Week 17 picks
Last week: 10-6 (9-7 against spread) Season: 146-94 (122-114-4 against the spread)
LIONS (6-9) AT BEARS (6-9) 1 p.m. Sunday | Pick ’em (O/U 46) Detroit’s defense is playing well enough, and Matthew Stafford could be in for a big day. The Bears, who made a nice push around midseason, stumbled recently.
JETS (10-5) AT BILLS (7-8) 1 p.m. Sunday | Jets by 21⁄2 (O/U 42 ) With a playoff berth hanging in the balance, the Jets are in position to get the job done against their former coach. The Bills will have a tough time running the ball.
PATRIOTS (12-3) AT DOLPHINS (5-10) 1 p.m. Sunday | Patriots by 9 ⁄2 (O/U 47 )
The Patriots O-line is banged up and having a hard time protecting Tom Brady. They have Rob Gronkowski, though, and the incentive of clinching 1 the top seed.
SAINTS (6-9) AT FALCONS (8-7) 1 p.m. Sunday | Falcons by 5 (O/U 521⁄2 ) Even though the Falcons could be in line for a letdown after their upset of the Panthers, they should be able to take advantage of the Saints’ horrible defense.
RAVENS (5-10) AT BENGALS (11-4) 1 p.m. Sunday | Bengals by 9 (O/U 41 1 ⁄2 ) Even with all their injuries, the Ravens are still playing hard — as the Steelers learned last weekend. The Bengals will win because they need to.
STEELERSBen defense, Roethlisbergeralthough(9-6) AT vulnerable,always BROWNS seems will (3-12)to turn play1 the p.m. well screws Sundayin his on | home Steelers Browns state.by QB 101⁄2 The Austin (O/U Steelers Davis.47 )
JAGUARSA division title (5-10)is danglingAT TEXANSin front (8-7) of 1 the p.m. Texans, Sunday so| Texans they’re by motivated.61⁄2 (O/U 451⁄2 Jaguars) QB Blake Bortles has been excellent, but his team is otherwise unreliable.
TITANSThe Colts (3-12)are a AT mess COLTSat quarterback,(7-8) 1 p.m. and Sundaya coaching/front-office| Off (O/U off ) housecleaning figures to be right around the corner. Still, the Titans have run out of gas.
REDSKINSAs long as the (8-7) RedskinsAT COWBOYSdon’t rest (4-11) their 1 starters,p.m. Sunday they | should Cowboys win by pretty4 (O/U handily.39 ) The Cowboys are a mere shell of the team they thought they would be.
EAGLESThe Eagles (6-9) have AT said GIANTS goodbye (6-9)to their1 p.m. coach, Sunday and| Giantsthe Giantsby 31⁄2 might(O/U 51 do ) the same soon. Eli Manning should be able to close the season with a punctuation mark.
RAIDERSThe Raiders’ (7-8) youngAT CHIEFS players (10-5)have gotten4:25 p.m. their Sunday second| Chiefswind. Plus,by 7 (O/Uit’s Charles43 1 ⁄2 ) Woodson’s final game. Still, the Chiefs are at home and rolling.
CHARGERS (4-11) AT BRONCOS (11-4) 4:25 p.m. Sunday | Broncos by 9 (O/U 41 1 ⁄2 ) The Chargers are playing like they’re ready for the season to end. If Brock Osweiler doesn’t lay an egg, the Broncos win going away. Their defense is too good.
SEAHAWKS (9-6) AT CARDINALS (13-2) 4:25 p.m. Sunday | Cardinals by 6 (O/U 47)
If the Panthers lose and the Cardinals play their starters to secure the top seed, Arizona wins big. If the Cards rest Carson Palmer, they’re still good enough to win.
RAMS (7-8) AT 49ERS (4-11) 4:25 p.m. Sunday | Rams by 3 (O/U 37 1 ⁄2 ) These franchises have been heading in opposite directions lately. The Rams have relocated their defense and will finish with a road win.
BUCS (6-9) AT PANTHERS (14-1) 4:25 p.m. Sunday | Panthers by 10 1 ⁄2 (O/U 461⁄2) This should be a close game. The Panthers defense is not playing as well as it was earlier in the season, and the Buccaneers aren’t going to roll over.
VIKINGS (10-5) AT PACKERS (10-5) 8:30 p.m. Sun., NBC | Packers by 31⁄2 (O/U 451⁄2)
Whether it’s their porous offensive line or receivers who can’t get open, the Packers are struggling. The Vikings defense is going to get after Aaron Rodgers.