The NFL’s regular season concludes this week – the league tries to keep those with intertwined playoff ramifications in the same kickoff window with one flex to primetime.
Here’s a quick look at all the Week 17 matchups – all are interdivisional — with Sports Interaction’s NFL odds.
Miami Dolphins at Buffalo Bills
Miami had perhaps the most unlikely victory of this season Saturday, 26-25 in Las Vegas. Tua Tagovailoa was pulled for Ryan Fitzpatrick, who led the miracle victory, but Coach Brian Flores says Tua remains his starter. The Fins are an AFC Wild-Card team with a victory and still could get in with a loss depending on what happens in a few other games. It’s a short week for the Bills after visiting New England on Monday night. Buffalo has clinched the AFC East and could rest numerous guys here depending. Buffalo beat Miami 31-28 in Week 2 behind 417 yards passing and four TDs from Josh Allen.
Point spread: Bills -1.5 (may change after Monday)
Pick ATS: Miami
Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears
The Packers are the NFC’s top overall seed with a victory and still could get it with a loss and Seattle loss to San Francisco. Chicago is a Wild-Card team with a win and still could be with a loss and the right result in Cardinals-Rams. Green Bay easily handled Chicago 41-25 in Week 12 behind four TD passes from Aaron Rodgers. The Bears were down 41-10 entering the fourth.
Pick ATS: Green Bay
Baltimore Ravens at Cincinnati Bengals
The Ravens are playing their best football of the season on a four-game winning streak and would be a Wild-Card team with a victory. The Ravens also would get in if the Browns or Colts lose. The Bengals are playing out the string and frankly could benefit by losing from a draft position perspective. Baltimore routed Cincinnati 27-3 in Week 5 in a rough game for then-healthy Bengals rookie QB Joe Burrow.
Pick ATS: Baltimore
Pittsburgh Steelers at Cleveland Browns
It will be an interesting call by Steelers coach Mike Tomlin this week. His team is the AFC North champion and Tomlin could opt to rest his guys for the Wild-Card Round or play them all and hope to eliminate the rival Browns from playoff contention. Cleveland would be in with a win even after a bad loss at the Jets on Sunday. The Browns’ roster was severely short-handed due to COVID protocols. Pittsburgh blew out Cleveland 38-7 in Week 6 as Baker Mayfield was held to 119 yards passing and picked off twice.
Point spread: Browns -6.5
Pick ATS: Cleveland
Minnesota Vikings at Detroit Lions
Nothing to see here as both teams are eliminated from playoff contention. Could it be the final game as a member of the Lions for quarterback Matthew Stafford? That’s if he even plays. The former No. 1 overall pick sprained his ankle in Week 16 so he probably won’t. Minnesota beat Detroit 34-20 in Week 9 as Dalvin Cook rushed for 206 yards and two scores.
Point spread: TBA on Stafford
Pick ATS: TBA
Jacksonville Jaguars at Indianapolis Colts
The Jaguars don’t have to tank here as they have earned the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. Indy, meanwhile, could finish 11-5 and miss the playoffs. The Colts blew a 17-point second-half lead in losing Sunday in Pittsburgh. Now they need a win here and some help in Week 17. Jacksonville shocked Indianapolis 27-20 in Week 1 for the Jags’ only win this season.
Pick ATS: Jacksonville (alternate line of +14.5)
Los Angeles Chargers at Kansas City Chiefs
Expect Kansas City to rest most of its starters as the Chiefs have clinched the AFC’s top seed so there’s really no reason to risk injury against a Chargers team playing out the string. The Chargers lost 23-20 in overtime to Kansas City in Week 2, a game that L.A. really should have won. It was the first NFL start for Bolts rookie QB Justin Herbert.
Point spread: TBA on Chiefs’ starters
Pick ATS: Los Angeles
New York Jets at New England Patriots
New York lost any shot at Trevor Lawrence with Sunday’s upset win over Cleveland and will now pick second in the 2021 NFL Draft. It’s a short week for playoff-eliminated New England as it hosted Buffalo on Monday night to close Week 16. The Jets played one of their better games of 2020 in Week 9, a 30-27 loss to New England. The Pats were down 27-17 midway through the fourth.
Pick ATS: New York
Dallas Cowboys at New York Giants
The winner of this game will claim the NFC East Division only if Washington loses in Philadelphia on Sunday night. Dallas beat the Giants 37-34 in Week 5 but the season basically ended that day because Cowboys star QB Dak Prescott left with a season-ending injury.
Pick ATS: Dallas
Atlanta Falcons at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Atlanta is playing out the string, while Tampa Bay is a Wild-Card team and could opt to rest starters instead of trying to lock down the No. 5 seed in the NFC. The Bucs could get that even with a loss. These teams just played Week 15 and Tampa Bay rallied from a 17-0 halftime deficit to win 31-27.
Pick ATS: Tampa Bay
New Orleans Saints at Carolina Panthers
The Saints are NFC South champions and still have a shot at the NFC’s top seed but would need a win and some help. The Panthers are playing out the string. New Orleans beat Carolina 27-24 in Week 7 as Drew Brees threw for two scores.
Pick ATS: New Orleans
Tennessee Titans at Houston Texans
The Titans were dominated Sunday night in Green Bay but would still win the AFC South with a victory. Houston star QB Deshaun Watson injured his hand near the end of Sunday’s loss to Cincinnati but plans to play even though this is meaningless for the Texans. Tennessee edged Houston 42-36 in overtime in Week 6. The Titans tied it in the final seconds of regulation then won it on a 5-yard Derrick Henry TD run.
Pick ATS: Houston
Las Vegas Raiders at Denver Broncos
Both teams are eliminated from playoff contention. There had been some rumours the Broncos could fire Coach Vic Fangio, but there were media reports over the weekend he will be back in 2021 – but certainly on an early hot seat. Raiders counterpart Jon Gruden made a very curious late-game decision last Saturday night that cost his team a shocking loss to Miami, which eliminated the Raiders from playoff contention. Las Vegas thumped Denver 37-12 in Week 10. Drew Lock was intercepted four times.
Pick ATS: Denver
Arizona Cardinals at Los Angeles Rams
The winner here is an NFC Wild-Card team. The Cardinals can’t get in with a loss, but the Rams could if Chicago loses to Green Bay. L.A. may not have starting QB Jared Goff, however, due to a dislocated and broken throwing thumb. Los Angeles won in the desert 38-28 in Week 13. The Rams dominated statistically and held the ball for nearly 39 minutes.
Point spread: TBA on Goff
Pick ATS: TBA
Seattle Seahawks at San Francisco 49ers
Game in Arizona as the Niners aren’t allowed to play in California due to COVID-19 restrictions. The Seahawks are NFC West champions and still could earn the conference’s top seed with a win and some help. The Niners are eliminated from playoff contention. Seattle beat San Francisco 37-27 in Week 8. Russell Wilson threw for four scores. It was 30-7 early in the fourth quarter.
Pick ATS: Seattle
Washington Football Team at Philadelphia Eagles
Sunday night game. Washington wins the NFC East with a victory and is out of playoff contention with a loss. QB Alex Smith has missed the past two with a calf injury. If he can’t play here, Coach Ron Rivera has named relative unknown Taylor Heinicke as his starter. The Eagles are playing out the string. Washington beat Philadelphia 27-17 in Week 1. The Eagles turned it over three times and Carson Wentz was sacked eight times.
Pick ATS: Philadelphia
