Benched starters make for ‘uncomfortable’ week

Last week, a smattering of NFL games actually mattered in the big picture.

Today, we've narrowed it to six games, and even that might be a stretch.

I'm not counting Cleveland hosting San Francisco. In essence, it's a meaningless game. The Browns make the playoffs only if Tennessee, a 5-point favorite, loses at Indianapolis. If the Browns and Titans win, Tennessee enters the postseason. If both teams lose, Cleveland advances by virtue of a better record against AFC opposition.

The NFL has formulated a decent schedule today, changing start times of several games to promote enhanced competition and participation.

The New Orleans Saints, 2-point favorites at Chicago, are on an island with a 10 a.m. local start time. The Saints need a win combined with losses by Minnesota and Washington. The Saints will be motivated, but they should have been last week against the Philadelphia Eagles.

The Redskins' game against Dallas was moved to 1:15 p.m. to coincide with the Vikings' appearance in Denver. Washington is a 9-point home favorite over the Cowboys.

Pittsburgh and San Diego are vying for the important No. 3 seed in the AFC, a scenario the Chargers control. The Steelers' game at Baltimore was switched to 1:15 p.m., leaving San Diego no choice but to play the likes of LaDainian Tomlinson and Antonio Gates at Oakland, while keeping close tabs on the scoreboard. The Steelers seem resigned to their fate and will not play quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.

The flex schedule worked perfectly, with Tennessee playing in the night game, not so much for ratings but for the magnitude of the game.

At least Bryant Gumbel won't be on three channels again tonight.

As for the game itself, if Peyton Manning plays through the first half, that could be enough to get the job done. Should the Colts take a decent lead by halftime, the Titans aren't built for staging big rallies.

Their lunch-pail style could be their undoing. We voiced the same concerns last week, and Manning played plenty, lighting up Houston.

But take into account Colts coach Tony Dungy's words this week: "You feel badly in a way, but that's just the way the schedule works out. That's always my message to our team -- don't put yourself in a position where you have to depend on anybody else."

It would seem he's apologizing to Cleveland before the game is even played.

Across the board, lines are confounding for the regular season's final week. The oddsmakers at Las Vegas Sports Consultants are trying to read between the lines as to who will play and how much. LVSC odds director Tony Sinisi has an uneasy feeling.

"These games are a no-win situation," Sinisi said. "It's a rare instance in which we are genuinely uncomfortable, but this Sunday fits that bill."

Oddsmaker Sean Van Patten said some of the numbers are wacky.

"We think the adjustments have triggered crazy overreactions. Seattle's second team is better than the starters for Atlanta, yet the Falcons are favored by 2 points," he said. "If Indy was playing the Titans four weeks ago, the Colts would be 10-point favorites. That's a (15)-point swing."

The defending NFC champion Bears have had a nightmare season but in successive weeks can impact someone else's postseason plans. After knocking off the Green Bay Packers last week, denying them the opportunity to gain home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs, the Bears officially can close the door on the Saints.

The send-out line was pick-'em, but the Saints now are slight favorites. A win by New Orleans, and the mandatory results required in the Redskins and Vikings games, would make the Saints the second team in NFL history to make the playoffs after starting the season 0-4.

Teams needing a win and being good enough to get it are two entirely different facets of how we approach the annual dart-throwing contest known as Week 17.

Brian Blessing, project manager for Las Vegas Sports Consultants, can be reached at bblessing@lvsc.com. Hear the LVSC oddsmakers on "Sportsbook Radio," weekdays at 4 p.m. on KENO-AM (1460).