With the NFL wrapping up its first-ever 18-week regular season, a number of teams are jostling for position to close out the year strong. Week 18 will be a pivotal final stand for many squads looking to make that final playoff push. While the majority of the divisional championships are locked down at this point, a fair amount of teams will still be in the hunt for the final three wild card playoff spots.
Below we take a closer look into what the favorite matchup of the week looks like along with the top underdog to emerge victorious and most favorable over/under lines of the final week of the regular season.
| Games | The Pick |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patriots vs. Dolphins | Patriots -6 | -116 | -116 | -116 |
| Saints vs. Falcons | Falcons +4.5 | -110 | -110 | -110 |
| Chargers vs.Raiders | Over 48.5 | -110 | -110 | -110 |
| Chiefs vs. Broncos | Under 43.5 | -110 | -110 | -110 |
In a game that pretty much no one saw coming, the Dolphins will enter the final week of the regular season still alive for postseason contention. After starting the year with a seven-game losing streak, Miami was able to turn it around with a seven-game winning streak, the first team in NFL history to ever do so. With New England falling to Miami earlier in the year by one point, the Patriots are looking for revenge and to solidify their playoff seeding in the final week. With the game being played in Miami this time, look for both squads to put up points under the Florida sun.
Prediction: While the Dolphins have normally been a historic late-season foil for the Pats, it is incredibly hard to beat a Bill Belichick-led squad twice in one season.
While both New Orleans and Atlanta will miss the postseason this year, the two teams are still playing for pride in their final matchup of the 2021 regular season. Atlanta was able to knock off the Saints earlier this year in a wild contest in NOLA. Though the Saints’ comeback attempt fell short in their first matchup (New Orleans scored 22 points in the fourth quarter), they still made for a tough foe for the Falcons. In a division (the NFC South) that is hard to pin down past Tampa Bay, this matchup is a toss-up for many.
Prediction: Given the home field and points advantages, look for the Falcons to once again squeak past the Saints, especially given the uncertainty at the quarterback position for New Orleans.
Perhaps the game that has the most postseason implications, Chargers vs. Raiders will be must-watch entertainment. If Los Angeles can win this game, they are assured a postseason berth for the first time since 2018. On the flipside, Las Vegas will be looking to play spoiler in the team’s second and final matchup of the season. Back in October, the Chargers were able to hold off the Raiders on Monday Night Football, 28-14. This should be another high-flying contest with both teams featuring strong passers in Justin Herbert (Los Angeles) and Derek Carr (Las Vegas).
Prediction: With both of these teams looking to end their regular season with a bang and a postseason berth, no punches will be pulled in Las Vegas so look for the two squads to pull out all the stops.
Our last spotlight of the week, Chiefs vs. Broncos will be a slugfest for all of the wrong reasons. First, Kansas City will be closing in on the number one seed in the playoffs so will be more inclined to rest their best players in the frigid Denver air. Moreover, the Broncos have not been playing their best football to close out the year and this game will have little meaning for Denver other than draft position. Finally, the last time the teams matched up, they combined for 31 points in Kansas City.
Prediction: While there is the possibility that Kansas City could play more of its starters with playoff positioning still uncertain for the best seed in the AFC, look for this game to be a snoozer to close out the AFC West season.
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About the Author
As a devout aficionado of sports, Chris Boline has carved a career within the athletic realm. A skilled scribe, he boasts a decade-long portfolio that encompasses coverage of the NBA G League, the Los Angeles Chargers, football and basketball across the country. Beyond his professional pursuits, Chris is deeply invested in his community and dedicates his leisure hours to serving on boards, collaborating with community organizations, and cherishing the company of loved ones. CURRENTLY Business Development and freelance sports writing RESIDES IN Reno, NV EDUCATION University of Nevada BS and MBA EXPERTISE -Sports writing proficiency in: NFL, NBA, UFC, boxing, golf, and some motor sports -Topical news -Promotional and marketing ideas/updates -Business development Summary Chris Boline serves in a business development sales capacity as his day job. He has previously held sales/marketing positions with The Applied Companies (TAC), KTVN 2 News and the NBA G League’s Reno Bighorns, affiliate of the Sacramento Kings. He is a Reno native and is a member of various community boards including the Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, NCET and the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA). Chris graduated from the University of Nevada in 2015 with a bachelors in management and economics and also earned his MBA from Nevada in 2023. More about Chris: Past president of the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA) 2022-23 Two-time honoree for University of Nevada Alumni Chapter of the Year (Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, 2017 & COBAA, 2021) 2021 NCET award for Professional Services Organization of the Year with TAC Northern Nevada Human Resources Association 2020 Best Places to Work-Northern Nevada, Second Place with TAC 2016-17 Reno Bighorns MVP from the Sacramento Kings The Nevada Sagebrush editor-in-chief 2013-15 Associated Collegiate Press 2015 Four-year Non-daily Newspaper Pacemaker honoree University of Nevada, Reno College of Business Dean's List honoree (5x) from 2011-2015 Nevada Press Association award for Best Sports Column – Community in 2015 Education
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