And then there was one. 16 weeks of entertaining football action went by really fast and now we’re headed towards the final week of the regular season. Week 17 is bound to be another promising week with a few teams still battling for a playoff berth and with some aiming to end their respective campaigns on—at least—a winning note. So without further ado, let’s now take a quick glimpse at the final 16 regular season games this upcoming week.
Meanwhile, if you think the then-winless Carolina Panthers can bounce back from their first defeat of the season, check out our comprehensive preview of their regular-season finale versus the visiting Tampa Bay Buccaneers here.
[sc:Football ]NFL Week 17 Picks
Sunday, January 3
New York Jets (+3) at Buffalo Bills (-3) (1:00 PM ET)
[sc:NFL250 ]What a win by the New York Jets! The Jets managed to pull off the huge upset over the reigning champions—New England Patriots—with a 26-20 overtime triumph last Sunday. That win was indeed a crucial one as New York now only needs to win their next game versus the Buffalo Bills in order to clinch a wild-card berth.
QB Ryan Fitzpatrick, who threw for 296 yards with three touchdowns against the Pats, will look to replicate his performance opposite a Buffalo defense that’s allowing 252.9 passing yards per contest this season, the 10th-highest in the NFL.
On the other hand, the Bills will be carrying some momentum as well after their solid 16-6 win over the Tony Romo-less Cowboys. In that game, they reminded the world why their running attack is currently the best in the league by outgaining their opponents on the ground, 236-121. Buffalo may be out of the postseason, but that’s not going to stop them from trying to play the spoilers when the Jets pay them a visit this weekend.
You can click here for a closer look at this game.
Writer’s Prediction: New York wins, but does not manage to cover the spread.
New England Patriots at Miami Dolphins (1:00 PM ET)
The New England Patriots shot themselves in the foot when they elected to kick after winning the overtime coin toss during their game opposite the Jets. That eventually allowed the Jets to seal the deal for them via Eric Decker’s six-yard touchdown catch. The loss was the Pats’ third one of the season and they’ll look to bounce back from this in their regular-season finale against the Miami Dolphins.
Speaking of the Dolphins, the losing woes continued for them after suffering their third-straight setback at the hands of the visiting Colts, 18-12. QB Ryan Tannehill finished with 329 passing yards and a completion rate of 68.4 percent despite zero touchdowns. He’ll try to put up some points on the scoreboard and hopefully end their year on a strong note against a New England defense that’s giving up just 19.7 points per game.
If you want to know more about this matchup, click here for our in-depth preview.
Writer’s Prediction: New England imposes its will with a dominant double-digit win.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+10.5) at Carolina Panthers (-10.5) (1:00 PM ET)
Just like Miami, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are also looking to end their three-game skid. But that’s going to be easier said than done since they’ll be facing the 14-1 Carolina Panthers, who are coming off their first loss of their campaign against Atlanta. The Bucs’ defense, which is allowing 239.0 passing yards and 99.7 rushing yards per game, will need to be at its best all game long opposite a Panthers offense that’s scoring 30.7 points per contest, the second-most in the league this season.
For more about this division matchup, click here for our full breakdown.
Writer’s Prediction: Carolina unleashes its frustrations on the Bucs with a 35-17 win.
New Orleans Saints (+4) at Atlanta Falcons (-4) (1:00 PM ET)
It’s been the Drew Brees show for the New Orleans Saints. Brees, the 36-year-old quarterback, has passed for 1,347 yards along with a staggering 11 touchdowns and just one pick in the past four games. But the Saints only went 2-2 in that stretch. Nevertheless, Brees’ form has been spectacular and the Saints will hope that he’s able to keep this up against the Atlanta Falcons, who are fresh off a huge 20-13 victory over the then-winless Panthers, this weekend.
The Falcons’ defense was ridiculous during their win over Carolina, holding Cam Newton to just 142 yards (17-of-30) and one rushing touchdown. Atlanta will try to replicate this effort and hopefully get the win again when they play host to the Saints, who currently lead the league with 309.8 passing yards per game this season.
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Writer’s Prediction: The Saints receive another big-time performance from Drew Brees, who leads them towards a thrilling 31-23 triumph.
Baltimore Ravens at Cincinnati Bengals (1:00 PM ET)
In a season full of defeats and unfortunate injuries, the Baltimore Ravens gave themselves something to smile about with an upset over the playoff-seeking Pittsburgh Steelers last Sunday, 20-17. Newly-acquired QB Ryan Mallet was solid in his first start with Baltimore, throwing for 274 yards along with a touchdown. Next up for them, will be the Cincinnati Bengals, who are 5-2 SU and 4-2-1 ATS at home this season. The Bengals have also won four of their previous five meetings with the Ravens.
Click here for a comprehensive breakdown of this clash.
Writer’s Prediction: Cincinnati wins by double-digits.
Pittsburgh Steelers (-10) at Cleveland Browns (+10) (1:00 PM ET)
Pittsburgh’s playoff hopes faded even further after a surprising 20-17 loss to the Ravens last Sunday. QB Ben Roethlisberger really struggled in this one as he only went 7-for-12 for 66 yards in the first half and eventually finished the game with 215 passing yards while garnering two interceptions. But the Steelers still have a chance to advance to the postseason. They’ll need to win their next game—a favorable matchup with the 3-12 Cleveland Browns—and hope that either the Broncos or Jets lose their final two contests.
Click here for our in-depth preview of this battle.
Writer’s Prediction: Pittsburgh marches to an easy 28-10 win.
Jacksonville Jaguars at Houston Texans (1:00 PM ET)
The 5-10 Jaguars have nothing to fight for at this point of the season. Their slim playoff-hopes were completely shattered thanks to Houston’s victory over the Titans last Sunday. But the Jaguars can still unleash their frustrations and take pride in playing the spoilers when they collide with the Texans this weekend. QB Blake Bortles, who threw for 368 yards with four touchdowns and two picks in their 38-27 loss to New Orleans, will be going up against a Houston defense that’s only surrendering 212.2 passing yards per game, the third-lowest in the league.
For more information about this bout, click here for our detailed breakdown.
Writer’s Prediction: Houston wins, but is unable to cover the spread.
Tennessee Titans at Indianapolis Colts (1:00 PM ET)
The losing woes continue for the Tennessee Titans, who suffered their sixth-straight defeat last Sunday opposite the Texans, 34-6. That’s the second time in three weeks that the Titans have been held below 10 points. Their defense has been just as bad during that stretch and has given up a total of 97 points. But they might finally relocate some of their offensive groove when they clash with the Indianapolis Colts—a team’s that’s yielding 389.0 total yards per contest this season.
The Colts, meanwhile, are coming off a crucial 18-12 triumph over the Dolphins. That win kept Indy’s playoff-hopes alive and it was all thanks to their quarterback in Charlie Whitehurst, who came off the bench and replaced the injured Matt Hasselbeck in the fourth period. The third-stringer did just enough in relief, completing two scoring drives to help the team hang on to the win. The Colts enter Week 17 carrying a 3-4 SU and ATS home record.
Click here to see our full breakdown of this matchup.
Writer’s Prediction: Indy wins, 21-14.
Oakland Raiders (+7) at Kansas City Chiefs (-7) (1:00 PM ET)
In what was possibly the Raiders’ final game at the O.co Coliseum, Derek Carr and co. made sure to provide their beloved fans a well-deserved present—a win. Carr completed 31-of-49 passes along with a touchdown to carry his team towards the thrilling 23-20 overtime win at the expense of the visiting Chargers last Thursday night. The Raiders will now look to build on that momentum when they visit the Chiefs, who are on a nine-game winning streak, at Arrowhead Stadium for their regular-season finale.
The Chiefs’ defense has been arguably the main reason for their success lately. In their current nine-game run, they are only giving up 12.3 points per game and have limited all but one team to less than 20 points. They’ll be looking to hold off a Raiders offense that’s tallying 342.1 total yards per game, good for just 22nd in the NFL.
Oakland is 4-3 SU and 5-2 ATS on the road this season. Kansas City, meanwhile, is 5-2 SU and 3-4 ATS at home.
Click here for our full breakdown of this matchup.
Writer’s Prediction: Kansas City keeps rolling, 20-13.
Washington Redskins at Dallas Cowboys (1:00 PM ET)
Kirk Cousins is in beast mode right now. He delivered another remarkable performance in their 34-28 triumph over the Philadelphia Eagles on Saturday night. During that game, he completed 31 of his 46 passes for a season-best of 365 yards along with four touchdowns to give his team the crucial victory. The win also allowed the Burgundy and Gold to clinch the NFC East title for the first time in three years. They’ll now try to keep their momentum going when they fly to Texas for an impending clash with the Dallas Cowboys.
The Cowboys, meanwhile, have been on a downward spiral without their beloved signal-caller in Tony Romo. They are 4-11 on the season and are currently on a three-game slide. But the Cowboys will have a relatively good chance of ending their sour campaign on a positive note against a Redskins team that loves to rely on its air game. Dallas is averaging 223.0 passing yards allowed per game, which is the fifth-lowest in the NFL today.
Click here for our complete breakdown of this game.
Writer’s Prediction: Washington wins, 20-13.
Philadelphia Eagles (+3.5) at New York Giants (-3.5) (1:00 PM ET)
The Eagles’ playoff hopes are already over but they still have one more game to take care of. They’ll be going mano-a-mano with the New York Giants for their regular-season finale at MetLife Stadium. QB Sam Bradford would be smart to increase their running plays in this one especially with the Giants coming off a lopsided 49-17 loss to Minnesota, during which New York was totally outgained on the ground, 218-91. Philadelphia is averaging a respectable 108.2 rushing yards per game, which is good for 15th-best in the league.
It’s worth noting, though, that New York also boasts a pretty formidable passing game and it’ll have its No.1 wide receiver in Odell Beckham Jr. after being suspended for one game.
For more about this battle, click here for our in-depth breakdown.
Writer’s Prediction: Giants win a close one, 27-20.
Detroit Lions (+1) at Chicago Bears (-1) (1:00 PM ET)
After a big win at New Orleans in Week 15, the Detroit Lions imposed their will once again versus the struggling San Francisco 49ers, 32-17. That was the second-straight game that the Lions eclipsed the 30-point mark. A testament to their success has been QB Matthew Stafford, who has thrown for 1,357 yards with 14 touchdowns in the past five contests.
The Bears, meanwhile, finally ended their three-game slide by beating the Buccaneers last Sunday, 26-21. Jay Cutler completed 20 of his 27 passes for 156 yards and a touchdown to help his team notch its sixth win of the year. Now, the Bears will hope that their pass defense (220.7 yards given up per game) can make it hard for Stafford to find his usual targets all game along and ultimately allow them to cap off their campaign with a bang.
Click here for a closer analysis of this bout.
Writer’s Prediction: Chicago wins, 24-20.
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Minnesota Vikings (+3.5) at Green Bay Packers (-3.5) (1:00 PM ET)
Talk about getting it done with authority. The Minnesota Vikings secured their place in the postseason after a resounding 49-17 win over the Odell Beckham-less Giants on Sunday night. Adrian Peterson and Jerick McKinnon led the charge on the ground, combining for 193 yards on 29 carries with two touchdowns. The two should be able to replicate their performance opposite a Green Bay front seven that’s giving up 116.9 yards this season.
The Packers are coming off a forgettable outing versus the Cardinals, wherein they were held to a season-low of eight points and allowed their quarterback Aaron Rodgers to be sacked eight times. Obviously, Rodgers and co. lost that game, 38-8, and were handed their fifth setback of the year. But Green Bay will have to quickly get it together this weekend for their crucial clash with the Vikings. This game will basically decide who wins the NFC North championship.
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Writer’s Prediction: Green Bay wins, 35-28.
San Diego Chargers at Denver Broncos (4:25 PM ET)
Following a 30-14 win in Week 15, the San Diego Chargers were immediately sent back down to earth by the Oakland Raiders, who beat them 23-20. That loss marked the Chargers’ 11th of the season and their ninth one in the last 10 games. It won’t get any easier for them even in their final game of the 2015-16 season versus the best defensive team in the league—the Denver Broncos.
Philip Rivers, who has passed for a total of 588 yards with four touchdowns in the past two games, ought to make sure that he steps into Sports Authority Field at his best form. Throughout 16 career games opposite the Broncos, Rivers owns a quarterback rating of 91.7 percent, a 62.9 completion rate and total of 4631 passing yards with 31 touchdowns.
San Diego is 1-4 SU and 5-0 ATS in its previous five road games. Denver, on the other hand, is 8-2 SU and 6-4 ATS in its last 10 meetings with the Chargers.
For more about this game, click here to check out our detailed breakdown.
Writer’s Prediction: Denver wins, 23-10
Seattle Seahawks (+4.5) at Arizona Cardinals (-4.5) (4:25 PM ET)
The Seattle Seahawks seem to have found their kryptonite in the St. Louis Rams, who defeated them for the second time this season, 23-17. In that contest, Russell Wilson continued his stellar play with 289 passing yards and two touchdowns under his belt. But the Rams’ efforts proved to be more than enough to hold off the Seahawks and help them earn their seventh triumph of the season.
Now, Wilson will look to help his team get back on track and earn some much-needed momentum before they head into the playoffs. The 27-year-old quarterback has thrown for 21 touchdowns and just one interception in his last six games.
As for the Cardinals, they’ll be looking stretch their unbeaten run to 10 games in this one. Carson Palmer can definitely attest to their current success, as he’s passed for 2,805 yards with 20 touchdowns in the previous nine games. He’s going to be tested, though, against an Arizona defense that’s allowing just 231.9 passing yards per game.
For more information regarding this highly-anticipated showdown, click here for our in-depth preview.
Writer’s Prediction: Arizona wins, 28-21.
St. Louis Rams (-3.5) at San Francisco 49ers (+3.5) (4:25 PM ET)
The Rams are out of the playoffs, but that clearly has not stopped them from playing with a sense of purpose. They earned their third-straight win after beating the Seahawks Sunday night, 23-17. That triumph ended a decade-long drought as the Rams emerge as winners at CenturyLink Field for the first time since the 2004 playoffs.
Rookie Todd Gurley has been getting it done for the Rams lately, rumbling for 273 yards with four touchdowns in the last three contests. That stretch includes their 21-14 victory over the Lions in Week 14, during which he exploded for 140 yards on 16 carries with two scores. Gurley should be able to stay hot opposite a shaky 49ers front seven (125.8 yards given up per game).
San Francisco, meanwhile, will hope to at least give their fans a reason to smile despite their horrible 2015-16 campaign. Blaine Gabbert, who has thrown for 1452 yards and seven touchdowns since replacing Colin Kaepernick behind center, will be going up against a Saints defense that’s had its share of troubles with opposing quarterbacks this season.
Click here for our comprehensive breakdown of this clash.
Writer’s Prediction: St. Louis wins, 23-9.
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