NFL Week 17 Picks: Gauging the Least Likely Upset Scenarios

While the 2011 NFL season has proven that anything can happen, there are two games that absolutely won't be upsets in Week 17. The New England Patriots and San Francisco 49ers each face teams they should mop the floor with to end the season. What's more, both teams will, improving their records to 13-3 as they head into the postseason.

The 12-3 Patriots welcome the 6-9 Buffalo Bills to town. Despite the fact that Ryan Fitzpatrick and company put a 40-14 hurtin' on Tim Tebow and the Denver Broncos in Week 16, don't expect much life from them.

After starting the season 5-2 (a stretch which included a 34-31 win over the Patriots), the Bills had dropped seven consecutive games before knocking off the Broncos last weekend. Meanwhile, Tom Brady and the Patriots are currently on a seven-game win streak. If they come away victorious on Sunday, they'll clinch home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs. 

There is simply no way Brady or Bill Belichick will let the Pats drop this game. It is far too important. 

Meanwhile, the 12-3 49ers got a nice gift from the NFL's schedule-makers and will travel to face the 2-13 St. Louis Rams to finish up their season. 

The 49ers have been dominant defensively all season. Against a St. Louis team struggling to find any signs of life offensively, this could get ugly. The Rams rank 30th in the NFL in passing offense (178.0 yards per game) and 23rd in rushing offense (103.7 yards per game). They are also surrendering a league-worst 154.5 rushing yards per game. 

St. Louis has dropped six games in a row and has looked completely lost in doing so. Meanwhile the 49ers continue to grind their competition down, running the ball effectively and playing solid defense. Both trends will continue on Sunday as Jim Harbaugh's squad will move to 13-3.