Week 17 preview
Panthers at Falcons
Kickoff: 10 a.m. (Fox 28)
Records: Carolina (11-4, 4-3 away), Atlanta (4-11, 3-4 home)
Line: CAR by 6 1/2; O/U: 45 1/2
Outlook: A Carolina victory gives it the NFC South title, but the Panthers will be without key WR Steve Smith (knee injury). CAR likes the ground game anyway, and faces the No. 31 run “D.”.
Pick: Panthers 23-16
Texans at Titans
Kickoff: 10 a.m.
Records: Houston (2-13, 1-6 away), Tennessee (6-9, 2-5 home)
Line: TEN by 7; O/U: 44 1/2
Outlook: HOU has lost 13 in a row despite having the NFL’s No. 7 defense, which shows stats can be misleading. The Texans’ last win came over the Titans. Why not again in a meaningless contest?
Pick: Texans 20-17
Browns at Steelers
Kickoff: 10 a.m.
Records: Cleveland (4-11, 1-6 away), Pittsburgh (7-8, 4-3 home)
Line: PIT by 7; O/U: 44
Outlook: PIT still has remote chance of making the playoffs and must win to stay alive. QB Ben Roethlisberger has thrown 14 TD passes with just two interceptions in his last six outings. He’s 16-1 vs. CLEV.
Pick: Steelers 31-23
Redskins at Giants
Kickoff: 10 a.m.
Records: Washington (3-12, 1-6 away), New York (6-9, 3-4 home)
Line: NYG by 3 1/2; O/U: 45 1/2
Outlook: These clubs play out the string in massively disappointing seasons for both. WASH has lost seven in a row; NY has won six of nine since starting 0-6 but are beat up at WR and running back.
Pick: Giants 24-17
Ravens at Bengals
Kickoff: 10 a.m. (CBS)
Records: Baltimore (8-7, 2-5 away), Cincinnati (10-5, 7-0 home)
Line: CIN by 6 1/2; O/U: 44 1/2
Outlook: BALT still has a shot at the playoffs but CIN doesn’t figure to be resting its starters because it still has an outside chance for a first-round bye. CIN is unbeaten at home and the Ravens are 2-5 on the road.
Pick: Bengals 27-20
Jaguars at Colts
Kickoff: 10 a.m.
Records: Jacksonville (4-11, 3-4 away), Indianapolis (10-5, 5-2 home)
Line: IND by 11; O/U: 45 1/2
Outlook: Indy seems to be back on track after an up-and-down stretch and gets a lowly foe as it tries to improve its playoff seeding. JAX is last in scoring and its defense ranks 27th. Indy cashes in early.
Pick: Colts 31-13
Jets at Dolphins
Kickoff: 10 a.m.
Records: New York (7-8, 1-6 away), Miami (8-7, 4-3 home)
Line: MIA by 6; O/U: 41
Outlook: MIA, which could make the playoffs if it wins and gets help, faces a foe that has been playing hard for possible out-going coach Rex Ryan. NYJ rookie QB Geno Smith has shown signs of improving.
Pick: Dolphins 20-17
Lions at Vikings
Kickoff: 10 a.m.
Records: Detroit (7-8, 3-4 away), Minnesota (4-10-1, 4-3 home)
Line: MIN by 3; O/U: 51 1/2
Outlook: Biggest story here other than Vikes RB Adrian Peterson being ruled out is that it’s the finale in the Metrodome. It will be torn down and a new stadium built on the site, opening in 2016.
Pick: Vikings 27-23
Packers at Bears
Kickoff: 1:25 p.m.
Records: Green Bay 7-7-1, 3-4 away), Chicago (8-7, 5-2 home)
Line: GB by 3; O/U: 52 1/2
Outlook: In showdown for NFC North crown, Pack gets QB Aaron Rodgers (broken collarbone) back and he’d be wise to hand the ball often to Eddie Lacy because CHI has the NFL’s worst run defense.
Pick: Packers 30-26
Bills at Patriots
Kickoff: 1:25 p.m.
Records: Buffalo (6-9, 2-5 away), New England (11-4, 7-0 home)
Line: NE by 7 1/2; O/U: 46 1/2
Outlook: NE gets no worse than the No. 2 seed for the AFC playoffs if it wins, and the Patriots have won the last 12 times these teams have played in Foxborough. But BUF leads the AFC in rushing (142.5 YPG).
Pick: Patriots 30-23
Buccaneers at Saints
Kickoff: 1:25 p.m.
Records: Tampa Bay (4-11, 1-6 away), New Orleans (10-5, 7-0 home)
Line: NO by 12; O/U: 47 1/2
Outlook: If the Saints win, they’re in the playoffs – if they lose, they could miss out. NO has lost two in a row, but those were on the road and not at home – where it is dominant. TB is playing out the string.
Pick: Saints 37-20
Broncos at Raiders
Kickoff: 1:25 p.m. (CBS)
Records: Denver (12-3, 5-2 away), Oakland (4-11, 3-4 home)
Line: DEN by 11; O/U: 53 1/2
Outlook: DEN wraps up the top seed for the AFC playoffs if it wins, and unleashes its best-in-the-NFL attack on a team that has given up an average of 37.5 points in its last four outings. Terrelle Pryor is back at QB for OAK.
Pick: Broncos 38-23
49ers at Cardinals
Kickoff: 1:25 p.m.
Records: San Francisco (11-4, 5-2 away), Arizona (10-5, 6-1 home)
Line: SF by 1; O/U: 42 1/2
Outlook: SF already in the playoffs but AZ, which has won seven of eight, must win and have Tampa Bay win at New Orleans in a game that starts at the same time. This should be a hard-fought affair among defensive-oriented clubs.
Pick: Cardinals 20-16
Chiefs at Chargers
Kickoff: 1:25 p.m.
Records: Kansas City (11-4, 6-1 away), San Diego (8-7, 4-3 home)
Line: SD by 10; O/U: 45
Outlook: KC gets No. 5 seed in AFC playoffs no matter what happens here, so key players will be rested a lot. For SD to make the playoffs, it must have Baltimore and Miami lose in earlier games then win this one.
Pick: Chargers 24-20
Eagles at Cowboys
Kickoff: 5:30 p.m. (NBC)
Records: Philadelphia (9-6, 5-2 away), Dallas (8-7, 5-2 home)
Line: PHI by 7; O/U: 52 1/2
Outlook: With Tony Romo out (back surgery), Kyle Orton gets the call at QB for Dallas in this winner-take-all battle for the NFC East title and a playoff spot. But Dallas’ bigger worry is its NFL-worst defense.
Pick: Eagles 33-26