NFL Picks Week 17: Predicting Who Will Earn Last Three NFL Playoff Berths

The final week of the NFL season will be full of excitement thanks to some intense battles that will determine who earns the final three playoff berths.

The large amount of division games in the final two weeks has created some extremely important matchups between rivals who would love nothing more than to beat their enemy and clinch a playoff berth.

The NFC East division title, the AFC West division title and the final AFC wild-card berth are all up for grabs in Week 17, so let's look at some predictions on who will claim those spots.

NFC East title: New York Giants

The New York Giants square off against the Dallas Cowboys at home on Sunday in a winner-take-all matchup for the NFC East title.

The consequences are quite simple, win and you're into the playoffs, lose and you watch the postseason at home on the couch.

There are a few important stats that could explain why the Giants will win this game. First, the Giants have the No. 4 ranked passing offense with quarterback Eli Manning having a career season.

Manning has been fantastic in the fourth quarters of games this season and has thrown for nearly 600 yards more than his career high for a single season.

The Dallas defense is ranked No. 23 in pass defense and allowed Manning to throw for 400 yards in the two team's previous matchup this season in Week 14, which New York won 37-34.

Manning and the Giants passing offense will carry the team to victory and into the playoffs.

AFC West title: Denver Broncos

The Denver Broncos face the Kansas City Chiefs this week, and a win for the Broncos would give them the AFC West division title.

Quarterback Kyle Orton, who was released by Denver when Tim Tebow became the starter, will face the Broncos as the starting quarterback of the Chiefs.

He will certainly be looking to prove his old team was wrong for cutting him, but the Broncos defense will put in a great effort after two mediocre performances the last two weeks.

Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow is no stranger to big games and won several of them in college, including the 2009 BCS National Championship with Florida when he defeated Oklahoma.

Tebow doesn't succumb to pressure and neither will his Broncos, who will gain confidence when Tebow's calm and relaxed demeanor is felt on Sunday.

6th and Final AFC Wild-Card Berth: Cincinnati Bengals

The Cincinnati Bengals need to beat the Baltimore Ravens, and they become the third team from the AFC North division to make this season's playoffs, and they will be successful in this challenge in Week 17.

The Ravens have had too many mental lapses this season, with all four of their losses coming against teams with losing records. Baltimore went 8-0 at home this season, but on the road, which is where they'll be on Sunday, they are just 3-4.

Even though the Baltimore defense defends the pass so well, the Bengals are the ninth most efficient team against blitzes in all of football.

Rookie quarterback Andy Dalton has exceeded expectations this season and has played like a veteran player who knows what it takes to win in the NFL.

Dalton will lead a talented Bengals team at home on Sunday and get a crucial win that will give the franchise to an unexpected playoff berth.

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