2016 NFL Week 17 Picks

Here are my picks for week seventeen of the 2016 NFL season.

Sunday, January 1st
Baltimore Ravens (8-7) vs Cincinnati Bengals (5-9-1)- 1:00, CBS: Here's a meaningless division game. Baltimore is coming off a tough Christmas Day divisional road loss in Pittsburgh against the Steelers. Cincinnati is coming off a heartbreaking Christmas Eve night road loss in Houston against the Texans. Give me Andy Dalton and the Bengals to take this one because something tells me the Ravens will have a hangover from last week.
Prediction: Cincinnati 20, Baltimore 17.

Houston Texans (9-6) vs Tennessee Titans (8-7)- 1:00, CBS: Houston is coming off a good Christmas Eve night home win over the Cincinnati Bengals in which they clinched the AFC South thanks to that plus Tennessee losing to the lowly Jaguars last week in Jacksonville. If Marcus Mariota didn't break his fibula last week, I would take the Titans here. Since Matt Cassel is under center for the Titans, give me Tom Savage and the Texans here on the road.
Prediction: Houston 19, Jacksonville 16.

Buffalo Bills (7-8) vs New York Jets (4-11)- 1:00, CBS: Buffalo is coming off a heartbreaking overtime divisional home loss against the Miami Dolphins, which led to the firing of Rex Ryan. The Jets are coming off a disastrous divisional road loss in Foxboro against the Patriots. I would have loved it if Rex survived another week so his final game before the firing would be a loss against his former team, but nope. I'm going to go with the Jets here actually despite what I was hoping for in terms of a funny possible story but it's mainly because EJ Manuel is starting over Tyrod Taylor and Manuel isn't any better than Ryan Fitzpatrick.
Prediction: NY Jets 20, Buffalo 16.

New England Patriots (13-2) vs Miami Dolphins (10-5)- 1:00, CBS: New England is coming off a blowout divisional home win over the New York Jets. Miami is coming off a great overtime divisional road win in Orchard Park against the Bills. The Pats need this game to clinch home field advantage, but the Dolphins can use it too so they can move up to the 5-seed in the AFC playoff picture. Give me Tom Brady to continue a case for MVP and win a close road game.
Prediction: New England 24, Miami 20.

Cleveland Browns (1-14) vs Pittsburgh Steelers (10-5)- 1:00, CBS: Cleveland is coming off their first win of the season at home against the San Diego Chargers. Pittsburgh is coming off a huge divisional Christmas Day home win over the Baltimore Ravens to win the AFC North. The Browns had their one shining moment last week, so expect a hangover this week and because of that and the fact the Steelers probably won't rest their starters, the Steelers are my lock of the week.
Prediction: Pittsburgh 30, Cleveland 13.

Jacksonville Jaguars (3-12) vs Indianapolis Colts (7-8)- 1:00, CBS: Jacksonville is coming off a nice divisional home win over the Tennessee Titans to knock them out of playoff contention and for interim head coach Doug Marrone. Indianapolis is coming off a tough road loss in Oakland against the Raiders. I see a bit of a letdown for the Jags here and a big game from Andrew Luck.
Prediction: Indianapolis 33, Jacksonville 20.

Dallas Cowboys (13-2) vs Philadelphia Eagles (6-9)- 1:00, FOX: Dallas is coming off a Monday Night home win over the Detroit Lions. Philadelphia is coming off a nice Thursday night divisional home win over the New York Giants. The Cowboys could rest some starters here and I see the Eagles winning again here.
Prediction: Philadelphia 27, Dallas 20.

Chicago Bears (3-12) vs Minnesota Vikings (7-8)- 1:00, FOX: Chicago is coming off a bad home loss against the Washington Redskins. Minnesota is coming off a bad divisional road loss at Lambeau against the Packers which eliminated them from playoff contention. This was actually a tough game to pick but I say the Vikes defense forces Matt Barkley into turnovers and leads the way to a win.
Prediction: Minnesota 16, Chicago 13.

Carolina Panthers (6-9) vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-7)- 1:00, FOX: Carolina is coming off a bad divisional home loss against the Atlanta Falcons. Tampa Bay is coming off a disappointing road loss in New Orleans against the Saints. The Bucs need a ton to go right to make the playoffs including a win here, which I'm not predicting. Cam Newton will have a chip on his shoulder and lead his team to a road win to close out the season.
Prediction: Carolina 27, Tampa Bay 23.

Kansas City Chiefs (11-4) vs San Diego Chargers (5-10)- 4:25, CBS: Kansas City is coming off a terrific Christmas night divisional home win against the Denver Broncos. San Diego is coming off a heartbreaking road loss in Cleveland against the hapless Browns. The Chargers have hung around in their games all season, but found ways to lose them. I see that happening here as the Chiefs can win the AFC West and earn a bye with a win and a Raiders loss.
Prediction: Kansas City 26, San Diego 24.

Oakland Raiders (12-3) vs Denver Broncos (8-7)- 4:25, CBS: Oakland is coming off a home win over the Indianapolis Colts, which came at a cost as Derek Carr broke his fibula and now is out for the season. Denver is coming off a disastrous Christmas night divisional road loss in Kansas City against the Chiefs. Matt McGloin is not the answer and I don't see them making a playoff run or winning this game for that matter.
Prediction: Denver 20, Oakland 16.

New York Giants (10-5) vs Washington Redskins (8-6-1)- 4:25, FOX: The Giants are coming off a tough Thursday night divisional road loss in Philadelphia against the Eagles, but the did clinch a playoff berth thanks to the Saints beating the Bucs on Christmas Eve. Washington is coming off a huge road win in Chicago against the Bears to keep their season alive. The Redskins need this game to make the playoffs and they'll win this one and as long as they win and the game that decided the NFC North isn't a tie, they'll make it.
Prediction: Washington 30, NY Giants 17.

New Orleans Saints (7-8) vs Atlanta Falcons (10-5)- 4:25, FOX: New Orleans is coming off a divisional home win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Atlanta is coming off a huge road win in Charlotte against the Panthers in which they clinched the NFC South since the Bucs lost as well. Expect this to be a close game since this could very well be Sean Payton's final game as Saints coach and the Falcons need this game for a bye. Give me Matt Ryan, who could very well be the league MVP, to lead the way to the Falcons getting that bye.
Prediction: Atlanta 34, New Orleans 30.

Seattle Seahawks (9-5-1) vs San Francisco 49ers (2-13)- 4:25, FOX: Seattle is coming off a tough divisional home loss against the Arizona Cardinals and even more costly is that they lost Tyler Lockett for the season due to a broken fibula. San Francisco is coming off a divisional road win in Los Angeles against the Rams. Don't be surprised if the Niners and Colin Kaepernick give the shorthanded Seahawks a game here.
Prediction: Seattle 23, San Francisco 20.

Arizona Cardinals (6-8-1) vs Los Angeles Rams (4-11)- 4:25, FOX: Arizona is coming off a nice divisional road win in Seattle against the Seahawks. Los Angeles is coming off a divisional home loss against the San Francisco 49ers. The Rams have been a hot mess over the last two months, so give me the Cardinals to close out a disappointing season on a high-ish note with a second straight divisional road win.
Prediction: Arizona 30, Los Angeles 16.

Green Bay Packers (9-6) vs Detroit Lions (9-6)- 8:30, NBC: Game 256 is a good one in which in all likelihood will be win or go home barring a Redskins loss or this game ending in a tie. Green Bay is coming off a big divisional home win over the Minnesota Vikings. Detroit is coming off a bad Monday night home loss in Dallas against the Cowboys. The Packers are hot and Aaron Rodgers is making an MVP case and that will only grow larger with a big time road win to win the NFC North, which they'll get here and will host the Giants in the Wild Card round.
Prediction: Green Bay 30, Detroit 24.