2017 Week 17 Predix

Written by Sam DeCoste

This is it! The final week of the NFL regular season. Sadly, twenty NFL teams will be going home on New Year's Day, and it will be a long offseason, thinking what could have been. But for twelve teams, it's onto the Super Bowl. Getting to the postseason is a dream come true for any NFL team, but with the Super Bowl 3 games away, it can make for amazing football. There are still massive playoff implications this week, with the Panthers and Falcons squaring off in the Mercedes-Benz Stadium as the headlining affair. So for the final time in 2017, let's predict football!

My overall record last week: 13-3

Lock of the Week record: 13-3

My overall record this season: 165-75

The Bears can be pesky next year with an effective and offensive minded coaching staff in 2018, while the Vikings are bound to clinch a first round bye. This is my Lock of the Week.

Prediction: CHI 10, MIN 24

This could be the final game for each of these teams' quarterbacks at their respective teams. The Redskins may not be able to retain Kirk Cousins while the new coaching staff in New York may or may not want Eli Manning in the building.

Prediction: WSH 20, NYG 16

The Eagles are stumbling into the #1 seed in the NFC. They don't look good, and Nick Foles is not the quarterback Carson Wentz is. Also, Das Prescott is not who we thought he was. Bye, Dallas. We'll see you Week 1 in Jerry's World against the Giants on Sunday Night Football.

Prediction: DAL 17, PHI 21

No DeAndre Hopkins in this game, so don't watch it. Lots of draft potential in this game, and that's where the intrigue ends. Chuck Pagano will be done after this game, so hopefully the Colts go out winning for him.

Prediction: HOU 0, IND 19

The Browns will become the second team in the history of the NFL to go 0-16. Make some room next to the 2008 Detroit Lions for eternal infamy.

Prediction: CLE 21, PIT 27

Another mediocre season for Detroit under Jim Caldwell. The Lions have no identity. They need a coaching staff that will get a running game and this team could win a playoff game. The Packers will be thinking what could have been.

Prediction: GB 13, DET 22

What a nice season for the Jets. Todd Bowles really earned that contract extension. Meanwhile, Tom Brady isn't looking that great lately. But Gronk is. MVP?

Prediction: NYJ 14, NE 40

The Falcons win and they're in. But Carolina doesn't want them in the playoffs. But it's in the Chick-Fil-A-less stadium, and Atlanta needs this one, so...

Prediction: CAR 23, ATL 29

If the Titans win, the Jags could see them in the first round of the playoffs. They don't want it. Plus, the Jags are 4-0 after losses this season, and every team that the Titans face this season outcoaches Mike Mularkey.

Prediction: JAX 27, TEN 19

The Ravens have the easiest route to the playoffs. I don't see how they mess it up.

Prediction: CIN 10, BAL 17

The Bills are in the playoffs if they win, and if Baltimore loses, or if they win but the Chargers and Titans lose. Yikes. But the Bills never get the job done themselves, and I don't think this year is any different.

Prediction: BUF 17, MIA 26

The Chargers should win. But the Chargers gonna charger. In a big game against the Chiefs, they came out flat and Rivers threw three backbreaking interceptions. But the Raiders are putrid. Can Derek Carr save teams like the Bills and Titans? No.

Prediction: OAK 13, LAC 27

Jimmy Garappolo is still undefeated. That won't change. No Goff, no Gurley, no Donald, no anybody for the Rams in this game, as they want to rest their players ahead of the playoffs. And the 49ers are fired up and ready to go with Jimmy G at the helm.

Prediction: SF 28, LAR 9

The Saints control their own destiny. A win clinches the NFC South title, while a Carolina win in Atlanta with a Saints loss gives the division title to the Panthers. Sound complicated? If the Saints take care of business, they win the division.

Prediction: NO 24, TB 17

The Seahawks need win and help, and I don't think they get it. They've been a bad football team this season, and they don't deserve to go to the playoffs over the Falcons. I do think the Cardinals will make it entertaining, as Bruce Arians has won three times in Seattle as Arizona coach. 

Prediction: ARZ 23, SEA 26

Patrick Mahomes makes his first career start this week. So that's neat. You know what's not neat? Watching the 2017 Denver Broncos play football. Draft a quarterback, John!

Prediction: KC 24, DEN 14

Picture credit: http://atlantafalcons.blog.ajc.com/2016/10/03/video-d-led-julio-jones-shreds-panthers/