Culver City Observer -

1. San Francisco 49ers (11-3): The 49ers easily defeated the Cardinals behind their MVP running back, Christian McCaffrey, who leads the NFL in rushing yardage with 1,292 and is the only player with over 1,000 yards rushing. He leads all NFL running backs in receiving yardage with 509 and is tied for the lead in touchdowns scored with 20. With three games to go, McCaffrey is the leader in the NFL MVP race. Next: -5.5 vs Baltimore Ravens – Mon, Dec. 25 – O/U: 46.5 (ATS: 8-6 – O/U: 8-6)

2. Baltimore Ravens (11-3): The Ravens easily defeated the Jaguars, 23-7 in Jacksonville. The Ravens suffered another injury loss on offense, losing running back Keaton Mitchell, who had a full ACL tear in his left knee and is done for the year. The Ravens will miss Mitchell's speed. Next: +5.5 at San Francisco 49ers – Mon, Dec. 25 – O/U: 46.5 (ATS: 9-5 – O/U: 6-8)

3. Detroit Lions (10-4): Quarterback Jared Goff threw for five touchdowns in a rout of the Broncos, 42-17. The Lions need a victory over the Vikings this weekend to clinch a division title. The Lions still have a shot at winning homefield advantage throughout the NFC Playoffs. Next: -3 at Minnesota Vikings – Sun, Dec. 24 – O/U: 46.5 (ATS: 9-5 – O/U: 9-5)

4. Miami Dolphins (10-4): The Dolphins were playing without star wide receiver Tyreek Hill, who missed the game with a sore ankle, but did not miss a beat in a 30-0 blowout/shutout victory over the Jets. Hill should return this week for a better opponent. Next: -1.5 vs Dallas Cowboys - Sun, Dec. 24 – O/U: 51.5 (ATS: 9-5 – O/U: 8-6)

5. Philadelphia Eagles (10-4): The Eagles suffered a third consecutive loss on Monday Night in Seattle, but they will still win the NFC East if they win their final three games. They win on a tiebreaker with the Cowboys on their strength of victories. Next: -11.5 vs New York Giants – Mon, Dec. 25 – O/U: 42.5 (ATS: 7-5-2 – O/U: 7-7)

6. Dallas Cowboys (10-4): The Cowboys were blown out on the road, again, losing at Buffalo to the Bills, 31-10. The Bills ran for 266 yards and held the Cowboys to 195 yards in a dominant victory. Teams are finding weaknesses in the Cowboys' defense. Next: +1.5 at Miami Dolphins - Sun, Dec. 25 – O/U: 51.5 (ATS: 9-5 – O/U: 8-6)

7. Kansas City Chiefs (9-5): The Chiefs beat the Patriots this weekend, as expected. The Chiefs are in first place in the AFC West and are the only team in the division in the division with a winning record. The Chiefs are lucky to be in the AFC West. Next: -10 vs Las Vegas Raiders - Mon, Dec. 25 – O/U: 41.5 (ATS: 7-6-1 – O/U: 5-9)

8. Buffalo Bills (8-6): The Bills have beaten the Chiefs and the Cowboys in back-to-back weeks. The Cowboys game was not close, 31-10. The Bills also have a blowout win over the Dolphins. The Bills are a team that no one should want to face in the playoffs. Next: -12.5 at Los Angeles Chargers - Sat, Dec. 23 – O/U: 43.5 (ATS: 6-8 – O/U: 4-10)

9. Cleveland Browns (9-5): Former Chargers kicker Dustin Hopkins helped the Browns move one step closer to the playoffs with a game-winning 34-yard field goal to lift the Browns to a 20-17 victory over the Bears. Hopkins was traded to the Brown for a 2025 7th round draft pick and things have worked out well for Hopkins, who leads the NFL in field goals made with 33. Next: -2.5 at Houston Texans – Sun, Dec. 24 – O/U: 40.5 (ATS: 8-5-1 – O/U: 8-6)

10. Cincinnati Bengals (8-6): Bengals quarterback Jake Browning rallied the Bengals from a fourth quarter deficit of 14 points to tie the game with the Vikings and send it into overtime. Browning then led the Bengals to the winning field goal in a 27-24 victory in overtime. Next: -1.5 at Pittsburgh Steelers – Sat, Dec. 23 – O/U 37 (ATS: 6-6-2 – O/U: 8-6)

11. Jacksonville Jaguars (8-6): The Jaguars were easily defeated by the Ravens in Jacksonville, 23-7, to extend their losing streak to three games. The Jags are tied for first place in the AFC South with the Texans and the Colts. The struggling Jags have a 3-5 record at home this season. Next: +1.5 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Sun, Dec. 24 – O/U: 43.5 (ATS: 8-6 – O/U: 7-7)

12. Houston Texans (8-6): Former UCLA Kicker Ka'imi Fairbairn nailed a 54-yard field goal with no time left on the clock to give the Texans a 19-16 victory over the Titans in Nashville in overtime. The Texans were without quarterback C.J. Stroud, but were led by backup quarterback Case Keenum, who became the only quarterback in history to throw for over 15,000 yards in both College and the NFL. Next: +2.5 vs Cleveland Browns – Sun, Dec. 24 – O/U 40.5 (ATS: 7-7 – O/U: 5-9)

13. Los Angeles Rams (7-7): The Rams have won four of their last five games after defeating the Commanders, 28-20, The game should not have been that close, but the Rams missed opportunities to score touchdowns and let the Commanders hang around. Next: -4.5 vs New Orleans Saints – Thu, Dec. 21 – O/U: 46.5 (ATS: 8-5-1 – O/U: 6-8)

14. Indianapolis Colts (8-6): One week after being blown out by the Bengals, the Colts easily defeated the fading Steelers, 30-13. The Colts are in a three-way tie for first place in the AFC South with the Jaguars and the Texans. Next: +1.5 at Atlanta Falcons – Sun, Dec. 24 – O/U: 44.5 (ATS: 9-5 – O/U: 10-4)

15. Seattle Seahawks (7-7): Safety Julian Love had two terrific fourth quarter interceptions and quarterback Drew Lock led an amazing 10 play, 92-yard drive in the final two minutes of the game culminating in a 29-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba to win the game with 28 seconds left in the game. Next: -2.5 at Tennessee Titans – Sun, Dec. 24 – O/U: 41.5 (ATS: 8-5-1 – O/U: 6-8)

16. Denver Broncos (7-7): The Broncos were down 21-0 after one quarter to the Lions and the game never got much closer than that in a 42-17 loss to the Lions in Detroit. The Broncos gave up five touchdown passes in the game and allowed the Lions to rush for 185 yards. Next: -6.5 vs New England Patriots – Sun, Dec. 24 – O/U: 34.5 (ATS: 5-8-1 – O/U: 6-8)

17. Minnesota Vikings (7-7): The Vikings have lost three of their last four games and trail the Lions by three games with three games remaining. Injuries have made this a difficult season for the Vikings, but they still do have hope to make the playoffs. Next: +3 vs Detroit Lions – Sun, Dec. 24 – O/U: 46.5 (ATS: 7-4-3 – O/U: 4-10)

18. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-7): The Steelers extended their losing streak to three games with another ugly performance, losing to the Colts 30-13. The Steelers struggle to run the ball and the roster is beginning to look overrated. Next: +1.5 vs Cincinnati Bengals – Sat, Dec. 23 – O/U: 37 (ATS: 7-7 – O/U: 4-10)

19. New Orleans Saints (7-7): The Saints won their second consecutive game, easily defeating the Giants, 24-6. The Saints are tied for first place in the NFC South with the Buccaneers and headed to SoFi Stadium for a Thursday Night showdown with the Rams. Next: +4.5 at Los Angeles Rams – Thuy, Dec. 21 – O/U: 46.5 (ATS: 4-9-1 – O/U: 4-10)

20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-7): Quarterback Baker Mayfield played like the No. 1 pick overall in the 2018 NFL draft, completing 22 of 28 passes for 381 yards and four touchdowns in a surprising 34-20 victory over the Packers in Green Bay. The Bucs have won three straight games. Next: -1.5 vs Jacksonville Jaguars - Sun, Dec. 24 – O/U: 43.5 (ATS: 9-5 – O/U: 6-8)

21. Green Bay Packers (6-8): The Packers are circling the drain after a second consecutive loss, falling to the Buccaneers at home, 34-20. The Pack needs to win their final three games to have any hope of making the playoffs this season. Next: -4.5 at Carolina Panthers - Sun, Dec. 24 – O/U: 36.5 (ATS: 7-7 – O/U: 8-6)

22. Tennessee Titans (5-9): The Titans suffered a tough loss at home to the Texans in overtime, 19-16. The loss clinched a losing season for the Titans and probably clinched last place in the AFC South. Titans head coach Mike Vrabel is rumored to be in trouble in Nashville. Next: +2.5 vs Seattle Seahawks – Sun, Dec. 24 – O/U: 41.5 (ATS: 6-8 – O/U: 5-9)

23. Chicago Bears (5-9): The Bears suffered a tough 20-17 defeat at Cleveland to the Browns. The Bears have become competitive, and the addition of defensive end Montez Sweat, acquired before the trade deadline, has helped. Sweat had 2.5 sacks and seven tackles against the Browns. Next: -4.5 vs Arizona Cardinals - Sun, Dec. 24 – O/U: 44.5 (ATS: 6-6-2 – O/U: 7-7)

24. Las Vegas Raiders (6-8): Four days after the Raiders were shutout at home 3-0 at the hands of the Vikings, they scored a franchise record 63 points in a boatrace victory over the Chargers. Eight different Raiders scored touchdowns in the victory. While it was a terrific win for the Raiders and their fans, beating the Chargers does not tell you much about your team. Beating their next opponent will. Next: +10 at Kansas City Chiefs - Mon, Dec. 25 – O/U: 41.5 (ATS: 7-6-1 – O/U: 4-10)

25. Atlanta Falcons (6-8): The Falcons entered the category of pseudo-playoff contender after their 9-7 loss to the Panthers. They held the Panthers without a touchdown but could not generate enough offense to beat the lowly Panthers. Head coach Arthur Smith is on the hot seat, and he may be gone after the season. Next: -1.5 vs Indianapolis Colts – Sun, Dec. 24 – O/U: 44.5 (ATS: 4-10 – O/U: 5-9)

26. New York Giants (5-9): The Giants three-game winning streak came to an end in a 24-6 loss to the Saints. Quarterback Tommy DeVito was sacked seven times and led the Giants in rushing yardage with 36, a sign that the Giants could not run the ball and DeVito was running for his life. Next: +11.5 at Philadelphia Eagles – Mon, Dec. 25 – O/U: 42.5 (ATS: 5-8-1 – O/U: 4-10)

27. New York Jets (5-9): The Jets struggled once again on offense in a 30-0 blowout loss to the Dolphins. It is hard to see how there are not some significant changes coming on the offensive side of the ball in the offseason, starting with the offensive line and the offensive coordinator. Next: -3 vs Washington Commanders - Sun, Dec. 24 – O/U: 37.5 (ATS: 5-8-1 – O/U: 5-9)

28. Los Angeles Chargers (5-9): The Chargers were embarrassed by the Raiders, 63-21 and that was enough for Chargers ownership. Head coach Brandon Staley was fired along with GM Tom Telesco. Quarterback Justin Herbert makes this job attractive, but the salary cap issues and the holes that need to be filled on the roster also make this a challenging assignment for a GM and head coach. Next: +12.5 vs Buffalo Bills - Sat, Dec. 23 – O/U: 43.5 (ATS: 5-9 – O/U: 4-10)

29. Washington Commanders (4-10): Wide receiver Terry McLaurin had six receptions for 141 yards and wide receiver Curtis Samuel added two touchdowns receptions, but it still was not enough in a 28-20 loss to the Rams. Next: +3 at New York Jets – Sun, Dec. 24 – O/U: 37.5 (ATS: 5-8-1 – O/U: 8-6)

30. Arizona Cardinals (3-11): Two Kyler Murray interceptions made the difficult task of beating the 49ers impossible, as the 49ers routed the Cardinals 45-29. Tight end Trey McBride is having a solid second season in the NFL, with 66 receptions for 712 yards and two touchdowns. Next: +4.5 at Chicago Bears - Sun, Dec. 24 – O/U: 44.5 (ATS: 7-7 – O/U: 8-6)

Ty Nowell - LA Chargers

Chargers defense ranks 29th overall, 30th passing defense, and 18th rushing defense through Week 15

31. New England Patriots (3-11): The Patriots were competitive with the Chiefs, but in the end, they could not create enough offense and wound up falling to the Chiefs, 27-17. The rumors continue to swirl around that this may be the final season for head coach Bill Belichick with the Patriots. Next: +6.5 at Denver Broncos – Sun, Dec. 24 – O/U: 34.5 (ATS: 3-10-1 – O/U: 5-9)

32. Carolina Panthers (2-12): The Bears thought the Panthers were "Tanking for Caleb," even though the Panthers first-round pick belongs to the Bears due to a trade from last season. The Panthers found a way to beat the Falcons, 9-7, giving them a second victory this season and putting them just one game ahead of the Cardinals and Patriots in the race for the worst record in the NFL. Next: +4.5 vs Green Bay Packers - Sun, Dec. 24 – O/U: 36.5 (ATS: 3-9-2 – O/U: 4-10)