Can Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow continue his scorching touch? He threw for 525 yards, the fourth-most single-game yardage in NFL history, last week at home against the Ravens.
Norm Van Brocklin of the L.A. Rams tops that chart, with 554 against the New York Yanks in 1951, and Warren Moon (Houston Oilers, ’90) and Matt Schaub (Houston Texans, 2012) are knotted at 527.
Do the Chiefs, with eight consecutive victories, keep their hot streak alive?
That’s a marquee matchup, at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati, of Week 17 of this NFL season. For a couple of weeks, certain games have taken on playoff-like qualities, and Bengals-Chiefs possesses such luster this weekend.
DraftKings sportsbook director Johnny Avello raves about Burrow, who went 37-for-46, with four touchdowns and no interceptions, against the Ravens.
“There are some good young quarterbacks in the league,” says Avello. “Aaron Rodgers, he’s got a couple more years, maybe. Tom Brady? Maybe this is it for him, maybe next year? I don’t think he has too much longer.
“There will be this new wave of guys who are coming in and taking over, and they’re really good. I like the way they play. They know how to win. They’re gutsy, and they’re starting to read defenses better.”
Baltimore’s passing defense is at the bottom of the 32-team league, allowing 281 yards a game. Kansas City is rated 25th, at 246.
At DraftKings, the Chiefs opened as 4.5-point favorites against the Bengals, which has moved to -5.
“Normally, a team like Cincinnati wouldn’t be getting points at home from too many teams,” says Avello. “But Kansas City is really going well right now, and bettors are sticking with them. In power ratings, [the Chiefs] are the better team.”
Here’s a look at the betting lines for some key Week 17 games. Point spreads and totals listed are as of Thursday, with current numbers presented in the odds tables. As always, shop around the betting market for the best odds for your bets.
Chiefs (11-4, 8-7 ATS) at Bengals (9-6, 8-7 ATS)
DraftKings lines: Chiefs -5, Total 51
Avello has seen Kansas City right its offensive woes, “and the Chiefs’ defense is playing better.”
Kansas City has a one-game lead on Tennessee for the AFC’s best record. The Chiefs have allowed seven of their past eight foes 17 points or fewer. Cincinnati has averaged 29 points over its previous six games.
Rams (11-4, 8-7 ATS) at Ravens (8-7, 7-8 ATS)
DraftKings lines: Rams -3.5, Total 46.5 (ov -115)
If the Ravens are still shell-shocked from what Burrow did to them last Sunday, this might be a timely home opponent.
Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford hasn’t busted the 300-yard passing threshold in six of his past seven games, and last week at Minnesota, he recorded a season-low 197 yards.
Raiders (8-7, 6-9 ATS) at Colts (9-6, 10-5 ATS)
DraftKings lines: Colts -6.5, Total 44.5
The NFL halved its quarantine window to five days, so Carson Wentz might be available for the Raiders. If not, Sam Ehlinger, a rookie out of Texas, will start.
The Colts have been adjusted from an opener of -8.5, and the opening total of 51 was cut to 47 at DK last Sunday night.
Avello won’t be surprised if that climbs back up to 45.5, even 46, by kickoff.
Cardinals (10-5, 9-6 ATS) at Cowboys (11-4, 12-3 ATS)
DraftKings line: Cowboys -5.5, Total 52
After winning their first seven games, the Cards have dropped five of their past eight, including three in a row. Dallas has won four in a row and has averaged nearly 33 points in its past five games.
The line opened Dallas -3, before the Cowboys’ 56-14 win over Washington last Sunday night.
Vikings (7-8, 8-7 ATS) at Packers (12-3, 11-4 ATS)
DraftKings line: Packers -6.5, Total 47.5
Since losing in Minnesota, the Packers have won four in a row. And for the first time all season, Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers has completed at least 70% of his attempts in three consecutive games — with 10 TDs and no picks.
In his previous five games, Rodgers has 16 touchdowns and zero interceptions. He has 33 TDs and four picks on the season, and his 110.8 passer rating leads the league.
Temperature at kickoff is expected to be 4 degrees (-4 windchill), dipping to 2 (-6) or lower. Wind is expected to be minimal, with no snow in the forecast.
There’s been early interest in the underdog, as this point spread opened 7.
Browns (7-8, 7-8 ATS) Steelers (7-7-1, 6-9 ATS)
DraftKings line: Browns -3.5, Total 41
Avello marvels at the tight AFC North, which anybody could win depending upon how the dominos fall in the final two weeks.
The Steelers (+5) beat the Browns, 15-10, on Oct. 31. And Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has dominated Cleveland like no other opponent, going 25-2-1 against the Browns in his career.
Still, early action has been on the Browns, as Pittsburgh was -1.5 in look-ahead lines last week, and Cleveland opened -2.5 on some oddsboards last Sunday night.
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