NFL Week 17 Picks: Looking at Heavy Favorites That Will Stomp Opposition

Heading into the playoffs with momentum is an underrated facet of a team's success in January. 

These three clubs will build more confidence in their season finale with a blowout victory. 

San Francisco 49ers 

The 49ers are winners of two consecutive games, and their defense is back to full strength with Patrick Willis in the lineup. 

This week, they face the lowly St. Louis Rams, a team that's averaged less than 12 points per game this season. 

Beat down? 

Looks like it. 

While the 49ers don't boast the most potent and dangerous offense, there's no way the Rams can move the ball and score enough against San Fran's elite defense. 

It is that simple. 

Expect the 49ers to win by two touchdowns or more.  

Atlanta Falcons 

Yes, they were spanked by the New Orleans Saints last week, but don't let that fool you completely. The Falcons are still a solid team. 

Drew Brees is just that good. 

When they give Michael Turner close to 20 carries, they have one of the most balanced teams in the league. 

The Falcons offense should flourish against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a club that's disastrously lost their last nine games. 

Opposing signal-callers have averaged a 97.1 QB rating against the Bucs this season. 

Do you think Matt Ryan, who's thrown 13 touchdowns to only two interceptions over his last six contests, will have a monster game? 

I do. 

Pittsburgh Steelers 

It doesn't matter if Ben Roethlisberger starts or not. The Steelers are simply superior to the Cleveland Browns. 

Pittsburgh's defense will have no issue slowing down the league's 29th-ranked offense. 

Seneca Wallace is certainly more mobile than Colt McCoy, but he won't be able to elude the rush and make plays all afternoon. 

The Browns defense isn't necessarily stout, either. 

Expect Rashard Mendenhall to have another productive afternoon against Cleveland's 30th-ranked run defense that allows nearly 150 yards on the ground per game.