NFL Week 17 Early Advanced Lines: big shift in Pats-Dolphins, Seahawks-Arizona odds

Before Santa Claus took off for his annual tour Thursday night, the Westgate in Las Vegas published early advanced ‘look ahead’ betting lines for NFL Week 17. The preeminent gambling house listed the New England Patriots as 3½ point favorites in next week’s game at Miami, and in a pivotal NFC game, the Seattle Seahawks opened up as 2½ point road favorites at Arizona. Both of those games dramatically shifted on Sunday night after the Pats and Seahawks lost though. With the Patriots no longer playing a meaningless Week 17 game the Pats began Sunday evening as an eight point favorite, and by the end of the night the line was up to nine points. In the NFC Arizona clinched a bye, but their domination over Green Bay coupled with Seattle’s loss to the Rams caused that line to have a swing of a full six points, from the Cardinals being 2½ point underdogs to Arizona being favored by 3½ points.

Here is a look at all of the Week 17 games with those advanced lines from Thursday, as well as updated odds as of Sunday night.

10-5 New York Jets at 7-8 Buffalo Bills
Thursday’s Early Line: Bills favored by 1½.
Week 16 Result: Jets win to improve playoff chances; Bills win but were already eliminated.
Sunday Night’s line: Jets opened at -1½ and the line quickly moved up to 2½; it is now now 3 points in several venues.

6-9 Tampa Bay Buccaneers at 14-1 Carolina Panthers
Thursday’s Early Line: Panthers favored by 10.
Week 16 Result: Bucs lost to Bears; Panthers lost first game of season to Atlanta.
Sunday Night’s line: Started at 9½, but has moved up to 10 or 10½ depending on venue. This has gone from a meaningless game for Carolina to one they need to win to secure the #1 seed in the NFC.

12-3 New England Patriots at 5-10 Miami Dolphins
Thursday’s Early Line: Patriots favored by 3½
Week 16 Result: Patriots lost at NYJ and now need to win next week; Dolphins lost to the Colts.
Sunday Night’s line: Now that this game means something the Sunday line opened at eight points, and quickly moved up to nine.

5-10 Baltimore Ravens at 11-3 Cincinnati Bengals
Thursday’s Early Line: Bengals favored by 10
Week 16 Result: Ravens upset Steelers, crushing Pittsburgh’s playoff hopes; Bengals play Denver on Monday night.
Sunday Night’s line: With Baltimore’s impressive win the line opened at Cincy -7, where it has remained steady.

6-9 New Orleans Saints at 8-7 Atlanta Falcons
Thursday’s Early Line: no early line due to Drew Brees’ status
Week 16 Result: Saints beat Jacksonville 38-27; Falcons shock Carolina but were eliminated when the Vikings won.
Sunday Night’s line: Still no line due to the uncertainty of Drew Brees.

5-10 Jacksonville Jaguars at 8-7 Houston Texans
Thursday’s Early Line: No early line due to Brian Hoyer’s status.
Week 16 Result: Jaguars lose at New Orleans; Texans crush Tennessee.
Sunday Night’s line: Opened with Houston minus 5½ points, a few places are up to Texans -6.

9-6 Pittsburgh Steelers at 3-12 Cleveland Browns
Thursday’s Early Line: Steelers favored by 9½.
Week 16 Result: Steelers upset by Baltimore to fall to #7 seed in AFC; Browns lose by 4 at KC.
Sunday Night’s line: Began with Pittsburgh minus only 8½ after their disappointing loss, but has since moved up to ten points.

7-8 Oakland Raiders at 10-5 Kansas City Chiefs
Thursday’s Early Line: Chiefs favored by 7.
Week 16 Result: Raiders beat SD in OT; Chiefs barely beat Cleveland to clinch playoff berth.
Sunday Night’s line: Most venues are at KC minus 6½, with a few at Chiefs -7.

3-12 Tennessee Titans at 7-8 Indianapolis Colts
Thursday’s Early Line: Colts favored by 3.
Week 16 Result: Titans lose 34-6; Colts win but are all but mathematically eliminated.
Sunday Night’s line: Most sites have yet to publish a line due to uncertainty with both team’s quarterbacks, but those that do have a line are at Indy minus six points.

8-7 Washington Redskins at 4-11 Dallas Cowboys
Thursday’s Early Line: pick’em.
Week 16 Result: Skins clinch NFC East with win at Philadelphia; Boys lose 16-6 at Buffalo.
Sunday Night’s line: This began with Dallas minus-4 but has been inching down towards three points.

6-9 Detroit Lions at 6-9 Chicago Bears
Thursday’s Early Line: Bears favored by 1½.
Week 16 Result: Lions and Bears both win, oh my!
Sunday Night’s line: Opened with Chicago -1½; Bears now favored by one.

6-9 Philadelphia Eagles at 6-9 New York Giants
Thursday’s Early Line: Giants favored by 2½.
Week 16 Result: Eagles and Giants both lose, eliminated in Week 16.
Sunday Night’s line: Giants favored by 3½.

10-5 Minnesota Vikings at 10-5 Green Bay Packers
Thursday’s Early Line: Packers favored by 5½.
Week 16 Result: Vikings with an impressive win clinch a playoff spot, after Packers look bad in 38-8 loss.
Sunday Night’s line: Packers favored by 3.

4-11 San Diego Chargers at 10-4 Denver Broncos
Thursday’s Early Line: Broncos favored by 9½.
Week 16 Result: Chargers lose; Broncos play Cincinnati on Monday night.
Sunday Night’s line: Broncos favored by 7½.

7-8 St. Louis Rams at 4-11 San Francisco 49ers
Thursday’s Early Line: Rams favored by 2½.
Week 16 Result: Rams upset Seattle; Niners lose to Detroit.
Sunday Night’s line: Rams favored by 3½.

9-6 Seattle Seahawks at 13-2 Arizona Cardinals
Thursday’s Early Line: Seahawks favored by 2½.
Week 16 Result: Seahawks lose, drop to #6 seed; Arizona wins big and clinches a bye.
Sunday Night’s line: Six-point swing from three days ago: Cardinals favored by 3½.