NFL picks, predictions for Week 17: Chiefs fend off Bengals; Raiders upset Colts; Ravens rebound
Week 17 of the NFL schedule is a mixed bag.
There are four games with double-digit spreads, and those could be rough for a few teams trying to break in the New Year.
There are some great matchups that could be playoff previews. Kansas City and Patrick Mahomes II roll into Cincinnati to face the red-hot Bengals and Joe Burrow. Arizona will try to get back on track at Dallas, which is trying to catch Green Bay for the No. 1 seed in the NFC. The Packers, meanwhile, can use the Sunday Night Football spotlight to avenge a Week 11 loss to the Vikings.
The Raiders need to win at Indianapolis to keep their hopes alive. Will Lamar Jackson return for the Ravens in time to save their season against the Rams? Monday Night Football is a de facto elimination game between the Browns and Steelers.
It’s a mixed bag, but it’s full of tough games to pick. Here is a look at our track record heading into Week 17:
POWER RANKINGS
Cowboys, Bills, Eagles rise; Patriots, Steelers, Browns fall for Week 17
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NFL picks, predictions for Week 17
Sunday, 1 p.m., FOX
Washington is coming off its worst loss of the season, and the Eagles won the last meeting between the teams 27-17 on Dec. 21. Washington could rise up in a spoiler role at home, but that’s tough to envision after watching the SNF disaster. Philadelphia has rolled up 184.3 rushing yards per game in its last three victories.
Pick: Eagles 28, Washington 22
Sunday, 4:25 p.m., FOX
Impossible to predict the quarterback situation on either side at this point. It’s two teams looking to press the reset button. The Panthers are 3-4 on the road, and perhaps Cam Newton turns back the clock to beat an old division rival on the road.
Pick: Panthers 23, Saints 20
Sunday, 1 p.m., FOX
Zach Wilson led the Jets to a victory in Week 16, but the Buccaneers are a different beast. Tom Brady will lean on Antonio Brown and Rob Gronkowski in the passing game, but Ronald Jones II is in line for success against a Jets’ defense that allows 141.3 yards per game on the ground. The Buccaneers’ momentum keeps building here.
Pick: Buccaneers 38, Jets 12
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Sunday, 1 p.m., CBS
The Dolphins are one of the hottest teams in the AFC, but they are up against a Titans team that is 6-2 at home. This is Ryan Tannehill’s first start against his former team. Former Bill Belichick assistants Mike Vrabel and Brian Flores engage in a tight one that comes down to a last-second field goal.
Pick: Titans 24, Dolphins 21
Sunday, 1 p.m., CBS
Here is another game with a remarkable spread. It’s another battle of rookie quarterbacks between Trevor Lawrence and Mac Jones. Look for the Patriots to take advantage of a Jacksonville team that has a -19 turnover ratio. That won’t play well on the well, and Jones gets back on track with a pair of TD passes.
Pick: Patriots 30, Jaguars 14
Sunday, 1 p.m., FOX
The Colts found a way to win without four starters on the offensive line, and they have a chance to move up the pecking order in the AFC around MVP candidate Jonathan Taylor. The Raiders have found a way to win ugly the last two weeks with Derek Carr, and this feels like a spot where they could pull that off again. This is the surprise upset of the early games.
Pick: Raiders 28, Colts 27
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Sunday, 1 p.m., CBS
Who knew this would be the best game of the week? The Bengals can clinch the AFC North with some help this week, but they need a home victory against the Chiefs. Kansas City has regained its Super Bowl form with eight straight victories, and they covered in the last six games. The Bengals are 4-4 S/U at home this year. Mahomes and Burrow put on a show, but the Chiefs seal the deal with a late TD in a game with divisional playoff flavor.
Pick: Chiefs 31, Bengals 24
Sunday, 1 p.m., CBS
It’s two of the first worst scoring offenses in the NFL, and it’s tough to consider taking the Giants considering they have scored 10 points or less in four of their last six games. Chicago is playing out the last days of coach Matt Nagy, and the quarterback switching continues. The Bears win ugly at home.
Pick: Bears 19, Giants 13
Sunday, 1 p.m., FOX
The Bills got back on track against the Patriots, and Josh Allen will take advantage of an Atlanta pass defense that allows 244 passing yards per game. The Falcons have won five games on the road this season, but don’t be fooled. None of those teams they beat have a winning record.
Pick: Bills 30, Falcons 16
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Sunday, 4:05 p.m., CBS
The Texans showed fight in a win against Los Angeles this week, and the 49ers are lamenting a close loss to the Titans on Thursday Night Football. San Francisco had extra time to heal, however and Eli Mitchell could return from a knee injury this week. The Niners keep it simple on the ground at home, but the spread is too high. Davis Mills has just one interception in his last three starts.
Pick: 49ers 27, Texans 20
Sunday, 4:05 p.m., CBS
The Broncos are fighting to keep their playoff hopes alive against a division rival. The Chargers are coming off an inexplicable loss to the Texans. Los Angeles is just 4-4 at home this season, too, but we’re trusting Justin Herbert to get it done against Denver’s top-five pass defense. The Broncos won the first meeting 28-13.
Pick: Chargers 26, Broncos 20
Sunday, 1 p.m., FOX
Will Lamar Jackson return and help the Ravens avoid a potentially devastating loss? That’s Baltimore’s best hope. The Ravens have allowed 29 points per game through a four-game losing streak, and the Rams are rolling in a four-game win streak. If Jackson comes back, however, we’ll say he saves the day in a classic.
Pick: Ravens 33, Rams 30
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Sunday, 4:25 p.m., FOX
The Seahawks will be home against the Lions, which lost another close one in Week 16 but have not quit under first-year coach Dan Campbell. The Seahawks are 30th in total offense (305.2), and the Lions are 29th in scoring offense (17.3). This game won’t be pretty.
Pick: Seahawks 20, Lions 17
Sunday, 4:25 p.m., FOX
The Cowboys opened eyes with 56 points on SNF, and Dak Prescott has this team looking like a legit Super Bowl contender. Kyler Murray is trying to get the Cardinals back on track, especially in the passing game. Remember, Arizona won 38-10 at Dallas last season, but Prescott wasn’t on the field for that one. We’re still calling for the upset here.
Pick: Cardinals 30, Cowboys 27
Sunday, 8:20 p.m., NBC
The Vikings are the last team to beat Green Bay at Lambeau Field in the regular season, and if Dalvin Cook returns that will be the recipe for success on the road. The Packers have allowed 28.8 points per game in their last five games, and that defense has lived on the edge. Aaron Rodgers makes up the difference with a late TD pass to Davante Adams in a SNF thriller.
Pick: Packers 31, Vikings 28
Sunday, 4:05 p.m., CBS
The Browns ended the Steelers’ season in the AFC Wild Card round last year. Can they do it again on the Monday Night Football spotlight? This is a gotta-have-it game for both Baker Mayfield and Ben Roethlisberger, but the Browns stick to Nick Chubb this time against a porous Steelers run defense. That sets up a huge game with the Bengals in Week 18.
Pick: Browns 23, Steelers 18
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