The San Francisco 49ers are the NFL’s last undefeated team, while Russell Wilson is making a very strong case for MVP consideration in Seattle.
Something in the NFC West is about to give.
The 49ers (8-0) have home-field advantage Monday night and have had 10 days to prepare for Seattle (7-2) in the first of two divisional showdowns between the teams this season. The Seahawks get to wrap up the season hosting San Francisco on Dec. 29. They’ve already lost twice at home, making a road win now even more crucial in the NFC West.
The Seahawks maybe, just maybe, got caught looking ahead last week when Tampa Bay forced them to overtime before Wilson finished off the win with his fifth touchdown pass.
The 49ers just moved to No. 1 in the AP Pro32 poll, with the Seahawks not all that far behind at No. 5. The Niners will counter with Jimmy Garoppolo and a very stingy defense. They’re favored by six at home despite having lost nine of the last 10 in this series.
Staying undefeated in the NFL this late in the season isn’t easy. Just ask the Patriots.
UPSET SPECIAL: SEAHAWKS 31, 49ers 30.
No. 19 Los Angeles Chargers (minus 1) at No. 16 Oakland
The Chargers not only have won four straight in this series, they have found something since coach Anthony Lynn fired offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt. After a big win over Green Bay, not even all the talk about London calling will knock Philip Rivers and Melvin Gordon off target.
CHARGERS, 24-21
No. 6 Kansas City (minus 3½) at No. 20 Tennessee
NFL MVP Patrick Mahomes is expected back. Tennessee has a habit of playing to the level of its competition, but that won’t be enough.
CHIEFS, 33-30
No. 11 Buffalo (plus 2½) at No. 26 Cleveland
The Bills play very stingy defense and get what they need from their second-year quarterback. Cleveland has so many pieces, but the Browns can’t get enough from their second-year quarterback no matter what cleats his receivers are wearing.
UPSET SPECIAL: BILLS, 21-17
No. 22 Arizona (plus 4½) at No. 25 Tampa Bay
Quarterback Kyler Murray and coach Kliff Kingsbury have the Cardinals far more competitive than expected in their rookie season. Bruce Arians is a much more experienced coach. Better yet, Jameis Winston looks like he’s meshing with coordinator Byron Leftwich.
BUCS, 30-24
No. 27 New York Giants (minus 2½) at No. 31 New York Jets
The black cat should be safely tucked away far from the field, and the Giants are being treated as the true home team as the favorite. It’s also been longer since the Giants got a much-needed victory.
GIANTS, 28-24
KNOCKOUT POOL: Yes! The AP prognostication crew has survived to this point of the season. And yes! It’s getting much tougher with nine teams unavailable to find a good bet to stay alive another week. Baltimore would be the easy pick visiting winless Cincinnati, but the Ravens were the Week 6 pick. Indianapolis is very tempting hosting Miami, but FitzMagic is real — until it isn’t.
No. 28 Atlanta (plus 13) visiting No. 2 New Orleans makes the Saints the easy choice, even with both teams coming off their byes.
SAINTS, 34-20
No. 4 Baltimore (minus 10) at Cincinnati
The NFL’s last winless team is starting rookie Ryan Finley, which is why Baltimore would have been the knockout pool pick. Instead, this consolation prize.
BEST BET: RAVENS, 30-14
No. 14 Carolina (plus 5) at No. 7 Green Bay
How long will the Packers’ LA hangover last? Aaron Rodgers is back home facing Kyle Allen.
PACKERS: 30-21
No. 18 Detroit (plus 2 ½) at No. 23 Chicago
The Lions have a much shorter trip than last week to the West Coast. The Bears have bigger issues on offense.
LIONS, 20-18
No. 29 Miami (plus 10 ½) at No. 13 Indianapolis
Getting one win this season was surprising enough out of the Dolphins.
COLTS, 28-20
No. 12 Los Angeles Rams (minus 3½) at No. 17 Pittsburgh
The Rams are rested thanks to their bye and looking for a third consecutive win. The Steelers have won three straight to climb back to .500, and they’re at home.
RAMS, 26-21
No. 8 Minnesota (plus 3) at No. 10 Dallas
Kirk Cousins and Dalvin Cook taking on Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott. The Cowboys are at home.
COWBOYS, 30-24
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2019 RECORD:
Last Week: 7-6 against spread, 9-5 straight up.
Season Totals: 73-60-1 against spread, 85-48-1 straight up.
Best Bet: 7-2 against spread, 7-2 straight up.
Upset special: 5-4 against spread, 5-4 straight up.
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