (#) |
Den. | K.C. | Den. | K.C. | K.C. | K.C. |
| ARIZONA -3 vs. Seattle (41) | Ariz. | Ariz. | Ariz. | Ariz. | Ariz. | Sea. | Ariz. | Sea.* | Sea. | Ariz. |
| N.Y. GIANTS -3 vs. Dallas (46) | NYG (#) |
NYG (#) |
NYG | NYG | NYG (#) |
Dal. | NYG (#) |
NYG (#) |
NYG | NYG (#) |
| Early Las Vegas line | Hub | Keith | Mike H | Dan A | Eric | Mike W | Dan P | Kevin | Eli | PFW |
| Last week vs. spread | 8-9 | 5-12 | 7-10 | 12-5 | 11-6 | 10-7 | 7-10 | 8-9 | 9-8 | 7-10 |
| Season to date vs. spread | 115-117-8 | 117-115-8 | 113-119-8 | 129-103-8 | 110-122-8 | 122-110-8 | 119-113-8 | 120-112-8 | 124-108-8 | 115-117-8 |
| Last week best bets | 1-2 | 3-0 | 1-2 | 3-0 | 1-2 | 2-1 | 2-1 | 2-1 | 0-4 | 2-2 |
| Season to date best bets | 28-16-4 | 28-18-2 | 23-23-2 | 31-16-1 | 22-23-3 | 21-22-5 | 25-20-3 | 26-20-2 | 20-28 | 37-24-3 |
| Last week straight-up | 12-5 | 9-8 | 10-7 | 10-7 | 10-7 | 13-4 | 10-7 | 11-6 | 10-7 | 9-8 |
| Season to date straight-up | 157-83 | 162-78 | 161-79 | 160-80 | 155-85 | 161-79 | 160-80 | 160-80 | 165-75 | 153-87 |
LOCK OF THE WEEK
Which of your picks do you feel strongest about and why?
Hub Arkush: I hate giving 13½ points in my lock, but it is clear the Bucs went home weeks ago, and whomever the Falcons rest, they are still getting ready for a playoff game.
Keith Schleiden: It may be a meaningless game, but the Eagles are riding a three-game win streak right now and want to roll into the offseason on a high note. The "Dream Team" covers easily.
Mike Holbrook: I've got to go against the Buccaneers once again. Not only can't they stop anyone, they will be facing an Atlanta team that is revving up its offense for the postseason.
Dan Arkush: It looks like the Lions might have the same mojo as the Pack had at this time last year. I don't see Green Bay going all out in this game. Healthy bodies are more of a concern.
Eric Edholm: Colts fans have had enough winning, but Jim Caldwell has not. The feckless Jaguars will not put up a fight as the Colts win ... and blow the No. 1 pick in the process.
Mike Wilkening: I have to wonder how much the Jets have left to offer. The Dolphins played them quite tough early in the first meeting between these teams and can turn the tables here.
Dan Parr: With the woeful Bucs showing few signs of life, the Falcons will avenge their Week Three loss to Tampa Bay. Expect another blowout loss for the Bucs.
Kevin Fishbain: The Texans are locked into their playoff spot while the Titans are playing for their postseason lives. The Titans' intangibles will lead them past Houston.
Eli Kaberon: The Eagles are flying high on a recent winning streak and they'll want to finish that way. Rex Grossman has a history of not preparing for games the week of New Year's.
OPPONENTS VS. SPREAD
CODE: H - home, A - away, N - neutral, followed by team's score; number in parentheses is number of points by which that team was favored to win; E - game was rated as even; W - beat the pointspread; * - team beat the pointspread in both regular-season meetings that year; T - neither beat the pointspread; P - playoff game; OT - overtime; # - at Toronto
Tampa Bay at Atlanta
2010: at Tampa Bay: Falcons (-3) 28W, Buccaneers 24
2010: at Atlanta: Falcons (-10) 27, Buccaneers 21W
2009: at Tampa Bay: Falcons (-3) 20W, Buccaneers 10
2009: at Atlanta: Falcons (-12) 20, Buccaneers 17W
Buffalo at New England
2010: at Buffalo: Patriots (-7.5) 34W, Bills 3
2010: at New England: Patriots (-14.5) 38, Bills 30W
2009: at Buffalo: Patriots (-6.5) 17W, Bills 10
2009: at New England: Patriots (-13) 25, Bills 24W
Seattle at Arizona
2010: at Arizona: Seahawks 36W*, Cardinals 18 (-4)
2010: at Seattle: Seahawks (-7) 22W, Cardinals 10
2009: at Arizona: Cardinals (-8.5) 31W*, Seahawks 20
2009: at Seattle: Cardinals 27W, Seahawks (-3) 3
Carolina at New Orleans
2010: at Carolina: Saints (-6.5) 34W, Panthers 3
2010: at New Orleans: Saints (-12.5) 16, Panthers 14W
2009: at Carolina: Panthers (-10) 23W*, Saints 10
2009: at New Orleans: Saints (-11.5) 30, Panthers 20W
Washington at Philadelphia
2010: at Washington: Eagles (-3) 59W, Redskins 28
2010: at Philadelphia: Redskins 17W, Eagles (-5) 12
2009: at Philadelphia: Eagles (-10) 27, Redskins 24W
2009: at Washington: Eagles (-8.5) 27W, Redskins 17
Chicago at Minnesota
2010: at Minnesota (at University of Minnesota): Bears (-7) 40W*, Vikings 14
2010: at Chicago: Bears 27W, Vikings (-1) 13
2009: at Chicago: Bears 36W, Vikings (-8.5) 30
2009: at Minnesota: Vikings (-11) 36W, Bears 10
N.Y. Jets at Miami
2010: at N.Y. Jets: Dolphins 10W, Jets (-5.5) 6
2010: at Miami: Jets 31W, Dolphins (-2.5) 23
2009: at N.Y. Jets: Dolphins 30W*, Jets (-3.5) 25
2009: at Miami: Dolphins 31W, Jets (-3) 27
Tennessee at Houston
2010: at Tennessee: Titans (-1.5) 31W, Texans 17
2010: at Houston: Texans (-5) 20W, Titans 0
2009: at Houston: Titans 20W, Texans (-4) 17
2009: at Tennessee: Texans 34W, Titans (-7) 31
Indianapolis at Jacksonville
2010: at Indianapolis: Colts (-4.5) 34W, Jaguars 24
2010: at Jacksonville: Jaguars 31W, Colts (-7) 28
2009: at Jacksonville: Colts (-3) 35W, Jaguars 31
2009: at Indianapolis: Colts (-6.5) 14, Jaguars 12W
San Diego at Oakland
2010: at San Diego: Raiders 28W*, Chargers (-13) 13
2010: at Oakland: Raiders 35W, Chargers (-7) 27
2009: at San Diego: Chargers (-16.5) 24, Raiders 16W*
2009: at Oakland: Chargers (-10.5) 24, Raiders 20W*
Kansas City at Denver
2010: at Kansas City: Chiefs (-8.5) 10, Broncos 6W*
2010: at Denver: Broncos 49W, Chiefs (-1) 29
2009: at Denver: Chiefs 44W, Broncos (-9) 24
2009: at Kansas City: Broncos (-6) 44W, Chiefs 13
Baltimore at Cincinnati
2010: at Baltimore: Ravens (-9.5) 13, Bengals 7W*
2010: at Cincinnati: Bengals 15W, Ravens (-3) 10
2009: at Cincinnati: Bengals 17W*, Ravens (-3) 7
2009: at Baltimore: Bengals 17W, Ravens (-9.5) 14
Detroit at Green Bay
2010: at Detroit: Lions 7W*, Packers (-7) 3
2010: at Green Bay: Packers (-14.5) 28, Lions 26W
2009: at Detroit: Packers (-11.5) 34W*, Lions 12
2009: at Green Bay: Packers (-14) 26W, Lions 0
San Francisco at St. Louis
2010: at St. Louis: Rams (-2.5) 25W*, 49ers 17
2010: at San Francisco: 49ers (-4.5) 23, Rams 20W
2009: at St. Louis: 49ers (-7.5) 28W*, Rams 6
2009: at San Francisco: 49ers (-9) 35W, Rams 0
Pittsburgh at Cleveland
2010: at Cleveland: Steelers (-6.5) 41W*, Browns 9
2010: at Pittsburgh: Steelers (-14) 28W, Browns 10
2009: at Cleveland: Browns 13W*, Steelers (-10) 6
2009: at Pittsburgh: Steelers (-14) 27, Browns 14W
Dallas at N.Y. Giants
2010: at N.Y. Giants: Cowboys 33W, Giants (-12.5) 20
2010: at Dallas: Giants 41W, Cowboys (-3.5) 35
2009: at N.Y. Giants: Giants 31W*, Cowboys (-1) 24
2009: at Dallas: Giants 33, Cowboys (-1) 31
SERIES RECORDS
Series leader is listed in CAPS with its record listed first, followed by series leader's record at this week's game site, followed by series leader's record vs. pointspread at this week's site. This year's games not included.
Tampa Bay at Atlanta ... (9-9)(Atl. 5-4)(T.B. 7-2)
Dallas at N.Y. GIANTS ... (11-9)(6-4)(6-4)
CAROLINA at New Orleans ... (11-9)(7-3)(9-1)
SAN FRANCISCO at St. Louis ... (11-9)(4-6)(5-4)
INDIANAPOLIS at Jacksonville ... (13-5)(6-3)(4-5)
TENNESSEE at Houston ... (13-5)(6-3)(5-4)
Detroit at GREEN BAY ... (17-3)(10-0)(6-4)
Washington at PHILADELPHIA ... (13-7)(5-5)(3-7)
Buffalo at NEW ENGLAND ... (19-1)(10-0)(6-4)
CHICAGO at Minnesota ... (12-8)(3-7)(4-6)
N.Y. JETS at Miami ... (12-8)(6-4)(8-2)
Baltimore at CINCINNATI ... (11-9)(7-3)(7-3)
PITTSBURGH at Cleveland ... (18-2)(9-1)(6-2-2)
Kansas City at DENVER ... (12-8)(9-1)(7-3)
SEATTLE at Arizona ... (10-8)(4-5)(4-5)
SAN DIEGO at Oakland ... (14-6)(7-3)(7-3)
CONFIDENCE POOL
This feature is designed to be helpful to readers who participate in office pools. Each week, the editors will make their selections, picking the teams they believe will win the games, without regard to the pointspread, and assigning a point value to each game. For example, in a week when there are 16 games scheduled, an editor will assign 16 points to the game in which he has the most confidence of the outcome (i.e., the most confidence that his pick will win the game), 15 points to the game in which he has the next-most confidence, all the way down to one point to the game in which he has the least confidence of the outcome.
| Matchup | Hub | Keith | Mike H | Dan A | Eric | Mike W | Dan P | Kevin | Eli |
| Sunday Washington @ Philadelphia |
Phil. | Phil. | Phil. | Phil. | Phil. | Phil. | Phil. | Phil. | Phil. |
| 11 | 12 | 11 | 14 | 12 | 8 | 12 | 11 | 12 | |
| Tampa Bay @ Atlanta | Atl. | Atl. | Atl. | Atl. | Atl. | Atl. | Atl. | Atl. | Atl. |
| 13 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 16 | |
| San Francisco @ St. Louis | S.F. | S.F. | S.F. | S.F. | S.F. | S.F. | S.F. | S.F. | S.F. |
| 16 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 15 | |
| Chicago @ Minnesota | Minn. | Minn. | Chi. | Chi. | Minn. | Minn. | Chi. | Chi. | Chi. |
| 3 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 8 | 3 | 10 | 10 | 10 | |
| Detroit @ Green Bay | G.B. | Det. | Det. | Det. | Det. | Det. | G.B. | Det. | Det. |
| 9 | 3 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 6 | 7 | 5 | 11 | |
| Carolina @ New Orleans | N.O. | N.O. | N.O. | N.O. | Car. | N.O. | N.O. | N.O. | N.O. |
| 12 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 1 | 14 | 6 | 9 | 2 | |
| Tennessee @ Houston | Hou. | Tenn. | Hou. | Tenn. | Tenn. | Hou. | Hou. | Tenn. | Tenn. |
| 6 | 10 | 7 | 10 | 4 | 9 | 5 | 12 | 5 | |
| Baltimore @ Cincinnati | Balt. | Balt. | Balt. | Cin. | Cin. | Cin. | Balt. | Cin. | Cin. |
| 10 | 9 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 1 | 7 | |
| Pittsburgh @ Cleveland | Pitt. | Pitt. | Pitt. | Pitt. | Pitt. | Pitt. | Pitt. | Pitt. | Pitt. |
| 15 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 11 | 14 | 13 | 14 | |
| Indianapolis @ Jacksonville | Jax. | Jax. | Jax. | Jax. | Ind. | Ind. | Ind. | Ind. | Ind. |
| 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 11 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 6 | |
| N.Y. Jets @ Miami | Mia. | Mia. | Mia. | Mia. | Mia. | Mia. | NYJ | NYJ | NYJ |
| 8 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 7 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 4 | |
| Buffalo @ New England | N.E. | N.E. | N.E. | N.E. | N.E. | N.E. | N.E. | N.E. | N.E. |
| 14 | 13 | 16 | 13 | 16 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 13 | |
| San Diego @ Oakland | Oak. | S.D. | Oak. | Oak. | Oak. | Oak. | S.D. | Oak. | Oak. |
| 7 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 12 | 1 | 6 | 9 | |
| Kansas City @ Denver | K.C. | Den. | K.C. | K.C. | K.C. | K.C. | Den. | Den. | Den. |
| 5 | 4 | 9 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | |
| Seattle @ Arizona | Ariz. | Ariz. | Ariz. | Ariz. | Ariz. | Sea. | Ariz. | Ariz. | Ariz. |
| 2 | 8 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 3 | |
| Dallas @ N.Y. Giants | NYG | NYG | NYG | NYG | NYG | Dall. | NYG | NYG | NYG |
| 4 | 7 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 5 | 11 | 8 | 8 | |
| Tiebreaker: SNF total points | 55 | 43 | 52 | 51 | 58 | 41 | 51 | 47 | 58 |
| Hub | Keith | Mike H | Dan A | Eric | Mike W | Dan P | Kevin | Eli | |
| Points last week | 104 | 96 | 91 | 95 | 96 | 109 | 97 | 109 | 96 |
| Points season to date | 1,397 | 1,411 | 1,409 | 1,416 | 1,379 | 1,429 | 1,431 | 1,389 | 1,401 |
| Games won last week | 11 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 13 | 10 | 12 | 10 |
| Games won season to date | 160 | 163 | 161 | 159 | 158 | 162 | 160 | 159 | 164 |
