NFL Week 17 Picks: Breaking Down Biggest Locks to End Regular Season Victorious

Handicapping the final week of the NFL's regular season is often difficult due to the fact that every team is playing for something different, but there are certainly some enticing options on the board for bettors Sunday.

With playoff spots and seeding very much up for grabs, a number of teams are in must-win situations. On the opposite side of the coin, though, some of the league's worst teams are better off losing in an effort to improve their draft position.

That doesn't mean that teams will purposely throw games in Week 17, but the extenuating circumstances are worth considering.

With just one week remaining before the postseason, here is a look at some of the biggest locks both straight up and against the spread.

*Point spreads courtesy of OddsShark.

Date	Away Team	Home Team	Point Spread	Pick Straight Up	Pick ATS
Sunday, Dec. 28	New Orleans Saints	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	NO (-4)	NO	NO
Sunday, Dec. 28	Jacksonville Jaguars	Houston Texans	HOU (-10.5)	HOU	JAC
Sunday, Dec. 28	Philadelphia Eagles	New York Giants	NYG (-2.5)	NYG	NYG
Sunday, Dec. 28	Buffalo Bills	New England Patriots	NE (-5)	NE	NE
Sunday, Dec. 28	Dallas Cowboys	Washington Redskins	DAL (-5.5)	DAL	WAS
Sunday, Dec. 28	Cleveland Browns	Baltimore Ravens	BAL (-10)	BAL	CLE
Sunday, Dec. 28	Chicago Bears	Minnesota Vikings	MIN (-7)	CHI	CHI
Sunday, Dec. 28	Indianapolis Colts	Tennessee Titans	IND (-7.5)	IND	IND
Sunday, Dec. 28	New York Jets	Miami Dolphins	MIA (-7)	MIA	NYJ
Sunday, Dec. 28	San Diego Chargers	Kansas City Chiefs	Even	SD	SD
Sunday, Dec. 28	St. Louis Rams	Seattle Seahawks	SEA (-14)	SEA	SEA
Sunday, Dec. 28	Oakland Raiders	Denver Broncos	DEN (-14.5)	DEN	DEN
Sunday, Dec. 28	Detroit Lions	Green Bay Packers	GB (-9)	GB	DET
Sunday, Dec. 28	Carolina Panthers	Atlanta Falcons	ATL (-3.5)	CAR	CAR
Sunday, Dec. 28	Arizona Cardinals	San Francisco 49ers	SF (-7)	SF	SF
Sunday, Dec. 28	Cincinnati Bengals	Pittsburgh Steelers	PIT (-4)	PIT	PIT

San Diego Chargers (Even) at Kansas City Chiefs

While the San Diego Chargers have yet to qualify for the playoffs, they are in the enviable position of controlling their own destiny.

According to Michael Gehlken of U-T San Diego, the Bolts must simply defeat the AFC West rival Kansas City Chiefs in order to keep playing into January for the second consecutive season:

Doing so will be easier said than done, however. Divisional games are never easy, especially when they are on the road. Add in the fact that the Chiefs are still technically in contention for a playoff spot in their own right, and there is no doubt that the Chargers will get everything they can handle.

Quarterback Philip Rivers is well aware of that fact, and he acknowledged that San Diego needs to be at its very best Sunday, per the Chargers' official Twitter account:

In addition to that, the Bolts will have a huge advantage under center, as Kansas City will be without signal-caller Alex Smith due to a lacerated spleen, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter:

That means Chase Daniel will make just his second career NFL start, which certainly doesn't bode well for the Chiefs' chances.

The Chargers lost 23-20 to the Chiefs at home earlier in the season, but things may be different now that it's crunch time. San Diego is a battle-tested team, and it proved that last week when it overcame a 21-point deficit to beat the San Francisco 49ers in overtime.

This team also enjoyed playoff success last season, as it defeated the Cincinnati Bengals and lost by just seven points to the eventual AFC champion Denver Broncos on the road.

The Bolts beat the Chiefs in overtime last season in Week 17 to make the playoffs, and they will find a way to get the job done once again this year behind the arm of Rivers.

San Francisco 49ers (-7) vs. Arizona Cardinals

When the San Francisco 49ers host the Arizona Cardinals Sunday, it will be a divisional matchup featuring one team that will be in the playoffs and another that has nothing to play for.

Most probably assumed prior to the season that the Niners would be the playoff team, but that isn't the case. In fact, San Francisco's biggest motivating factors in this game will likely be to avoid a losing season and to potentially send head coach Jim Harbaugh out on a high note.

The Niners seemed to be playing for their embattled coach last week when they had the Chargers on the ropes, although they ultimately blew the game in spectacular fashion. Since Sunday seems to be the end of the line for Harbaugh, though, the 49ers figure to be motivated.

On top of that, there is plenty working in San Francisco's favor from an on-field perspective. The Cardinals have had their ups and downs since quarterback Carson Palmer was lost for the season, and they have really struggled offensively without backup Drew Stanton.

Ryan Lindley was listless under center for the Cards last week, yet head coach Bruce Arians has decided to go back to that well, according to Kent Somers of AZCentral.com:

Despite having 225 career passing attempts, Lindley has never thrown for a touchdown in the NFL, and it won't get any easier for him against a stout 49ers defense.

Also, the Cardinals are at the mercy of the Seattle Seahawks when it comes to determining the NFC West champion. Because of that, Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com speculates that Arizona might break it down if Seattle is rolling Sunday:

The Cardinals have been an extremely resilient team this season, but the lack of a reliable quarterback will be their undoing in Week 17.

Seattle Seahawks (-14) vs. St. Louis Rams

Although the Seattle Seahawks looked ordinary at some points earlier in the season, there is no question that they are now rounding into form at the perfect time.

The Seahawks are riding a five-game winning streak into Week 17, and extending that streak to six will give them the NFC West crown as well as home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, which proved hugely important last year.

Seattle's defense is undoubtedly locked in, as it's surrendered less than seven points per game over its past five contests, according to ESPN Stats & Info:

That is significant this weekend, as the Seahawks aren't exactly facing an offensive juggernaut when they take on the St. Louis Rams. Quarterback Shaun Hill figures to have some issues against Seattle's No. 1 pass defense, while the sledding will be tough for rookie running back Tre Mason against the No. 3 rush defense as well.

The Rams shocked the Seahawks 28-26 at home earlier in the season, but Seattle dominated that game statistically, while everything went right for St. Louis, including a couple of trick plays.

It is tough to imagine similar slight of hand working this time around, especially since Seattle's offense is playing almost as well as its defense.

Running back Marshawn Lynch is enjoying one of his best seasons, while quarterback Russell Wilson has over 4,000 total yards and 26 touchdowns. Wilson has been so good, in fact, that ESPN's Mike Greenberg views him as a legitimate MVP candidate:

The Seahawks are firing on all cylinders right now, and clinching home field would be icing on the cake. Seattle would likely love to do it in dominant fashion as well, so expect a blowout win in favor of the Seahawks in Week 17.

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