NFL Week 18 Odds: Raiders Draw Spread, Moneyline Support

UPDATE 10 P.M. ET FRIDAY: Los Angeles was at -2.5 (-120) for all of 15 minutes Sunday night at Caesars, before moving to -3 (even). The Chargers have been at some iteration of -3 ever since and are currently -3 (-110). L.A. is nabbing 60% of bets and 76% of cash on the spread.

“It’s possible that this spread will go up, but I don’t think it will,” Caesars assistant director of trading Adam Pullen said. “Personally, I think this should be right around 3, maybe a little less. This should be the game with the highest handle this week, just because it’s the last game of the season and both teams have a lot to play for. Usually the last game of the day is up there in handle every Sunday, especially when it’s a good matchup.”

The total initially dipped from 48.5 to 48, then rose to 49.5 midweek before moving to 49 tonight.

UPDATE 7 P.M. ET WEDNESDAY: DraftKings was very briefly at Los Angeles -1.5, then -2.5 Sunday night before advancing to -3. Monday brought a trip back to -2.5 and Tuesday a stretch at -3.5 before the line returned to -3 (-115). The Chargers are seeing 60% of spread bets and 59% of spread money midweek. The total moved from 48.5 to 49.5 by this afternoon, with ticket count 4/1 and money 3/1-plus on the Over.

UPDATE 9 P.M. ET SUNDAY: Los Angeles (9-7 SU, 8-8 ATS) kept its playoff bid intact while dashing the hopes of three teams in one fell swoop. The Chargers drilled Denver 34-13 laying 7.5 points at home — a victory that eliminated the Broncos, Browns, and Dolphins.

Las Vegas (9-7 SU, 7-9 ATS) also needed a Week 17 win to keep its postseason hopes alive and got it — doing so on the road against a more formidable foe. The Raiders went to Indianapolis as 8.5-point underdogs, opened up a a 10-3 first-half lead, rallied from a 20-17 second-half deficit, and ultimately exited with a 23-20 upset on a final-seconds field goal.

So Allegiant Stadium will host a de facto playoff-elimination game next Sunday. We won’t get into the series of events that would still allow Vegas into the postseason should it lose to L.A.

“You can’t give the Raiders’ coaching staff and players enough credit for hanging in this AFC playoff race all the way to the last week of the regular season, despite all the adversity they have faced this year,” Murray said early Sunday evening. “It’s remarkable that they are still in this position. Nothing would surprise me here. Just curious to see where they slot this game next weekend. Saturday Night? Sunday night? It sets up as the best-handle game of the week.”

Murray and his fellow bookmakers got their wish: Late tonight, the NFL announced that Chargers vs. Raiders will be the Sunday night game. The line was stable tonight, while the total inched up to 48 moments after posting.

UPDATE 10 P.M. ET FRIDAY: The Rams dropped from -5.5 to -4.5 Tuesday morning and haven’t moved since at Caesars Sportsbook — not even so much as a nickel on the juice. Ticket count is running close, with 53% on San Francisco, but money is more defined, at 76% on the Niners.

San Fran needs a win to guarantee a playoff spot, though it could get in with a loss and some help elsewhere. L.A. has clinched a playoff spot but surely wants to maintain the No. 2 seed for home-field advantage through the first two rounds.

The total hasn’t moved off 44.5 all week.

UPDATE 7 P.M. ET WEDNESDAY: Los Angeles opened -5.5 at DraftKings, dipped as low as -4 Tuesday, and crept up to -4.5 early this morning. The Rams then returned to -5.5 this afternoon and are netting 56% of tickets and 53% of money on the spread. The total went from 44.5 to 44 to 44.5, and the Over is taking 87% of early tickets/77% of early dollars.

UPDATE 9 P.M. ET SUNDAY: Both these teams are in the postseason at the moment, but only Los Angeles’ spot is assured. In Week 17, the 49ers (9-7 SU, 8-8 ATS) started slow against Houston, but ultimately claimed a 23-7 victory, kicking a last-minute field goal to cover as 14-point home favorites.

Earlier in the day, Los Angeles (12-4 SU, 8-8 ATS) trailed all afternoon at Baltimore — that is, until the final minute. The Rams got a field goal to win 20-19 as 7-point favorites, keeping them at No. 2 in the NFC postseason chase.

L.A. enters Week 18 with a one-game lead over Arizona in the NFC West chase. If the Rams beat the 49ers, they’re the division champs and will host a wild-card game; if not, the Cardinals can swoop in and claim the title.

“We opened Rams -6, and I see some other shops dealing it at 5.5, which I can understand,” Murray said. “The 49ers have won five in a row vs. the Rams, and [49ers coach] Kyle Shanahan seems to have [Rams coach] Sean McVay’s number. We will be monitoring the status of [San Francisco QB] Jimmy Garoppolo this week. I thought [49ers rookie QB] Trey Lance looked lost at times today, and facing this Rams team on the road will be a much more serious test than Houston was.”

The line and total were unchanged tonight.

UPDATE 10 P.M. ET FRIDAY: On Monday, Caesars moved New England from -5.5 to -6.5, and the number hasn’t moved since. Ticket count is just beyond 2/1 Patriots, but money is almost dead even. The total nudged from 39.5 to 40 shortly after posting Sunday night, and there’s been no change since.

UPDATE 1:30 P.M. ET WEDNESDAY: New England opened -5.5 at DraftKings, stretched to -7 Monday and went to -6.5 Tuesday night. Tickets and money are both running 3/1 on the Patriots. The total opened at 39.5 but has spent much of the past three days at 40, with 90% of early bets/86% of early money on the Over.

UPDATE 9 P.M. ET SUNDAY: New England halted an 0-2 SU and ATS hiccup in emphatic fashion, albeit against the NFL’s worst outfit. The Patriots (10-6 SU and ATS) hung a 50-burger on the Jags, rumbling 50-10 as 17-point home favorites.

At the same time New England was throttling Jacksonville, Miami (8-8 SU, 8-7-1 ATS) mustered no offense whatsoever at Tennessee. Facing QB Ryan Tannehill — whom the Dolphins once drafted — Miami produced a measly field goal in a 34-3 loss as a 3-point road underdog. With that result, the Dolphins saw their NFL-best seven-game winning streak halted and were officially eliminated from playoff contention.

As such, this game is meaningless to Miami. However, New England — which has cinched up a playoff berth — can still capture the AFC East title with a victory and a Bills home loss to the Jets in Week 18.

“New England looked like world beaters today, but the Patriots can’t play Jacksonville every week,” Murray said. “The Patriots and Bills are both still alive for that division, so we expect them both to go all out. I’d love to see Round 3 between those teams in the postseason.”

Shortly after this line went up, the Patriots dipped to -6. The total didn’t change.

UPDATE 10 P.M. ET FRIDAY: This line has been on a ride this week, as oddsmakers waited on Ravens QB Lamar Jackson’s status. Friday came word that Jackson would miss his fourth straight game, and Caesars accordingly dropped the line from Baltimore -5 to -3.5. The Ravens had opened -4.5 and reached -6 Thursday morning.

Pittsburgh is taking 63% of spread tickets and a hefty 96% of spread money at Caesars. However, that’s primarily due to a $110,000 wager on the Steelers at +6. The total is down to 40.5 from a 42 opener.

UPDATE 5 P.M. ET WEDNESDAY: Baltimore opened -4.5 at DraftKings and initially dropped to -3.5, but the line stretched to -5.5 by Tuesday evening. The Ravens are now -5, although 63% of bets are on Pittsburgh while 57% of money is on Baltimore. The total moved from 42 to 42.5, then backed up to 41.5 this morning, though the Over is taking 63% of bets/64% of cash.

Both teams are still mathematically alive for a playoff bid, though both need a win and some unlikely help. Pittsburgh is in if it wins and gets an Indianapolis loss at Jacksonville, and the Chargers-Raiders game doesn’t end in a tie. Baltimore needs even more: a win over Pittsburgh, and the Colts, Dolphins, and Chargers to all lose.

UPDATE 9:30 P.M. ET SUNDAY: Somehow, these two .500 teams are still mathematically alive for an AFC wild-card bid. A month ago, Baltimore wasn’t far from the top of the Super Bowl odds board. Five consecutive losses later, the Ravens (8-8 SU and ATS) are 200/1 long shots at The SuperBook. Not having a healthy Lamar Jackson will do that to a team.

Missing Jackson (ankle injury) for a third consecutive week, Baltimore led the L.A. Rams for 59 of 60 minutes. Unfortunately, the only minute they didn’t lead was the last one, as the Rams nailed a last-second field goal and dispatched the Ravens 20-19. (On the positive side of things, Baltimore cashed as a 7-point home underdog to improve to 5-2 ATS in its last seven outings.)

Pittsburgh (7-7-1 SU, 6-9 ATS) still has a must-win Week 17 matchup, hosting Cleveland in Monday Night Football.

“We had this game Ravens -6.5 as our look-ahead line but lowered it to -4.5 after the Ravens’ loss today,” Murray said. “I don’t know why [Baltimore] would bother to play Lamar Jackson in this game — but technically, they are still alive in the playoff race, so in theory they would.

“That’s how you end up with this tweener point spread. The Steelers can be eliminated with a loss [Monday] night, which would force another adjustment.”

The initial line and total didn’t move tonight.

UPDATE 5 P.M. ET WEDNESDAY: With this game pretty much meaningless, Cincinnati is resting QB Joe Burrow for the postseason. Further, running back Joe Mixon (COVID) is out. So after opening Cleveland -2.5, this line has seen significant movement at DraftKings. By Tuesday, it had actually flipped to Cincinnati -3. But this morning’s news on Burrow and Mixon sent the line all the way to Browns -6.

Cincinnati is drawing 91% of spread bets and 70% of spread money. The total plunged, as well, down to 38 from a 44 opener, before nosing up to 38.5. The Under is landing 55% of bets/86% of money.

UPDATE 9:30 P.M. ET SUNDAY: Cincinnati (10-6 SU, 9-7 ATS) rallied from an early 14-0 deficit in Week 17, eventually upsetting Kansas City 34-31 on a final-seconds field goal. With the victory, Cincy — which was a 3.5-point home ‘dog to K.C. — clinched the AFC North title.

Entering Week 17, Cleveland was still alive in the wild-card chase, but Sunday’s results halted said chase. Still, the Browns (7-8 SU and ATS) have Week 17 work to do, traveling to Pittsburgh for the Monday nighter.

“The Bengals locked up the division today, and the Browns were eliminated from the playoffs, so you may see a bunch of backups out there next week in essentially a meaningless game,” Murray said. “So we put up the home team -3 and will let the bettors guide us from there.”

The bettors left it alone tonight, with no change in the spread or the total.

UPDATE 10 P.M. ET SATURDAY: The SuperBook dipped from Bills -17 to -16 by Wednesday, then rebounded to -16.5 Friday afternoon. But as is the case at other books, some bettors like the Jets, perhaps impressed by their effort last week in nearly upsetting Tampa Bay.

“Big money on the Bills earlier [in the week], but bet count is heavily slanted to the Jets,” SuperBook risk manager Rex Beyers said. “I would guess that’s based on their performances most recently and that there could be bad weather, so that’s a big number to get to.”

Indeed, that weather prospect helped push the total down to 40.5 from a 45.5 opener.

UPDATE 10 P.M. ET FRIDAY: Caesars books posted Buffalo as a 17-point chalk, dipped to -16.5 Tuesday, and haven’t budged since. Perhaps surprisingly, ticket count is 3/1-plus and money almost 5/1 on big underdog New York. It’s a bit of a Week 18 trend, as fellow double-digit-‘dogs Jacksonville and Houston are also taking more money than their respective foes, Indianapolis and Tennessee.

“Most of the money we would win on these double-digit spreads would be on teasers and moneyline parlays. When it comes to straight bets on these games, it’s a different animal,” Caesars assistant director of trading Adam Pullen said. “It’s not a surprise to see these double-digit underdogs getting most of the money on the spread. They’re more likely to be sharp plays versus public money.

“All the double-digit favorites will be well-backed on moneyline parlays and teasers, though, and an outright win by one of those underdogs would be big for us.”

The Jets-Bills total plunged from 45.5 to 40.5 by this morning, with weather primarily impacting that move.

UPDATE 5 P.M. ET WEDNESDAY: Buffalo hit DraftKings’ NFL Week 18 odds board at -16.5, rose to -17, then dipped to -16 late this morning. New York is netting 73% of tickets and 63% of money. The total tumbled to 41 by this afternoon, after opening at 45 and peaking at 45.5. Part of that drop can probably be attributed to expected inclement weather Sunday in Buffalo.

UPDATE 10 P.M. ET SUNDAY: Buffalo didn’t look like a 14-point chalk in the first half against Atlanta, but nonetheless got the victory to remain atop the AFC East. The Bills (10-6 SU, 8-6-2 ATS) jumped out to a 14-2 lead, trailed 15-14 at recess, then pitched a second-half shutout to win 29-15.

New York would seem an ideal foe for Buffalo, which simply needs to win to snatch a second consecutive AFC East title — and perhaps move up from its current No. 4 spot in the AFC pecking order. But the Jets surprisingly gave defending Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay all it could handle in Week 17. New York (4-12 SU, 6-10 ATS) was up 24-10 midway through the third quarter and never trailed — until 15 seconds remained.

The Jets gave up a 33-yard TD pass at that juncture and lost 28-24 as 14.5-point home underdogs.

Neither the line nor total moved tonight.

UPDATE 7 P.M. ET SATURDAY: The SuperBook opened Detroit as a 2.5-point chalk, on the premise that Green Bay wouldn’t play any of its starters. However, the Packers apparently will have their starters in, at least for a while. That led to the line flipping as far as Green Bay -4 Wednesday, though by this morning, the Packers were down to -3.

That said, bettors are on the Pack.

“We need the Lions for a good amount,” SuperBook risk manager Rex Beyers said. “That might prove to be OK if the Packers rest some of their guys, like we thought they might when we opened Detroit the favorite last Sunday afternoon.”

The total opened at 42 and has been at 44.5 since Wednesday afternoon.

UPDATE 5 P.M. ET WEDNESDAY: Green Bay already wrapped up the NFC’s No. 1 seed (and only bye) and has literally nothing to play for in Week 18. Early reports indicated the Packers’ starters will play Sunday, though how much they’ll play is another question.

While some books posted this line Sunday night with Detroit a short chalk, DraftKings waited for clarity Monday afternoon. At that point, Green Bay went up at -3, fell to -2.5 Tuesday, and rose to -3.5 this afternoon. Ticket count is almost 5/1 and money approaching 9/1 on the Packers, who are tied with the Cowboys for the NFL’s best point-spread record (12-4 ATS).

The total moved from 44 to 45, with tickets 2/1 on the Over, but money nearing 3/1 on the Under.

UPDATE 10 P.M. ET SUNDAY: No, that line is not a typo. Despite owning just two victories on the season, Detroit is a short home favorite against the Packers. The reason: Green Bay has nothing to play for.

The Packers clinched the NFC’s No. 1 seed and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs even before its Week 17 Sunday night home game against Minnesota. Thanks to Arizona’s road upset of Dallas, the road to the NFC title goes through the frozen tundra of Lambeau Field.

Just for good measure, though, the Pack punched out shorthanded Minnesota in the Week 17 marquee matchup, rolling 37-10 as a 12.5-point chalk. With that victory, Green Bay improved to an NFL-best 13-3 SU. Additionally, the Packers once again are tied with the Cowboys for the league’s top spread-covering mark at 12-4.

Even though it’s a virtual certainty that Packers QB Aaron Rodgers (toe injury) and other starters will sit this game out, the Lions shortened to -2 tonight in The SuperBook’s NFL Week 18 odds market. The total was unchanged. This matchup came off the board once Vikings-Packers kicked off, and it will go back up Monday morning.

UPDATE 11 P.M. ET FRIDAY: Jacksonville is another popular double-digit pup at Caesars this week — or at least popular with one high-roller. Indianapolis moved from -14.5 to -15.5 and back to -14.5 by Thursday night, with the Colts landing a modest majority 54% of tickets. But 92% of cash is on the Jags, a good chunk of which is a $110,000 play at +15.5 — despite the fact Jacksonville has failed to cover in seven consecutive games (the NFL’s longest current ATS slide). The total fell from 44.5 to 43.5.

UPDATE 7 P.M. ET WEDNESDAY: Indianapolis shot from -14 to -15.5 in short order Sunday night at DraftKings, then settled at -15 Monday morning. The Colts are taking 60% of spread tickets and 81% of spread dollars. Indy has everything to play for, with a win locking up a playoff bid. But for some reason, facing the Jaguars on the road hasn’t been good to the Colts of late: six straight losses (five in Jacksonville, one in London).

The total dipped from 44.5 to 44, although 59% of tickets/62% of dollars are on the Over.

UPDATE 10:30 P.M. ET SUNDAY: Indianapolis could’ve all but cemented a playoff berth with a home win laying 8.5 points against Las Vegas. But the Colts (9-7 SU, 10-6 ATS) lost 23-20 on a final-seconds field goal and now need a Week 18 win to be assured of postseason play.

So Jacksonville would seem to be the ideal foe, with the Jaguars again on track for the No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft. In Week 17, the Jags (2-14 SU, an NFL-worst 4-12 ATS) got boat-raced at New England, losing 50-10 as 17-point underdogs.

With Indy having a lot to play for, this line moved up a full point tonight to Colts -14.5. The total stuck at 44.

UPDATE 7 P.M. ET WEDNESDAY: Tampa Bay opened as a 9.5-point chalk at DraftKings, fell to -8 by Monday morning and bottomed out at -7.5 Tuesday night. The Bucs are now back at -8, while landing 84% of tickets/71% of money on the spread. Tampa Bay needs a victory and a Rams loss to San Francisco to move from the No. 3 to the No. 2 seed in the NFC playoff pecking order.

The total ambled from 42 to 42.5 to 41 and is now 41.5, with 70% of tickets on the Over/78% of money on the Under.

UPDATE 10:30 P.M. ET SUNDAY: Defending Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay (12-4 SU, 8-8 ATS) is certainly looking a little more vulnerable of late. In Week 15, the Bucs lost at home to New Orleans, 9-0. In Week 17, Tampa was a 14.5-point favorite at the New York Jets and didn’t lead until the final minute.

Midway through the third quarter, the Bucs found themselves in a 24-10 hole. But ultimately, Tom Brady led a 93-yard drive, capped by a long TD pass with 15 seconds left that gave Tampa a 28-24 victory.

Meanwhile, Carolina (5-11 SU and ATS) dumped its sixth consecutive game (both SU and ATS), falling 18-10 at New Orleans as a 7-point road underdog. Since starting the season with three straight wins and spread covers, the Panthers are 2-11 SU/ATS.

The line and total were unchanged tonight on The SuperBook’s NFL Week 18 odds board.

UPDATE 11 P.M. ET FRIDAY: This is another game in which the big underdog took a big wager at Caesars. Tennessee moved from -10.5 to -10 Wednesday, then returned to -10.5 tonight. Ticket count is 2/1 Titans, but money is 4/1 Texans, in no small part due to a $110,000 play at Houston +10.5.

UPDATE 7 P.M. ET WEDNESDAY: After opening as an 11-point favorite, Tennessee spent the first half of the week at -10.5 at DraftKings. The Titans are now -10.5 (-105), while seeing 57% of tickets/66% of money on the spread. The total hasn’t moved off of 43, though tickets are almost 3/1 and money almost 2/1 on the Over.

UPDATE 10:30 P.M. ET SUNDAY: Perhaps surprisingly, Tennessee (11-5 SU, 10-6 ATS) is now the No. 1 seed in the AFC, despite missing Derrick Henry for the past two months. In Week 17, the Titans belted Miami 34-3 laying 3 points at home. A Week 18 win in Houston would mean the AFC championship road would go through Nashville.

Houston (4-12 SU, 7-9 ATS) is the only thing standing in the way of Tennessee’s top seed. Fresh off back-to-back upset victories, the Texans got out to a 7-0 lead at San Francisco as hefty 13.5-point pups, but didn’t score again in a 23-7 loss.

The line and total didn’t move tonight.

UPDATE 7 P.M. ET WEDNESDAY: Arizona moved from -6 to -7 (-105) by Monday night at DraftKings, and the line hasn’t budged since. The Cards are drawing 65% of spread tickets, but money is much closer to two-way action, at 54% on Arizona. The total opened at 48.5 at DraftKings and right away fell to 48, where it remains tonight. Ticket count is 3/1 on the Over, but money is almost dead even.

UPDATE 11 P.M. ET SUNDAY: Arizona (11-5 SU, 10-6 ATS) picked a good time and a great team against which to end a three-game SU and ATS skid. The Cardinals went off as 6.5-point road ‘dogs to Dallas and held on for a 25-22 victory. Arizona is the NFC’s No. 5 seed but is still alive for the NFC West title and could therefore move up.

Seattle (6-10 SU, 8-8 ATS) has nothing to play for, but certainly didn’t perform like it in Week 17. The Seahawks pounded undermanned Detroit 51-29 as an 8.5-point home favorite.

Both the line and total were stable tonight.

UPDATE 7 P.M. ET WEDNESDAY: Minnesota dropped from -4 to -2.5 by Monday afternoon, then rebounded to -3.5 this afternoon at DraftKings. The Vikings are garnering 68% of spread bets and 55% of spread dollars in this meaningless NFC North matchup. The total nudged up from 44 to 44.5 this afternoon. Updated splits weren’t available for the total.

UPDATE 10 P.M. ET SUNDAY: Chicago (6-10 SU and ATS), in the extremely rare role of 6.5-point favorite, drubbed the visiting New York Giants 29-3 in Week 17. A few hours later, undermanned Minnesota (7-9 SU, 8-8 ATS) fell at Green Bay 37-10 as 12.5-point pups.

Bears-Vikings was taken off the board once Vikings-Packers kicked off Sunday night. The game will go back up Monday morning.

UPDATE 7 P.M. ET WEDNESDAY: Washington advanced to -7 this morning from a -6.5 opener at DraftKings. Ticket count is 6/1 and money 2/1 on the Football Team, which has promised a Feb. 2 announcement for a new team nickname. That’ll probably be more exciting than this game between two squads that have been eliminated from postseason contention.

The total is already down to 37.5 from a 40 opener, with 57% of bets on the Over/63% of money on the Under. The Giants, who are in an 0-5 SU and ATS funk, have questionable players littering their starting lineup, helping move the line up and the total down.

UPDATE 11 P.M. ET SUNDAY: Washington (6-10 SU, 6-9-1 ATS) had a four-game SU and ATS surge to get into the playoff picture. Then the Football Team lost four in a row (1-2-1 ATS), and it’s all over but the crying now.

In Week 17 against Philadelphia, Washington took a 10-0 first quarter lead and was up 16-7 at halftime. But Ron Rivera’s troops, getting 6 points at home, ended up losing 20-16. New York (4-12 SU, 6-10 ATS) was a 6.5-point pup at Chicago and got drubbed 29-3. It was the G-Men’s fifth straight loss (SU and ATS).

The line was stable tonight, but the total dropped to 38.5 on The SuperBook’s NFL Week 18 odds board.

UPDATE 7 P.M. ET WEDNESDAY: This line pinballed around a bit at DraftKings, from Saints -4.5 to -5.5, then down to -4. This afternoon, New Orleans returned to -4.5, but Atlanta is nabbing 58% of tickets and dollars on the spread. The total is down to 39.5 from a 41 opener, with 78% of tickets on the Over/56% of money on the Under.

UPDATE 11 P.M. ET SUNDAY: New Orleans (8-8 SU and ATS) is still clinging to playoff life, but needs a season-finale win — and some help. The Saints didn’t look like a postseason team in Week 17 against Carolina, rallying for a 18-10 victory as 7-point home favorites. Atlanta (7-9 SU, 6-9-1 ATS) saw its playoff hopes go up in smoke during a 29-15 loss at Buffalo, pushing as a 14-point ‘dog.

This line was on the move quickly tonight, with New Orleans dropping 2 points to -4.5.

UPDATE 3 P.M. ET SATURDAY: A few hours before kickoff, the Cowboys are 3.5-point favorites at WynnBet, where the line has been all over the map this week. Dallas opened -3 and stretched to -7 by Monday, then gradually made its way down to -3.5. Much of that was due to injury/illness news on the Cowboys’ sideline. The Cowboys are drawing 62% of tickets, while the Eagles are landing 65% of money.

The total is actually up to 44 from a 42 opener, with tickets and money approaching 4/1 on the Over.

UPDATE 10 P.M. ET FRIDAY: Philadelphia is missing a bunch of players, which caused this number to shoot up to Dallas -7 early in the week at Caesars Sportsbook. But then came some late-week bad news for the Cowboys: Running back Tony Pollard (foot) is out, as are breakout second-year cornerback Trevon Diggs and rookie linebacker Micah Parsons, both due to illness. Diggs has 11 interceptions this season.

The Eagles also will be without a key weapon, as tailback Miles Sanders (hand) has been ruled out. However, quarterback Jalen Hurts (ankle) came off the injury report Friday and is available. But since this game is essentially meaningless for Philly, it’s unknown how much Hurts will play (if at all).

Dallas dropped to -5 by Thursday afternoon and -4 Friday afternoon. The Cowboys are netting 56% of spread tickets and 61% of spread dollars. The total is actually up to 43.5 from a 40.5 opener.

UPDATE 1:30 P.M. ET WEDNESDAY: With both teams already in the NFC playoffs, this line moved significantly on news of who is/isn’t available, and who might not be available. Most notably, Eagles QB Jalen Hurts (ankle) is questionable, and running back Miles Sanders (hand) is doubtful. And Philly has COVID issues this week, too.

So after opening Dallas as 2.5-point chalk, DraftKings is already up to Cowboys -7. Dallas is drawing 59% of spread bets and 83% of spread dollars early on for this Saturday night game. The total climbed from 41 to 42.5, with tickets 4/1 and money 3/1 on the Over.

UPDATE 9 P.M. ET SUNDAY: Dallas (11-5 SU, 12-4 ATS) dropped from No. 2 to No. 4 in the NFC playoff race after its shocking 25-22 loss to the Cardinals as a 6.5-point home favorite. The Cowboys spotted Arizona a 22-7 lead and rallied down the stretch, but ultimately fell short, 25-22.

While Dallas failed to complete a much-needed comeback win in Week 17, Philadelphia did just that. The Eagles (9-7 SU, 8-7-1 ATS) erased a 16-7 halftime deficit at Washington, outscoring The Football Team 13-0 in the second half on the way to a 20-16 victory. Although Philly came up short as 6.5-point road favorites, they still clinched a playoff berth by virtue of their comeback win and other Week 17 results.

“It’s really hard to get a good feel for the Cowboys. Every time I’m ready to call them a legitimate Super Bowl contender, they lay an egg at home,” Murray said. “I give the Eagles credit for battling their way into the playoffs, but in the last four weeks, they beat the Redskins twice — once [against] a third-string QB on a Tuesday — the Jets, and the Giants. Not exactly a murderer’s row.”

By virtue of the Vikings’ Sunday night loss at Green Bay, Philadelphia locked up a postseason berth. As such, the Cowboys-Eagles contest is now pretty much meaningless. There was no movement on the line or total prior to the game coming off the board ahead of the Sunday night Vikings-Packers contest. Cowboys-Eagles will go back up Monday morning.

UPDATE 10 P.M. ET FRIDAY: Caesars Sportsbook pegged Kansas City a 10-point favorite at the outset, dipped to -9.5, stretched to -11, then tonight went to -10.5. But it’s pretty much all Chiefs action, with tickets beyond 4/1 and money beyond 5/1. The total is up to 45 from a 43.5 opener.

UPDATE 5 P.M. ET WEDNESDAY: This line has been quite active the past three days at DraftKings. Kansas City opened -10, quickly fell to 9, then rose as high as -11 early today. The Chiefs, still with a shot at the AFC’s No. 1 seed, are now -10.5. Ticket count is 4/1 and money 9/1 on Kansas City for this Saturday afternoon contest. The total is up to 45 from a 43.5 opener, with tickets 3/1 and money 2/1 on the Over.

UPDATE 9 P.M. ET SUNDAY: Kansas City (11-5 SU, 8-8 ATS) saw its eight-game SU and six-game ATS winning streaks end in Cincinnati — and in stunning fashion. The Chiefs raced out to leads of 14-0 and 28-14, but they produced only a field goal in the second half. At the same time, the Bengals lit up a (seemingly) improved Chiefs defense, scoring 10 fourth-quarter points on the way to a 34-31 victory as a 3.5-point home underdog.

Denver was all but technically eliminated from the postseason before it took the field in Week 17, but mathematically still had one thread left. That thread was cut in a 34-13 road loss getting 8.5 points against the Los Angeles Chargers.

“Just when we thought the Chiefs would be hosting the AFC Championship Game for the fourth year in a row, their defense gets shredded by Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase and the Bengals,” Murray said. “And now they actually need a win in Week 18 to even have a chance at home-field advantage.

“Denver’s season has been over for a while now — which is why this number may climb. The money will all be coming in on the favorite here.”

Perhaps Murray’s prediction will prove right come Sunday, but the initial move tonight was down to Chiefs -10. The total was stable.