Here are my picks for week seventeen of the 2015 NFL season which is the final week of regular season action and there is some playoff berths and division titles on the line as well. Who will come out winners this Sunday? We shall see.
Sunday, January 3rd
Philadelphia Eagles (6-9) vs New York Giants (6-9)- 1:00, FOX: Philadelphia is coming off a disappointing home loss against the Washington Redskins, in which they were eliminated from playoff contention in. New York was also eliminated from the playoffs with Washington's win and they are coming off their worst performance of the season in Minneapolis against the Vikings in which they were missing Odell Beckham Jr due to suspension. The Eagles made news yesterday by firing head coach Chip Kelly and this could very well be Tom Coughlin's final game as Giants head coach and that's why I give Big Blue an edge here.
Prediction: New York 30, Philadelphia 23.
Washington Redskins (8-7) vs Dallas Cowboys (4-11)- 1:00, FOX: Washington is coming off a huge road win in Philadelphia against the Eagles in which they won the NFC East. Dallas is coming off a road loss in Buffalo against the Bills. The Cowboys are starting Kellen Moore yet again, but I'm riding with a hot Kirk Cousins for at least another week.
Prediction: Washington 20, Dallas 17.
Detroit Lions (6-9) vs Chicago Bears (6-9)- 1:00, FOX: Detroit is coming off a nice home win over the San Francisco 49ers. Chicago is coming off a nice road win in Tampa against their former coach Lovie Smith and the Bucs. The Bears haven't won at home this season except for once against the Raiders, so give me the Lions here.
Prediction: Detroit 27, Chicago 24.
New Orleans Saints (6-9) vs Atlanta Falcons (8-7)- 1:00, FOX: New Orleans is coming off a nice home win against the up and coming Jacksonville Jaguars. Atlanta is coming off a nice home win over the previously undefeated Carolina Panthers. Every time these two matchup, it's usually a shootout with the home team winning, which is what I believe happens here.
Prediction: Atlanta 34, New Orleans 30.
New York Jets (10-5) vs Buffalo Bills (7-8)- 1:00, CBS: New York is coming off a huge overtime home win over the New England Patriots and now are in control of their own destiny for that final AFC Wild Card spot. Buffalo is coming off a home win over the Tony Romo-less Dallas Cowboys. I don't know if it's just me but something tells me that Rex Ryan knocks his former team out of the playoffs because that is just so Jets-like. Upset special here!
Prediction: Buffalo 23, New York 20.
New England Patriots (12-3) vs Miami Dolphins (5-10)- 1:00, CBS: New England is coming off a tough overtime road loss in the Meadowlands against the Jets. Miami is coming off a home loss against the Indianapolis Colts. The Dolphins have absolutely quit on themselves as a team and I don't see an upset here against a Patriots team that is still playing for home field advantage in the AFC playoffs.
Prediction: New England 30, Miami 20.
Baltimore Ravens (5-10) vs Cincinnati Bengals (11-4)- 1:00, FOX: Baltimore is coming off a home win over the Pittsburgh Steelers and knocked their rivals out of a playoff spot for now. Cincinnati is coming off a tough overtime road loss in Denver against the Broncos. The Ravens are totally due for a letdown here after knocking their rivals out and the Bengals are still playing for a bye in the AFC playoffs. Give me the Bengals here in a close one.
Prediction: Cincinnati 21, Baltimore 17.
Pittsburgh Steelers (9-6) vs Cleveland Browns (3-12)- 1:00, CBS: Pittsburgh is coming off a very disappointing loss in Baltimore against the Ravens and now they don't control their own destiny since the Jets won last weekend as well. The Browns are coming off a tough loss in Kansas City against the Chiefs. I predicted that the Jets lose in Buffalo against the Bills and that opens the door for the Steelers to reclaim that final Wild Card spot in the AFC and I believe that will be the case.
Prediction: Pittsburgh 26, Cleveland 20.
Jacksonville Jaguars (5-10) vs Houston Texans (8-7)- 1:00, CBS: Jacksonville is coming off a road loss in New Orleans against the Saints. Houston is coming off a big road win in Tennessee against the Titans. The Texans will have Brian Hoyer back for this game and they can clinch the AFC South with a win here and I believe they will get it done.
Prediction: Houston 24, Jacksonville 20.
Tennessee Titans (3-11) vs Indianapolis Colts (7-8)- 1:00, CBS: Tennessee is coming off a home loss against the should be playoff bound Houston Texans. Indianapolis is coming off a road win in Miami against the pitiful Dolphins to keep their very slim playoff hopes alive. If Matt Hasselbeck can't start it will either be one of the Josh Freeman or Ryan Lindley that will get the start. Marcus Mariota is out for the season so give me the Colts in which is probably Chuck Pagano's final game as Colts head coach.
Prediction: Indianapolis 20, Tennessee 16.
Oakland Raiders (7-8) vs Kansas City Chiefs (10-5)- 4:25, FOX: Oakland is coming off a nice Christmas Eve overtime home win over the San Diego Chargers in which could have been the teams final game in Oakland. Kansas City is coming off a big home win over the Cleveland Browns to clinch a playoff spot. The Chiefs have an outside chance to steal the AFC West with a win and a Denver Broncos loss, so give me the Chiefs to win here.
Prediction: Kansas City 27, Oakland 24.
San Diego Chargers (4-11) vs Denver Broncos (11-4)- 4:25, CBS: San Diego is coming off a Christmas Eve overtime road loss in Oakland against the Raiders. Denver is coming off perhaps their biggest win of the season in overtime at home on Monday Night against the Andy Dalton-less Cincinnati Bengals. The Broncos now can clinch the AFC West here with a win and I believe they'll get it done against a hapless Chargers team that has nothing to play for. Denver is my lock of the week.
Prediction: Denver 27, San Diego 13.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-9) vs Carolina Panthers (14-1)- 4:25, FOX: Tampa Bay is coming off a disappointing home loss against the Chicago Bears. Carolina is coming off their first loss of the season in Atlanta against the Falcons. The Panthers need one more win to secure home field advantage in the NFC playoffs and I believe they'll get it done here.
Prediction: Carolina 30, Tampa Bay 24.
St. Louis Rams (7-8) vs San Francisco 49ers (4-11)- 4:25, CBS: St. Louis is coming off a nice road win in Seattle against the Seahawks. San Francisco is coming off a road loss in Detroit against the Lions. The Rams always seem to play well inside the division and the Niners have actually been somewhat decent at home this season. Case Keenum has surprisingly played well after Nick Foles was benched, so give me the Rams to finish up the season at .500.
Prediction: St. Louis 23, San Francisco 16.
Seattle Seahawks (9-6) vs Arizona Cardinals (13-2)- 4:25, FOX: Seattle is coming off a very disappointing home loss against the St. Louis Rams. Arizona is coming off perhaps their best win of the season at home over the Green Bay Packers. This game is meaningful for both teams since the Seahawks can get to the five-seed in the NFC playoffs with a win and a Vikings loss and the Cardinals can get homefield advantage in the NFC playoffs with a win and a Panthers loss. I like the Cards here at home.
Prediction: Arizona 30, Seattle 26.
Minnesota Vikings (10-5) vs Green Bay Packers (10-5)- 8:30, NBC: Minnesota is coming off perhaps their best win of the season on Sunday Night at home against the Odell Beckham-less New York Giants. Green Bay is coming off perhaps their worst loss of the season in Glendale against the Cardinals. This was a very tough call, but my question is whether Teddy Bridgewater can win in Lambeau. I don't really know, so give me Aaron Rodgers and the Packers to get a huge bounce back home win to win the NFC North and send the Vikings to the five seed in the NFC.
Prediction: Green Bay 26, Minnesota 23.
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