Week 17
Sunday, Jan. 1st-
New Orleans Saints at Atlanta Falcons:
Another good season by Drew Brees that the Saints have wasted ends on a high note as the Saints finally win a game on the road.
The Pick: Saints 31 Falcons 24
Baltimore Ravens at Cincinnati Bengals:
The Bengals are still in contention for the second seed and a playoff bye. With a win they will win the division, and claim the second seed, breaking the tie with the Steelers due to division record. This is a hard hitting game in which the offenses take a backseat. Justin Tucker has a chance to win the game in regulation, but pulls the 56 yard field goal just left. In overtime the Bengals score a field goal on their opening drive. The Ravens face a 4th and 2 at their 49 yard line to extend their drive and Joe Flacco’s pass sails just over the hands of Steve Smith.
The Pick: Bengals 20 Ravens 17
New York Giants at Washington Redskins:
The Giants need a win over the Redskins to clinch their first playoff birth since their Super Bowl season of 2011. The Redskins jump out to a 14-0 lead behind Kirk Cousins to Jordan Reed TD pass and an Eli Manning pick six by Josh Norman. However, the rest of the game is all Giants as Odell Beckham gets the best of Norman for the rest of the afternoon. The Giants have themselves a playoff team.
The Pick: Giants 27 Redskins 20
Houston Texans at Tennessee Titans:
Bill O’Brien flip flopped quarterbacks all over the place in 2015, and in a bizarre move, he decides to go back to Osweiler for the season finale. Perhaps it is to see if they can move forward with him in 2017, or to establish a trade market. In any case, the move pays off as Osweiler plays the best game of his season, throwing for 292 yards, three touchdowns and only one pick.
The Pick: Texans 27 Titans 17
Carolina Panthers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers:
The Panthers are still fighting for home field advantage, but the Bucs are fighting for their playoff lives. There is no doubt Winston has come a long way in his second season, but this task is even too great for him. The Bucs put up a great fight, but the Panthers are just a bit too tough for them. At the end of the day, the
Bucs are still in the playoffs so it is still a good day.
The Pick: Panthers 26 Buccaneers 23
Green Bay Packers at Detroit Lions:
The Packers aren’t going to let the Lions take this one. A year prior they won in Detroit on a hail mary—that won’t be necessary today.
The Pick: Packers 34 Lions 20
Jacksonville Jaguars at Indianapolis Colts:
This game is flexed to the Sunday night game because it is a division title game; winner take all. The Jaguars put a big scare into the Colts, racing out to a 20-7 halftime lead. Andrew Luck has some experience in comebacks, and his three second half TD passes seals the deal for a return to the playoffs for the Colts.
The Pick: Colts 28 Jaguars 26
New England Patriots at Miami Dolphins:
The Patriots lost to Miami in the season finale a season ago, losing out on home field advantage throughout the playoffs. Bill Belichick will absolutely, positively, not let that happen again, especially with a playoff birth on the line this time around. .
The Pick: Patriots 31 Dolphins 10
Chicago Bears at Minnesota Vikings:
The Vikings weathered the storm early, but their season was lost in preseason when Teddy Bridgewater brutally tore his ACL and dislocated his knee entirely, despite trading for Sam Bradford. They end on a high note however, as their defense scores twice and Bradford plays a decent game.
The Pick: Vikings 24 Bears 16
Buffalo Bills at New York Jets:
Jets Vs. Bills 2.0 with a playoff birth on the line again for the Jets. With a win they will secure the second wildcard spot. This time is different. Brandon Marshall will not be denied. He catches 13 balls for two TD’s and Marshall finally gets his crack at the big dance.
Dallas Cowboys at Philadelphia Eagles:
Carson Wentz has by far his best game as a pro. He throws for 299 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions and the Eagles win a game. Compelling stuff.
The Pick: Eagles 20 Cowboys 13
Cleveland Browns at Pittsburgh Steelers:
The Steelers are in the playoffs, and since their game kicks off at the same time as the Bengals, they need the win in order to have a chance at the second seed. The Steelers handle the Browns easily but end up as a wildcard as they lost the tiebreaker with the Bengals.
The Pick: Steelers 38 Browns 17
Arizona Cardinals at Los Angeles Rams:
By kickoff the Bucs have already lost their bout with the Panthers, meaning that the Cardinals are already locked into their 5th seed due to their win against the Bucs in week two. The starters play two series, but after Palmer takes a nice lick from Aaron Donald, Bruce Arians pulls everyone and the second team finishes out the rest of the game.
The Pick: Rams 27 Cardinals 13
Oakland Raiders at Denver Broncos:
The Broncos have already wrapped up the number one seed, so Kubiak explains before the game that the plan is to play the starters for one quarter. The Broncos jump out to a 10-0 lead in the first quarter behind a 46 yard Paxton Lynch touchdown run, but in the second half the Raiders do just enough against the Broncos backups to pull out a win.
The Pick: Raiders 20 Broncos 17
Kansas City Chiefs at San Diego Chargers:
What is seemingly a meaningless game for both teams, for the San Diego players, in particular Phillip Rivers, it means a lot. This could very well be the final game the Chargers play in San Diego as the future of the franchise is very much up in the air, as it was a season ago. Rivers plays like this is the last game he’ll play in San Diego, throwing for three TD’s and zero picks.
The Pick: Chargers 30 Chiefs 17
Seattle Seahawks at San Francisco 49ers:
What was once a great rivalry is now just a mismatch. There’s really nothing more to say than that.
The Pick: Seahawks 27 49ers 13
Standings:
AFC East
New England Patriots: 10-6 (3)
New York Jets: 10-6 (6)
Buffalo Bills: 6-10
Miami Dolphins: 4-12
AFC North
Cincinnati Bengals: 11-5 (2)
Pittsburgh Steelers: 11-5 (5)
Baltimore Ravens: 8-8
Cleveland Browns: 5-11
AFC South
Indianapolis Colts: 10-6 (4)
Jacksonville Jaguars: 9-7
Houston Texans: 5-11
Tennessee Titans: 2-14
AFC West
Denver Broncos: 13-3 (1)
Oakland Raiders: 9-7
Kansas City Chiefs: 8-8
San Diego Chargers: 5-11
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NFC East
New York Giants: 10-6 (4)
Dallas Cowboys: 8-8
Washington Redskins: 6-10
Philadelphia Eagles: 3-13
NFC North
Green Bay Packers: 13-3 (3)
Detroit Lions: 8-8
Minnesota Vikings: 7-9
Chicago Bears: 5-11
NFC South
Carolina Panthers: 13-3 (1)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 10-6 (6)
New Orleans Saints: 7-9
Atlanta Falcons: 6-10
NFC West
Seattle Seahawks: 13-3 (2)
Arizona Cardinals: 10-6 (5)
Los Angeles Rams: 8-8
San Francisco 49ers: 3-13
Next: WildCard Weekend