Key NFL Betting Movement Ahead of Week 17 Games

The schedule is packed with five days of potential NFL betting during Week 17. The action opens on Wednesday, Christmas Day, with the Pittsburgh Steelers hosting the Kansas City Chiefs and the Houston Texans hosting the Baltimore Ravens. There is a Thursday Night Football matchup in Chicago. We have three games on Saturday, nine games on Sunday, and the conclusion is an NFC championship rematch with the San Francisco 49ers hosting the Detroit Lions on Monday night. 

We’re analyzing how the lines have moved ahead of NFL Week 17 games relative to the look-ahead lines posted before Week 16 results. These shifts occur due to results, injuries, and market movement, as well as the playoff picture at this late stage in the season. The line moves can help you find value when considering bets for NFL Week 17 games at your favorite sportsbook apps. 

NFL Week 17 Betting Movement 

Dallas Cowboys at Philadelphia Eagles

• Jalen Hurts entered concussion protocol and Josh Sweat (ankle) got injured as the Eagles blew a double-digit lead Sunday in Washington along with their chances to clinch the NFC East. With Hurts questionable and backup quarterback Kenny Pickett (ribs) hurting ahead of this divisional game, the Eagles have moved from favorites of 11.5 points to 8.5 or 7.5 points at some books, with the total dropping from 44.5 to 42.5 points across the sports betting industry. The Cowboys are no longer in playoff contention but are relishing their opportunities to play spoiler as they’ve won four of their last five games. 

Seattle Seahawks at Chicago Bears

• The Bears continued to struggle on both sides of the ball while taking their ninth straight loss Sunday, leading to one of the biggest shifts of the week. Chicago has gone from +1.5 to +3.5 or +4 ahead of a Thursday Night Football matchup against a desperate Seahawks team that needs to win out and get help to make the playoffs. The Bears lost starting linemen Braxton Jones (ankle) and Teven Jenkins (calf) in their Week 16 loss to the Lions. The total has gone from 40.5 to 42.5 or 43.5 points ahead of this contest. 

Miami Dolphins at Cleveland Browns

• By turning from Jameis Winston to second-year quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson, the Browns have indicated that they’re hoping to play conservative football and plan for the future. That approach led to just six points against a Bengals defense that has allowed an average of 26.2 points per game, causing the market to back the Dolphins on the road in this spot as the spread has moved from -3.5 to -6 or -6.5 at some books. The total has dropped slightly from 41.5 to 40.5 points. 

Arizona Cardinals at Los Angeles Rams

• On separate sides of the East Coast this past Sunday, the Rams moved into poll position to win the NFC West with a win at the Jets and the Cardinals blew their playoff chances with an overtime loss at the Panthers. Those results have led to this spread doubling from three points to 5.5 or six points in favor of the host Rams. Veteran back James Conner (knee) and Cardinals right tackle Jonah Williams (knee) may be questionable to suit up Saturday.

Carolina Panthers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

• The Bucs moved out of first place in the NFC South with a loss at Dallas on Sunday night. The Panthers continued their feisty play by beating the Cardinals, and they’ve now covered in six straight games as underdogs, including a 26-23 overtime loss to the Bucs. The spread has dropped from nine to 7.5 points in favor of the Bucs ahead of this rematch, with some books holding steady at 8.5 points, for now. 

Indianapolis Colts at New York Giants

• The Giants have lost 10 straight games and covered just once in that span. With the No. 1 overall pick in its sights, the franchise appears disinterested in competitive results, and the players have shown little fight since Daniel Jones was demoted and released. Early action has moved the Colts from 6.5-point road favorites past the key number to 7.5 or eight points ahead of this road matchup, and the total has dipped from 40.5 to 39.5 points after the Giants suffered a 34-7 loss in Atlanta. 

Las Vegas Raiders at New Orleans Saints

• The Saints might be healthier for this Week 17 matchup after they play the Packers on Monday Night Football. Derek Carr (hand), Chris Olave (concussion), and Alvin Kamara (groin) could potentially suit up in the penultimate contest of a lost season. Those optimistic reports have moved the Saints from two-point favorites to the standard number of -3 at home. 

Baltimore Ravens at Houston Texans

• We have small movement on this Christmas Day game, with the Texans moving past the key number of three points to four-point dogs at home following news that Tank Dell (knee) is out for the season.  

Detroit Lions at San Francisco 49ers

• The Niners were officially eliminated from contention in Week 16, and they could rest veterans in their final two games. The Lions are battling for the No. 1 seed in the NFC and have moved from three-point favorites to four-point favorites ahead of this NFC title rematch on Monday night. 

New York Jets at Buffalo Bills

• The spread is sitting still at around 10 points in favor of the Bills, but with Josh Allen (elbow) banged up, the total has dipped from 49.5 to 46.5 points at some books. The Jets are also coming off a surprisingly low-scoring performance in a 19-9 loss to the Rams.