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Sunday

SAINTS (-3) over Panthers

With the likes of flashy back Alvin Kamara doing his thing, and with rookie receiver Rashid Shaheed about all you could ask for, Dem Saints are working their way up the scale. Head coach Dennis Allen is looking better and better by the week. Ride the hot squad.

DOLPHINS (-2) over Jets

Despite having dropped five straight, the Fins have earned their 8-8 seasonal record and can make the January tournament with a win over the Jets in conjunction with the Bills taking care of the Patriots. Miami will be compelled to start young QB Skylar Thompson, who lost to the Jets earlier.

EAGLES (-14) over Giants

Quarterback Jalen Hurts may be able to get back into the saddle for Philadelphia, sending Gardner Minshew back to the bench. Since the venerable New Yorkers are settled into the six-seed slot in the NFC grid playoffs, we don’t expect the they will risk many of their frontliners for very long in this spot. Birds, as they please.

FALCONS (-4) over Buccaneers

With Tampa Bay locked into the No. 4 seed, keeping the frontliners relatively healthy will be a meaningful priority, given the circumstances. Atlanta appears to be committed to its youth movement, with Desmond Ridder to make his fourth straight start at QB in place of Marcus Mariota.

Vikings (-7.5) over BEARS

Minnesota needs a San Francisco loss to Arizona, which would facilitate the Vikings passing the 49ers for the second seed. That’s possible, but unlikely. The Bears have been game sparring partners in many of this season’s outings, but the Windy City roster remains a draft or two away.

Patriots (+7) over BILLS

Damar Hamlin’s heartening steps toward full recovery following his scary injury Monday has cast a pall on the high-flying Bills, but they soldier on, as they fight to focus on hitting potential new heights for the franchise. Visitors can make game of this.

BENGALS (-7) over Ravens

Cincinnati was taken down, in part, by four Justin Tucker field goals in a Week 5 loss at Baltimore. QB Tyler Huntley, questionable with shoulder/wrist concerns, but expected to play, continues to toil under center for the visitors, standing in for Lamar Jackson (knee), who has been out since Week 13.

Texans (+2.5) over COLTS

Give Houston coach Lovie Smith a fair share of the credit for cranking a series of decent efforts out of the doing-their-best Texans. Too often, the Indy offense is a study in sustained frustration, driving the fan base to distraction.

Browns (+2.5) over STEELERS

This should quickly evolve into a classic AFC slugfest, along the lines of the many classics these old rivals have conjured up. The Browns boast considerable motivation, since a Cleveland win would frustrate old-rival Pittsburgh to no end.

Chargers (+2.5) over BRONCOS

Coaching chaos for the Broncos could be the kind of distraction that could put the Chargers in optimal position for a win here, though Denver has been anything but friendly territory for the Bolts. It’s hard for us to resist such value.

49ERS (-14) over Cardinals

QB David Blough having shown to better advantage by performing decently last Sunday versus the Falcons, has earned more time, though the Cards have been broadly erratic throughout this season. The Niners are more than capable of naming the score.

SEAHAWKS (-6) over Rams

The Rams are enduring a very draining case of Super Bowl hangover, and there’s not much they can do about it this season. We’ve thought the ’Hawks have been more than a little underrated.

Cowboys (-7) over COMMANDERS

Even after looking to grant the Commanders a second look in this storied rivalry, must grant that the Cowboys appear to have too many weapons to come up short against this foe at this time.

PACKERS (-4.5) over Lions

Not going to agonize over this one. If Aaron Rodgers is primed to put on another spectacular January show, we’d be foolish to be cynical about it. When Rodgers is good, he’s very good, indeed.

Last week: 7-7
Season: 114-102-3