These NFC North rivals battle for the third time this season. Click to see how Tim Heaney is betting this NFC Wild Card first-round matchup.

Weeks 17 and 18 in NFL are all about scenarios. To name a few, there are teams that are win-and-in for a division title or playoff berth. Others will find motivation or discouragement in the result of an earlier game or some flickering numbers on the scoreboard.

Cowboys (-3.5) at Giants: The Raiders understood the assignment in their Week 17 Tank Bowl loss against the Giants. This dumbass Giants team did not. The Giants are going to try to win this game too, but so will Dak Prescott, who has a chance to lead the NFL in passing yards.

Picking the Ravens over the Steelers is almost too easy. We also like the Seahawks over the 49ers and Bucs over Panthers in critical games.

Our NFL Week 18 early picks against the spread start with Saturday's NFC South clash between the Panthers and Buccaneers.

The Detroit Lions (8-8) visit the Chicago Bears (11-5) at Soldier Field in Chicago for a Week 18 showdown, and USA TODAY's panel of NFL experts have locked in their picks and predictions for the action. Here's everything you need to know before kickoff on Sunday, January 4, including live updated odds and injury report news.

This is a bad matchup for the Chargers, who have an injury-devastated offensive line that is ripe for the picking against the Texans' excellent edge rushers, and their talented secondary. Non-Eagles rooting guide: Irrelevant.