Giants-Packers to clear up playoff picture

One week after a major meltdown, Eli Manning and the New York Giants take center stage again in today’s biggest game.

Plenty of playoff drama is on the NFL schedule in both conferences.

The Giants (9-5) go to Lambeau Field, where quarterback Aaron Rodgers is back from a concussion for the Green Bay Packers (8-6). How will the Giants react to their fourth-quarter collapse against Philadelphia? The Packers are 3-point favorites in a game sure to see heavy two-way action at Las Vegas sports books.

The NFC Worst — or West — could sort itself out or get more muddled when St. Louis (6-8) hosts San Francisco (5-9). The Rams are 2½-point favorites.

The upstart Rams have hit the skids but find themselves in position to reach the postseason. In mid-November, the 49ers beat the Rams 23-20 in overtime, as Troy Smith passed for 356 yards. San Francisco coach Mike Singletary remembered Smith’s effort and has decided to give him the nod again.

St. Louis quarterback Sam Bradford has struggled lately, hitting the dreaded rookie wall, so it would behoove the Rams to utilize a steady dose of running back Steven Jackson.

Seattle (6-8) heads across the country to face Tampa Bay, which is a 6½-point favorite. The Seahawks will have the home-field edge against St. Louis in the season’s final week.

The Buccaneers (8-6) are in the playoff hunt but need a plethora of scenarios to fall right to enter the tournament. For starters, they have to win today and beat New Orleans next week.

Indianapolis (8-6) and Jacksonville (8-6) look to keep pace with one another in the AFC South. Peyton Manning has the Colts back on the beam and will lead his troops to a seventh division crown in an eight-year span with wins in the final two games. The Colts are 3-point favorites at Oakland, which no longer is a cupcake at 7-7.

The Jaguars are 7-point home favorites over Washington in an early game, and Jacksonville is hoping to put the heat on the Colts for their afternoon contest on the West Coast.

The New York Jets are 1-point underdogs at Chicago. Two of the league’s top defenses will be on display, with points likely being hard to come by. The total is 36.

In the AFC West, Kansas City continues to look ahead and not over its shoulder. The Chiefs (9-5) are 5-point favorites over Tennessee at Arrowhead Stadium, where Kansas City is 6-0.

The Chiefs could not have scripted a better scenario to make the playoffs, playing their final two games at home while controlling their destiny.

Philip Rivers and the San Diego Chargers (8-6) have an afternoon date in Cincinnati. Plenty of sharp money came in over the past week on the Chargers, who are 7½-point favorites.

Another high-profile duel wraps up Week 16 on Monday night. Matt Ryan and the Atlanta Falcons are 2½-point favorites over New Orleans, as the Saints try to make one last stand in the NFC South.

Brian Blessing, host of Sportsbook Radio on ESPN (1100 AM, 98.9 FM), can be reached at blessproductions@yahoo.com.