NFL Week 17 preview

A quick look at each game, staff predictions

WEEK 17 NFL GAME PREVIEWS Bears (5-10) at Vikings (12-3)

TV: Sunday, 1, Fox (Kevin Burkhardt, Charles Davis, Pam Oliver)

The matchup: Coming off their mostlopsided victory of the season, 20-3 over the Cleveland Browns, the Bears need to win to prevent going winless in the NFC North and could keep the Vikings from a first-round bye. But beating the Vikings likely won’t save coach John Fox’s job. The Vikings pitched their first shutout at Green Bay (16-0) since 1994. LG Nick Easton was lost to a broken right ankle just as the full offensive line returned for the first time since Week 5. But the Vikings are dominating defensively and will clinch the NFC’s No. 2 seed by beating the Bears. They can also join the 1998 Vikings (15-1) as the second team in franchise history with at least 13 wins.

Jets (5-10) at Patriots (12-3)

TV: Sunday, 1, CBS (Jim Nantz, Tony Romo, Tracy Wolfson)

The matchup: With Jets QB Bryce Petty expected to make his third consecutive start in place of injured QB Josh McCown, the offense will likely continue to sputter. RB Bilal Powell was the Jets offense last week, and that doesn’t figure to change. Led by DE Trey Flowers, the Patriots sacked Bills QB Tyrod Taylor six times. Petty, who’s not nearly as mobile as Taylor, could be in for a long day. The Patriots are 5-2 at home and have eight consecutive 12-win seasons, the most since the 1970 merger. With RBs Rex Burkhead and James White out last week, Pats RB Dion Lewis assumed his heaviest workload of the season with 29 touches for 153 yards and two TDs.

Redskins (7-8) at Giants (2-13)

TV: Sunday, 1, Fox (Sam Rosen, Matt Millen, Jennifer Hale)

The matchup: With the playoffs out of reach, Washington’s back-to-back wins have shown there’s some fire left. After beating Denver last week, QB Kirk Cousins spoke of the importance of finishing .500 and creating a winning brand. Cousins might be playing his last game with the Redskins, and Eli Manning could be leading the Giants for the last time. Cousins’ franchise tag is becoming increasingly expensive. Manning turns 37 next week. The season can’t end soon enough for the staggering Giants, who last week officially became the losingest team in the franchise’s 93-year history. The Giants don’t know who’ll be coaching next season, but they know he’ll be watching film and making personnel decisions based on what he sees in terms of talent and effort.

Cowboys (8-7) at Eagles (13-2)

TV: Sunday, 1, Fox (Kenny Albert, Ronde Barber, Kristina Pink)

The matchup: It turns out RB Ezekiel Elliott wasn’t the magic that could get Dallas in the playoffs. The Cowboys couldn’t reach the end zone in the loss to Seattle and the Eagles locked up the NFC’s No. 1 seed and home field throughout the playoffs Sunday, making this game meaningless. The Eagles could play their starters to give QB Nick Foles, filling in for injured Carson Wentz, another week to build timing with his offensive mates, but it’s more likely Foles sits, given that backup Nate Sudfeld has never taken a regular-season snap. Philadelphia’s priority is to make sure no one gets hurt.

Browns (0-15) at Steelers (12-3)

TV: Sunday, 1, CBS (Spero Dedes, Adam Archuleta)

The matchup: One loss from infamy, the Browns have scored two TDs in their last 10 quarters and might set an NFL record for worst turnover margin. Their only hope lies in the Steelers resting starters. In Week 1, the Browns kept it close against their nearest geographic rival, but the teams operate in different football stratospheres. Rookie QB DeShone Kizer knows he’s being replaced, and he’ll try to avoid making big mistakes. The Steelers would love to make quick work of this one, then let their regulars do some scoreboard watching. Star WR Antonio Brown won’t be ready to play this week, but the Steelers hope to have him back for the postseason.

Packers (7-8) at Lions (8-7)

TV: Sunday, 1, Fox (announcers TBA)

The matchup: One week after being eliminated from playoff contention for the first time since 2008, the Packers were shut out by the Vikings, the second time they’ve been blanked at home behind QB Brett Hundley this season. Injuries have devastated Green Bay. Detroit was eliminated from playoff contention with its 26-17 loss to the Bengals. Lions president Rod Wood declined to comment on the job status of coach Jim Caldwell, who received a one-year extension in the offseason before falling to 35-28 and missing the playoffs for the second time in four seasons.

Texans (4-11) at Colts (3-12)

TV: Sunday, 1, CBS (Tom McCarthy, Steve Beuerlein, Steve Tasker)

The matchup: It’s been a trying season for a Texans franchise that began the season with such high hopes. Their last game is in Indianapolis, where they traditionally have been awful (2-13) but where coach Bill O’Brien has had more success winning the last two there. With Houston’s 2018 first-round pick belonging to Cleveland, this is a virtually meaningless game for the Texans, while a few Browns fans might be rooting for the Colts, whose 23-16 loss at Baltimore in Week 16 was their sixth in a row and guaranteed they’ll have a top-three pick in next spring’s draft. It would take one more loss and a Giants win to give Indy the second overall pick, but coach Chuck Pagano is the last person interested in looking ahead to the Colts’ 2018 interests considering his uncertain status.

Bills (8-7) at Dolphins (6-9)

TV: Sunday, 4:25, CBS (Andrew Catalon, James Lofton)

The matchup: The Bills still have an outside chance of ending their 17-season playoff drought. They need to beat the Dolphins, then have either the Ravens lose or the Titans and Chargers lose. This is the first time in 13 seasons Buffalo has been in playoff contention in the final week. Bills QB Tyrod Taylor threw and ran for a TD in the teams’ first meeting two weeks ago. A year after winning nine of their last 11 to make the playoffs, the Dolphins are stumbling to the finish line with seven losses in their past nine games. QB Jay Cutler could be playing the final game of his 12-year career. Coaxed out of retirement after Ryan Tannehill suffered a season-ending injury in the summer, Cutler has been up and down, with 19 TD passes, 14 interceptions and five fumbles.

Panthers (11-4) at Falcons (9-6)

TV: Sunday, 4:25, Fox (Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Erin Andrews)

The matchup: The Panthers travel to Atlanta with a wild-card berth in hand, but they could wind up anywhere between the Nos. 2 and 5 seeds depending on their game and how other NFC teams perform. At worst, they’ll have the higher of the two wild cards. They would win the NFC South if they beat Atlanta and New Orleans loses at Tampa Bay. They would jump all the way to No. 2 and a first-round bye if Minnesota loses to Chicago as well. Atlanta still can make the playoffs and claim the NFC’s sixth seed with a win. Even with a loss, the Falcons would qualify for the postseason if Seattle loses to Arizona. The Falcons’ chances of playing beyond Week 17 likely hinge on their ability to score more inside the red zone. RB Devonta Freeman has fumbled four times in the past three games and lost one last week at the Saints’ 1-yard line.

Bengals (6-9) at Ravens (9-6)

TV: Sunday, 4:25, CBS (Ian Eagle, Dan Fouts, Evan Washburn)

The matchup: After being left for dead, the Bengals played spoiler last week with an upset of the Lions. They’d love to do it again, but it will be a tough task on the road. The future of many key Bengals, including coach Marvin Lewis and QB Andy Dalton, remains uncertain. The Bengals need to force turnovers and make big plays on defense and special teams to have a chance. The Ravens make the playoffs with a win, so expect the crowd to be rocking. They have played their way into this spot over the season’s second half by spreading the wealth offensively and getting the run game going, but their chances of making a playoff run still start with their veteran defense.

Jaguars (10-5) at Titans (8-7)

TV: Sunday, 4:25, CBS (Greg Gumbel, Trent Green, Jamie Erdahl)

The matchup: Tennessee’s Week 16 loss meant Jacksonville clinched its first AFC South title. But the Jaguars weren’t exactly in a celebratory mood after a sloppy

44-33 loss at San Francisco. The Titans stumbled to their third loss in a row, 27

23 to the Rams, but the good news is that if they beat the Jaguars in the regularseason finale they can earn a postseason berth for the first time since 2008. They probably will be without RB DeMarco Murray, who suffered a knee injury against Los Angeles. In the teams’ first meeting this season, Tennessee led 6-3 at halftime before outscoring Jacksonville 31-13 in the second half.

Saints (11-4) at Buccaneers (4-11)

TV: Sunday, 4:25, Fox (Thom Brennaman, Chris Spielman, Peter Schrager)

The matchup: Already assured of their first playoff berth since 2013, the Saints can wrap up their first division title since 2011 and at least one home playoff game with a win against the Bucs. Look for coach Sean Payton to keep his foot on the pedal, not only to win the NFC South but also to keep his team sharp for the postseason. After losing for the fourth consecutive week by a field goal or in OT, the Bucs remain a tough out, though they’re 4-11 and winless in the NFC South. They must take advantage of redzone chances. They were 1-for-6 vs. Carolina.

Raiders (6-9) at Chargers (8-7)

TV: Sunday, 4:25, CBS (Kevin Harlan, Rich Gannon)

The matchup: Raiders coach Jack Del Rio, one season into a four-year extension, isn’t safe. Owner Mark Davis called his extension a reward for a “significant step” in a 12-4 season and return to the playoffs. However, with the Raiders eliminated from the postseason and Del Rio’s decision to replace offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave resulting in a major regression for QB Derek Carr, one of 2017’s most disappointing teams could undergo more changes. Remarkably, after a 0-4 start, rookie coach Anthony Lynn’s Chargers can clinch a playoff spot if they win and Tennessee and Baltimore lose.

Chiefs (9-6) at Broncos (5-10)

TV: Sunday, 4:25, CBS ( Beth Mowins, Jay Feely)

The matchup: After a fourth consecutive loss Dec. 3 dropped their record to 6-6, the Chiefs rebounded to win three in a row, including last week’s 29-13 beating of Miami to clinch the AFC West. Kansas City is locked into the fourth seed in the conference and a home playoff game. QB Alex Smith, RB Kareem Hunt, WR Tyreek Hill and TE Travis Kelce all have more than 1,000 yards, only the second time in NFL history that has happened.

49ers (5-10) at Rams (11-4)

TV: Sunday, 4:25, Fox (Joe Davis, Brady Quinn, Jenny Taft)

The matchup: The rest of the NFL barely noticed that 0-9 start by the struggling 49ers, but everyone else in the league might be feeling relieved that they won’t have to face San Francisco in the playoffs. Since the arrival of QB Jimmy Garoppolo, the 49ers have been red hot. San Francisco hopes to take the momentum of a five-game winning streak into the offseason. For the first time in four offseasons, San Francisco won’t be hunting for a new coach, and the expectations will be a lot higher when the 2018 season begins. Year 2 back in L.A. has included an unlikely NFC West title, breakout seasons by QB Jared Goff and RB Todd Gurley and the likelihood that the Rams are going to be a team to watch. Goff will be rested this week even though he has a legitimate shot at hitting 4,000 yards and 30 TDs — marks only Kurt Warner has hit in the same season as a Ram.

Cardinals (7-8) vs. Seahawks (9-6)

TV: Sunday, 4:25, Fox (Chris Myers, Daryl Johnston, Laura Okmin)

The matchup: Is this the final game of Bruce Arians’ run in Arizona? Is there any chance 34-year-old Larry Fitzgerald might retire? Who will be the quarterback for this team next season? The Cardinals are at a crossroads. But Arizona has a chance to ruin Seattle’s playoff chances,. Barely clinging to hope of a postseason berth, Seattle still has enough stars on defense and a playofftested quarterback to get through what has been the Seahawks’ biggest challenge in recent years: the Cardinals at CenturyLink Field. Seattle is 7-1 when TE Jimmy Graham catches a TD pass. Times p.m. Eastern.

Compiled by Brian Allee-Walsh, Zac Jackson, Jordan Godwin, Scott Pitoniak, Arthur Arkush, Andy Friedlander, Scott Johnson, Howard Balzer.