Teams that have clinched playoff berth: auto-pilot mode?

[Pap45murF]

I know everyone is busy watching the MNF game, but I'm looking at next week and wondering which teams will start pulling their starters more and coasting their games. ATL, Steelers, and Pats have all clinched a playoff berth, which has me considering teasing their opponents in some combination next week.

Steelers / Panthers +24 (from +14) and Under 46.5
-I know the Panthers are terrible but Pittsburgh rarely blows out a team, even more rare by more than 24 points. It will be a cold, snowy day and should be a low scoring game to the tune of 21-7. Actually, the more I think about this, the more I think I should go Steelers -4. What are the odds of Pitt playing their 2nd stringers?

Atlanta / Saints +13 (from +3)
-I wouldn't be surprised if the Saints win this one outright, being that they are the better team statistically and have something to play for, whereas the Falcons already made it.

Pats / Bills ...again I was going to take the underdog against the autopilot playoff favorites and go Bills +19 since they're at home and all. But Pats +1 seems ridiculously obvious. Now I'm doubting my original plan. Do the Pats still beat the Bills in a meaningless game?

[JosephPavs]

Pats played a meaningless week 16 game last year.... FYI....

[Pap45murF]

Damn you for making me google it. Pats 35 over Jags 7 (Week 16 2009). Alright so the faves seem a bit safer since Big Ben gets benched so rarely that I can't even remember who his backup is, and Brady is likely to finish the whole game. So I guess the question is, which one of the four is most likely to fail?

Steelers -4
and Under 46.5
Pats +1
Saints +13

[Waterstpub87]

Falcons don't lose at home to a division rival. In top of that their is home field advantage to be played for. Already have them - 2.5

[HiTMaNN]

Falcons don't lose at home to a division rival. In top of that their is home field advantage to be played for. Already have them - 2.5

Me too brother Snelling is hurting so Turner will still be doing some grunt work and Matty Ice and Roddy White will be connecting in the red zone.

[Pap45murF]

I'm scratching Saints off my list for now. But the Panthers line has moved to +15.5, plus the 10 is +25.5. My knowledge of football betting says that any team, no matter how bad, should not be written off by 16 points. Especially against the Steelers, who are only averaging 20 points a game. I guess I'll wait til game time and push the spread whatever direction it's moving.

[Waterstpub87]

Wait till the game and hope the panthers score first. Then get the steelers live at -3 or something. I did it this week and got Chicago PK at even money after the viks scored then held chicago to a field goal

[Pap45murF]

I ended up abandoning all my choices and going Chargers -2.5 and Patriots -2.5. But if Panthers score first... assuming that even moves the line... I'll look to pounce. Like a caged tiger... a rabid caged tiger doing an 8 ball of coke on a seasoned ham.

[gryfyn1]

the Pats don't go on auto pilot, and neither the Falcons, Steelers or Bears have clinched a first round bye - no one is taking the week off.

Im not saying they are bad plays, just not for that reason.

[knelson]

I don't see Atlanta going on auto-pilot since they still haven't locked up home field advantage.