NFL Week 17 Predictions

Srikar Kalapala 

Tennessee Titans vs. Dallas Cowboys

Cowboys. After the Titans lost Ryan Tannehill for the year, this matchup becomes very hard for the Titans. Expect a furious pass rush from the Cowboys defense, as the Cowboys cruise to a win.

Baltimore Ravens vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

Ravens. The Ravens take on their rivals this week, as they look to still contend for their division and solidify a playoff spot. The Steelers have been a very gritty team this year, but I expect the Ravens to win this game in a close one.

Atlanta Falcons vs. Arizona Cardinals

Falcons. With Kyler’s ACL tear, this game might be a slugfest. This one might be Desmond Ridder vs. Colt McCoy, which would be a hard matchup to watch. I like the Falcons in this one because of their running game, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the Cardinals win.

New England Patriots vs. Miami Dolphins

Dolphins. Both teams are vying for a playoff spot, but the Dolphins have looked much better this year. The offense has been very good this year with the addition of Hill and Tua has also looked much better. Although the Pats’ defense has been good this year, I really like the all-roundedness of the Dolphins.

Philadelphia Eagles vs. New Orleans Saints

Eagles. The Eagles will look to beat this Saints team this week in order to raise their chances of winning the #1 seed, and they might have to do it with Gardner Minshew at quarterback. I like the Eagles chances despite the quarterback change, as they might look to rest their starters next week.

New York Giants vs. Indianapolis Colts

Giants. The Giants have playoff hopes here and the Colts don’t. The Giants have been on a little bit of a Cinderella story this year, and a playoff spot would make it that much sweeter. The Colts don’t have that much to play for this year, so I like the Giants in this spot.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Carolina Panthers

Bucs. The Panthers still have a chance to win their division, and they face the division leader in the Bucs. The Bucs got blown out by the Panthers last time, but this Panthers team has been very inconsistent, so I’ll take the home team in this one. 

Kansas City Chiefs vs. Denver Broncos

Chiefs. This game was played a couple of weeks ago and it was surprisingly a pretty close game. I don’t expect that to repeat this week, as the Chiefs are looking for the #1 seed in a tight AFC. 

Detroit Lions vs. Chicago Bears

Lions. The Lions will look to win this game to keep their playoff chances alive, and the Bears are looking toward the draft at this point. I like the Lions’ offense to win a shootout in this one.

Washington Commanders vs. Cleveland Browns

Commanders. The Commanders need to win this game to keep their playoff hopes alive, and they catch the Browns who feature a quarterback that has been struggling. I like Washington’s front seven, and I think Taylor Heinicke will lead his team to a win to set up a showdown with the Cowboys next week.

Houston Texans vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

Jaguars. With the Tannehill injury, the Jaguars are in a prime position to steal the division from the Titans, but they must beat their rival Texans. The funny thing is, the one win that the Texans have is from beating the Jags early in the season, so this might actually be a good game. Trevor Lawrence has started to look good, so I’ll go with the Jaguars in this one.

Las Vegas Raiders vs. San Francisco 49ers

49ers. The Niners look like one of the best teams in football right now despite their injury woes at QB, and now they face the Raiders. The Niners’ defense is insane, and they will look to clamp up on the Raiders’ offense which hasn’t been the best. I like Brock Purdy to get another win here as the Niners prep for the playoffs.

Seattle Seahawks vs. New York Jets

Seahawks. This is a tough game to pick. Both teams shocked the country with hot starts to the season, but both teams cooled down in the second half of the season. The Seahawks host this one, so perhaps the 12th man will come into play.

Green Bay Packers vs. Minnesota Vikings

Packers. Please? The Packers lost to the Vikings in week one by double-digits, but a win here for the Packers would mean so much. The Vikings already won the division, so perhaps they have an off game and the Packers win this one at home.

Los Angeles Chargers vs. Los Angeles Rams

Chargers. This is a home game for both teams, except Rams fans will likely show up in bigger numbers. I like Justin Herbert and the Chargers to beat their neighbors in a blowout and solidify their playoff spot in the AFC.

Cincinnati Bengals vs. Buffalo Bills 

Bengals. I like the Bengals in an upset in this one. This game makes a huge difference in the playoff seeding, as well as the hunt for the #1 seed in the AFC. The Bills could have another statement win in this game, and it honestly might happen, but give me Joe Brrr, Ja’Marr Chase, and this Bengals defense to show up and show out at home.