Pittsburgh Steelers (5-8) at Carolina Panthers (5-8), 1 p.m., CBS
Line: Panthers -2.5 | Total: 38.5
If the Panthers win against the Steelers and the Buccaneers lose to the Bengals, the Panthers can move into first place in the N.F.C. South. It’s a far leap for a Carolina team that fired its head coach and waived its starting quarterback, but under interim Steve Wilks, the Panthers still somehow have a shot.
Kenny Pickett is in concussion protocol, and Mitchell Trubisky, who threw three interceptions in his stead last week, isn’t an improvement. The line has moved from 1 to 2.5. Carolina can win at home, but it may be close. Pick: Panthers -2.5
Kansas City (10-3) at Houston Texans (1-11-1), 1 p.m., CBS
Line: Texans +14 | Total: 49.5
Last week, the Texans got 17 points against the Cowboys, and the market faded them and bet the Cowboys. The Texans not only covered, they nearly won. This week, the market doesn’t want to make the same mistake twice. By Tuesday, 98 percent of the money had been bet on the Texans.
Perhaps the hopes for Houston’s covering lie in Kansas City’s garbage-time offense. Last week against Denver, they put up the first 27 points of the game, then let the Broncos come back after three Patrick Mahomes interceptions. They won, but failed to cover a much smaller spread than what they are up against this week. Pick: Texans +14
Arizona Cardinals (4-9) at Denver Broncos (3-10), 4:05 p.m., Fox
Line: Broncos -3 | Total: 36
Neither of these teams can catch a break. Russell Wilson is out with a concussion (Brett Rypien will start for the Broncos), and Kyler Murray tore his anterior cruciate ligament (Colt McCoy will start for the Cardinals). Even against the Broncos’ stout defense, the Cardinals — at least on the road — can win if they can manage the edge in the turnover battle. If DeAndre Hopkins holds the ball with both hands this week, Arizona can at least cover the spread. Pick: Cardinals +3
New England Patriots (7-6) at Las Vegas Raiders (5-8), 4:05 p.m., Fox
Line: Raiders -1 | Total: 44.5
The Patriots are making a push for a wild-card spot, while the Raiders are essentially cooked. But New England’s offense has been uneven all year (they rank 24th in yards per game and 28th in first downs), and the team has been too dependent on its defense to win games. Despite the Raiders’ proclivity for blowing leads, they have the league’s top running back and a quarterback who likes to air it out, and have been playing for little more than pride all month. Pick: Raiders -1
Monday Night’s Game
Los Angeles Rams (4-9) at Green Bay Packers (5-8), 8:15 p.m., ESPN
Line: Packers -7 | Total: 39.5
Baker Mayfield and the Rams are like two people left at the bar at the end of a long night. After showing up with high expectations, they end up settling for each other. Mayfield’s debut for Los Angeles produced sparks, however, as he led two heroic late touchdown drives for an improbable come-from-behind victory against the Raiders.
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