NFL Weekly Picks: Week 17

Here it is, the final week of the NFL season with seeding issues to be resolved in the NFC and a quagmire of wild card spots in the AFC. It is the final week of regular season games to pick winners, though I will continue in the playoffs. Last week was by far my worst of the year, with only eight correct picks.

Last Week- 8-8
Season- 154-96


Indianapolis 17 Buffalo 7
The result of this game depends on who plays quarterback for the Bills, Brian Brohm or Ryan Fitzpatrick. Just imagine, a quarterback duel between Curtis Painter and Brian Brohm. Oh the possibilities. And in case your wondering, the Bills aren't the Jets, so even the Colts second team can win this game.


Carolina 24 New Orleans 14
Prepare yourselves! A Mark Brunell sighting is looming in the distance on Sunday. In all seriousness though, the Saints won't be playign to win, whereas the Panthers sure will. Give Carolina the win, and no, this isn't an upset, Carolina is favored by seven.


Jacksonville 24 Cleveland 21
The Browns over Jaguars is a popular upset pick this week, but I can't see the Jaguars, even in their dire state, losing such an important game to such a lousy team like the Browns. I'll give the suddenly hot Browns the benefit of a doubt, but the Jags the victory.

Chicago 31 Detroit 13
Too much uncertainty on the Lions sideline and too many jobs at stake for the Bears, iclduing Lovie Smith. A loss here for Chicago would be disasterous, expect them to play full force and blow past Detroit.


New England 27 Houston 21 UPSET PICK
Yes, the Texans are favored by seven, as the Patriots are expected to rest up in prepartion for the wild card round, while Houston needs win and lots of help. It's unknown how long the New England starters will play, but did you see how well Brian Hoyer looked against Tennessee earlier this year? I have confidence in the Pats to finish the pesky Texans' season.


Pittsburgh 24 Miami 20
The Steelers head into Miami on a roll and recovered from that atrocious losing streak from last month. Unfortunatly, they need help to reach the playoffs, while the Dolphins need a win and a miracle. The Steelers are simple playing better football right now, while the Dolphins looked finished last week against Houston. Chalk up the W, but not a playoff spot for Pittsburgh (as evidenced later).


Minnesota 38 NY Giants 17
The Giants gave up last week and now have nothing but a winning season to play for, while the Vikings all of a sudden need a win and help to get a first round bye. Minnesota has no problem picking apart the Giants at the Metrodome, and will watch and wait to see their fate.


San Francisco 27 St. Louis 9
To the few fantasy leagues with week 17 championships, Frank Gore could be the MVP. Other than this small fact, there's no reason to care two cents about this game. 49ers win easily.


Atlanta 30 Tampa Bay 10
To the few few fantasy leagues with week 17 championships again, if you have Falcons players, you're in luck. Otherwise, this game is meaningless, don't watch it. Falcons all over the Bucs in Tampa.


Green Bay 28 Arizona 27
This is going to be one fun game and is a potential wold card preview. Even though the Pack have nothign to play for, the Cardinals may see their chances at a first round bye disappear with a Vikings win and have nothing to play for likewise. It may be a battle of Matts (Flynn vs. Leinart) in this one, give the LSU boy the benefit of a doubt here.


Dallas 20 Philadelphia 19
Put the teams on paper, the Eagles SHOULD win. Look at history, the Eagles SHOULD win. But I'm picking Dallas. Why? To be honest, I don't have a real, factual, concrete reason. I'm going with my gut here and my gut tells me Dallas will be the 2009 NFC East champions. This is going against recent Cowboys history, but there is something different with this 2009 squad, there looks to be this sort of hunger that I haven't seen before, this determination that began to show through against San Diego and has carried over the past three weeks. If this game was last week, Dallas would have won hands down. The momentmum carries forward, and the home crowd helps out. Cowboys win the NFC East.


San Diego 21 Washington 10
Starters or no starters, the Chargers are an excellant football team and the only AFC squad seriously capable of challenging the Colts supremacy. Let's hope for that AFC Championship. For now, San Diego easily defeats the Redskins and finally puts Jim Zorn out of his misery.


Denver 30 Kansas City 7
Getting up the play the Chiefs without Brandon Marshall won't be too much of a problem. The Broncos biggest worry, however, should be whether they can get the help necessary to make the playoffs. The Broncos, like the Giants, have been an incredible second half disappointment. They win this game, but lose the battle.


Baltimore 27 Oakland 0
You keep hearing, well the Raiders have upset the Eagles and Bengals in Oakland, why not the Ravens? Because the Ravens are a poised football team that craves these situations. Baltimore breezes through Oakland and clinches a wild card spot for the second consecutive year.


Tennessee 31 Seattle 7
Not so meaningless, as people want to see Chris Johnson run wild and break Eric Dickerson's rushing record. Will Johnson break it? No. Will he get 2,000 yards? Yes, and the Titans easily manhandle a lost Seahawk team.


NY Jets 28 Cincinnati 17
Looking for an epic battle? Don't bother, I see the Bengals pulling starters and effectively giving the Jets the easy route to the playoffs after last week's "easy" win past the Colts. New York's "other" team closes out Giants Stadium the right way, and wouldn't you know it, the Jets, not the Giants, go to the playoffs.


Games to watch this Sunday
1:00 CBS- Pittsburgh at Miami
1:00 FOX- NY Giants at Minnesota
4:00 CBS- Baltimore at Oakland
4:00 FOX- Philadelphia at Dallas
8:20 NBC- Cincinnati at NY Jets


Finally, here is what the playoffs will look like if my predictions for this week are correct....


AFC Playoffs
(1) Indianapolis BYE
(2) San Diego BYE
(6) Baltimore at (5) New England
(5) NY Jets at (4) Cincinnati

NFC Playoffs
(1) New Orleans BYE
(2) Minnesota BYE
(6) Philadelphia at (3) Dallas
(5) Green Bay at (4) Arizona

Don't three of these four matchups look eerily similar? Haven't seen THOSE before.