NFL Week 16 What We Learned: Lessons to help you win big in Week 17

Dogs continue to cover

Underdogs have finished .500 or better against the spread every week this season, and that didn't change once again in Week 16. Underdogs are 8-7 with just the Monday Night remaining for the week, and have covered the spread just under 55% of the time this season.

Bengals remain NFL's best against the spread

The Bengals remain the best team in the NFL against the spread at 12-3 after covering the 3.5-point spread in a 22-18 victory over the Patriots on Saturday. Cincinnati's win was also its seventh straight, and improved the Bengals ATS record to 20-3 in their last 23 games. 

Underdogs cover spread in all 3 Christmas Games

Underdogs have dominated against the spread all season, and that trend didn't change on Christmas. In fact, all three underdogs — Green Bay, Los Angeles Rams and Arizona — covered the spread on Sunday, and both the Packers and Rams won outright.

Another big week for the unders

Similar to underdogs, the under has hit 55% of the time this season, and that number is only going to go up after Week 16. With just the MNF game to go, the under has hit nine in of the 15 games already played. 

Tampa still sucks against the spread

Tampa Bay may have squeaked out of Arizona with a win over the Cardinals on Sunday. However, the Buccaneers failed to cover the spread for a fifth consecutive week. The Bucs are now a league-worst 3-11-1 against the spread and 1-11-1 ATS over their last 13 games.

Is this dude psychic?

It's one thing to predict whether or not a team will cover the spread or cover the over/under, but it's another thing to predict the exact score of a game. Well, that's exactly what this bettor did. This bettor made just under $10,000 after predicting the Minnesota Vikings would beat the New York Giants, 27-24, on Saturday. 

Heading into Week 17

With just two weeks to go in the regular season, two teams lead their division despite having a record below .500. Jacksonville leads the AFC South with a 7-8 record after beating Tennessee on Saturday, and Tampa Bay leads the NFC South with a record of 7-8 after defeating Arizona in overtime on Sunday night. 

The Buffalo Bills can secure the No. 1 seed in the AFC with a win over Cincinnati next Monday, and the Philadelphia Eagles can clinch the NFC East and the No. 1 seed in the NFC with a win next week against New Orleans. 

The Baltimore Ravens are 4-0 against the under in their last four games and are now tied with Denver for the best record against the under at 11-4 after the Broncos failed to cover the under for the third straight week on Sunday.

Detroit failed to cover the spread for a seventh straight week after losing to Carolina, 37-23, on Saturday. The Lions entered Saturday's game as 2.5-point favorites against the Panthers. 

The Green Bay Packers are still undefeated in the month of December under head coach Matt LaFleur after beating the Miami Dolphins, 26-20, on Sunday afternoon. Since LaFleur took over as the Packers' head coach in 2019, Green Bay is a perfect 15-0 in the month of December.