This slate was decision-heavy. A few games were pure clock, field position, and defense, while others flipped late on one kick, one turnover, or one final sequence that got messy. If you’re trying to bet these spots cleanly, it helps to lean on a process instead of vibes, and the Bettor’s Handbook is built for that: Bettors Handbook.

Latest NFL Odds & Lines

Before you play anything, check the live board for moneyline, spread, and total. Even in “rested starters” games, numbers can get sensitive fast once the market reacts. Start with the latest NFL odds and scores.

NFL Picks of the Day

This is where discipline matters most. When teams are managing snaps, seeding, and health, you want clarity on what you’re betting and why. If you’re building cards around matchups and game scripts, the football service plays board keeps everything in one place.

Top Takeaways

• Denver’s No. 1 seed clincher was a classic defense-and-kicking result: a pick-six plus four field goals, and the Chargers offense never had a foothold with Trey Lance under pressure.
• New England’s path was simple and brutal for Miami: 243 rushing yards and three touchdowns from Rhamondre Stevenson, plus two more rushing scores from TreVeyon Henderson.
• Jacksonville’s division clincher wasn’t close. Lawrence’s efficiency and three passing TDs ended it early, and Tennessee’s quarterback situation changed immediately with Cam Ward’s first-quarter shoulder injury.
• Houston vs Indianapolis was a perfect example of late-game volatility: six Fairbairn field goals, the Colts briefly led late, then the Texans closed it, and the game ended on a fumble return after a lateral sequence.
• Several results turned on the last kick: Cleveland won at the buzzer, Detroit hit the final-play field goal, and Las Vegas hit from 60 with eight seconds left.
• If you want to sanity-check who’s actually delivering results across different bet types and spots, the service plays leaderboard is the fast way to compare.

Chargers vs Broncos Recap

Denver secured the No. 1 seed in the AFC with a 19-3 win over the Los Angeles Chargers. Ja’Quan McMillian returned an interception 45 yards for the only touchdown, and Wil Lutz hit four field goals.

This was a grind built on defense and field position. Bo Nix threw for 141 yards (14-for-23) and ran for a season-high 49, while Denver sacked Trey Lance four times to finish with 68 sacks on the season. The Chargers rested several players including Justin Herbert, and Lance finished 20-for-44 for 136 yards with an interception and a lost fumble as Los Angeles locked in the No. 7 seed and a trip to No. 2 New England.

Dolphins vs Patriots Recap

New England routed Miami 38-10 behind Rhamondre Stevenson’s 131 rushing yards, two rushing touchdowns, and a scoring reception. Rookie TreVeyon Henderson added two rushing touchdowns as the Patriots piled up 243 rushing yards.

The game script never complicated itself. New England controlled the line, controlled pace, and kept scoring without needing a shootout. Miami missed the postseason and rookie QB Quinn Ewers went 16-for-23 for 137 yards with one touchdown and one interception.

Titans vs Jaguars Recap

Jacksonville clinched its first AFC South title since 2022 by smashing Tennessee 41-7. Trevor Lawrence went 22-for-30 for 255 yards and three touchdowns, breaking the franchise single-season total touchdowns record (38) and moving into second on the Jaguars’ all-time passing yards list (17,822).

This was domination with no drama. Parker Washington (five catches, 87 yards) and Brenton Strange (six catches, 52 yards) both caught touchdown passes, and Tennessee lost stability immediately when Cam Ward’s rookie season ended on a first-quarter shoulder injury. Brandon Allen relieved him and finished 17-of-30 for 72 yards with an interception.

Colts vs Texans Recap

Houston beat Indianapolis 38-30 on a Ka’imi Fairbairn career-best six field goals, including the go-ahead 43-yarder with 12 seconds left. The Texans won their ninth straight and will be the No. 5 seed in the AFC, heading to either Pittsburgh or Baltimore next weekend.

The turning point was the late swing and the chaotic finish. Indianapolis took a 30-29 lead on Blake Grupe’s 22-yard field goal with 2:39 left, then Fairbairn put Houston back in front. With Jacksonville well ahead in its game, Houston rested several starters in the second half, including C.J. Stroud (14-of-23 for 169 yards and a TD in the first half), and the game ended when Indianapolis’ lateral attempt backfired into a Tommy Togiai 17-yard fumble return.

Saints vs Falcons Recap

Atlanta beat New Orleans 19-17 with Zane Gonzalez going 4-for-4 on field goals and Dee Alford making a crucial fourth-quarter interception. The win sent the Carolina Panthers to the postseason, and Atlanta closed the year on a four-game winning streak.

This was a tight, field-goal-driven game where one takeaway mattered more than everything else. Kirk Cousins threw for 180 yards and a touchdown and Drake London had 78 receiving yards and a score, while Tyler Shough threw for 259 yards and a touchdown and added a rushing score for the Saints.

Bengals vs Browns Recap

Cleveland beat Cincinnati 20-18 on Andre Szmyt’s game-winning 49-yard field goal as time expired. Myles Garrett recorded his 23rd sack of the season in the fourth quarter, breaking the NFL single-season record (22.5) previously shared by Michael Strahan and T.J. Watt.

The early defensive scoring set the tone, and the late sack sealed leverage. Devin Bush and Sam Webb returned an interception and a fumble for touchdowns early, then Garrett sacked Joe Burrow with 5:04 left to help set up the final kick. Rookie Shedeur Sanders went 11-of-22 for 111 yards, while Burrow threw for 236 yards and three touchdowns, but Cincinnati kicker Evan McPherson missed two extra points.

Cardinals vs Rams Recap

Los Angeles beat Arizona 37-20 to lock up the No. 5 seed in the NFC playoffs. Matthew Stafford threw four touchdown passes, two to Colby Parkinson and one each to Puka Nacua and Tyler Higbee, and Stafford finished the season with a career-high 46 passing TDs.

This was an offense-first separation game where the Rams finally finished drives. Arizona got two TD passes from Jacoby Brissett (22-of-31 for 243 yards), and Michael Wilson had a 99-yard receiving day with a touchdown, but the Cardinals closed on a nine-game losing streak.

Cowboys vs Giants Recap

New York beat Dallas 34-17 as Jaxson Dart threw for 230 yards and two touchdowns and rookie kicker Ben Sauls hit four field goals. Dart’s 29-yard TD pass to Daniel Bellinger with 20 seconds left in the first half capped a 96-yard drive and put the Giants in control.

The halftime timing was the pivot. Dallas split the game at quarterback, with Dak Prescott playing the first half (7-of-11 for 70 yards) and Joe Milton III playing the second (7-of-13 for 73 yards and an interception), and the Giants kept scoring without needing to chase explosive plays.

Packers vs Vikings Recap

Minnesota beat Green Bay 16-3 behind Justin Jefferson’s eight catches for 101 yards, giving him 1,000 receiving yards for the sixth straight season to start his career. C.J. Ham scored the Vikings’ rushing touchdown as Minnesota finished on a five-game winning streak.

Green Bay rested many starters and never generated enough offense to make it interesting. J.J. McCarthy went 14-of-23 for 182 yards before giving way to Max Brosmer (7-of-8 for 57), and Jordan Mason ran for a game-high 94 yards. Clayton Tune started for the Packers and finished 6-of-11 for 34 yards.

Bears vs Lions Recap

Detroit beat Chicago 19-16 on Jake Bates’ 42-yard field goal on the final play. Jared Goff threw for 331 yards and a touchdown, Jahmyr Gibbs had 80 rushing yards and a receiving TD, and Amon-Ra St. Brown caught 11 passes for 139 yards.

The game flipped late because Chicago finally found offense in the fourth quarter, rallying from a 16-0 deficit. Caleb Williams threw for 212 yards and two touchdowns and Colston Loveland had 10 catches for 91 yards and a TD, but the Bears still lost at the horn and held onto the No. 2 seed in the NFC.

Jets vs Bills Recap

Buffalo beat New York 35-8 behind Mitchell Trubisky’s 259 yards and four touchdown passes (22-of-29) and Ray Davis’ 151 rushing yards on 21 carries. The Bills finished with a 470-122 edge in net yards and will open the playoffs on the road as the No. 6 seed against Jacksonville.

This was one-way control, and it never shifted. Josh Allen started despite a sore right foot and extended his streak to 135 starts, but left after handing off on the first play. Rookie QB Brady Cook went 11-of-22 for 60 yards for the Jets and threw a late TD pass to Andrew Beck with a two-point conversion to Quentin Skinner.

Chiefs vs Raiders Recap

Las Vegas beat Kansas City 14-12 on Daniel Carlson’s 60-yard field goal with eight seconds remaining. The Chiefs kicked two late field goals to go ahead 12-11 with 1:01 left, but Aidan O’Connell hit completions of 21 and five yards to set up the winner.

The endgame was the entire handicap. The Raiders were already locked into the No. 1 pick in the 2026 draft, but still closed cleanly, and Tyree Wilson wrecked possessions with two sacks, two forced fumbles, and a safety. Kansas City used backups, with Shane Buechele (7-of-14 for 88 yards) in relief of Chris Oladokun (11-of-17 for 58 yards).

Eagles vs Commanders Recap

Washington beat Philadelphia 24-17 with two fourth-quarter touchdowns, and Josh Johnson earned his first NFL win since 2018. Johnson went 14-of-22 for 131 yards with a touchdown and an interception as the Commanders won only their second game in their last 12.

This was shaped by who did not play as much as who did. The Eagles rested many starters including Jalen Hurts and Saquon Barkley, and Tanner McKee threw for 241 yards with a TD and an interception. Tank Bigsby had 106 yards from scrimmage with a TD, and Jalyx Hunt had an interception and a fumble recovery, but Washington owned the fourth quarter.

NFL Picks and Handicappers

If you’re betting into seeding games and playoff ramps, you need more than one opinion. Different handicappers see different edges, and your job as a bettor is to compare approaches, not blindly tail the loudest take. That’s why the sports handicappers hub matters, it lets you evaluate styles and results side by side.

If you want a sharper foundation for markets like spreads, totals, and game scripts, the NFL betting guide is a useful reference point. And if you’re testing the platform before committing, start with free service plays to see how different cappers structure their releases. When you’re ready for higher volume and broader access, that’s where pricing packages fits.

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