On Thursday night in Chicago, the woeful Bears (4-11 and losers of nine straight games) host the Seattle Seahawks (8-7), who have been struggling and are fighting for their playoff lives heading into that game. On Saturday, three more games as the Los Angeles Chargers (9-6) face the New England Patriots (3-12) in Massachusetts while the Arizona Cardinals (7-8) face the surging Los Angeles Rams (9-6) in California. In between those two games is a huge one between the Denver Broncos (9-6) and the home team Cincinnati Bengals (7-8), who with a win would be just one game behind Denver for the final AFC playoff spot with one game left to play.
Sunday will feature nine games, including the Sunday night game between the Atlanta Falcons (8-7) and the host Washington Commanders (10-5) and of course, the final Monday Night Football game this season in San Francisco between the 49ers (6-9) and the Detroit Lions (13-2) in what many thought would have huge playoff implications for both teams. The 49ers are out of it this year, but the Lions need this win to stay atop the NFC pile for home field advantage.
The following Heftyinfo capsule style previews for all 16 games follows up along with the picks for all the games in Week Seventeen.
Christmas Day Games
Kansas City (14-1) at Pittsburgh (10-5) - Steelers need this game to stay atop the AFC North division while the Chiefs could clinch "home field advantage" throughout the AFC playoffs with a win. Toss up game for sure.
Baltimore (10-5) at Houston (9-6) - Another big game for the visiting Ravens as they hope to take over first place from Pittsburgh in the AFC North division. The Texans are already in the playoffs after winning the AFC South crown.
Thursday Night Game
Seattle (8-7) at Chicago (4-11) - The Seahawks need this game to stay alive in the NFC playoff chase. Meanwhile, if the Bears (losers on nine in a row) are going to get a win in their final two games this season, this would be it.
Saturday Games
Los Angeles Chargers (9-6) at New England (3-12) - Chargers should get the win, but the Patriots will battle them.
Denver (9-6) at Cincinnati (7-8) - It's simple here . . . If the Broncos win, they are in the playoffs and the Bengals are out. If Cincy gets the win, they would own the tie breaker over the Broncos for the final AFC wild card playoff spot. Toss up game.
Arizona (7-8) at Los Angeles Rams (9-6) - The Rams are rolling and should wrap up the NFC West division with a win in this one.
Sunday Games
New York Jets (4-11) at Buffalo (12-3) - The Bills struggled last week to beat New England and that should be a wake up call for them in this game. The Jets are awful.
Indianapolis (7-8) at New York Giants (2-13) - The Colts are the visitors and need this one to keep that flicker of playoff hopes alive. Giants have lost ten straight games.
Tennessee (3-12) at Jacksonville (3-12) - Who cares?
Las Vegas (3-12) at New Orleans (5-10) - See above comment.
Green Bay (11-4) at Minnesota (13-2) - The Packers could still finish in second place in the rugged NFC North division and this game would be huge for them to win. Vikings are battling the Detroit Lions for the division title. Toss up here.
Carolina (4-11) at Tampa Bay (8-7) - Buccaneers hosting a Carolina team that could play spoiler yet again this week. Beware!
Miami (7-8) at Cleveland (3-12) - Dolphins should get the win here, but the Browns and their tough defense will not just roll over in this game.
Dallas (7-8) at Philadelphia (12-3) - Cowboys showed some spunk last week with a win over Tampa Bay while the Eagles must rebound after blowing a big lead on the road at Washington. Take the Eagles.
Atlanta (8-7) at Washington (10-5) - Falcons finally got a win last week and control their own destiny in the playoff hunt. However, the Commanders will likely put the Falcons back in uncertainty in this one.
Monday Night Football Game
Detroit (13-2) at San Francisco (6-9) - The Lions roar yet again.
The Heftyinfo picks for Week Seventeen . . . . . . . . . . . . . (Home teams are listed in bold; Lock of the Week is listed in BOLD CAPS)
Pittsburgh over Kansas City
Baltimore over Houston
Chicago over Seattle
L.A. Chargers over New England
Cincinnati over Denver
L.A. Rams over Arizona
Buffalo over N.Y. Jets
Indianapolis over N.Y. Giants
Jacksonville over Tennessee
New Orleans over Las Vegas
Green Bay over Minnesota
Tampa Bay over Carolina
Miami over Cleveland
PHILADELPHIA over Dallas
Washington over Atlanta
Detroit over San Francisco
Last Week's Record - 14-2
SEASON RECORD - 165-75
Lock of the Week Record - 13-3
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