Week 17 picks
Last week: 11-5
Season record: 159-79-2
Wow, is it really Week 17? I hate that the season is over in the blink of an eye but the long offseason feels like two years. It also sucks when your team (Giants) is out of the playoff race six games in, two years in a row. I love the playoffs but I almost wish there was one more week of them. Anyway I've complained all season that there are typically between two and four games in the late window, but this week we have seven early games and eight(!) late games, and the NFL even rearranged them so that the games with meaning are in the late window--so that all of the drama will unfold in real time. That being said, a lot of the playoff field is already determined, but there are byes and home games to sort out. Okay, let's do this.....
Miami at Buffalo--I could never pick a Florida team playing in the snow belt in late December. Bills 20, Dolphins 17
Detroit at Green Bay--We could very well be seeing the declines of Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady before our very eyes. Also, that Belichick coaching tree never seems to bear fruit, does it? Packers 23, Lions 14
Jacksonville at Houston--It's important to remember that the Texans started the season 0-3 and the Jags 3-1, and how quickly things can turn. Since then, the Texans are 10-2 and the Jags 2-9. Texans 19, Jags 16
NY Jets at New England--Everyone should mentally prepare for the Pats being in the Super Bowl again. That is, if they win and the Chiefs lose Sunday, meaning the AFC championship would go through Foxboro. I'm so over them being dominant. Pats 31, Jets 17
Carolina at New Orleans--The same applies here, but the Saints already have the 1-seed, and it's hard to imagine them losing in the dome in January. Saints 40, Panthers 14
Dallas at NY Giants--The Giants and Jets both have this remarkable ability to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory, don't they? Cowboys 24, Giants 14
Atlanta at Tampa Bay--This might be the game I least would want to watch Sunday. Bucs 22, Falcons 20
Cleveland at Baltimore--The Ravens need a win to get in. I would say that there is a chance that the "new" Browns will beat the "old" Browns, but not in Baltimore and with so much on the line. Ravens 27, Browns 17
Oakland at Kansas City--I don't care what anyone says, Jon Gruden is a national treasure. But he's a better color analyst than a coach. Chiefs 38, Raiders 17
Chicago at Minnesota--I think the Bears are more or less locked into the 3 seed, so this game means more to the Vikings, who need to win or have the Eagles lose in order to grab the last wild card. But I just don't trust Kirk Cousins. Bears 23, Vikings 21
Cincinnati at Pittsburgh--I don't remember the last time the Steelers missed the playoffs, do you? Steelers 34, Bengals 12
Philadelphia at Washington--The Eagles were wallowing in misery just a few short weeks ago after Dallas beat them for the second time. But they seem to have re-kindled the magic that is Nick Foles the past few games, so trust me when I say they are going back to the Super Bowl if they get in. I so don't want to see that, but still. Eagles 31, Skins 17
LA Chargers at Denver--Wow, the Ravens really stymied the Chargers last week, and guess who will likely travel to Baltimore on wild card weekend? Broncos 20, Chargers 17
San Francisco at LA Rams--The Rams have looked vulnerable since that marathon 100-plus point win against KC, but they will close out on a high note and clinch the 2-seed. Rams 28, Niners 9
Arizona at Seattle--Seattle will whet their playoff appetite by destroying the free falling Cards. But the Cards have the consolation prize of Goodell saying they are the first team on the clock in a few months. Seahawks 26, Cards 7
Indianapolis at Tennessee--Ah, this is the only win-and-in match up, so it should be a beauty. Andrew Luck is a good bet for comeback player of the year. Colts 23, Titans 20
Season record: 159-79-2
Wow, is it really Week 17? I hate that the season is over in the blink of an eye but the long offseason feels like two years. It also sucks when your team (Giants) is out of the playoff race six games in, two years in a row. I love the playoffs but I almost wish there was one more week of them. Anyway I've complained all season that there are typically between two and four games in the late window, but this week we have seven early games and eight(!) late games, and the NFL even rearranged them so that the games with meaning are in the late window--so that all of the drama will unfold in real time. That being said, a lot of the playoff field is already determined, but there are byes and home games to sort out. Okay, let's do this.....
Miami at Buffalo--I could never pick a Florida team playing in the snow belt in late December. Bills 20, Dolphins 17
Detroit at Green Bay--We could very well be seeing the declines of Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady before our very eyes. Also, that Belichick coaching tree never seems to bear fruit, does it? Packers 23, Lions 14
Jacksonville at Houston--It's important to remember that the Texans started the season 0-3 and the Jags 3-1, and how quickly things can turn. Since then, the Texans are 10-2 and the Jags 2-9. Texans 19, Jags 16
NY Jets at New England--Everyone should mentally prepare for the Pats being in the Super Bowl again. That is, if they win and the Chiefs lose Sunday, meaning the AFC championship would go through Foxboro. I'm so over them being dominant. Pats 31, Jets 17
Carolina at New Orleans--The same applies here, but the Saints already have the 1-seed, and it's hard to imagine them losing in the dome in January. Saints 40, Panthers 14
Dallas at NY Giants--The Giants and Jets both have this remarkable ability to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory, don't they? Cowboys 24, Giants 14
Atlanta at Tampa Bay--This might be the game I least would want to watch Sunday. Bucs 22, Falcons 20
Cleveland at Baltimore--The Ravens need a win to get in. I would say that there is a chance that the "new" Browns will beat the "old" Browns, but not in Baltimore and with so much on the line. Ravens 27, Browns 17
Oakland at Kansas City--I don't care what anyone says, Jon Gruden is a national treasure. But he's a better color analyst than a coach. Chiefs 38, Raiders 17
Chicago at Minnesota--I think the Bears are more or less locked into the 3 seed, so this game means more to the Vikings, who need to win or have the Eagles lose in order to grab the last wild card. But I just don't trust Kirk Cousins. Bears 23, Vikings 21
Cincinnati at Pittsburgh--I don't remember the last time the Steelers missed the playoffs, do you? Steelers 34, Bengals 12
Philadelphia at Washington--The Eagles were wallowing in misery just a few short weeks ago after Dallas beat them for the second time. But they seem to have re-kindled the magic that is Nick Foles the past few games, so trust me when I say they are going back to the Super Bowl if they get in. I so don't want to see that, but still. Eagles 31, Skins 17
LA Chargers at Denver--Wow, the Ravens really stymied the Chargers last week, and guess who will likely travel to Baltimore on wild card weekend? Broncos 20, Chargers 17
San Francisco at LA Rams--The Rams have looked vulnerable since that marathon 100-plus point win against KC, but they will close out on a high note and clinch the 2-seed. Rams 28, Niners 9
Arizona at Seattle--Seattle will whet their playoff appetite by destroying the free falling Cards. But the Cards have the consolation prize of Goodell saying they are the first team on the clock in a few months. Seahawks 26, Cards 7
Indianapolis at Tennessee--Ah, this is the only win-and-in match up, so it should be a beauty. Andrew Luck is a good bet for comeback player of the year. Colts 23, Titans 20
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