NFL Predictions Week 17
Every NFL loves week 17 for a couple of reasons. Number one: teams are still trying to fight for there playoff lives. Number two: teams that don't make the playoffs will know where they are drafting. For the first time in a while, there will be no Sunday Night game in week 17 because of competitive balance.
It is going to be an interesting week 17 for sure. Some coaches are also coaching for there jobs. Some coaches know there fate and some don't. My record last week was 13-3 and I am 154-86 on the year.
Green Bay Packers 14 Detroit Lions 28: It came as a surprise last week when the Lions lost to the Bengals last week. Stafford came up small when his team needed him the most. The Packers won't be in the playoffs and they looked lifeless against the Vikings. The Lions are just a better football team than the Packers.
Houston Texans 14 Indianapolis Colts 24: Are the Texans even going to have a viable quarterback in week 17? Jacoby Brissett might have a good outing against a bad Texans secondary.
Chicago Bears 14 Minnesota Vikings 21: This could be a possible trap game for the Vikings. They are trying to get the number two seed and the Bears are gonna play hard to keep John Fox around.
New York Jets 12 New England Patriots 21: The Jets will play hard, but Bryce Petty will not keep up with Tom Brady. The Patriots have there eyes on the number one seed in the AFC.
Washington Redskins 31 New York Giants 10: Kirk Cousins will not only be auditioning for the Redskins on Sunday, but he could auditioning for other teams as well. The Redskins should play hard in order for Jay Gruden to keep his job. If they lost to the Giants, it would most likely get him out the door. The Giants are abysmal.
Dallas Cowboys 10 Philadelphia Eagles 13: The Cowboys will not be in the playoffs this season. It is a matter of whether or not they get up for this game. It is very possible they don't, but who knows. The Eagles might rest some starters and even if they don't, they are the better team.
Cleveland Browns 10 Pittsburgh Steelers 30: This should be another cakewalk for the Steelers. The Steelers have a shot at the number one seed in the AFC. Is it possible they rest Ben Roethlisberger an Le'Veon Bell anyway, but I don't see it happening. Cleveland will come out hard early, but Pittsburgh will prevail.
Carolina Panthers 17 Atlanta Falcons 20: Both teams need better starts this week, but the Falcons need this game more than the Panthers in terms of the playoffs. Carolina has an outside shot at the number two seed, but the odds of that happening is a long shot. At the end of the day, Matt Ryan and the Falcons offense will come through and have a chance to defend the NFC crown.
Cincinnati Bengals 17 Baltimore Ravens 23: The Bengals will keep this game closer than the people think. The Ravens have more to play for at the end of the day. Playoff Joe Flacco will start to emerge.
Buffalo Bills 24 Miami Dolphins 21: The Bills have an outside shot to end their playoff drought. They need a win and some help in order for that to happen. It all starts with LeSean McCoy offensively for Buffalo. Tyrod Taylor needs to be a lot better in order for the Bills to win. The Dolphins will look to play the role of spoilers.
New Orleans Saints 35 Tampa Bay Buccaneers 14: The Saints will control the line of scrimmage and they will set the tone early and often. Drew Brees will have his security blanket(s) in Mark Ingram and Alvin Kamara. Michael Thomas will also be a threat in the passing game as well.
Jacksonville Jaguars 14 Tennessee Titans 22: Derrick Henry needs to elevate his game in the backfield with DeMarco Murray injured. He needs to be a bulldozer. Marcus Mariota needs to live up to his name and step up in a big time game. If the Titans win, they most likely play the Jaguars again next week. If they lose, they are most likely out. The Titans defense will force Blake Bortles to be careless with the football.
Kansas City Chiefs 24 Denver Broncos 17: Even with Alex Smith not playing on Sunday because of rest, the rest of the NFL world will see Patrick Mahomes ability. He will carry the Chiefs offense. Paxton Lynch will start for the Denver Broncos on Sunday and Lynch isn't reliable.
Oakland Raiders 14 Los Angeles Chargers 28: The Raiders could play spoilers in the Chargers playoff hopes but the odds are they won't. Oakland doesn't force turnovers. Phillip Rivers and the Chargers offense will have their way on Sunday. Oakland doesn't have much offensive rhythm either.
San Francisco 49ers 31 Los Angeles Rams 17: The Rams will not have Jared Goff, Todd Gurley, and Aaron Donald Sunday because of rest for the postseason. They can't get a first-round bye and head coach Sean McVay feels like being healthy is more important than seeding. Jimmy Garoppolo continues to make NFL headlines for the 49ers offense.
Arizona Cardinals 14 Seattle Seahawks 17: The Cardinals are going to play very hard for head coach Bruce Arians because it is possible that this is his last game coaching in the NFL. The Cardinals don't have a great offense and neither does Seattle. At the end of the day, the Seahawks are a tad better.
