2018 Week 17 Predix

Photo from Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

Written by Sam DeCoste

Well, folks, this is it. We have reached the end of the 2018 regular season, and what a season it has been. The records, the upsets, the struggling powerhouses, and the surprise stories. But there is still so much more to play for with a game to spare!
The Steelers could miss the playoffs for the first time since 2013 if the Ravens win, the Eagles could miss the playoffs just ten months following the franchise's first ever Super Bowl victory, and the Colts and Titans are set to battle for just one playoff spot in the final game of 2018. For twenty teams, it's time for offseason vacations, and looking towards 2019 to make sure they are in next year's tournament. For the other twelve teams, it will be time to start dreaming about what could be. 
For the final time this year, it is time for the Predix. Thank you for tuning in all year into the weekly Predix, and make sure to continue reading during the postseason! Without further ado, let's get to the Predix!

Here are my season records:

Lock of the Week record: 10-6
Last week's record: 11-5
Regular season record: 154-84-2

 DAL @ NYG

After a blistering midseason run from Dallas to catapult them atop the NFC East, Dallas is falling off a bit. Getting blanked by the Colts and letting the Bucs compete for so long is discouraging for the Cowboys going forward. You hope to see playoff teams building momentum going into January, but that was thwarted over the holidays. Jason Garrett can't afford to rest starters in Jersey this week, they need to rediscover their confidence and winning mojo, with a likely matchup with Seattle looming next week. The Giants may be without Odell Beckham once again, while Saquon drops the curtain on his fantastic rookie campaign. But the good news for Dallas is Eli Manning is starting at quarterback, which always gives the opposition a chance to win. Dallas will end the season with ten wins, twice as many as the Giants.

Prediction: DAL 20, NYG 10

  JAX @ HOU

Under fire head coach Doug Marrone announced Blake Bortles will return as starting quarterback this week to end what has been a profoundly underwhelming season for the team formally known as Sacksonville. There won't be much to play for on either side in Houston this Sunday, especially after the Texans lost a heartbreaker to the Eagles last week. The odds that the Texans clinch a first round bye lies in the hands of the New York Jets, and that's highly unlikely to fall in their favor. I like the Texans to end their season with their eleventh victory, awaiting results elsewhere to determine their next opponent.

Prediction: JAX 16, HOU 19

 DET @ GB

Could former Lions head coach, Jim Caldwell, actually be the man in Green Bay? Honestly, probably not. But imagine how Lions fans would feel about that. In all seriousness, it's time for the Lions and Packers to call it a lost season, get out, and recharge. Green Bay should win the game, given their home record against the Lions is terrific, and Aaron Rodgers is the clear X-Factor between the two sides. He'll also report to games on time (cough cough Matt Patricia cough cough).

Prediction: DET 17, GB 27

 CAR @ NO

Strangely enough, the last time the Saints had homefield, they were 13-3, their three losses at the hands of Tampa Bay, Dallas, and Carolina. The Saints have already lost twice to Tampa Bay and Dallas, now Carolina is in town. Could it be? No. I don't think Kyle Allen's Panthers stand a shot to win any game, ever, but that would be pretty cool if it came to fruition like it did in 2009. New Orleans also won the Super Bowl that year. Saints fans, it's time to dream. Also, book your reservations in Atlanta right now. 

Prediction: CAR 6, NO 16

 MIA @ BUF

Buffalo will no longer have to play the role of spoiler this week, given that Miami spoiled their own playoff dreams with a humiliating defeat at the hands of the Jags, at home last week. The same Jags squad which let Josh Johnson win a game in their building, prevailed over a Dolphins team which actually had something to play for. Adam Gase is certainly a possible head coach who will be looking for a job somewhere else in 2019. As for Buffalo, the Bills have the opportunity to win their sixth game of the season, which is six more than most people really thought they could win this year. Josh Allen has showed the country just what made the Bills fall in love with him in the draft, and going forward, if the front office surrounds him with foundational pieces, the Bills can give some serious problems to their division foes up in New England. 

Prediction: MIA 16, BUF 21

 ATL @ TB

In the summer, I projected the Falcons to win the South, win twelve games, and make another run for the Super Bowl. However, I forgot that Steve Sarkisian called the plays. That's on me. But they were decimated by injuries this season, beginning on opening night, when they lost Keanu Neal, Deion Jones, Andy Levitre, Ricardo Allen, and Devontae Freeman, most of them to season-ending injuries. If Dan Quinn decides to move on from Sarkisian, and the offense looks even a fraction like their 2016 selves, and they get healthy again, Atlanta has another season before their championship window closes. Tampa Bay's 2018 campaign, on the other hand, was sabotaged from the start, when the Glazer family decided to retain Dirk Koetter has head coach. Hopefully, the Bucs can learn to move on and hire a new head coach to take what is actually a very talented squad to a place they haven't been since 2007, the NFL Playoffs.

Prediction: ATL 29, TB 24

 NYJ @ NE

Bill Belichick will not be resting his starters Week 17, because the Patriots badly need more reps, practice, and most importantly, momentum. More than ever, the Patriots haven't looked themselves in 2018, and they need to rediscover their winning mentality going into the postseason, or else they will be humbled in a few weeks. However, in a pedestrian conference, New England is among the favorites once again to go back to the Super Bowl. They're certainly the favorite against the Jets. It's not 2010.

Prediction: NYJ 14, NE 26

 OAK @ KC

The road to the Super Bowl runs through Arrowhead Stadium. Only a loss and a Patriots victory puts KC at the two seed, but the chances the Chiefs choke in the eleventh hour after a season of dominance are miniscule. The Chiefs will cruise to a Week 17 victory to end their season atop the AFC against a Raiders organization without a home in 2019.

Prediction: OAK 20, KC 24

 PHI @ WSH

Don't look now, but an Eagles victory combined with a Vikings loss sends the Super Bowl champs back into the playoffs. Nick Foles under center has invigorated what was a hopeless 6-7 football team just three weeks ago. Whether or not Philly gets the help they need is up for debate, but there is no chance the Eagles slip up against Josh Johnson's Redskins with their season on the line. This is my Lock of the Week.

Prediction: PHI 28, WSH 14 

 CHI @ MIN

There are teams that have the luxury of resting players to rest up before the postseason. Chicago is not one of them. First off, the Bears still have a shot at clinching the two seed and a first round bye, if they win and Los Angeles loses. The odds may be against them, but Matt Nagy will want his team to win. Also, if the Vikings prevail this week, the Bears will be playing their division rivals again next week in Chicago. While the Bears may feel confident that they can beat the Vikings like they did back in Week 11, surely you don't want to face up against a division foe in the postseason. But there is more motivation from Minnesota than there is Chicago to win this game, because if the Vikings lose, they will probably be going home much earlier than they anticipated. But since the firing of OC John DeFilippo, the Vikings have turned it on, rushing for 160 yards per game and allowing 26 combined points in the past two games. If they can replicate that game winning formula, Minnesota will survive, and enjoy a taste of revenge, knocking Philly out.

Prediction: CHI 17, MIN 27

 CIN @ PIT

The Steelers have nobody but themselves to blame for what appears to be a lost season. At 7-2-1, Pittsburgh held a three game lead atop the North with six games to play. With three straight losses against the Broncos, Chargers, and Raiders, the Steelers, their season turned upside down, and now their fate no longer rests in their own hands. The only chance the Steelers have of returning to the postseason is by beating a hapless Cincinnati Bengals squad at home, along with a Ravens loss at home to the Cleveland Browns. How bout that? The Steelers' playoff hopes rest in the hands of Baker Mayfield and the Cleveland Browns. Before the Steelers can even consider help elsewhere, they need to get their own business done. They should get it done, but they need to be careful of scoreboard watching.

Prediction: CIN 17, PIT 20

 CLE @ BAL

Ravens fans are hoping their season doesn't end in heartbreak as 2017 did. The scenario is eerily similar to that from this time a year ago - win, and you're in. There is nothing Pittsburgh can do to prevent Baltimore from winning their first division crown since 2012 if the Ravens find a way to beat the Browns who have nothing to play for. As long as Baker Mayfield is on the field, the Browns have a shot. But with Lamar Jackson running the football, keeping opposing offenses off the field, and defenses shutting down opposing signal callers. The ultimate inhibitor to being spoiled in this spot is a great defense, and you won't find a better defense than the one in Baltimore. Nobody wants to play them next month.

Prediction: CLE 17, BAL 24

 LAC @ DEN

The Chargers had to be pulling their hair out last Sunday night, when the Chiefs lost to Seattle. A win over the Ravens for LA would have them in the driver's seat to clinch homefield advantage, something the Chargers haven't had since 2006. It's going to be difficult for LA to find the motivation to go out and win this game, but they need to, with elimination football looming. While Week 17 tends to produce crazy upsets, Denver just lost Philip Lindsay, who was their biggest offensive threat, and the Oakland Raiders punched them in the mouth on offense, so it's hard to see them putting up much of a fight. 

Prediction: LAC 20, DEN 13

 SF @ LAR

This time last year, the Rams had their playoff spot locked up, and they opted to rest their indispensables for the Wild Card round. San Francisco was the opponent, and they blew the Rams out. The following week, the Rams were flat, and a shadow of themselves when it mattered most. Sean McVay won't make that mistake again, especially with Chicago bearing down on their necks for the first round bye, so the Rams will go for the win. That puts the Niners out of the question. Next year will be put up or shut up time for the Shanahan-Lynch regime in the Bay.

Prediction: SF 14, LAR 27

 ARZ @ SEA

Surprisingly, the Cardinals are 4-1 in their last five trips to CenturyLink. However, those were the days of Bruce Arians. This is what appears to be the one-year long Steve Wilks era, which could end this week, as they face up against a playoff bound Seahawks squad. Whether or not Pete Carroll will go for the win or not is up in the air, they should have enough talent and coaching to outlast Arizona to win their tenth game of 2018. What a year it has been for Pete Carroll, undoubtedly the best year of his coaching career. To coach up what should be a 4-12, maybe 6-10 football team, into a Wild Card spot, is very impressive.

Prediction: ARZ 9, SEA 20

 IND @ TEN

The playoffs begin a week early for Indianapolis and Tennessee. Winner moves on, loser goes home. While this matchup appears to be promising on paper, there is a clear and obvious favorite. How will the Titans upset the Colts with their quarterback less than one hundred percent, if he plays at all? Tennessee won't make the playoffs handing Derrick Henry the ball 50 times, not on this Colts D. In the past two weeks, against Ezekiel Elliott and Saquon Barkley, the Colts surrendered a combined 130 yards. They know how to shut down a running game, which travels well in the postseason. Not to mention Andrew Luck is having a darkhorse MVP season, throwing for 4,308 yards and 36 TD passes. But most importantly, Luck has never lost to the Titans in his career. In the biggest game between these two in a very long time, the Colts will prevail and face off against another division rival next week. 

Prediction: IND 23, TEN 17