NFL Picks Week 17: Predicting Winners for Every Key Game

Through 16 weeks of play, nine teams have clinched playoff berths. One spot remains in the NFC, which will be settled between the Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants.

The AFC, however, is a bit more open.

The AFC West will be claimed by either the Denver Broncos or Oakland Raiders. The final seed is open to the Cincinnati Bengals, New York Jets, Raiders and Tennessee Titans. Not to mention that only one team (New England) has clinched a first-round bye.

So, here are picks for five key games in Week 17.

Chargers at Raiders

San Diego is playing the spoiler role here. However, even an Oakland win doesn't guarantee the Raiders a playoff spot.

Saving the Raiders would be a Denver or Cincinnati loss, provided Oakland can beat the Chargers. Having already done that this season, Oakland enters this game with much confidence.

The first time around, Oakland ran the ball all over San Diego, and the defense got a significant amount of pressure on QB Philip Rivers. Expect much of the same this time around because, although the Bolts hit a brief late-season surge, it quickly died on the road last week in Detroit.

Oakland, on the contrary, got a big road win over the Chiefs in OT last week and that momentum will continue.

With Oakland's ground game still working well and the passing offense improving because of it, the Chargers will get burned a few times downfield. Oakland's speedy WRs won't take over the game like RB Michael Bush, but Bush will draw up defenders, leaving San Diego's pass defense vulnerable.

When on defense, expect the Raiders to blitz relentlessly. It's how the Broncos were able to slow the Bolts in Week 12 and Oakland did the same in Week 10. Double-teaming WR Vincent Jackson and getting physical with TE Antonio Gates will limit San Diego's pass game.

Oakland also has a big advantage on special teams with punter Shane Lechler and kicker Sebastian Janikowski.

Raiders over Chargers

Ravens at Bengals

In a game that can open or close the door on the AFC playoffs for a lot of teams, the Bengals and Ravens face off in Cincinnati in Week 17.

A Baltimore win would open the door for the Raiders, Jets or Titans to get the AFC's No. 6 seed, while a Cincinnati win would close that door. A Bengals win would open the door for Pittsburgh to win the AFC North as well as earn the AFC's No. 1 seed if the Pats fall to Buffalo.

In their first matchup, the Bengals fell 31-24 in Baltimore, but QB Andy Dalton threw three picks and didn't have WR AJ Green.

This time around, don't expect Dalton to turn the ball over, as that was the difference in Game 1. Also, with Green lined up outside, the Bengals offense can stretch the field, which will then open up the playbook for a better rushing attack.

Not to mention that the Ravens have struggled on the road this season (3-4), and the defense is susceptible to giving up big plays. Cincinnati plays well at home and has a defense capable of shutting down RB Ray Rice and WR Torrey Smith and pressuring Joe Flacco.

Last time, Cincy got more first downs and won the time of possession battle. The thing about Baltimore, though, is that they have stepped up in every big game this season home or away (Pittsburgh twice, San Francisco and Houston).

The Bengals are still a step or two back, as the Ravens' front seven will shut down the ground game and get excellent pressure on Dalton with Green double-teamed.

Ravens over Bengals

Chiefs at Broncos

If Denver wins, they're in, plain and simple.

And the major difference in this game is the pass-rushers.

Kansas City has stud Tamba Hali (arguably the best name since the beginning of time), and the Broncos have the duet of Von Miller and Elvis Dumervil.

Kyle Orton knows the Broncos defense, but during his time with K.C., he hasn't faced a pass rush like Denver's. Tim Tebow can at least buy himself time and also scramble, whereas Orton cannot.

Both teams have solid ground games, but the Broncos are better at defending the run. On the contrary, the Chiefs are excellent at defending the pass, but because of Denver's illegitimate passing game, they will blitz and stack the box to force Tebow to throw.

And as we all know, Tebow can't throw unless there are two minutes left in the game.

Which is why the pass-rushers become so extremely important. If Orton has time, he will pick apart the Broncos' coverage, as his receiving targets are solid. All the Broncos need to do is not turn the ball over, get QB pressure and count on Matt Prater to knock in 50-plus-yard field goals.

With Von Miller and Elvis Dumervil wrecking town all day, it's gonna be a long game for Orton.

Broncos over Chiefs.

Jets at Dolphins

The New York Jets may be 8-7; however, their 2-5 road record puts them in hot water when playing at Miami this week.

The Dolphins were arguably the NFL's worst team through the season's first half, but have since gone 5-3 and are 3-1 at home during the stretch.

The Jets still have a solid pass defense, and that will come into play in trying to stop Miami's solid passing attack. Matt Moore has gotten better as the season has progressed, while WR Brandon Marshall and TE Anthony Fasano act as a good duo.

This game, though, will be won inside the trenches.

New York doesn't have an imposing offense whatsoever, so expect the Dolphins to play a standard look, allowing the front seven to control the gaps while the secondary gets physical with the WRs. And if there's any weakness on Gang Green's defense, it's stopping the run.

Dolphins RB Reggie Bush appears to have become a complete NFL back, having accounted for over 100 rush yards each of the last four games (200 against Buffalo). If Bush gets going, the passing game will open up.

The Jets are sliding, as evidenced by the past two weeks, and Miami is catching them at the right time.

Dolphins over Jets

Cowboys at Giants

It's simple: The winner goes to the playoffs and the loser goes home until the 2012 season kicks off.

This is the exact same situation that the Broncos and Chargers faced at the end of the 2008 season, in which the winner went to the playoffs. Well, the Cowboys and Giants not only are in that same position, but they're also literally exact replicas of one another.

Both have dominant offensive passing games and very weak pass defenses, have been dealing with significant injuries all season long, and have one stud pass-rusher (DeMarcus Ware for Dallas and Jason Pierre-Paul for New York).

The difference, however, lies within the trenches. Dallas is a better rushing team and also better at stopping the run. Big Blue, though, has allowed seven less sacks, so Eli Manning has been protected better than Tony Romo.

Much like their first matchup, this game will come down to which offense is more effective. As we saw last week, the Cowboys were suffocated by Philadelphia's pass rush and the Giants got a great pass rush on Jets QB Mark Sanchez.

Therefore, unless the Cowboys offensive line can protect Romo flawlessly, don't count on Dallas stealing the NFC East in The Big Apple.

Giants over Cowboys

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