Week 17 NFL Predictions
Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
The Cleveland Browns won their first game of the season last week against the San Diego Chargers. The Detroit Lions still remain the only team in NFL history to go 0-16 in a season. All of the AFC playoff spots are clinched. The NFC North needs to be decided and so does the #6 seed in the NFC.
Some teams will rest their starters and others will play them. Rex and Rob Ryan got fired by the Buffalo Bills. Isn't it amazing how it is Week 17 already? Wasn't it just training camp, preseason, and Week 1? I went 9-7 with my picks last week. I am 152-86-2 on the year.
Baltimore Ravens 21, Cincinnati Bengals 14: This will mostly likely be the final game of Steve Smith's career. The Ravens will go all out for him. The Bengals have struggled with injuries and have under performed all season long.
Jacksonville Jaguars 21, Indianapolis Colts 28: Andrew Luck has played well the past couple of weeks, but it wasn't enough to save the Colts season. They don't want to get swept to the Jaguars this season. That would be an all time low for them.
New England Patriots 28, Miami Dolphins 31: The Patriots will get the pleasure to play in warm weather and so will the Miami Dolphins. Matt Moore has played well in the absence of Tannehill. Jay Ajayi ran wild once again last week against the Bills. The Dolphins defense will give Brady some problems on Sunday.
Chicago Bears 17, Minnesota Vikings 20: The Vikings have been a train wreck in division play all season long. If they lose to the Bears, it will be a brutal reminder in how this season turned on the Vikings in a hurry.
Buffalo Bills 24, New York Jets 20: Anthony Lynn will serve as the Bills Interim Coach on Sunday. Wouldn't it actually be funny if the defense played better for him in the season finale compared to Rex Ryan? EJ Manuel will be the starting quarterback on Sunday to protect Tyrod Taylor. Christian Hackenberg should be the starter for the Jets on Sunday, but it will be Ryan Fitzpatrick.
Dallas Cowboys 21, Philadelphia Eagles 24: The Cowboys starters will probably play for a half and then get rest. When the starters come out, Carson Wentz and the Eagles will take control.
Cleveland Browns 21, Pittsburgh Steelers 22: Roethlisberger, Bell, and Brown are all expected to sit on Sunday, with nothing to play for in Week 17. Landry Jones and DeAngelo Williams will probably start. The Browns won last week, but won't this week.
Carolina Panthers 24, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 30: Tampa Bay has fallen off the cliff in the past couple of weeks. Their chances of making the postseason is a long shot. Jameis Winston will play well in his season finale. Newton will struggle.
Houston Texans 17, Tennessee Titans 10: Marcus Mariota being sidelined won't help the Titans chances to win in Week 17. DeMarco Murray and Derrick Henry will have a tough time in the run game. The Texans are locked into the #4 seed in the AFC. Tom Savage has played some decent football.
New Orleans Saints 34, Atlanta Falcons 37: Drew Brees and Matt Ryan will light up the scoreboard on Sunday. The Falcons have a chance to claim the number #2 seed in the NFC with a win. The Falcons running game will be the difference in this game.
Oakland Raiders 26, Denver Broncos 20: Matt McGloin will play solid in the absence of Derek Carr. He can throw the deep ball just like him. McGolin isn't the leader Carr is, but he is going to have become one. Latavius Murray is going to have a big day on the ground. The Broncos offense will be under duress all game long.
Arizona Cardinals 30, Los Angeles Rams 10: This is Larry Fitzgerald's final game in the NFL. He will ball out and the Cardinals will play all out for him. The Rams are going to go through the motions.
Kansas City Chiefs 31, San Diego Chargers 10: The Chargers shouldn't either bother showing up in Week 17 after losing to the Browns. The Chiefs can still win the division with a win and a Raiders loss. Tyreek Hill is playing solid football right now. The Chiefs defense is playing well also.
Seattle Seahawks 30, San Francisco 49ers 16: Russell Wilson has played solid ever since the 5-interception game. The problem will Seattle is the running game is absent. The 49ers will struggle on offense without Carlos Hyde.
New York Giants 21, Washington Redskins 30: It is questionable whether the Giants should play the starters or sit them? The odds are they probably play for the first half and that's it. Maybe the Giants will run the ball a lot with Rashad Jennings and Paul Perkins. This is Kirk Cousins final test to earn the money he deserves. If Cousins plays a great game, he will get it. The defense will be the reason why they don't make playoffs, but Eli Manning will make the Redskins defense look good.
Green Bay Packers 35, Detroit Lions 14: Aaron Rodgers is going to put the team on his back once again, and they will follow his lead. He has played at a MVP like level ever since they started 4-6. The Lions are in trouble because Matthew Stafford has struggled the past couple of weeks, and the defense is getting exposed.
