NFL Week 17 Picks: AFC Wild Card Contenders That Will Fall Flat

Despite the handful of AFC Wild Card contenders still alive heading into the final week of the NFL season, only one can and will survive to make the playoffs.

The Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens have already clinched a Wild Card berth at worst, and that means that the New York Jets, Cincinnati Bengals, Tennessee Titans and Oakland Raiders are all pushing for the final postseason spot in the AFC.

Each must win, but some will need additional help to make the cut.

Here are the three that will eliminate themselves with losing efforts in Week 17.

Tennessee Titans

The Titans are on the road to take on division rival Houston, who has already locked up the AFC South and a home playoff game this January. 

Tennessee was absolutely blasted by the Texans at home back in Week 7, 41-7. Although Chris Johnson was still trying to find himself at that time, it's nearly impossible to see Tennessee topping a top five defense on the road in Week 17, especially one coming off a bitter loss at Indianapolis.

Cincinnati Bengals

The Bengals, like every other team in the league, are facing a division rival in Week 17. They will be hosting the Baltimore Ravens with a shot at wrapping up a Wild Card berth.

Cincinnati came up seven points short at Baltimore in Week 11, falling 31-24 to the Ravens, who are 5-0 in the AFC North this season.

But just like Houston, Baltimore boasts a top five defense, which has shut down the run all season long while making opposing quarterbacks and wide receivers pay with turnovers and punishing hits. 

With a first-round bye and home-field advantage on the line for the Ravens, Ray Lewis and company will be too much for Andy Dalton's crew in Ohio.

Oakland Raiders

The Raiders will play host to rival San Diego in Week 17, whom they defeated 24-17 in Week 10. The Chargers looked unstoppable before their brutal loss in Detroit on Christmas Eve.

San Diego was still alive in the AFC before last week's loss, but they can still end Oakland's season with a road win in the Black Hole.

Oakland needed overtime against the Chiefs last week to stay alive for the postseason, and before that game they had lost three straight.

The Chargers are the better team right now, and that will show on New Year's Day in Oakland. The result of the Raiders' loss will be a Denver Broncos playoff berth as AFC West champions, as well as the Jets crashing the postseason party as the sixth seed in the AFC at 9-7.