Postseason berths can be sewn up in a three-game slate this Saturday, with the Buffalo Bills one victory away from retaining the AFC East title.
The Minnesota Vikings remain in the driving seat for the NFC North title, which they can clinch with a win on Saturday, or a Detroit Lions loss at the New York Jets 24 hours later.
Saturday's Colts won't run wild in Minnesota
What: Indianapolis Colts @ Minnesota Vikings
Where: US Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota
When: 13.00 ET, Saturday December 17th
How to watch: NFL Network
Odds: IND Colts +175, MIN Vikings -210
The Vikings have been constantly underrated this season and, although they lost by 11 points as a +1.5 underdog to Detroit last Sunday, they produced enough offense to win most weeks.
Two fumbles cost them in the final analysis and they get a great chance to make amends against a Colts team on a three-game losing skid.
Indy's third-ranked pass defense matches up well to Minnesota's most dangerous playmaker, Justin Jefferson, pretty well with cornerback Stephon Gilmore likely to shadow him all over the field.
He will have to be on his mettle as Jefferson set the Vikings' regular-season franchise record with 223 receiving yards against Detroit.
Another key battle will be the Colts rush defense against the Vikings running backs. Indianapolis have allowed 533 rushing yards and seven rushing TDs over their current three-game losing streak.
But Minnesota's Dalvin Cook has mustered just 151 yards on 57 carries over the past three games and needs a breakout performance.
Colts QB Matt Ryan was back to being awful during Indy's Week 12 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers and Jeff Saturday's men were obliterated 33-0 in the fourth quarter of their most recent game - a 54-19 defeat to the Dallas Cowboys.
The Vikings are 5-2-1 against the spread in their last eight games and should cover the -4.0 points required at -110 in this early Saturday spot.
QB problems could prove costly for Ravens
What: Baltimore Ravens @ Cleveland Browns
Where: FirstEnergy Stadium, Cleveland
When: 16.25 ET, Saturday December 17th
How to watch: NFL Network
Odds: BAL Ravens +140, CLE Browns -160
Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson will make his home debut against the AFC North-leading Ravens, who are the underdogs because of their own QB issues
Something serious must be up if a 5-8 team with little chance of making the playoffs is favoured against a 9-4 team on course for the division title.
The Ravens have ruled out Lamar Jackson for this one, but did give their fans some comfort by confirming that backup QB Tyler Huntley has cleared the concussion protocol and is off the injury report.
Jackson left Baltimore's 10-9 win over the Denver Broncos in week 13 with a knee injury, but Huntley played well in relief last week - completing 35 of 44 pass attempts for 275 yards in their 16-14 win over the Steelers.
With high winds expected in this part of Ohio, running the football could be the key to victory and that favours Cleveland.
The Browns have the fifth-ranked rushing offense and can also boast the second-best rush defense at home this year, albeit they have sprung some leaks on the road.
Cleveland can cover the spread of a field goal in what should be a low-scoring game with the Under 38.0 point Total also worth an interest at -110.
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Fins in deep water against suffocating Bills defense
What: Miami Dolphins @ Buffalo Bills
Where: Highmark Stadium. Orchard Park, New York
When: 20.20 ET, Saturday December 17th
How to watch: NFL Network
Odds: MIA Dolphins +265, BUF Bills -330
Consecutive road losses to the San Francisco 49ers, 33-17, and Los Angeles Chargers, 23-17, have left the Dolphins precariously placed in the AFC playoff race.
Getting a victory in the forecast snow at Highmark Stadium is the only way they stop Buffalo from clinching the AFC East this weekend while a loss could drop them into a scramble for the remaining wild card slots.
Josh Allen and the Bills will want to avenge their loss in South Florida earlier this season and, unlike Miami, they are built for the icy conditions with a solid offensive line, strong backfield punch, one of the best quarterback-wide receiver duos in the league and a physical defense.
Just ask Jets QB Mike White about the latter after he was almost split in two by a couple of hits he took in last week's 20-12 loss to the Bills.
The spread may look too much for them at -7.0 points and Buffalo could not quite manage to cover a slightly larger number last week, but the Fins have scored just 17 points in each of their last two games.
Tua Tagovailoa is not getting the same protection from his offensive line as he did earlier in the season, but Dolphins left tackle Terron Armstead said he will play through a pectoral injury at Buffalo.
They could still lose by more than a score, with the Bills available at -110 to cover, as it's worth noting that the Buffalo's margin of victory in their last three home games with Miami has been 15, 30 and ten points.
