NFL Week 17 Preview, Picks, and Playoff Scenarios

Week 17 will be full of teams jockeying for playoff positioning while other teams are just trying to get into the postseason.  With three spots still up for grabs in the NFL playoff picture, it all comes down to this week.  The final week of the regular season will have plenty of excitement, so let's start with the team that has been getting all the attention as of late, the Denver Broncos.  

Kansas City Chiefs vs. Denver Broncos

Orton returns to Denver this week as a member of the Kansas City Chiefs to try and spoil the Broncos' playoff hopes.  If the Broncos win, they will claim the AFC West.  If they lose, they can still clinch the division with a loss form the Oakland Raiders.  The Denver Broncos are looking to ride the Tebow Express all the way to the playoffs this year, after starting the year with Orton at quarterback and falling into a 1-4 hole.  Tebow has successfully clawed them out of this hole, but has lost two games in a row. 

The stadium will be electric with Orton back and the Broncos' playoff lives on the line.  Kansas City has a good defense, so it will be important for Tebow to not make mistakes and get back to the error-free football that we had become familiar with watching.  I expect Tebow to rebound in this game and beat the Chiefs at home on Sunday.

Denver (-3)

For more on Tim Tebow, read my article here: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1005387-tebow-time-the-next-chapter-for-the-surprising-broncos-begins-sunday-in-denver

Baltimore Ravens vs. Cincinnati Bengals

This game will have significant meaning for both teams. Although Baltimore is already in the playoffs, they are battling the Steelers for the AFC North.  The winner of the division will have a first-round bye, and possibly home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, should New England lose to Buffalo.  The Ravens are 8-0 at home this season and 3-4 on the road, so the Ravens would love to be in the confines of home throughout January.  

The Bengals, on the other hand, are playing just to get into the playoffs for only the third time since 1991.  If the Bengals win, they are in, claiming the sixth seed in the AFC.  If they lose, they can still get into the playoffs, but will need some help.  They will need the Jets to lose and either the Oakland Raiders or Denver Broncos to lose.

The Bengals are good defensively and will need to have their best game of the year in order to stop Ray Rice.  Cincinnati ranks fifth in the league in rushing yards allowed, giving up 97 yards per game.  In their first matchup this year, Ray Rice ran for 104 yards and two touchdowns, and added five receptions for 43 yards.  

Rookies Andy Dalton and A.J. Green will be pivotal in this game.  If they produce and stay composed then their offense will be a viable threat against the Ravens.  The Bengals only lost by a touchdown in their first meeting, and Green was not playing due to injury.  If they can utilize their wide receivers, A.J. Green and Jerome Simpson, along with mixing in the running game of Cedric Benson then they will keep it close, and have a chance to win this game. 

Cincinnati Bengals (+3)

Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Cleveland Browns

The Pittsburgh Steelers will either claim the AFC North or the fifth wild-card spot on Sunday against the Cleveland Browns.  The Steelers will have to win and hope that the Baltimore Ravens lose in order to clinch the AFC North and receive a first-round bye.  

Pittsburgh will be able to clinch the No. 1 seed in the AFC and home field throughout, if the Ravens and New England Patriots both lose on Sunday.  The Steelers should have Roethlisberger in this game and should handle the Browns easily. 

Pittsburgh Steelers (-7)

Buffalo Bills vs. New England Patriots

The New England Patriots will look to claim the No. 1 overall seed in the AFC with a win at home against the Buffalo Bills.  If the Patriots win they will be assured of home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs.  

Should the Patriots stumble, then, they can still take the No. 1 seed, if the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers both lose as well.  The Buffalo Bills are coming off a blowout win last week and will probably keep it close against the Patriots in Foxboro.   

Buffalo Bills (+10.5) 

San Diego Chargers vs. Oakland Raiders

The Oakland Raiders are fighting for a division title this week when they take on the San Diego Chargers. The division hinges on the outcome of the Denver Broncos game, but even with a win by Denver, the Raiders will have a chance at getting into the playoffs as a wild-card team.  The Raiders will need to win if they want a shot to make it to the postseason.  If they win and Denver loses, then they win the division. If they win, they will need the Cincinnati Bengals to lose and either the Tennessee Titans to lose or the New York Jets to win to claim a wild-card spot.  

The Chargers are playing to try to finish with a .500 record on the season.  They would have had a chance to win the division if they did not lose last week to the Detroit Lions.  The Chargers might be without Ryan Mathews, which would give Oakland an advantage in this game.  If the Raiders can frustrate Phillip Rivers early, then I think he does not play very hard, which would give the Raiders a chance to win this game.

San Diego Chargers (+3) 

Tennessee Titans vs. Houston Texans

The Tennessee Titans will need to beat the Houston Texans if they have any hope of making the playoffs.  The Titans need a lot of help to make the playoffs, but all is not lost.  If they win and the Cincinnati Bengals lose, then they will need the New York Jets to win and the Oakland Raiders or Denver Broncos to lose in order to make the playoffs.  If the Titans win, Bengals lose and Jets lose, then they will need a win from both the Raiders and the Broncos to make the playoffs.  The path to the playoffs is not without a lot of things happenings perfectly, but there is still hope for the Titans.  It all starts with a win against the Texans.  

The Texans have already clinched the AFC South, but they will be playing to build the chemistry of this team.  T.J. Yates has filled in for Matt Schaub and Matt Leinart, so any time spent playing in a game will be a chance for the Texans to mesh and become more cohesive for when the playoffs begin.  Andre Johnson will be back for the Texans as well on Sunday so Yates and Johnson can work on some things.  Both teams will be playing hard in this game, so expect a close one.

Houston Texans (+2)

New York Jets vs. Miami Dolphins

The toughest road to the playoffs will be for the New York Jets.  They are going to need a lot of teams to lose in order to claim the sixth playoff spot.  The Jets will need a win against Miami, the Cincinnati Bengals to lose, the Tennessee Titans to lose and a loss from the Oakland Raiders or Denver Broncos.  A perfect storm is not out of the question, but it will not be easy for them to get in.  Two years ago, it looked as though there was no way for the Jets to make it, and in the final week, everything aligned for them and they got in to the playoffs.

They should take care of business against the Miami Dolphins, but expect Miami to play them hard, as they always do.  The Jets will need to hand the ball off in this game and not let Mark Sanchez throw too much.  Shonn Greene has been very productive as of late, so if they hand the ball to him and let him run, I think they will win this game. 

New York Jets (+3)

Dallas Cowboys vs. New York Giants

This is the premiere matchup of Week 17.  This one can go either way, but I expect a very close game, which is why I am taking the Cowboys who are getting three points.  The loser of this game is in for an extremely long offseason.  

Please read my full preview of this game at this link.

Dallas Cowboys (+3)

San Francisco 49ers vs. St. Louis Rams

The San Francisco 49ers have already clinched the NFC West, but are playing for a first-round bye.  If they win this weekend against the St. Louis Rams, they will claim the last first-round bye.  If the New Orleans Saints lose their matchup against the Carolina Panthers, then the 49ers will also be able to claim the bye.  The 49ers should be able to take care of business in St. Louis, however, against a bad Rams team.

San Francisco 49ers (-10.5) 

Carolina Panthers vs. New Orleans Saints

The New Orleans Saints will try to claim a first-round bye with a win against the Carolina Panthers and a loss from the San Francisco 49ers.  Drew Brees, coming off a record breaking performance last week, will lead the Saints as they attempt to claim a first-round bye.  

They will have a tough time at home against Cam Newton and the Panthers, but the Saints have one of the best home-field advantages in the league and should be able to keep pace with the Panthers.  They will keep an eye on the scoreboard to see how the 49ers fare in St. Louis.  

Carolina Panthers (+8)