NFL Week 17: The Final Countdown

This is it. Another wasteful Week 17 with all-division games, where a Steelers-Ravens game is wasted because the Ravens are resting starters and the Patriots’ quest for yet another bye includes, well, another bye against the pitiful Dolphins. But alas, there are still some things undecided in this final week. Let’s dive in:

 

Last week:    3-5

Season:          22-18

 

Atlanta (-1) at Tampa Bay

Dan Quinn gets another year, and thus I think this Falcons team will finish strong for him. The Bucs have been terrible at home and should finish in style. Pick: Falcons.

Chicago (-4) at Minnesota

Let’s go with the Bears here because the Vikings looked listless enough as it was against the Packers with Kirk Cousins in the saddle, and with Sean Mannion it shouldn’t get much better in a meaningless finale in Minneapolis. Pick: Bears.

Arizona at Los Angeles Rams (-7)

The Rams have absolutely dominated this series and should be plenty ticked and in the mood to end a disappointing season on a high note with a winning record. Who knows if the Cardinals will bring the same emotion they did last week in their upset of Seattle. Pick: Rams.

Philadelphia (buying to -3 at -135) at New York Giants

The door is open and the light of the end of the tunnel is visible in the City of Brotherly Love. Give me the Iggles to claim the NFC East against a G-Men team they struggled with three weeks ago. Pick: Eagles.

Washington at Dallas (-12.5)

I can’t imagine the Cowboys lose a game where they are mathematically alive, but the Skins showed some life last week and would love to ruffle their rivals’ feathers in the finale — and likely Jason Garrett’s swan song — and should keep it interesting. Pick: Redskins.

San Francisco (buying to -3 at -125) at Seattle

Begrudgingly, I’ll go with the 49ers here despite the fact that the Seahawks pulled the upset on a Monday night in November. Seattle is turning to Beast Mode in hopes of recreating the past, but I’ll go with a 49ers team hungry to earn homefield advantage. Pick: 49ers.