NFL Key Trends for Week 17 From NFLOne.com

AT FIRST GLANCE…there are games that always look "tasty" ATS in many publications as a "Bullet" trend only to "trap" upon further review. In 2006, The Director looked for the first time to clear the way for you to understand which team has the real "ADVANTAGE" against the "Trend."

Could there be any more painful way to close the season for the OAKLAND RAIDERS than
to face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who last defeated the Raiders by 13 points in the
2005 Super Bowl?

Can the ATLANTA FALCONS turn their fortune vs. the St. Louis Rams,
who had beaten them by 12 points last year?

DON'T BELIEVE THE HYPE

If the NEW YORK GIANTS had not won the division as well as home field advantage, history may have just repeated itself this weekend; the Giants entering with an amazing 20-6 record ATS on the Road, and 5-0 ATS in Domes over the last three years. 

While the Minnesota Vikings have gone 2-0 ATS and 2-0 SU in mid-year contests versus Tom Coughlin as Underdog, including a 24 victory margin last year, their sole loss ATS came here as a 6.5 Favorite back in 2004.

Favored again this year, the Vikings, who are one of the worst post-Thanksgiving teams since 1998, and 2-3 ATS versus the NFC East over the last three seasons, will look to take advantage of the bench of the NY Giants.

Another team looking to take advantage of the starters being sidelined are the
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS, 7-3 ATS as Underdogs over the last three years, or will
it be the Tennessee Titans, 14-3 ATS versus the division over the last three years?

For when the starting team is in, the Tennessee Titans are 5-0 ATS and 3-2 SU in their
last five in the series; the Titans going 2-0 ATS and SU as 4+ Favorites.  Closing the
2007 season by holding the Colts to only 10 points as Young able to outgun Sorgi,
the historians will be looking to see whose side fate is on.

FIRST LOOK

Don't be fooled that the Detroit Lions have not won SU in Green Bay in the last ten
years as they are actually 2-2 ATS in their last four games in Green Bay; their last
victory ATS and SU coming in 2005. 

What the press has failed to note is that the Lions are 9-1 ATS as an Underdog of 10 or more points, and 6-0 ATS as a Road Dog of 10.5-14 points over the last three seasons.

Of course the Green Bay Packers, who are one of the top teams Over the Total Post-Thanksgiving, have gone 5-0 ATS in their last five games with the Lions, including an 18 point margin of victory in Week 2.
ADVANTAGE LIONS

It is easy to think that there is no connection between the Kansas City Chiefs and
the CINCINNATI BENGALS, 3-2 ATS versus the AFC West over the last three seasons.
However, upon further look, this has been one of the few bright spots for the Chiefs.

The Chiefs are 2-1 ATS in the last three games in the series, including one of
2007's top offensive performance by Huard and Johnson. The key here is that
the Chiefs, who are 1-4 ATS versus the AFC North, had the benefit of home field
advantage in all those games.
ADVANTAGE CHIEFS

KING TRENDS

With the playoffs on the line, history has shone brightly on the New England Patriots
with a trip to Buffalo to close the seasons.  4-0 ATS in their last four matchups
with the Bills, including a 10 point victory in Week 10, the Pats arrive knowing
that their last loss in Buffalo was in 2003; this is surprising keeping in mind Buffalo's
13-9 record ATS at Home over the last three seasons.

Winning by 46 points in Buffalo last year, the Bills are managing less than 7 points per game in their last three here in Buffalo; New England winning by an average of over 30 points per game in their last three in Buffalo.
ADVANTAGE PATRIOTS

While the Fish have turned their fortunes around, the NEW YORK JETS will also hope that history repeats itself.  Although there is no denying the turnaround that the Miami Dolphins (1-3 ATS as a Road Dog of 3 or less points) have had, it should be kept in mind that the New York Jets (2-1 ATS as Home Favorite of three or less points) have gone 9-0-1 ATS versus the Dolphins in their last 10 matchups.Their last loss came in 2003.

Riding the confidence of the Week 1 victory, Brett
Favre will look to be the difference in a series that has seen two of the last
three here in New York decided by 3 or less points.
ADVANTAGE JETS

If there was ever a way to wrap one of the most memorable regular seasons in
recent memory, it is here in San Diego where the SAN DIEGO CHARGERS are
2-1-1 in the last four in the series with the Denver Broncos.

What is interesting is that the Chargers, who are 10-1 ATS as Home Favorites of 7.5 to 10 points over the last three seasons, suffered the one loss here to close the
2005 season.

The bad news for Denver fans is that the Broncos, 3-10 ATS
in December, and 3-14 ATS in the division over the last three years,
are actually most recently 0-2 ATS as 7.5 to 10 point Underdogs here.
ADVANTAGE CHARGERS