NFL Week 17 is always a fascinating handicap with playoff spots up for grabs, teams jockeying for seeding and home field advantage. While others playing for no other reason other than they are required to. Below we give an early NFL week 17 primer on every game and its implications.
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Tennessee at Houston – Even with last week’s loss, the Titans have the best chance (59%) of grabbing the final playoff spot in the AFC. First, they need to beat Houston, who has already clinched the AFC South. Houston meanwhile appears headed for the fourth seed unless they win and the Chiefs lose to the Chargers.
Cleveland at Cincinnati – This actually has an angle to consider even if there are no playoff spots at stake. By losing the Dolphins last week, the Bengals clinched the no. 1 pick in the draft meaning they are (in theory) free to give a game effort against rival Cleveland. The Browns won and covered three weeks ago, 27-19.
Chicago at Minnesota – The Vikings are still live to win the NFC North — something that can be accomplished by beating Green Bay on Monday night and the Bears in Week 17. If not, they’ll enter as a Wild Card team.
Indianapolis at Jacksonville – Depending on the outcome, the Colts have the potential to impact other teams but both squads obviously eliminated.
Atlanta at Tampa Bay – Nothing at stake. The Bucs dominated the first meeting, 35-22.
Washington at Dallas – With Sunday’s loss to Philadelphia, the Cowboys need to beat the Redskins and have the Eagles lose to the Giants.
New Orleans at Carolina – The Saints are in though still could finish anywhere from no. 1 to no. 3.
Pittsburgh at Baltimore – The Ravens have the AFC’s no. 1 seed locked up so literally nothing to play for. The Steelers need to win and have Tennessee lose to Houston.
NY Jets at Buffalo – Buffalo’s locked up the AFC’s no. 5 seed. These two teams meet all that way back in Week 1 with the Bills winning 17-16 in New York.
Miami at New England – The Patriots need to win in order to ensure a first round bye. Miami meanwhile won’t get the first pick in the draft but last week’s win over Cincinnati clinched no worse than a .500 record against the spread!
Green Bay at Detroit – Packers are in good position to earn the no. 3 seed. All they need is at least one win over Minnesota or Detroit.
LA Chargers at Kansas City – Chiefs in with seeding ranging anywhere from no. 2 to no. 4 with no. 3 being the most likely. Amazingly, if the Chargers lose, they’ll have gone winless in a division that produced only one winning record.
Arizona at LA Rams – Interesting to see who shows up with both teams coming in off of last week’s “Super Bowls.” Arizona dismantled Seattle on the road and Los Angeles saw its playoff hopes disappear after losing on a last second field goal at San Francisco.
San Francisco at Seattle – Despite being 12-3, a loss here could drop the 49ers down to a wild card spot. The no-show loss to the Cardinals actually didn’t mean that much to the Seahawks; they can still clinch the NFC West with a win. They are however not assured of home field advantage which a loss to Arizona aside, means a lot. Note the early week line move with this game lined a pick ’em on the look-aheads but San Francisco now -3 with juice and headed towards -3.5.
Oakland at Denver – Only the Raiders could still technically be alive in Week 17 at 7-8. Note that the litany of things that need to occur will be decided before kickoff (1:30 pm PT).