The drama of the playoff picture as the Week 17 NFL results roll in might peak well before the Colts and Titans play a de facto playoff game Sunday night. The battle for the AFC North between the Steelers and Ravens will steal the day.
Pittsburgh, which hosts Cincinnati, needs a win and a Baltimore loss to Cleveland in order to take the division and thrust itself back into the No. 4 seed in the AFC playoffs. That outcome would have felt more likely in previous years, before the Browns drafted Baker Mayfield and turned themselves into a competitive team.
Also, the AFC West is yet to be decided. A similar scenario is in play for the Chiefs and Chargers as they take on the Raiders and Broncos, respectively.
Here are our NFL picks and predictions for Week 17 of the 2018 season.
MORE NFL PREDICTIONS:
Week 17 NFL picks against the spread
Week 17 NFL picks, predictions
(All times Eastern.)
Miami Dolphins at Buffalo Bills
Sunday, 1 p.m., CBS
Even though Miami lasted as a 2018 playoff hopeful until its elimination in Week 16, these teams feel like they’re trending in opposite directions, particularly at quarterback. The jobs of both coaches this season — Adam Gase in Miami and Sean McDermott in Buffalo — should be applauded for different reasons. But in this one, with the Bills at home and playing with the better defense, take McDermott’s team.
Prediction: Bills, 20-10
Atlanta Falcons at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Sunday, 1 p.m., FOX
Both teams have managed their limitations well down the stretch this season, with Atlanta battling key injuries and Tampa Bay fighting, well, its own bad roster. The idea of Dirk Koetter coaching for his job in Week 17 is silly considering that decision likely has already been made. Dan Quinn, on the other hand, will be ready to recharge for 2019.
Prediction: Falcons, 31-17
Dallas Cowboys at New York Giants
Sunday, 1 p.m., FOX
Dallas is locked into the No. 4 seed in the NFC playoffs, meaning its key starters should be kept away from harm in a meaningless Week 17 game against a rival. Of course, the Giants have played recent, playoff-bound opponents tough enough for one to think they’re capable of upsetting the Cowboys regardless.
Prediction: Giants, 24-21
Carolina Panthers at New Orleans Saints
Sunday, 1 p.m., FOX
Speaking of a team likely resting its starters, New Orleans is locked into the No. 1 seed and home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs. That would be good news for Carolina if the Panthers weren’t eliminated from the postseason and missing a bunch of their own starters for different reasons. Still, they’ll be motivated to win one for Ron Rivera.
Prediction: Panthers, 20-17
New York Jets at New England Patriots
Sunday, 1 p.m., CBS
Bad news for the Jets: The Patriots can still get the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs, and they certainly will be motivated to do so even though the Chiefs, the current No. 1, can clinch with a win over the lowly Raiders. New England will do to New York this week what it did to Buffalo last week.
Prediction: Patriots, 30-10
MORE: Updated NFL playoff picture
Jacksonville Jaguars at Houston Texans
Sunday, 1 p.m., CBS
Even as bad as the Jaguars have been at times this season, the Texans can’t feel good about the fact that they need to beat Jacksonville to win the division. Good thing Houston is at home, where the crowd will help its swarming defense smother the Jags.
Prediction: Texans, 17-13
Detroit Lions at Green Bay Packers
Sunday, 1 p.m., FOX
One might suggest this game is meaningless, but then again, so was last week's Packers game against the Jets, and Aaron Rodgers went off. This one is even less meaningless, if you will, for Green Bay, against a hated rival and at home for the final time in its lost 2018 season.
Prediction: Packers, 35-20
Philadelphia Eagles at Washington Redskins
Sunday, 4:25 p.m., FOX
Motivation won’t be an issue for Washington, which has a chance to spoil the playoff hopes of its division rival. Talent, however, will be an issue. Even with their persistent struggles on defense, the Eagles simply have better players across the board. They also have the more reliable quarterback.
Prediction: Eagles, 27-13
Los Angeles Chargers at Denver Broncos
Sunday, 4:25 p.m., CBS
The Chargers are lucky their slip against the Ravens last week didn’t kill their chances to win the AFC West and, remarkably, jump from the No. 5 seed in the AFC playoffs to the No. 1 seed. That potential, plus the return of some key injured players, should be enough to push LA to a win in Denver.
Prediction: Chargers, 26-19
Oakland Raiders at Kansas City Chiefs
Sunday, 4:25 p.m., CBS
The Chiefs are lucky to draw the Raiders at home in Week 17, giving them yet another chance to finally clinch the division and the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs with a win. The worrisome defensive and running-game issues in Kansas City won’t apply in this game.
Prediction: Chiefs, 37-17
MORE: Updated NFL power rankings
Chicago Bears at Minnesota Vikings
Sunday, 4:25 p.m., FOX
The Bears are playing for playoff seeding, and the Vikings are playing for their playoff lives. The psychology of the situation suggests the home team will find more motivation. Plus, Chicago has struggled offensively over the last few weeks, while Minnesota has re-discovered its groove in the running game.
Prediction: Vikings, 24-20
Cleveland Browns at Baltimore Ravens
Sunday, 4:25 p.m., CBS
The Browns are in a bit of a predicament. They obviously want a victory to close the season with an above-.500 record, but that could propel the hated Steelers into the playoffs as division champions. Regardless of the scenarios, the Ravens defense will present Baker Mayfield his biggest test since, well, the last time these two teams played, in Cleveland in October. The Browns won that game in overtime; they can do it again.
Prediction: Browns, 20-17
San Francisco 49ers at Los Angeles Rams
Sunday, 4:25 p.m., FOX
The carrot that is the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs is no longer in front of the Rams, but they still need to clinch a first-round bye with the Bears lurking. Todd Gurley should be back, but regardless, the Rams know not to take the 49ers lightly with playoff positioning on the line.
Prediction: Rams, 34-20
Cincinnati Bengals at Pittsburgh Steelers
Sunday, 4:25 p.m., CBS
The Steelers, at home in Week 17 against the lowly Bengals with a division title and a playoff spot in play, have no business losing this game. Which, in the NFL, means nothing. (Ask the Ravens what happened to them at home against the Bengals in Week 17 last season.) Pittsburgh is a good team, one that nearly upset the best team in the NFL in the Superdome last week. It can handle this challenge.
Prediction: Steelers, 24-6
Arizona Cardinals at Seattle Seahawks
Sunday, 4:25 p.m., FOX
The Seahawks are not locked into the No. 5 seed in the NFC playoffs — they can still slide back to No. 6 — but they likely would prefer Dallas over Chicago or L.A. as their wild-card round destination. That, in addition to playing at home against a bad team, will push them to a victory.
Prediction: Seahawks, 27-10
Indianapolis Colts at Tennessee Titans
Sunday, 8:20 p.m., NBC
We’re not going to pretend like we know what to expect from either of these teams in a given week. So here’s what we do know: The winner will be in the playoffs, by way of AFC South champion or a wild card. Tennessee, even with a rookie coach, was expected to be here. Indianapolis, with its rookie coach, was not. The Colts can ride that momentum to a shocking playoff berth on the strength of Andrew Luck's resurgence.
Prediction: Colts, 31-30