NFL Picks Week 17: One Important Storyline in Each Game

Week 17 has finally arrived and that means the NFL regular season is one game from over. For some teams, the final week means the last chance to clinch a playoff spot, for others it is a chance to rest players before the postseason.

For the rest, it's an opportunity to play spoiler, end the season on the good note and try again next year.

Ahead are Week 17 storylines and winner predictions.

Detroit Lions @ Green Bay Packers

How much do the Green Bay starters play, if at all?

The Packers have the No. 1 seed in the NFC wrapped up to go along with home-field advantage. The Detroit Lions, on the other hand, could clinch the No. 5 seed with a victory Sunday.  Should the Lions win, it will be their first win against the Packers at Lambeau in 20 years.

Will the Packer starters play? If so, how much? If not, will the Lions be able to pull of a victory?

I say no. The Packer backups, led by quarterback Matt Flynn, will shine and keep the streak alive.

Winner: Green Bay

Tennessee Titans @ Houston Texans

Will the Titans do their part to keep playoff hopes alive?

In order for the Tennessee Titans to make the playoffs, a lot of things have to go right. However, one of those things is definitely defeating the Texans on Sunday.

Already in the playoffs, though, the Texans will not be giving up an easy victory. Having lost the last two games, Houston could use a win to boost momentum for the postseason.

Not to mention, the last thing the Texans want to do is hand over an easy victory to the Titans, because if Tennessee does make the playoffs, the two teams will face off in the first round.

The Titans pull off the win over the struggling Texans to keep playoff hopes alive.

Winner: Tennessee

Indianapolis Colts @ Jacksonville Jaguars

Will the Colts maintain control of the first overall pick?

In a meaningless game that absolutely does not matter to this NFL season, the Colts still have something to lose. Should Indianapolis beat the Jaguars on Sunday, then they risk losing possession of the No. 1 overall pick in the 2012 NFL draft to the St. Louis Rams.

The question of the year has been whether or not the Colts will take Andrew Luck and keep him despite having quarterback Peyton Manning. Should the Colts lose the first pick, this question will never be answered.

The Jaguars, on the other hand, really have nothing to lose, but since they're playing at home, sending out their current owners, boasting the league's leading rusher and the Colts may try to lose, give Jacksonville the edge.

Winner: Jacksonville

New York Jets @ Miami Dolphins

Did Rex Ryan's mouth write checks that the team can't cash?

Like nothing new, Rex Ryan guaranteed before the season began that this year's Jets team would win the Super Bowl.

As of right now, the Jets head to Miami with hopes to keep their playoff chances alive. If the Jets cannot beat Miami, they can kiss not only their Super Bowl appearance goodbye, but their playoff appearance as well.

The Dolphins are playing at home with nothing to lose. This will not end well for the Jets.

Winner: Dolphins

Chicago Bears @ Minnesota Vikings

Can the Bears win ONE game without Cutler?

In another game that doesn't matter, this divisional matchup between the Bears and Vikings will be strictly for pride. Officially ending any kind of playoff chances last week against Green Bay, the Bears are now in the same postseason boat as the Vikings, and that is not going.

Although Chicago's playoff hopes technically just died, having not won a game since losing quarterback Jay Cutler, they really died as soon as he was injured. 

No Cutler and no Forte has equaled no wins for Chicago, but can they change that this week against Minnesota?

Losing running back Adrian Peterson last week, the Vikings lost three-fourths of their offense, therefore Chicago may be able to pull this off.

Winner: Chicago

Buffalo Bills @ New England Patriots

Will the Patriots clinch home-field advantage?

Having already secured their AFC No. 1 seed, a win against the Bills at home on Sunday will give the Patriots home-field advantage come playoffs.

The odds of the Patriots beating the Bills are pretty good, as the depleted Bills have really struggled in the second half of the season and also have not beaten the Patriots at home in ten matchups between the two.

Winner: New England

Carolina Panthers @ New Orleans Saints

Will Cam Newton end the season on a high note?

The storyline for this game would be the battle of the record setters, if Saints quarterback Drew Brees was expected to play in this game, but in all likelihood he will see little to no playing time come Sunday.

Having secured the NFC's No. 3 seed, the Saints would need a win, and for the Rams to upset the 49ers, in order to improve their playoff standings.  Chances are New Orleans will choose to rest their starters instead of relying on the possibility of this happening.

With that said, it will set up a perfect scenario for Panthers' quarterback Cam Newton to finish the season with a big win over the Saints in New Orleans, starters or not.

No Brees? The rookie gets it done.

Winner: Carolina

Washington Redskins @ Philadelphia Eagles

Who will finish with a win?

In another game that doesn't matter, the Redskins and Eagles will battle it out to decide which team can finish the season with one more victory.

Coming into 2012 with high expectations and great offseason acquisitions, the Eagles certainly did not live up to the hype. In fact, they didn't even come close.

Philadelphia probably needs this win more than Washington and is playing at home, so the Eagles should come out victorious.

Winner: Philadelphia

San Francisco 49ers @ St. Louis Rams

Can the 49ers clinch a first-round bye?

Heading into St. Louis on Sunday, the 49ers need a win over the 2-13 Rams in order to earn a playoff bye to go along with their No. 2 seed.

The Rams have been terrible all year, quarterback Sam Bradford is questionable and they will have no answer for the San Fran's defense, therefore this win should be no problem for the 49ers.

Winner: San Francisco

Seattle Seahawks @ Arizona Cardinals

Who will be the winner of the losers?

When the 7-8 Seahawks take on the 7-8 Cardinals on Sunday, a second-place finish in the NFC West will be up for grabs. Unfortunately for both teams, no matter the outcome, neither one will see the playoffs.

Heading into last week, both Seattle and Arizona had very outside chances of gaining a playoff spot, however those dreams were squashed when neither could manage a win.

Having won four of their last five, including three in a row at home, look for the Cardinals to pull of one final win in Arizona for their fans this season.

Winner: Arizona

Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Atlanta Falcons

Can the Buccaneers avoid losing 10 straight?

The Atlanta Falcons have already clinched an NFC Wild Card spot and will likely use Sunday's game against Tampa Bay as a tune-up before the postseason begins.

The Bucs, on the other hand, will be looking to snap a nine-game losing streak and finish the season on a victory. Having higher than normal, but not unreasonable, expectations coming into this season, Tampa Bay has certainly disappointed.

Winner: Atlanta

Baltimore Ravens @ Cincinnati Bengals

Both teams playing with something to lose

On Sunday, when the Ravens travel to Cincinnati to take on the Bengals, this AFC North battle will be one of the games to keep an eye on.

While the Ravens are 11-4 and have already clinched their playoff berth, a win would secure the AFC North title for them and give them home-field advantage for at least one playoff game. 

The Bengals, though, are on a mission of their own, playing for a chance to be a part of the postseason.

Though undefeated at home, the Ravens have not done great on the road this season and the Bengals inevitably have more to lose. Don't be surprised to see the rookie tandem of Dalton and Green connect multiple times to lead their team to a big win.

Winner: Cincinnati

Pittsburgh Steelers @ Cleveland Browns

How healthy is Ben Roethlisberger and will he play?

A win against the Browns on Saturday could potentially give the Steelers a first-round bye heading into playoffs, and an extra week for quarterback Ben Roethlisberger to heal from a high-ankle sprain.

However, Roethlisberger has plans to go this week, fully healthy or not, in hopes to help his team's chances of getting the bye. 

Regardless of what the quarterback says, the bye does not solely lie on a win for Pittsburgh, therefore coach Mike Tomlin may not have the same plans for Roethlisberger as he does for himself.

With Ben Roethlisberger, the Steelers win the game. Without, they may still be able to.

Winner: Pittsburgh

Kansas City Chiefs @ Denver Broncos

Can Kyle Orton keep the Denver Broncos out of the playoffs?

With a win on Sunday, the Denver Broncos will win the AFC West and advance to the playoffs. The Chiefs no longer have any playoff hopes, however quarterback Kyle Orton does have something to prove.

Beginning this season as the starter for the Broncos, Orton lead the team to a 1-4 record before being replaced by Tim Tebow. While watching Tebow rise to hero status and lead the team back to playoff contention, Orton was released before being picked up by the Chiefs.

On Sunday, Orton will have the opportunity to play a part in the Broncos potentially missing the playoffs. Should the Chiefs win and Oakland lose, Denver will not get in.

This will be no easy win for the Chiefs on Denver's home field and Denver's defense will play the biggest part.

Winner: Denver

San Diego Chargers @ Oakland Raiders

Can the Chargers snap the Raiders' playoff hopes?

With no chance of their own to make the playoffs, the Chargers only consolation would be knocking divisional rival Raiders out, too.

The Raiders face a number of other conditions that will determine whether or not they make the playoffs, but a win over the Chargers is a must in order for any of those to happen.

With nothing to lose, the underachieving Chargers will be motivated to beat up their rivals and finish the season with a win, ending the Raiders' playoff hopes.

Winner: San Diego

Dallas Cowboys @ New York Giants

Who will take home the NFC East title and make the playoffs? Is Tony Romo good to go?

The Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants are both 8-7 and facing a potential season-ender on Sunday night. The winner of the matchup will receive the No. 4 seed in the playoffs, and the loser will have to wait until next season for a chance at the postseason.

The biggest question lies with Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo and how well he will be able to throw the football with the bruised right hand he sustained during last week's game against the Eagles. There is still an outside chance that Romo won't be able to go.

Playing at home and with a healthy quarterback, the edge has to go to New York.

Winner: New York