NFL Week 17 Preview

NY Giants @ Minnesota Vikings
Spread: Vikings, -9
o/u: 47.5
The Vikings have been terrible the last few weeks. They've lost three of their last four games, their last two to the Carolina Panthers and Chicago Bears. Adrian Peterson hasn't rushed for 100-yards in their last six games. Lucky for them that the Giants have nothing to play for. Last week, with their season on the line, they layed down for Carolina, losing 41-9. They've already put Brandon Jacobs and Aaron Ross on the IR, ending their seasons, and it looks like everyone besides Eli Manning wants to take the week off, too. Minnesota should take this one easy heading into the playoffs.
Pick: Vikings 30 - Giants 10

Indianapolis Colts @ Buffalo Bills
Spread: Bills, -8.5
o/u: 34
The Bills have an excellent pass defense. What they don't have is anything else. The Colts are expected to rest their starters, just like they did against the Jets. That doesn't mean they'll lose again, just that Peyton & Co. will have less time to build a lead. The Colts are not a running team, but they know when running the ball is to their advantage. It will be this week, against a team that gives up 165 yards on the ground per game. Manning might not have a big game, but all the Colts running backs might.
Pick: Colts 24 - Bills 13

New Orleans Saints @ Carolina Panthers
Spread: Panthers, -7.5
o/u: OFF
In the last two weeks, the Panthers ended the Vikings hopes of being the #1 seed in the NFC and knocked the Gaints out of playoff contention, while the Saints lost to Dallas and Tampa Bay. The Saints already have everything in the NFC clinched, but another loss heading into the playoffs would leave them scrambling to fix whatever is wrong with the team. So instead of using this week to work out their problems, they've benched their starters. Mark Brunell was a good QB for a season or two, and he may be able to get something going against the Panthers. Saints still lose, though.
Pick: Panthers 24 - Saints 21

Jacksonville Jaguars @ Cleveland Browns
Spread: Browns, -1.5
o/u: 36
Eric Mangini is another coach with his job on the line. The Browns have won three straight, with one of those wins coming against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The other two were over the Chiefs and Raiders. This week, they face actual competition, as the Jags are playing to keep their playoff hopes alive. David Garrard might not be the great QB most of us thought he would be, but he doesn't need to be when the Jags can just keep giving the ball to Maurice Jones-Drew. The Browns D won't be able to stop him enough to win this one.
Pick: Jaguars 24 - Browns 17

New England Patriots @ Houston Texans
Spread: Texans, -8
o/u: 46
Sorry, Texans fans, that first winning season will have to wait another year. The Pats have playoff seeding to play for, and a win locks them into the third seed. Plus, you can bet Bill Belichick wants momentum behind his team going into the playoffs. Sorry, Houston, there's always next year.
Pick: Patriots 31 - Texans 20

San Francisco 49ers @ St Louis Rams
Spread: 49ers, -7
o/u: 40.5
Fans of these two teams have nothing to cheer for but a non-losing season by the 49ers, and the first pick in the Draft for the Rams. Really there isn't much more to say about this game. The '9ers want a win, and the Rams need a loss. Good luck to both of you.
Pick: 49ers 27 - Rams 10

Atlanta Falcons @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Spread: Falcons, -2.5
o/u: 41.5
Ah, another game without much riding on it. Both teams have been out of the playoff hunt for at least a couple of weeks now, but both are still fighting at least. With a win, the Falcons would have there first back-to-back winning seasons in franchise history. Unfortunately, my gut says it just isn't happening. At least Atlanta and Houston can comfort each other at 8-8.
Pick: Buccaneers 20 - Falcons 17

Pittsburgh Steelers @ Miami Dophins
Spread: Steelers, -3
o/u: 45.5
This is actually one of the most important games of the day. This is the only game where the winner, no matter which team, still has a shot at making the playoffs. Both need help from other teams along with a win, and both are longshots, at best. Pittsburgh looks like the winner here, though. Miami has dropped two straight to Houston and Tennessee, while Pittsburgh has the momentum of beating Green Bay and Baltimore behind them. Those are big wins for a team that had lost their previous five games, and will help going into the playoff atmosphere of this game.
Pick: Steelers 24 - Dolphins 20

Chicago Bears @ Detroit Lions
Spread: Bears, -3
o/u: 45
The Bears have to beat the Lions. They just have to. Jay Cutler couldn't be bad enough to throw away this game, too, could he?
Pick: Bears 31 - Lions 13

Philadelphia Eagles @ Dallas Cowboys
Spread: Cowboys, -3
o/u: 47.5
Many people are arguing that this game should have been the Sunday Night flex game. Those people are wrong. This game should be good, as it determines who wins the NFC East, but thats it. Both teams are already in the playoffs, and even if it seems like ever team in the East hates every other team, it doesn't have any meaning besides playoff seeding. The score will be high, the Eagles will win, and Wade Phillips will move one game closer to being fired.
Pick: Eagles 35 - Cowboys 27

Kansas City Chiefs @ Denver Broncos
Spread: Broncos, -12
o/u: 38
Normally this should be an easy win for Denver. That would be if they were playing Brandon Marshall. Aparently, he's been benched after an argument with the head coach. Even with a loss, the Broncos can still make the playoffs. They need help to do it, and they'll know how much help they have before this game starts. Almost every scenario involves Baltimore and/or Pittsburgh losing, and the one that doesn't need Houston to win. Two of those games are early, and no one really expects Baltimore to lose to Oakland. The Broncos don't have a lot of experience in high-pressure games, and this one couldn't be more high-pressure. The Chiefs have nothing to play for, and can relax their way to a win.
Pick: Chiefs 17 - Broncos 13

Baltimore Ravens @ Oakland Raiders
Spread: Ravens, -10.5
o/u: 38
Remember the Jets 38-0 win over Oakland a while back? Yeah.
Pick: Ravens 31 - Raiders 10

Tennessee Titans @ Seattle Seahawks
Spread: Titans, -4
o/u: 45
Qwest Field is not a good place for a visiting team. It is believed to be the loudest stadium in the NFL, and it causes fits for opponents. For a team like Tennessee that needs to get into a rythm on offense, that could be enough for an upset loss right there.
Pick: Seahawks 35 - Titans 24

Washington Redskins @ San Diego Chargers
Spread: Chargers, -3.5
o/u: 39.5
Everything about this game is low. Sure, the Chargers are in the playoffs and should rest starters, but even their backups are better than most of the Redskins. With Jim Zorn as their head coach, no way does Washington come close to that spread. If this game were in Week 3, maybe. Week 17? The Chargers are light years better than the 'Skins.
Pick: Chargers 38 - Redskins 13

Green Bay Packers @ Arizona Cardinals
Spread: Cardinals, -3.5
o/u: 44
The NFC playoffs are locked up, and both teams are in. Does anyone really care about this game? If it were played in Green Bay, I might give it to the Pack. In Arizona, Green Bay loses its cold weather advantage. Starters will rest, and no one will be as upset as Colts fans were last week.
Pick: Cardinals 24 - Packers 17

Cincinnati Bengals @ NY Jets
Spread: Jets, -10
o/u: 35
The final game of the regular season might be the most important Jets game of the season. If they win, they make the playoffs. If they lose, they don't. There isn't a scenario where the Jets can lose and still make it in. No one knows what the Bengals will do in this game. Most expect starters to be rested, but rumors keep coming out that they won't rest anyone. Even the players aren't sure what the plan is. If the Jets come out looking like the team that won eight games, these teams are pretty evenly matched. If they come out as the team that lost seven, Cincy has the clear advantage. Based on their performance against Indy, I think the eight win team is showing up this week.
Pick: Jets 20 - Bengals 14