Peyton Manning is biggest of Week 17 surprises

Just when it seemed Peyton Manning might go out with a whimper, he was called on in relief and delivered a win. He was exactly what the Denver Broncos needed, just when it seemed they no longer wanted him.

Manning could be starting on the first Sunday in February, believe it or not.

"In my opinion, the Broncos go with Manning," said Chuck Esposito, Sunset Station sports book director. "They needed a spark, and Manning came in and gave them that spark. He seemed to energize the team.

"It's not all about the offense now. Denver has a really good defense. Manning just has to manage the game. He knows that window is almost closed, and he's got a shot here. It wouldn't surprise me if Denver makes it to the Super Bowl."

On another crazy Sunday, with each of the 16 games featuring some sort of intrigue in the storyline, Manning threw a surprise party as the Broncos beat San Diego 27-20 to seal the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs.

The biggest surprise? Tom Brady and the New England Patriots went down with a whimper, losing as double-digit favorites and falling to the No. 2 seed.

The regular-season finales in the NFL did not disappoint in terms of drama. Also unfolding in a unique Week 17: Rex Ryan knocked the New York Jets out of the playoffs, Ben Roethlisberger led Pittsburgh into the playoffs, Seattle put a 30-point beating on the Cardinals in Arizona, and Aaron Rodgers came up short in the NFC North title game in Green Bay.

But no team came back from a 31-0 halftime deficit to win in triple overtime, as Texas Christian did against Oregon in an Alamo Bowl to remember on Saturday night. With that game included, it was 24 hours of football madness with more twists and turns than a soap opera on Telemundo.

"We talk about it and talk about it, but you watch these games and it's unbelievable how exciting they are," South Point oddsmaker Jimmy Vaccaro said. "You can't even script this stuff."

Brady losing was not part of the script. But he was badly outdueled by Ryan Tannehill, who passed for 350 yards and two touchdowns as the hopeless, slumping Dolphins pinned a 20-10 defeat on Patriots, who went off as 10-point favorites in Miami. New England burned the betting public as teasers as money-line parlays went up in smoke.

The public also supported the Jets and paid for the mistake, with Ryan coaching the Bills, 3-point 'dogs, to a 22-17 win in Buffalo. It might also have been a rare loss for Floyd Mayweather Jr., who was rumored to bet $300,000 on the Jets at the CG Technology book at M Resort. Although it was not confirmed, those types of wagers by Mayweather are common.

The Jets' crash landing opened the postseason door for the Steelers, who closed as 13-point road favorites and covered in a 28-12 victory over Cleveland. Keeping with the soap opera theme, injured Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel was reportedly playing blackjack on the Las Vegas Strip the night before the game.

The public doubled down and won two major decisions in the early games on Pittsburgh and Houston. The Texans clinched the AFC South — and went over their season win total of 8½ — by thrashing Jacksonville 30-6.

It was a day of coaching firings and potential coaching finales. Mike Pettine was fired after the Browns' loss. Jim Tomsula was fired after the San Francisco 49ers' overtime win.

New Orleans upset Atlanta 20-17 in what might have been Sean Payton's last game as Saints coach. In Tom Coughlin's likely finale as Giants coach, Eli Manning threw a pick-six and New York fell 35-30 to Philadelphia, which looked like an inspired team without Chip Kelly on the sideline.

Indianapolis won for Chuck Pagano, soon to be the ex-Colts coach. Dallas did nothing to help Jason Garrett, who should be fired but probably will keep his job. The Cowboys finished 1-7 at home after an embarrassing loss to Washington, which should not have been a 3-point underdog.

Detroit was bet to a 2½-point favorite and beat Chicago 24-20, keeping the Bears under their season win total of 6½ and helping Lions coach Jim Caldwell's job status.

"One of the things I took away from Week 17 is a lot of teams that didn't have a lot to play for still put out a spirited effort. A lot of the teams with meaningless games played well," Esposito said. "Overall, it was a decent day for the books."

Underdogs went 11-5 against the spread with eight outright wins, results that favored the bookmakers. Carolina covered as a double-digit favorite to finish 15-1. But Cincinnati failed to cover 9½ in a 24-16 victory over Baltimore, and Kansas City's ran its win streak to 10 yet failed to cover 6½ in a 23-17 victory over Oakland.

In the wild-card round, the Chiefs are 3-point favorites at Houston, the Seahawks are 3½-point favorites at Minnesota, the Steelers are 2½-point favorites at Cincinnati, and the Packers are in a pick'em game at Washington.

"I enjoy the playoffs maybe even more than the Super Bowl because you've got two games on Saturday and Sunday two weeks in a row," Vaccaro said.

The Broncos get the weekend off, more time for coach Gary Kubiak to decide if Manning or Brock Osweiler will start in a home playoff game. Manning getting the call as the backup was not on any script. But after Denver committed five turnovers and trailed 13-7 in the third quarter, Kubiak signaled for No. 18 to come out of the bullpen. While Manning did nothing spectacular, he put 20 points on the board and resuscitated a quarterback controversy that seemed to be settled.

"Brady-Manning could possibly be the game for the AFC championship," Esposito said.

That showdown would be in Denver, not New England, and that was the biggest surprise to come out of a wild Week 17.

— Las Vegas Review-Journal sports betting columnist Matt Youmans can be reached at myoumans@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2907. He co-hosts "The Las Vegas Sportsline" weekdays at 2 p.m. on ESPN Radio (1100 AM). Follow him on Twitter: @mattyoumans247