NFL 2017 Week 17 picks

The season ends with only Sunday afternoon games.  Go out and enjoy your New Years Eve!

Sunday early games
Chicago Bears at Minnesota Vikings:  The Vikings will clinch the number two seed with a win.  They should get that fairly easily.  VIKINGS

Cleveland Browns at Pittsburgh Steelers:  The Steelers are hoping for a Patriots loss to gain home field advantage  The Browns want to avoid a winless season.  I don't think either team will get what they want.  STEELERS

Dallas Cowboys at Philadelphia Eagles:  Well, Jerry Jones has successfully given his best receiver a reason to play poorly, as he has threatened to cut his pay due to two consecutive years of subpar performance.  We can understand his motivation, but Dez Bryant's reaction is completely consistent with his personalty, and Jones should have known how he would react.  Combine all of that with the Eagles stiff defense, and the Cowboys will be lucky to stay close to the Eagles in the first half.  EAGLES

Green Bay Packers at Detroit Lions:  The Lions faltered last week, losing a bid for the playoffs.  That won't stop them from playing hard against the Packers, a team who has frequently beaten them in recent years.  The Lions want to take advantage of the Aaron Rodgers-less Pack; this is a vengeance game.  LIONS

Houston Texans at Indianapolis Colts:  The Texans have had a disappointing year, but they can end the season with a win.  They hope to get some of their injured defenders back, but they can probably win without them, thanks to sketchy and inconsistent play by the Colts' replacement QB.  TEXANS

New York Jets at New England Patriots:  The Patriots gain home field advantage with a win.  That would be enough to inspire a win; playing a hated rival only adds to the incentive.  PATRIOTS

Washington Redskins at New York Giants:  The Eli Apple situation will distract the Giants, while Kirk Cousins continues to battle for respect.  He will seek to post impressive numbers while the Giants defense deals with controversy.  If Cousins doesn't get careless (which he rarely does), this should be a nice offensive showing for the Redskins.  REDSKINS

Sunday late games
Arizona Cardinals at Seattle Seahawks:  The Seahawks still have a shot at the playoffs, but it is more important for them to conclude their season with a home victory.  Normally practically unbeatable at home, they have shown weaknesses.  The Cardinals may attempt to exploit those, but I think the Seahawks will get it together for this game.  SEAHAWKS

Buffalo Bills at Miami Dolphins:  This could be a close game. Both teams are fairly compatible with similar offensive schemes.  Both are fairly successful but not consistent.  The Bills have an outside chance at the playoffs, which may give them a slight edge in intensity level.  BILLS

Carolina Panthers at Atlanta Falcons:  This is another game that could go either way.  The Falcons need a win (or lots of help) to get the sixth playoff spot in the NFC.  That could motivate them to play at 2016 levels, and knock off the Panthers.  FALCONS

Cincinnati Bengals at Baltimore Ravens:  It's simple for the Ravens - win an they're in.  That's enough incentive.  RAVENS

Jacksonville Jaguars at Tennessee Titans:  This is a grudge match.  The Titans really have little playoff hopes, but they'd love to knock off the Jags anyway.  For the Jags' part, they've been a defensive behemoth this season.  Tennessee has struggled against tough defenses, so I have to favor the Jags.  JAGUARS

Kansas City Chiefs at Denver Broncos:  The Broncos will start Paxton Lynch, hoping a new QB will change their fortunes, but the Chiefs have smoothed out their earlier problems, so they should roll.  CHIEFS

New Orleans Saints at Tampa Bay Bucs:  I don't see the Bucs defense stopping the high-powered Saints.  By the start of the game, the Saints will know if they have a chance at a first week bye, but I don't foresee them slacking off on this game.  SAINTS

Oakland Raiders at Los Angeles Chargers:  The Raiders love to play spoilers, but the Chargers have one of the most fearsome defenses in the AFC.  Even if the Raiders force some mistakes by the Chargers offense, the defense will bail them out.  CHARGERS

San Francisco 49ers at Los Angeles Rams:  The Rams will know if they can get a first round bye, but a lack of that chance should not cause them to sit stars.  For the Rams, defeating the 49ers is always a pleasure.  Jimmy Garrapollo has gotten the 49ers moving, winning four games in a row.  The Rams want to end that streak.  RAMS