Each week during the NFL season, theScore's NFL staff will put on their prognosticator hats and offer up selections against the spread for all of the week's games, highlighting several marquee matchups.
| Game | Thomson | Holroyd | Wilkins |
|---|---|---|---|
| Packers at Lions | GB -3 | GB -3 | GB -3 |
| Jets at Giants | NYG +2.5 | NYJ -2.5 | NYJ -2.5 |
| Cardinals at Rams | ARI -5.5 | ARI -5.5 | ARI -5.5 |
| Falcons at Buccaneers | TB -2 | ATL +2 | TB -2 |
| Seahawks at Vikings | SEA -1 | SEA -1 | MIN +1 |
| Texans at Bills | HOU +3 | HOU +3 | HOU +3 |
| Ravens at Dolphins | BAL +4 | MIA -4 | MIA -4 |
| Bengals at Browns | CIN | CIN | CIN |
| Jaguars at Titans | JAX +2.5 | JAX +2.5 | JAX +2.5 |
| 49ers at Bears | SF +7 | CHI -7 | CHI -7 |
| Broncos at Chargers | DEN -4 | DEN -4 | SD +4 |
| Chiefs at Raiders | OAK +3 | KC -3 | KC -3 |
| Panthers at Saints | NO +7 | CAR -7 | CAR -7 |
| Eagles at Patriots | NE -10 | NE -10 | NE -10 |
| Colts at Steelers | PIT | IND | PIT |
| Cowboys at Redskins | WAS -4.5 | WAS -4.5 | WAS -4.5 |
| Season Record | 91-62-2 | 77-76-2 | 75-78-2 |
Marquee Matchups
Seattle Seahawks at Minnesota Vikings
Joe Thomson: This should be a physical affair and it will put the winner in a prime spot for the NFC wild card. The Vikings have been getting it done on the ground of late, but once the Seahawks take that away, there's not much left offensively. Seahawks turn in a dominant defensive performance and win a close one. Seahawks -1
Dan Wilkins: While the Seahawks offense finally showed some signs of progress last week, taking on a stout Vikings defense presents a far more difficult task. Minnesota continues to roll. Vikings +1
Caitlyn Holroyd: The Seahawks really like playing in December; they've gone 12-2 during the month dating back to Russell Wilson's rookie season in 2012. As good as the Vikings are, the under seems like the better bet here. Seahawks -1
Houston Texans at Buffalo Bills
Holroyd: The Texans are getting hot at just the right time. They've won four straight, during which time they've recorded a league-high 16 sacks and outscored opponents 78-35. Look out, Bills. Texans +3
Wilkins: Houston has been one of the NFL's hottest teams over the past few weeks, while the Bills just can't seem to get any sort of momentum going. A resurgent Texans defense should give the Buffalo offense fits. Texans +3
Thomson: The Bills were lost in the second half of last week's loss to the Chiefs once they put the clamps on Sammy Watkins. The Texans will focus on Watkins from the hop and the Bills don't have enough left on defense to stop Brian Hoyer. Texans +3
Indianapolis Colts at Pittsburgh Steelers
Wilkins: Matt Hasselbeck's success should only continue against a thin Steelers secondary, but the Colts won't be able to keep pace with arguably the NFL's most explosive offense. Steelers
Thomson: Ben Roethlisberger will play in prime time and Hasselbeck's magic will come to an end. Even on the off chance "Big Ben" can't go, the Steelers still have enough offensively to take the Colts to the wood shed. The Texans are poised to take over the AFC South lead. Steelers
Holroyd: The Colts enter this game with the NFL's 27th-ranked passing defense, but the unit is coming off one of their best showings of the season, shutting out the Buccaneers in the second half of their 25-12 win. With 40-year-old wonder Hasselbeck leading the offense, Indianapolis should be able to keep the game close. Colts
Wild-Card Selections
New York Jets at New York Giants
Thomson: Absolutely no one knows how the Giants are going to perform week to week. But the Jets have had a nasty little habit of laying an egg after getting a big win this season. The Giants play like they did in the fouth quarter last week and get a season-saving win. Giants +2.5
Arizona Cardinals at St. Louis Rams
Wilkins: This one really shouldn't be all that close. St. Louis is no longer in a position to match up with one of the league's elite teams. Cardinals -5.5
Atlanta Falcons at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Holroyd: It's tough to believe this is the same Falcons team that started the season 5-0. They're long overdue for a bounce-back win, and will steal one on the road against the Buccaneers. Falcons +2
(Lines courtesy: Pinnaclesports)
