fb-pixelSome teams made something out of nothing - The Boston Globe Skip to main content

Some teams made something out of nothing

Andy Reid and the Chiefs didn’t mail it in, even though their backups saw a lot of action.Donald Miralle/Getty Images

Let's remember the following in 2014: When gambling during Week 17, don't assume teams "with nothing to play for" are going to give up.

A perfect example is the Kansas City Chiefs. Locked into the AFC's fifth seed, the Chiefs announced early last week they would "mix and match" their starters and backups against host San Diego, which needed a win and help from other teams to reach the postseason.

The Chargers opened as 10-point favorites, and by the 4:25 p.m. kickoff Sunday, the spread had spiked to 14½ after losses by Baltimore and Miami earlier in the day provided San Diego with the help it needed. If the Chargers beat Kansas City, a division rival, they would make the playoffs.

Advertisement



A bet on San Diego was essentially a bet that Kansas City, by playing its backups, was giving up. Of course, the Chiefs didn't relent and covered despite losing in overtime, 27-24.

This contest made me think of the Philadelphia-Chicago tilt one week earlier. If Chicago won, it would have clinched the NFC North. Host Philadelphia, meanwhile, was seemingly devoid of any incentive to compete. The outcome against Chicago was meaningless to the Eagles' postseason chances, which would be determined Sunday night in a winner-take-all game against Dallas.

Of course, with "nothing to play for," the Eagles routed the Bears, 54-11.

Elsewhere on the board:

Chicago — a 3-point home underdog to Green Bay in a game that would decide the NFC North and which team would advance to the postseason — looked like it was on its way to a cover before Aaron Rodgers's game-winning bomb to Randall Cobb with 38 seconds remaining provided the Packers with the cover in a 33-28 win.

Those who took the Bills (could they have made any more fourth-quarter mistakes?) getting 9½ points against New England had their hearts broken when the Patriots' LeGarrette Blount ripped off a 35-yard touchdown run with 2:31 remaining. That put the Patriots up by 14, 34-20.

Advertisement



Inside the numbers:

Favorites: 9-6-1

Overs 6, unders 10

Home underdogs: 3-2

Ed Ryan can be reached at ed_ryan@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @EdzoRyan.