WEEK 17 GAME PREVIEWS
Dolphins (7-8) at Bills (5-10)
Time, TV: 1 p.m. ET, CBS
Pregame.com line: Bills by 41⁄ 2 Dolphins’ keys: Earlier this season against the Bills, QB Ryan Tannehill had three touchdown passes despite just
137 yards passing as he had plenty of time in the pocket.
Bills’ keys: If the offensive line can keep QB Josh Allen upright, allowing him to take deep shots, it will potentially open holes for Allen or LeSean McCoy via the ground game.
Who wins? The Bills’ secondary has bounced back a bit from their ugly day against Tannehill and the Dolphins. Bills, 27-20
Jets (4-11) at Patriots (10-5)
Time, TV: 1 p.m. ET, CBS
Line: Patriots by 131⁄ 2
Jets’ keys: If the defense puts the ball
in QB Sam Darnold’s hands, he must manage the game by playing turnoverfree football.
Patriots’ keys: New England should hammer RB Sony Michel into New York’s defense for as many carries as possible. Defensively, the Patriots can complicate coverage and blitzes before the snap to confuse Darnold.
Who wins? New England doesn’t lose at home and has the incentive of clinching at least the No. 2 seed and an AFC bye with a victory. Patriots, 31-10
Jaguars (5-10) at Texans (10-5)
Time, TV: 1 p.m. ET, CBS
Line: Texans by 7
Jaguars’ keys: RB Leonard Fournette hasn’t been the battering ram he was in his rookie season, and he’ll need to summon that skill for one afternoon. Texans’ keys: They will have incentive to play their starters as the No. 2 seed and a bye are possibilities. QB Deshaun Watson will need to find ways to allow the game to come to him rather than force his will and invite giveaways. Who wins? Momentum and fortune favor Houston, which will clinch the AFC South title. Texans, 26-14
Falcons (6-9) at Buccaneers (5-10)
Time, TV: 1 p.m. ET, Fox Line: Falcons by 1 Bucs’ keys: The play-calling will have to get the ball out of QB Jameis Winston’s hands quickly to take advantage of a deep group of pass-catchers, led by Pro Bowl snub Mike Evans.
Falcons’ keys: QB Matt Ryan will need to take advantage of Tampa Bay’s youth and inexperience on defense with complex formations, motion and creative play-calling.
Who wins? The Falcons have been disappointing enough to think the Bucs have a shot, but do Tampa fans want to lose their draft spot? Falcons, 34-27
Panthers (6-9) at Saints (13-2)
Time, TV: 1 p.m. ET, Fox
Line: Saints by 71⁄ 2
Saints’ keys: WR Ted Ginn Jr, OT Terron Armstead and WR Tre’Quan Smith, who missed time with injury, might get extra reps. RB Mark Ingram is chasing team records for rushing yards and TDs, so he might be featured.
Panthers’ keys: RB Christian McCaffrey is a great centerpiece in the backfield, and WRs Curtis Samuel and D.J. Moore are underused downfield.
Who wins? The Panthers have punted the rest of their season by sitting QB Cam Newton. The Saints are gearing up for the playoffs. Saints, 20-14
Lions (5-10) at Packers (6-8-1)
Time, TV: 1 p.m. ET, Fox
Line: Packers by 8
Packers’ keys: Start fast, avoid turnovers and control the game on defense. A fast start from QB Aaron Rodgers, and the Packers could have smooth sailing in the season finale.
Lions’ keys: Feed the ball to WR Kenny Golladay and RB Theo Riddick and disrupt the Packers’ passing game. Who wins? The Lions beat the Packers
35-11 without Rodgers in the 2017 finale. He returns the favor at Lambeau Field. Packers, 23-20
Cowboys (9-6) at Giants (5-10)
Time, TV: 1 p.m. ET, Fox
Line: Giants by 6
Giants’ keys: They need to ride RB Saquon Barkley start to finish. In many of their second-half losses, the Giants have gone pass heavy and shied away from their rookie.
Cowboys’ keys: Hand the ball to RB Ezekiel Elliott early and often. In five of their six losses this season, Elliott has gained fewer than 100 yards and/or had fewer than 20 carries.
Who wins? Dallas has clinched the NFC East, and Giants’ players will want to send the fans and their first-year head coach out on a high note. Giants, 23-20
Eagles (8-7) at Redskins (7-8)
Time, TV: 4:25 p.m. ET, Fox Line: Eagles by 7
Eagles’ keys: QB Nick Foles will need to run the offense around TE Zach Ertz and get the ground game going.
Redskins’ keys: They will need to get contributions from the wide receiver position. With the Eagles’ secondary being suspect, they should open up the offense more for QB Josh Johnson, with hopes to expose the defensive backs. Who wins? The defending champion Eagles are alive for a wild-card slot but need to win and get help. Eagles, 24-13
Bears (11-4) at Vikings (8-6-1)
Time, TV: 4:25 p.m. ET, Fox Line: Vikings by 4
Bears’ keys: The defense ranks third in the league in points allowed, and it needs to rattle Vikings QB Kirk Cousins, as it did during the first meeting.
Vikings’ keys: They have had a tough time with mobile quarterbacks, and that’s why Bears QB Mitchell Trubisky provides a challenge even for Minnesota’s talented defense.
Who wins? The difference will be the desperation coming from the Vikings’ end to win and have the Eagles lose for Minnesota to get the second NFC wildcard slot. The U.S. Bank Stadium crowd will be loud for this one. Vikings, 14-10
49ers (4-11) at Rams (12-3)
Time, TV: 4:25 p.m. ET, Fox
Line: Rams by 10
49ers’ keys: They have been playing better than their record indicates, largely because of QB Nick Mullens and coach Kyle Shanahan’s offensive game plan. San Francisco will have to take advantage of L.A.’s shaky run defense, particularly up the middle.
Rams’ keys: Their offense has struggled since their Week 12 bye, but the 49ers don’t pose much of a threat defensively. They are at the bottom of the league in interceptions and struggle to take the ball away.
Who wins? The NFC West champion Rams might not have a lot to play for having clinched a playoff bye, but they’ll come away with a win because of their defense. Rams, 27-17
Cardinals (3-12) at Seahawks (9-6)
Time, TV: 4:25 p.m. ET, Fox Line: Seahawks by 131⁄ 2
Cardinals’ keys: Arizona has beaten the Seahawks late in the season in Seattle the last three years and hopes to continue the trend in a pride match.
Seahawks’ keys: Coming off a tough win against the Chiefs in Week 16 that secured an NFC wild-card slot, Seahawks coach Pete Carroll has been adamant he won’t rest any starters. Seattle will continue to run the ball.
Who wins? The Seahawks are the hotter team and looking to end their homeloss streak against Arizona. Seahawks, 30-13
Browns (7-7-1) at Ravens (9-6)
Time, TV: 4:25 p.m. ET, CBS Line: Ravens by 6
Browns’ keys: They have to take advantage of the mobility of QB Baker Mayfield and score touchdowns over field goals. Defensively, the Browns should fully commit to stopping the run.
Ravens’ keys: They should try to work QB Lamar Jackson into a rhythm amid their run-heavy scheme and take deep shots when needed.
Who wins? The Ravens are on a roll, even as they have taken on some of the best teams in the AFC, and a win secures the AFC North title and a home wild-card game. Ravens, 30-13
Bengals (6-9) at Steelers (8-6-1)
TV: CBS
Line: Steelers by 141⁄ 2
Bengals’ keys: Look for a heavy dose of RB Joe Mixon against a Steelers’ run defense that has some holes up front. Steelers’ keys: Everything is on the line for the Steelers, who at the least need to win and have the Browns beat the Ravens. If RB James Conner (ankle sprain) can’t go again, Pittsburgh will have to rely on QB Ben Roethlisberger.
Who wins? The Steelers are going to come out holding nothing back, plus the game is in Pittsburgh. Steelers, 38-21
Raiders (4-11) at Chiefs (11-4)
Time, TV: 4:25 p.m. ET, CBS Line: Chiefs by 14
Chiefs’ keys: Don’t beat themselves. Self-inflicted wounds have been a big problem. Sometimes that means penalties, which Kansas City leads the NFL in this season. Other times it means coach
Andy Reid calling the right plays and putting guys in a position to win.
Raiders’ keys: Their biggest problem has been their inability to pressure the quarterback. Chiefs DL Chris Jones
(151⁄ 2) has more sacks for the season than the Raiders (13).
Who wins? The Raiders might have started their preparations for this game a full week early, but that will not be enough to edge out a Chiefs team that is playing at home. Chiefs, 37-27
Chargers (11-4) at Broncos (6-8)
Time, TV: 4:25 p.m. ET, CBS Line: Chargers by 61⁄ 2
Chargers’ keys: QB Philip Rivers should attack an inexperienced secondary. Broncos’ keys: They need to get WR Courtland Sutton involved so the team is not relying on RB Royce Freeman to move the ball with RB Phillip Lindsay
(wrist) shut down for the season. Who wins? Denver beat L.A. earlier, but with playoff seeding on the line, the road team will have extra motivation. Chargers, 24-17
Colts (9-6) at Titans (9-6)
Time, TV: 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC
Line: Colts by 31⁄ 2
Titans’ keys: The winner earns the AFC’s second wild card, so the Titans need to snag the momentum early and keep it in their favor. The offensive line has to do a better job keeping its quarterback upright. QB Marcus Mariota, sacked 42 times this season, left the Week 16 game with a stinger and is day-to-day.
Colts’ keys: They’ll need to protect QB
Andrew Luck and take care of the football. Indianapolis has found success in incorporating its tight ends heavily against teams such as the Titans. Matchup to watch: Titans’ defense vs. Colts’ Luck. The defense will have to get back to business against a quarterback the Titans have never beaten and who threw for 297 yards and three TDs against them in Week 11.
Who wins? The Titans have won four in a row and would seem poised to advance, but the Colts gave them issues on the road season. Colts, 23-17