NFL Picks Week 17: Predicting Games That Will Determine Playoff Participants

This is going to be one of the wildest Week 17's in NFL history. A couple of key losses is going to turn the playoff picture upside down and inside out.

It will be a fitting end to a regular season that almost didn't start on time due to a nonsensical lockout. 

Anyway, here's how it is all going to shake out. 

Dallas Cowboys at New York Giants

The NFC is the easy side. The only playoff spot to be determined is the NFC East, and that will be the winner of this game or the Giants if is a tie.

A tie is not going to come into play. The Giants will win this one. Since these two last met, Dallas has lost their running game. Felix Jones is unable to handle being a lead back, he is battered and will not be able to carry the load. 

That means Tony Romo is going to be asked to do more, and he is dealing with a bruised hand. Meanwhile, there is absolutely zero reason to think that the Cowboys—who have been their own worst enemy all season—will do anything but let themselves down when their season is on the line. 

Prediction: Giants 27, Cowboys 20

Kansas City Chiefs at Denver Broncos

It has been a wild roller-coaster season for the Broncos, and that ride is about to complete a loop-d-loop. Kyle Orton almost led the Broncos to their demise in the first part of their season, and he is going to finish the job in Week 17 as a member of the Chiefs. 

The Broncos defense has been getting torched. They've surrendered at least 32 points in three of four games, and Tim Tebow has seemingly run dry on mind boggling comeback efforts. Denver will fall. Orton will have his redemption, and with the outcome of the next game, the Broncos will be out of the playoffs. 

Prediction: Chiefs 20, Broncos 10

San Diego Chargers at Oakland Raiders

The Raiders have beaten the Chargers three-straight times because they have punched them in the mouth and then run over them. 

Now that Oakland is about to play their most important game in close to a decade and the Chargers are about to play one of their most meaningless games, that is only going to be amplified. 

The Raiders will bully their way to victory—and Norv Turner's path to the unemployment line. 

Prediction:  Raiders 31, Chargers 17

Baltimore Ravens at Cincinnati Bengals

All the Bengals have to do is win to get into the playoffs. Unfortunately for them, a Ravens team that needs a win to secure the AFC North stands in their way. 

This Baltimore defense is going to be fired up. They will be playing fast and hard against a young Bengals offense that has key rookies in Andy Dalton and AJ Green who have already run into the rookie wall. 

The Ravens' defense will not let Baltimore lose. 

Prediction: Ravens 23, Bengals 10

New York Jets at Miami Dolphins

This proud Jets team is going to be fighting for their playoff lives, and this resilient group will not go down without a win. 

New York beat Miami 24-6 earlier in the season and while Miami has been playing better as of late, they will fold as the Jets impose their will and the Dolphins will getting ready for the offseason and wondering who their next coach will be. 

Unfortunately, this won't be enough to get the Jets into the playoffs. 

Prediction: Jets 20, Dolphins 12

Tennessee Titans at Houston Texans

If all of the above happens, the Titans will get in with a win against the Texans. Houston dismantled Tennessee earlier in the season, but that was a healthy Texans team. 

This squad is anything but healthy, and they are limping to the playoffs. The Texans have nothing to gain in this game except some sort of offensive semblance. 

This team already knows how to run the ball. The most they can gain is by getting TJ Yates some rhythm in the passing game. That means more work for Yates than for Arian Foster, and that means a win for the Texans. 

Prediction:  Titans 17, Texans 10