Never dismiss rivalry games this late in the season, even if one team is hopefully out of playoff contention, and that team is at home.

Exhibit A: The Bengals defeated the Browns 19-14 and hurt Cleveland’s playoff chances. It’s been a rough season for Cincinnati, yet not so rough that it couldn’t bring it against an in-state rival.

Exhibit B: The Bears demolished the Packers 35-7. Green Bay has lost three games this season, two to Chicago. This is such a huge rivalry, that when Bears fans look back on the disappointing 2007, they can a least say they beat the Packers twice.

Going against this theory is the Dolphins unable to come up with an upset against the Patriots. But at least they covered the spread.