LV Review Journal (Subscription)
Kansas City (-9, 52½) at Raiders: The Raiders have covered three of the past five meetings, including a 30-29 loss at Arrowhead Stadium in October. The Raiders have covered four of their past five as underdogs. The Chiefs are on an 0-4 skid against the spread on the road and a 4-8 ATS slide overall. The past five meetings have gone over. Edge: Raiders and over.
Tennessee at Jacksonville (-6½, 40): The AFC South title is on the line. Jacksonville crushed the Titans 36-22 in the first meeting at Nashville on Dec. 11 to kick off a streak of four straight wins and covers. Tennessee is on a six-game losing streak straight up and ATS. The Titans are on a 15-7 under run. Edge: Jaguars and under.
Kansas City (-9, 52½) at Raiders: The Raiders have covered three of the past five meetings, including a 30-29 loss at Arrowhead Stadium in October. The Raiders have covered four of their past five as underdogs. The Chiefs are on an 0-4 skid against the spread on the road and a 4-8 ATS slide overall. The past five meetings have gone over. Edge: Raiders and over.
Tennessee at Jacksonville (-6½, 40): The AFC South title is on the line. Jacksonville crushed the Titans 36-22 in the first meeting at Nashville on Dec. 11 to kick off a streak of four straight wins and covers. Tennessee is on a six-game losing streak straight up and ATS. The Titans are on a 15-7 under run. Edge: Jaguars and under.
JANUARY RECORD 10-9-0 +.07
CBK 01/07 12:02 PM
(615) Nebraska -3 (-110)
CBK 01/07 2:02 PM
(648) Evansville +2 (-110)
CBK 01/07 2:02 PM
(643) Saint Joseph's +4 (-110)
CBK 01/07 3:02 PM
(679) UTEP +6.5 (-110)
CBK 01/07 3:00 PM
(677) Old Dominion +2.5 (-110)
CBK 01/07 8:00 PM
(803) Cal State Northridge vs. (804) UC Riverside +132.5 un -110
GOOD LUCK & WIN A LOT OF ZITI
CBK 01/07 12:02 PM
(615) Nebraska -3 (-110)
CBK 01/07 2:02 PM
(648) Evansville +2 (-110)
CBK 01/07 2:02 PM
(643) Saint Joseph's +4 (-110)
CBK 01/07 3:02 PM
(679) UTEP +6.5 (-110)
CBK 01/07 3:00 PM
(677) Old Dominion +2.5 (-110)
CBK 01/07 8:00 PM
(803) Cal State Northridge vs. (804) UC Riverside +132.5 un -110
GOOD LUCK & WIN A LOT OF ZITI
The Kansas City Chiefs will be playing for a first-round bye and home-field advantage in the AFC when they kick off the final week of the NFL regular season Saturday against the host Las Vegas Raiders.
To cement their third No. 1 seed in five seasons, the Chiefs (13-3) need to beat the Raiders (6-10) and have the Buffalo Bills lose one game.
It's unknown as of Wednesday whether the Bills' Week 17 game against the Cincinnati Bengals will be completed at a later date or abandoned due to Bills safety Damar Hamlin's cardiac arrest. Buffalo is scheduled to host the New England Patriots on Sunday.
"We're gonna be the first game back," Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes said of Saturday's Week 18 matchup coming off the Hamlin incident. "There's a job you have to do. You put all this work in for months to try to go out there and play your best football. But when you get on the field, I'm sure it'll be a little bit of a weird feeling because it was such a scary incident that was terrifying that I think everybody saw."
The Chiefs have already locked up the AFC West for the seventh consecutive year, extending a franchise record. They're one of just two teams, alongside San Francisco, currently 5-0 against division opponents, including a 30-29 home win over Las Vegas on "Monday Night Football" in Week 5.
That gave Kansas City its ninth win in the past 10 meetings with Las Vegas, most of which have been notably high-scoring affairs. In that span, the Chiefs have averaged a whopping 35.5 points per game and the Raiders have cleared 28 points four times.
The Raiders took a 17-0 lead early in the second quarter on Oct. 10, but Mahomes went 29-for-43 for 292 yards and tossed four touchdown passes to star tight end Travis Kelce to lead the winning comeback. Mahomes has a 26-3 touchdown-to-interception ratio and an 8-1 record against the Raiders for his career.
Coach Josh McDaniels said he feels both teams have changed some personnel and schemes since that last meeting.
"The second game of these division rivalries is always a little bit different because you're gonna change some things, there's no question about it," McDaniels said. "Our focus is going to be on getting to know the team they have now, the way they're playing now."
One development since that game is the emergence of rookie Isiah Pacheco as Kansas City's top rusher. The seventh-round pick was promoted over Clyde Edwards-Helaire between the first Raiders game and the Chiefs' bye week. Since Week 10 he's averaged 4.8 yards per carry and 71.1 yards per game with three touchdowns, though he was held to 31 yards in last week's 27-24 escape over the Denver Broncos.
But the biggest personnel difference on either sideline is McDaniels' quarterback.
The Raiders benched Derek Carr before last week's 37-34 overtime loss to the 49ers, all but ensuring the longtime quarterback has played his last game in silver and black. Jarrett Stidham made his first career start and completed 23 of 34 passes for 365 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions.
It was Stidham's first start since throwing for 371 yards in his college finale at Auburn in the 2018 Music City Bowl against Purdue.
Stidham was limited in practice Tuesday with an injury to his throwing elbow but participated fully Wednesday. McDaniels said he wasn't "overly concerned" about Stidham's availability. Carr is away from the team to mitigate distractions, so undrafted rookie Chase Garbers would be the next man up if Stidham can't go.
NFL rushing leader Josh Jacobs (1,608 yards, 12 touchdowns) and star receiver Davante Adams (1,443 yards, 14 touchdowns) also appeared on the injury report for the Raiders. Jacobs was limited Tuesday with hip and oblique injuries and took a personal day Wednesday, while Adams (illness) was limited Tuesday before returning in full Wednesday.
The Chiefs activated wide receiver Mecole Hardman (pelvis) from injured reserve. He hasn't played since Nov. 6 and was limited Wednesday. Kicker Harrison Butker sat out with back spasms, and guard Joe Thuney (ankle), cornerback L'Jarius Sneed (hip) and receiver Skyy Moore (hand) were limited.
To cement their third No. 1 seed in five seasons, the Chiefs (13-3) need to beat the Raiders (6-10) and have the Buffalo Bills lose one game.
It's unknown as of Wednesday whether the Bills' Week 17 game against the Cincinnati Bengals will be completed at a later date or abandoned due to Bills safety Damar Hamlin's cardiac arrest. Buffalo is scheduled to host the New England Patriots on Sunday.
"We're gonna be the first game back," Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes said of Saturday's Week 18 matchup coming off the Hamlin incident. "There's a job you have to do. You put all this work in for months to try to go out there and play your best football. But when you get on the field, I'm sure it'll be a little bit of a weird feeling because it was such a scary incident that was terrifying that I think everybody saw."
The Chiefs have already locked up the AFC West for the seventh consecutive year, extending a franchise record. They're one of just two teams, alongside San Francisco, currently 5-0 against division opponents, including a 30-29 home win over Las Vegas on "Monday Night Football" in Week 5.
That gave Kansas City its ninth win in the past 10 meetings with Las Vegas, most of which have been notably high-scoring affairs. In that span, the Chiefs have averaged a whopping 35.5 points per game and the Raiders have cleared 28 points four times.
The Raiders took a 17-0 lead early in the second quarter on Oct. 10, but Mahomes went 29-for-43 for 292 yards and tossed four touchdown passes to star tight end Travis Kelce to lead the winning comeback. Mahomes has a 26-3 touchdown-to-interception ratio and an 8-1 record against the Raiders for his career.
Coach Josh McDaniels said he feels both teams have changed some personnel and schemes since that last meeting.
"The second game of these division rivalries is always a little bit different because you're gonna change some things, there's no question about it," McDaniels said. "Our focus is going to be on getting to know the team they have now, the way they're playing now."
One development since that game is the emergence of rookie Isiah Pacheco as Kansas City's top rusher. The seventh-round pick was promoted over Clyde Edwards-Helaire between the first Raiders game and the Chiefs' bye week. Since Week 10 he's averaged 4.8 yards per carry and 71.1 yards per game with three touchdowns, though he was held to 31 yards in last week's 27-24 escape over the Denver Broncos.
But the biggest personnel difference on either sideline is McDaniels' quarterback.
The Raiders benched Derek Carr before last week's 37-34 overtime loss to the 49ers, all but ensuring the longtime quarterback has played his last game in silver and black. Jarrett Stidham made his first career start and completed 23 of 34 passes for 365 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions.
It was Stidham's first start since throwing for 371 yards in his college finale at Auburn in the 2018 Music City Bowl against Purdue.
Stidham was limited in practice Tuesday with an injury to his throwing elbow but participated fully Wednesday. McDaniels said he wasn't "overly concerned" about Stidham's availability. Carr is away from the team to mitigate distractions, so undrafted rookie Chase Garbers would be the next man up if Stidham can't go.
NFL rushing leader Josh Jacobs (1,608 yards, 12 touchdowns) and star receiver Davante Adams (1,443 yards, 14 touchdowns) also appeared on the injury report for the Raiders. Jacobs was limited Tuesday with hip and oblique injuries and took a personal day Wednesday, while Adams (illness) was limited Tuesday before returning in full Wednesday.
The Chiefs activated wide receiver Mecole Hardman (pelvis) from injured reserve. He hasn't played since Nov. 6 and was limited Wednesday. Kicker Harrison Butker sat out with back spasms, and guard Joe Thuney (ankle), cornerback L'Jarius Sneed (hip) and receiver Skyy Moore (hand) were limited.
The Jacksonville Jaguars weren't looking like a possible playoff team when they lost by 26 points to the Detroit Lions on Dec. 4.
But the final week of the regular season has arrived with the Jaguars in first place, and now they can wrap up a playoff spot when they host the Tennessee Titans on Saturday night with the AFC South title on the line in a winner-take-all showdown.
Jacksonville (8-8) holds a one-game lead over the Titans (7-9) after ripping off four consecutive wins. At the same time, Tennessee has endured a late-season collapse -- six straight setbacks -- after appearing to be a playoff lock in mid-November.
The two teams met on Dec. 11, with the Jaguars posting a 36-22 victory in Nashville, Tenn. That was the first victory in Jacksonville's late-season winning streak.
"We talked a lot about this season's going to come down to Week 18," Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence said. "We knew we had to take care of business these prior weeks, but we had a feeling we're going to put ourselves in position to where Week 18 was going to decide our playoff berth and where we head after that."
There is controversy about this pivotal clash being played on a Saturday.
Tennessee's previous contest was a 27-13 loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Dec. 29, a Thursday night. Jacksonville played three days later and routed the Houston Texans 31-3, so the Titans are significantly more rested.
"There are always opportunities to reach out and express your concern with that, especially with Tennessee playing a Thursday game," Jaguars coach Doug Pederson said. "At the end of the day, we're excited to be here, to be in this type of game. It's great for our players, great for our city, to host it here in Jacksonville this Saturday night."
Tennessee will start Joshua Dobbs at quarterback, coming off the first start of his six-year NFL career in the loss to the Cowboys. Dobbs completed 20 of 39 passes for 232 yards, one touchdown and one interception.
Regular starter Ryan Tannehill (ankle) is out for the season and third-round pick Malik Willis has been ineffective, so Dobbs has become the best bet to direct the Titans into the playoffs
"There was some good decision-making and he was decisive," Titans coach Mike Vrabel said of Dobbs' outing against the Cowboys. "He did a good job progressing through when we gave him some time. ... He gives us the best chance to win right now."
Dobbs was signed from the Detroit Lions' practice squad on Dec. 21, so this showcase wasn't anything he could have imagined even a month ago.
"It's a tremendous opportunity," said Dobbs, who was a fourth-round pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2017. "I know it's a big game, obviously. I haven't been here the entire year, but any time you have a chance to go to the playoffs, it is a tremendous opportunity, and I am excited for it."
Star running back Derrick Henry (hip) missed the Dallas game but is a certainty to play Saturday. He topped 100 yards in each of his last three appearances, including a 121-yard outing against the Jaguars, and ranks third in the NFL with 1,429 rushing yards.
Meanwhile, Lawrence has passed for 3,901 yards, 24 touchdowns and eight interceptions. Jacksonville linebacker Foyesade Oluokun (171 tackles) is looking to lead the NFL in stops for the second straight season; he led in 2021 as a member of the Atlanta Falcons.
Long snapper Ross Matiscik (back) was the lone Jacksonville player to miss practice on Wednesday. Defensive end Tarell Basham (back) and cornerback Davontae Harris (hamstring) sat out for Tennessee.
The Titans had won nine of 10 in the series prior to the December loss.
But the final week of the regular season has arrived with the Jaguars in first place, and now they can wrap up a playoff spot when they host the Tennessee Titans on Saturday night with the AFC South title on the line in a winner-take-all showdown.
Jacksonville (8-8) holds a one-game lead over the Titans (7-9) after ripping off four consecutive wins. At the same time, Tennessee has endured a late-season collapse -- six straight setbacks -- after appearing to be a playoff lock in mid-November.
The two teams met on Dec. 11, with the Jaguars posting a 36-22 victory in Nashville, Tenn. That was the first victory in Jacksonville's late-season winning streak.
"We talked a lot about this season's going to come down to Week 18," Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence said. "We knew we had to take care of business these prior weeks, but we had a feeling we're going to put ourselves in position to where Week 18 was going to decide our playoff berth and where we head after that."
There is controversy about this pivotal clash being played on a Saturday.
Tennessee's previous contest was a 27-13 loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Dec. 29, a Thursday night. Jacksonville played three days later and routed the Houston Texans 31-3, so the Titans are significantly more rested.
"There are always opportunities to reach out and express your concern with that, especially with Tennessee playing a Thursday game," Jaguars coach Doug Pederson said. "At the end of the day, we're excited to be here, to be in this type of game. It's great for our players, great for our city, to host it here in Jacksonville this Saturday night."
Tennessee will start Joshua Dobbs at quarterback, coming off the first start of his six-year NFL career in the loss to the Cowboys. Dobbs completed 20 of 39 passes for 232 yards, one touchdown and one interception.
Regular starter Ryan Tannehill (ankle) is out for the season and third-round pick Malik Willis has been ineffective, so Dobbs has become the best bet to direct the Titans into the playoffs
"There was some good decision-making and he was decisive," Titans coach Mike Vrabel said of Dobbs' outing against the Cowboys. "He did a good job progressing through when we gave him some time. ... He gives us the best chance to win right now."
Dobbs was signed from the Detroit Lions' practice squad on Dec. 21, so this showcase wasn't anything he could have imagined even a month ago.
"It's a tremendous opportunity," said Dobbs, who was a fourth-round pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2017. "I know it's a big game, obviously. I haven't been here the entire year, but any time you have a chance to go to the playoffs, it is a tremendous opportunity, and I am excited for it."
Star running back Derrick Henry (hip) missed the Dallas game but is a certainty to play Saturday. He topped 100 yards in each of his last three appearances, including a 121-yard outing against the Jaguars, and ranks third in the NFL with 1,429 rushing yards.
Meanwhile, Lawrence has passed for 3,901 yards, 24 touchdowns and eight interceptions. Jacksonville linebacker Foyesade Oluokun (171 tackles) is looking to lead the NFL in stops for the second straight season; he led in 2021 as a member of the Atlanta Falcons.
Long snapper Ross Matiscik (back) was the lone Jacksonville player to miss practice on Wednesday. Defensive end Tarell Basham (back) and cornerback Davontae Harris (hamstring) sat out for Tennessee.
The Titans had won nine of 10 in the series prior to the December loss.
Well I am going through a bit of withdraw after games every day for over 2 weeks ... Now the season has to end.
This week is like the bowls with all the players out ... Who plays who doesn't - Who cares who doesn't?
Another time to bring out the lucky coin and the winner is:
Tenn +7 (buy)
LVR +9 looks very inviting ... but too inviting for me ... I'll just be watching
This week is like the bowls with all the players out ... Who plays who doesn't - Who cares who doesn't?
Another time to bring out the lucky coin and the winner is:
LVR +9 looks very inviting ... but too inviting for me ... I'll just be watching
