With four straight wins, the Washington Football Team looks to add to its NFC East lead when it hosts a fellow contender this week.
Sunday’s game (1 p.m., Fox) at FedEx Field between the WFT (6-7) and NFC West-contending Seattle Seahawks (9-4) is a pivotal one for both teams’ NFL postseason hopes.
It could also give Washington bettors a chance to extend a remarkable streak. Since a heartbreaking 30-27 loss to the Detroit Lions a month ago, Washington has delivered for its fans – and bettors.
Over the past month, the WFT is 4-0. The team is also 4-0 against the spread during that span:
- Def. Cincinnati Bengals (+1.5), 20-9
- Def. Dallas Cowboys (-2.5), 41-16
- Def. Pittsburgh Steelers (-5.5), 23-17
- Def. San Francisco 49ers (-3), 23-15
With a victory on Sunday, Washington could score its fourth consecutive upset. After all, despite the WFT’s recent success, Seattle enters this weekend’s game as a fairly substantial road favorite.
Washington vs. Seattle Week 15 Odds
Washington, which is a game up on the second-place New York Giants (5-8) in the NFC East, has just three regular-season games remaining. The final two are against the Carolina Panthers (4-9) and Philadelphia Eagles (4-8). Both are obviously winnable games, and Washington will likely be the favorites.
Up first, though, are the Seahawks, who are tied with the Los Angeles Rams (9-4) in the NFC West but a game behind them in the divisional records.
Unlike the NFC East, in which every team has a losing record, Seattle’s division is the second-best in the NFL with a collective 30-22 record. The AFC North (30-21-1) is just a smidge better.
That could explain why Seattle opened as 3-point favorites for Sunday. It could also explain why bettors have overwhelmingly favored the Seahawks and pushed the line to the Seahawks -5.5 by Wednesday afternoon. Of course, stellar 2020 campaigns by quarterback Russell Wilson (70.4% completion percentage, 3,685 yards passing, 36 touchdowns) and receiver DK Metcalf (1,180 yards, 10 TDs) are also a big reason why.
However, Washington could get a boost if running back Antonio Gibson is able to return to action on Sunday after dealing with painful turf toe over the past few weeks.
The total for Sunday’s game opened at 45.5 and had dipped to 44.5 by Wednesday.
Other Week 15 Games of Note to Virginia
Here’s what NFL Week 15 offers for Virginia football fans’ other favorite teams:
Carolina Panthers (+9) at Green Bay Packers
The Carolina Panthers (4-9) hit the road to meet the Green Bay Packers (10-3) for a Saturday-night showdown (8:15 p.m., NFL Network). The Packers have already clinched the NFC North, and the Panthers‘ postseason hopes for 2020 are already dead. If QB Teddy Bridgewater is going to lead the Panthers to an upset over the Packers, who are favored by 8-10 points depending on the sportsbook, he has the unenviable task of doing it against one of the NFL’s stingiest and healthiest defenses. The total for the game has held steady at 51 to 51.5.
Detroit Lions at Tennessee Titans (-10.5)
Not surprisingly, the AFC South-leading Tennessee Titans (9-4) are substantial favorites over the Detroit Lions (5-8) heading into Sunday’s game (1 p.m., CBS). The Lions put up a commendable fight last week against the Packers in a 31-24 loss. The Titans avoided a late-season collapse with a recent 3-1 run on the back of running back Derrick Henry, who rushed for 215 yards and 2 TDs last week against Jacksonville. The Titans are 10.5-point favorites against the Lions, and the total has been stuck on 51.5.
Jacksonville Jaguars at Baltimore Ravens (-13)
The sputtering Jacksonville Jaguars (1-12) head to Maryland for a Sunday clash (1 p.m., CBS) with the Baltimore Ravens (8-5), who strengthened their postseason odds with a thrilling 47-42 win over the Cleveland Browns on Monday. Ravens QB Lamar Jackson passed for 163 yards and rushed for 124 in a 3-TD performance. Now, he has to remain focused with a potential trap game against the Jaguars, who are substantial 13-point underdogs. The total had climbed from 46.5 to 47.5 by midweek.
