WEEK 17 GAMES
Chicago Bears (3-12) at Minnesota Vikings (7-8) TV: Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, Fox (Dick Stockton, David Diehl, Kristina Pink) Line: Vikings by 61⁄ 2 Injury report: Bears LB Leonard Floyd is in concussion protocol and unlikely to play. Vikings RB Adrian Peterson (knee, groin) is unlikely to play. Key to the game: Unknown wideouts. Vikings WR Adam Thielen caught 12 passes for 202 yards and two touchdowns (all personal bests) Saturday, and Bears WR Cameron Meredith had a career-high 135 yards.
Player to watch: Vikings QB Sam Bradford. His best career passing day — 34-for-50 for 382 yards and three TDs — was overshadowed last week. His 71.3% completion rate also has been minimized by Minnesota’s horizontal offense and overall downward spiral, but he’s on pace to break Drew Brees’ NFL single-season record (71.2). Cleveland Browns (1-14) at Pittsburgh Steelers (10-5)
TV: Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS (Kevin Harlan, Rich Gannon) Line: Steelers by 61⁄ 2
Injury report: Browns QB Robert Griffin III has cleared concussion protocol and hopes to play. Steelers TE Ladarius Green is in concussion protocol.
Key to the game: If Griffin can’t play, Cody Kessler will start. He’s learning the NFL, improving his game and trying to forge a career. Not much will come easy Sunday, but even if the Browns don’t win, it’s imperative that Kessler maintain composure and keep trying to make plays throughout the game.
Matchup to watch: Browns LT Joe Thomas vs. Steelers OLB James Harrison. Thomas is headed to his 10th consecutive Pro Bowl with Cleveland. Harrison is back in the Pittsburgh starting lineup two years after announcing his retirement, and he’s playing at a high level. Thomas and Harrison know each other well and always bring their A games regardless of the stakes. The Browns have had offensive line issues, and to have any chance, they’ll need to keep the Steelers out of their backfield.
Baltimore Ravens (8-7) at Cincinnati Bengals (5-9-1) TV: Sunday, 1 pm. ET, CBS (Carter Blackburn, Chris Simms) Line: Pick ’em Injury report: Ravens LB Zachary Orr (neck) hopes to play; CB Jimmy Smith (ankle) will not play. Bengals WR A.J. Green (hamstring) will not play; LB Vontaze Burfict is in concussion protocol.
Key to the game: Keep it simple. The Ravens statistically have one of the NFL’s best run defenses, but that play has dropped off in December. The Bengals need to establish the run and let their makeshift offensive line gain confidence.
Matchup to watch: Ravens WR Steve Smith Sr. vs. Bengals CB Adam Jones. Even at 37, Smith shows up, no matter the circumstances or opponent. He and Jones have had their share of battles over the years. Buffalo Bills (7-8) at New York Jets (4-11) TV: Sunday, 1 pm. ET, CBS (An-
drew Catalon, Steve Tasker, Steve Beuerlein) Line: Bills by 31⁄ 2
Injury report: Bills RB LeSean McCoy (illness) and WR Sammy Watkins (foot) are expected to play. Jets RBs Matt Forte and Bilal Powell (knee) are day-today. Key to the game: Powell, a sixth-year veteran, has filled in admirably for Forte. In his last three games, Powell has averaged 138.3 yards from scrimmage and totaled two TDs.
Player to watch: Bills QB EJ Manuel. After coach Rex Ryan was fired and replaced by offensive coordinator Anthony Lynn in the interim, the Bills announced Manuel would start in place of Tyrod Taylor, who played his best game in two years last week. The Bills do not want to risk injury to Taylor, which would automatically call for a $30 million payout. Taylor will only get that extension if he’s on the roster in March. Houston Texans (9-6) at Tennessee Titans (8-7)
TV: Sunday, 1 pm. ET, CBS (Tom McCarthy, Adam Archuleta) Line: Titans by 3
Injury report: Texans RB Lamar Miller (ankle) hopes to play; DE Jadeveon Clowney (elbow) and CB Johnathan Joseph (ribs) are day-to-day. Titans QB Marcus Mariota (broken leg) is out for the season; CB Jason McCourty (shoulder) hopes to play.
Key to the game: After Texans QB Brock Osweiler was benched with 16 interceptions and a 59.6% completion rate, replacement Tom Savage struggled to hit targets against the Bengals. He will need to get chemistry going — especially with WR DeAndre Hopkins — before the playoffs.
By the numbers: A Texans loss would drop them to 2-6 on the road this season. (They’re 7-1 at home.) The last team to finish 2-6 on the road and advance to the playoffs was the 2010 Seattle Seahawks.
Carolina Panthers (6-9) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-7) TV: Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, Fox (Thom Brennaman, Charles Davis or Chris Spielman, Peter Schrager) Line: Buccaneers by 41⁄ 2
Injury report: Panthers MLB Luke Kuechly (concussion) will not play; DE Charles Johnson (hamstring) is day-to-day. Bucs RT Demar Dotson (concussion) hopes to play; TE Cameron Brate (back) was placed on injured reserve. Key to the game: If Carolina has any chance of knocking off Tampa Bay, the Panthers will have to get better play out of the quarterback position. Cam Newton made no mention of a sore throwing shoulder after the Falcons game, though his abysmal performance begged for a logical explanation.
Matchup to watch: Bucs running backs vs. Panthers MLB A.J. Klein. A week after Doug Martin gained 42 yards in 16 carries against Dallas, RB Jacquizz Rodgers fared only slightly better (15 carries, 63 yards, one TD) against the Saints. Klein will be starting his sixth consecutive game in the absence of Pro Bowler Kuechly. Dallas Cowboys (13-2) at Philadelphia Eagles (6-9) TV: Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, Fox (Kevin
Burkhardt,Oliver) John Lynch, Pam Line: Eagles by 4
Injury report: Cowboys DE DeMarcus Lawrence (back) and DTs Cedric Thornton (ankle) and Tyrone Crawford (shoulder) are not expected to play. Eagles RB Ryan Mathews (neck) is on injured reserve. Key to the game: No team runs the ball more than the Cowboys, and only the Bills do it more effectively — Dallas’ 4.9 yardsper-carry average is second to the Bills. The Eagles run defense has allowed 124 yards a game and 5.2 yards a carry over the last three games. Player to watch: Cowboys QB Tony Romo. With the NFC’s No. 1 seed secured, the eyes of Cowboys fans will be fixed squarely on Romo, even if he never leaves the sideline. If Dallas coach Jason Garrett pulls starter Dak Prescott to keep him fresh and healthy for the playoffs, will Romo get the call? Jacksonville Jaguars (3-12) at Indianapolis Colts (7-8) TV: Sunday, 1 pm. ET, CBS (Spero Dedes, Solomon Wilcots) Line: Colts by 41⁄ 2
Injury report: Jaguars WR Marqise Lee (hip flexor) and RB Chris Ivory (hamstring) are expected to play; WR Allen Hurns (hamstring) is unlikely to play. Colts WR Donte Moncrief (shoulder) is unlikely to play.
Key to the game: QB turnovers. The Colts’ Andrew Luck and the Jaguars’ Blake Bortles have thrown a combined 28 interceptions this season, with Bortles tied for fourth in the league with 16 picks and Luck not far behind.
By the numbers: 4. Depending on how Week 17 plays out, the Jaguars could pick as high as second in the 2017 NFL draft and as low as sixth. They’re projected by many to pick fourth. New England Patriots (13-2) at Miami Dolphins (10-5) TV: Sunday, 1 pm. ET, CBS (Ian Eagle, Dan Fouts, Evan Washburn) Line: Patriots by 91⁄ 2 Injury report: Patriots QB Tom Brady (thigh) expects to play; LB Dont’a Hightower (knee) is dayto-day. Dolphins CB Byron Maxwell (ankle) is not expected to play. Key to the game: Veteran backup QB Matt Moore has helped the Dolphins secure a playoff berth in the absence of injured Ryan Tannehill, guiding them to a fourth-quarter win and an overtime victory. Moore can make plays and keep mistakes to a minimum, as evidenced by his six TD passes and two interceptions. By the numbers: 15.7. NFL-low number of points the Patriots are yielding per game. New Orleans Saints (7-8) at Atlanta Falcons (10-5) TV: Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET, Fox (Kenny Albert, Daryl Johnston, Laura Okmin) Line: Falcons by 7
Injury report: Saints LB Dannell Ellerbe (foot) and FB John Kuhn (hip) are expected to play. Falcons WR Taylor Gabriel (foot) is day-to-day. Key to the game: The defense that best slows Saints QB Drew Brees and Falcons QB Matt Ryan and their prolific offensive units likely will emerge victorious, a
task easier said than done. Both are in the top five leaguewide in TD passes, passing yards and passer rating. By the numbers: 13. Players who have caught TD passes from Ryan this season, an NFL singleseason record by a quarterback. Ryan set the mark Saturday when TEs Joshua Perkins and D.J. Tialavea each caught a scoring pass vs. Carolina. New York Giants (10-5) at Washington Redskins (8-6-1)
TV: Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET, Fox (Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Erin Andrews) Line: Redskins by 71⁄ 2
Injury report: Giants CB Janoris Jenkins (back) is unlikely to play. Redskins TE Jordan Reed (shoulder) and RB Robert Kelley (knee) are expected to play.
Key to the game: The Giants’ playoff position is set in stone, no matter what happens Sunday, but Washington has to win to get in. The Redskins will be playing to win, but will the Giants try to spoil it for their NFC East rivals or rest their stars in a meaningless game? Matchup to watch: Giants QB Eli Manning vs. Redskins QB Kirk Cousins. It would have seemed strange to say this at the beginning of the season, but it’s Manning, the two-time Super Bowl MVP, who enters this game with something to prove. While Cousins has been consistent — and at times spectacular — for Washington, Manning has been erratic and at times awful.
Seattle Seahawks (9-5-1) at San Francisco 49ers (2-13)
TV: Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET, Fox (Joe Davis, Brady Quinn, Shannon Spake) Line: Seahawks by 10
Injury report: Seahawks RB Thomas Rawls (shoulder) expects to play. 49ers LT Joe Staley (hamstring) hopes to play.
Key to the game: Sustaining drives. Seattle’s anemic rushing attack has featured a 100-yard rusher in two games this season, but one of those was in a Week 3 win against San Francisco. The 49ers are even more incompetent when they try to run the ball, especially with Carlos Hyde out. Player to watch: Seahawks CB Richard Sherman. He made himself a household name after one memorable playoff win against the 49ers, and his mouth has been flapping a lot this season. This might be the kind of game in which Sherman lets his game do the talking — provided the 49ers don’t avoid him altogether. Oakland Raiders (12-3) at Denver Broncos (8-7) TV: Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET, CBS (Jim Nantz, Phil Simms, Tracy Wolfson) Line: Broncos by 1
Injury report: Raiders LG Kelechi Osemele (ankle) hopes to play. Broncos CB T.J. Ward is in concussion protocol.
Key to the game: The Raiders need a victory to win the division and get an off week before their first playoff game. They also want to show they can be dangerous with Matt McGloin at quarterback. Player to watch: McGloin. A walk-on at Penn State in 2009 and a Raiders undrafted free agent in 2013, McGloin started
six games as a rookie but has 55 pass attempts since QB Derek Carr, who’s out with a broken leg, was drafted in 2014. Arizona Cardinals (6-8-1) at Los Angeles Rams (4-11)
TV: Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET, Fox (Chris Myers, Ronde Barber, Jennifer Hale) Line: Cardinals by 61⁄ 2
Injury report: Cardinals CB Marcus Cooper (back) could play. Rams WR Kenny Britt (shoulder), RT Rob Havenstein (ankle) and FS Maurice Alexander (concussion) are day-to-day.
Key to the game: Hang on to the ball. Cardinals QB Carson Palmer has fumbled 14 times this season, his highest total since 2006. He has 13 interceptions. Rams QB Jared Goff also is susceptible to turnovers.
Player to watch: Palmer. Is this his last game in a Cardinals uniform? Palmer, who turned 37 this week, has had an up-anddown season but is playing some of his best football down the stretch. Kansas City Chiefs (11-4) at San Diego Chargers (5-10) TV: Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET, CBS (Greg Gumbel, Trent Green, Jamie Erdahl) Line: Chiefs by 51⁄ 2 Injury report: Chiefs RB Spencer Ware (ribs) could play. Chargers RB Melvin Gordon (knee) hopes to play. Key to the game: The Chiefs will have to be mindful of Chargers DE Joey Bosa, who is staking a claim to being defensive rookie of the year. Last week Bosa had two sacks, five tackles (four solo) with three for losses and three quarterback hits. He has 91⁄ sacks despite signing 2 late and missing time early in the season with a hamstring injury.
Player to watch: Chiefs TE Travis Kelce. After questioning the play-calling in a Week 15 loss to the Titans in which he had three receptions on five targets, Kelce was targeted 12 times against Denver. Five of his 11 receptions produced first downs, including three on third-down plays. Green Bay Packers (9-6) at Detroit Lions (9-6)
TV: Sunday, 8:30 p.m. ET, NBC (Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth, Michele Tafoya) Line: Packers by 3
Injury report: Packers WR Randall Cobb (ankle) is day-to-day. Lions CB Darius Slay (hamstring) is expected to play; RB Theo Riddick (wrist) is day-to-day.
Key to the game: The NFL’s front-runner to earn Comeback Player of the Year, Packers WR Jordy Nelson is playing as well as any NFL wideout with a league-leading 14 receiving TDs, including two as part of his ninecatch, 154-yard outing Saturday. With Cobb inactive last week with an ankle injury, Nelson spent more time in the slot.
Player to watch: Lions WR Marvin Jones. He had a career day in the first meeting (six catches, 205 yards, two TDs) but hasn’t topped 94 yards since. The Packers lost CB Ladarius Gunter (elbow) Saturday and have struggled against outside playmakers. CB Damarious Randall must play big after being benched in Week 15.