Week 17 NFL Preview: The End of the Regular Season

A look, now, at some of the bigger games on this, the final weekend of the 2009 NFL regular season. All NFL football lines are courtesy Sports Interaction’s online sportsbook.

Philadelphia Eagles (11-4) at Dallas Cowboys (10-5)
Cowboys -3.0, Over/Under 47.5

Betting on the final weekend of the NFL is usually a dicey proposition. Starters get pulled early, injured players don’t even touch the field at all, and it becomes increasingly difficult to tell which teams are playing for something, and which teams are simply mailing it in.

Thankfully, none of that applies to the Philly-Dallas game on Sunday — this one is high-stakes. Yes, both teams are in the playoffs already, but where they’ll land in the postseason picture is still up in the air. The scenario for the Eagles is pretty straightforward: they can clinch the NFC No. 2 seed and all it entails (first-round bye, home-field advantage in the divisional round) with a win in Dallas.

For the Cowboys, it’s a little more muddled. Dallas can finish 2nd, 3rd, 4th or 6th — just not 5th. For them to get the No. 2 seed, the ‘Boys would need to beat Philly and hope that the Giants beat the Vikings and the Packers beat the Cardinals — in other words, a lot of help. Regardless, the prospect of even having a chance to get the No. 2 seed should have the ‘Boys flying high.

This game should be a hotly-contested affair, and it’s that reason why savvy bettors should lean towards the hotter team. Philly has won six straight and has had no problem winning on the road (three of those six wins came at Chicago, Atlanta and New York) — plus, they know they control their own fate. Eagles win, and they’re in (to the second seed, that is).

Baltimore Ravens (8-7) at Oakland Raiders (5-10)
Ravens -11.0, Over/Under 38.0

The Ravens will be playing for their playoff lives this weekend, but are still in the enviable position of controlling their own fate. Unlike the Steelers, Broncos, Jaguars, Texans and Dolphins — who all must rely on other teams to get in — the Ravens know that it’s win-and-they’re-in. Oakland has beaten some good teams at home this year — Philly and Cincinnati being the most prominent — but have been wildly inconsistent this year, both straight-up and against the spread. Consider how the last five weeks have gone:

+13 in Dallas: Lost by 17
+15 in Pittsburgh: Won by 3
+2.4 at home vs. Washington: Lost by 21
+13.5 in Denver: Won by 1
+3 at Cleveland: Lost by 14

At this point, you wager on the Raiders at your own risk. Just don’t say you haven’t been warned.

Cincinnati Bengals (10-5) at New York Jets (8-7)
Jets -10.0, Over/Under 35.5

Just had to throw in a quick mention of this one, because it’s a real trap game. The late kickoff means that Cincinnati gets to scoreboard watch all day, and that’s dangerous. If New England beats Houston, the Bengals officially have nothing to play for — they’re locked into fourth spot in the AFC. If New England loses, the Bengals could jump up to third in the conference and get a possible extra week of home field, something definitely worth playing for.

While all this going on, the Jets are clear with their mandate: Win and we’re in. So you can guarantee the Jets will be going full steam ahead…But will the Bengals? You might have to wait until kickoff to find out.