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| Courtesy of Sam Navarro |
Written by Sam DeCoste
We've made it to 2021. The new year is finally upon us, and we can put 2020 in the back burner once and for all. That being said, there are sixteen games remaining in the 2020 NFL season, twelve of which have significant playoff ramifications. Four playoff spots in the AFC and two Wild Card berths in the NFC will be clinched on Sunday afternoon, as well as the division titles for the AFC South and NFC East. There is no more room for error. It's Week 17, tomorrow is not guaranteed anymore.
My December records were remarkably stellar, but Week 16 halted my momentum to a screeching halt. I went 8-8 in the penultimate week of the season, losing six games by just one score. The remaining sixteen games on the schedule are paramount, and I still have a chance to end the season on a high note. It's now or never.
Thank you all for reading my Predix this season. In the era of COVID-19 with the NFL season at limbo seemingly all year, I am grateful that I could write predictions for all 256 regular season games without a single contest being cancelled. I am even more grateful for my readers and that I could somehow provide escape and distraction from the chaos of the outside world, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your support. Be sure to check back in 2021 for my playoff previews, power rankings, and more football content all year long. Enjoy the Week 17 Predix, and have a wonderful New Year!
Here are my records from this season:
Week 16 record: 8-8
Regular season record: 151-88-1
Lock of the Week record: 12-4
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| Dolphins @ Bills |
Nobody wants to face the Buffalo Bills. They are the hottest team in football, and they are having a lot of fun tearing the league to shreds. Josh Allen's 2020 encore comes against his favorite opponents, the Miami Dolphins. Allen averages 333 total yards per game against the Dolphins in 5 career meetings, and has scored 17 total touchdowns. Seeing that the Bills will send their starters out to clinch the number two seed in the playoffs, the Dolphins defense will have their hands full. Allen has thrown just one interception to 12 touchdown passes in his last four games, and Stefon Diggs has caught 40 passes in the same span for 514 yards and 4 scores. The Allen to Diggs connection is seemingly unstoppable, and Allen can lean on Gabriel Davis, Devin Singletary, and Isaiah McKenzie. Cole Beasley and John Brown may likely rest for the playoffs, but the Bills offense is going to take some stopping. Assuming Allen and the starters are on the field, and the MVP candidate can protect the football, the Bills will steamroll Miami's defense as they did in Week 2.
Dolphins relief pitcher Ryan Fitzpatrick's season is over after testing positive for COVID-19. Fitzpatrick will be unavailable for Miami's must-win game against (one of) his former team(s), as well as a potential Wild Card game. Miami's playoff hopes ride or die with Tua Tagovailoa, who has been pulled out of games twice in the second half when the offense stalled. This may be Tagovailoa's toughest test yet as an NFL quarterback, facing a trendy Bills defense which has allowed 680 yards combined in their last three games. If Josh Allen starts and finishes the game, the Dolphins offense could quickly find themselves in a shootout. While turnovers are key, and the Dolphins defense has come up with them all season long, Tagovalia has to hold up his end and stretch the opponent's defense. Mike Geisicki and DeVante Parker will be matching up against Buffalo's 8th ranked pass defense, and they need to have breakout performances on the day. Miami's playoff hopes are on the line, all hands are on deck.
A Bills win seals the number two seed, but a Dolphins win clinches their first playoff berth since 2016. The Dolphins can lose and still sneak into the playoffs, but they will be concerned with taking care of their own business. Sean McDermott has yet to show his cards as to who will play and for how long, but the Bills still have something to play for. Josh Allen and the Bills will bow out of the regular season riding a six game win streak, and hand the Dolphins their sixth loss of the year.
Prediction: Dolphins 17, Bills 37
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| Steelers @ Browns |
Before the season, if you were to tell Browns fans that the team could thwart their eighteen year playoff drought with a win in Week 17 over Mason Rudolph and the Pittsburgh Steelers, they would shake your hand until it fell off. That being said, no fanbase hates COVID-19 more than the Dawg Pound. Cleveland lost its four starting receivers to virus exposure, and the Browns starved of weapons in their Week 16 loss against the Jets. The likes of Jarvis Landry, Rashad Higgins, and Donovan Peoples-Jones are expected to suit up for the Browns this Sunday, and the offense will have all hands on deck. The Browns can offset Pittsburgh's league-leading defense in sacks and turnovers by running the football on first and second down with Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt, and opening passing lanes for Baker Mayfield on play-action. The Steelers defense will likely sit starters to rest, leaving the Browns room to protect Mayfield, and let the running game run rampant.
Mason Rudolph returns to the scene of the crime in Week 17, a year and a half after Myles Garrett ripped off his helmet and chucked it at his head. Ben Roethlisberger will rest this weekend and hand the keys to Rudolph, who has a chance at revenge. In 14 career games, Rudolph has completed 62.4 percent of his passes for 1,774 yards and 13 touchdowns to 9 interceptions. His young career is wildly mediocre after nearly a full season to show the Steelers he is the future of their franchise. He can flash his arm strength and find a talented and speedy group of receivers, and has a shot to keep the Steelers in the contest. As long as he avoids holding onto the ball too long and turning the ball over, Rudolph can move the chains effectively with time in the pocket, and if the receivers can create separation consistently. The defense will need to thwart Baker Mayfield and bail Rudolph out with impact plays as well, but Mike Tomlin is expected to sit defensive starters as well.
A Steelers win and Bills loss would clinch the number two seed for the Steelers, while a Browns win cements their first playoff berth since 2002. The Steelers fight hard and they should hang around, but the Browns have so much on the line. The past eighteen years have been painful for Browns fans, but this Browns team is different. The drought will finally end.
Prediction: Steelers 13, Browns 23
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| Ravens @ Bengals |
Win and in. If the Ravens beat the Bengals in Week 17, they are back in the playoffs. They are strongly favored to do it while riding their high octane rushing attack. In Baltimore's last four games, the team has amassed 933 total yards on the ground. The Ravens are hot, and they are rediscovering their laser-hot form which won them fourteen games in 2019. Lamar Jackson is shining like the reigning MVP he is, and he is reverting back to his old self. The Ravens offense will lean on pass-run options, which will primarily feature Gus Edwards and J.K. Dobbins taking handoffs from Jackson, and Jackson taking off himself when the read is right. Cincinnati's 25th rushing defense hardly stands a chance to stop them.
Don't look now, but the Bengals have won their last two games, beating the Steelers and Texans. In a wild calendar year that is known as 2020, I never thought I would be praising Brandon Allen for outplaying and outscoring Deshaun Watson, but that is the world that we are living in. Allen completed 29 passes for 371 yards and 2 touchdowns against the Texans a week ago, and a similar performance could be enough to throw the Ravens off guard in the early going. The Bengals receiving core is one of the league's most underrated, featuring rookie Tee Higgins, veteran A.J. Green, and even Alex Erickson is making impact plays on a weekly basis. Giovani Bernard and Samaje Perine can control the game from the line of scrimmage if they see ample touches as well. If the Bengals offenses comes out to play, Allen balls out, and the Ravens defense can be slowed down, this could be more of a nail-biter than most anticipate.
Ravens fans are well aware that anything can happen in Week 17. The Ravens lost to the Bengals in this spot in the 2017 season, botching a window to clinch a playoff berth. Not this time. The Ravens will be playing postseason football.
Prediction: Ravens 33, Bengals 14
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| Cowboys @ Giants |
The Cowboys have come back from the dead and won three straight games, and they are firmly in the mix. Andy Dalton is playing his best football of the season, and has thrown 7 touchdown passes to one interception in the win streak, posting an average quarterback rating of 118. With time in the pocket, Dalton can carve the Giants secondary apart, just as he shredded the Eagles defense a week ago. Reintegrating Ezekiel Elliott into the offense took the unit to another level, and his performance a week ago was Elliott's second 100 yard performance all season. Keeping the Giants defense spread out thin will play into the Cowboys hands. They can stretch the field with the run game, and they can burn the Giants secondary with Amari Cooper, CeeDee Lamb, and the reemerging Michael Gallup. The game is in Andy Dalton's hands, and everything is there for the taking.
Over the past month, the Giants reverted from being the hipster favorite to win the division to withering in place. New York's strength is their defense, but they have been battered and bruised by their last three opponents soundly. Daniel Jones is not apt to keep up in a shootout, so the Giants defense needs to cash in impact plays to stop the Cowboys from scoring recklessly. A stronger running game would go a long way in calming Jones' nerves and the offensive line. Wayne Gallman carried the ball just six times in Baltimore, complimenting Jones' 41 pass attempts. The gap between those two figures has to dwindle away substantially to diversify New York's offensive attack, and to keep the Cowboys defense on their toes. The Cowboys defense leads the NFL in rushing yards allowed per game, and they have been gashed all season long. Gallman, Alfred Morris, and Dion Lewis should be the focal point of the game plan, as it plays directly into their opponent's most glaring weakness.
The winner of this contest can potentially win the NFC East if Washington loses on Sunday night to the Eagles. Trusting the Cowboys this season has been near impossible all season long, but their offense is ticking at the right time. Unless the Giants miraculously decide to run the ball 30 times, the Cowboys will win, and they'll be on the edge of their seats later in the night.
Prediction: Cowboys 30, Giants 22
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| Falcons @ Buccaneers |
Tom Brady and the Bucs face off against Matt Ryan and the Falcons for the second time in fourteen days, with a chance for the Bucs to move up in the playoff standings. It is Tampa's curtain caller to the regular season, and a chance for them to build on the momentum they've developed since their bye week. The Bucs have scored 104 points in their last three games combined, and Brady has 8 touchdown passes in that span. The offense is opening up, and they are growing stronger by the week. Ronald Jones is trending towards returning to the field this Sunday as well, which will reestablish Tampa's rush attack and compliment Brady's rise to form. The Bucs had to rally from a seventeen point deficit in Week 15 to defeat the Falcons, and they do not want to dig themselves into another deficit this time. Run the ball and execute on play-action. But the playoffs are on the horizon, and this is the time of year that Brady goes sicko mode. He's zoned in.
Atlanta's defense will have something to say to Mr. Brady this weekend, coming off one of the best performances the NFL has witnessed in 2020. The Falcons held the Chiefs to 17 points a week ago, and made the offense led by Patrick Mahomes look, frankly, predictable. They can fluster Brady and force him into mistakes, turning the ball over, and taking sacks. On offense, Matt Ryan has to be at his best. It is troublesome for Ryan to thrive when the running game is nonexistent and Julio Jones is unavailable, but he has been able to count on Calvin Ridley and Hayden Hurst all season long. Ridley is Ryan's deep threat to widen the game up, and Hurst can be Ryan's security blanket on third downs. Converting on third down and in the red zone will make the difference for the Falcons.
Over the past four games, the Falcons have lost by a combined deficit of 15 points. They will not roll over against the Bucs in round two. But neither will Tom Brady, and he and the Bucs offense are too overpowered to be stopped.
Prediction: Falcons 16, Buccaneers 27
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| Vikings @ Lions |
When the NFC North rivals take the field this week in Detroit, Dalvin Cook will not be there due to personal reasons. The Vikings will be leaning on their passing game in the curtain raiser, primarily on rookie sensation Justin Jefferson. The rookie has one last game to sway the voters to award him Offensive Rookie of the Year, and he will see no shortage of targets against a decimated Lions defense. Adam Theilen on the other side will make plays of his own, and the passing game should be firing on all cylinders. Alexander Mattison is a solid fill-in for Cook, and the Vikings should be able to run the ball to spice it up, or involve Mattison in the passing game to keep Detroit's defense on their heels. Kirk Cousins can send a statement going into the offseason that he is still Minnesota's quarterback for the foreseeable future.
Matt Stafford could be playing his final game as a Lion. With an inevitable change in leadership looming in the offseason, the Lions are rumored to move on from the former number one overall pick sooner rather than later. Despite his soreness, he will play against the Vikings, and would love nothing more than to finish the season off with a divisional win. Minus Kenny Golladay, the Lions offense is virtually at full strength, and Stafford will spread the ball out all game. D'Andre Swift can cap off his rookie season on Sunday with a strong performance, but the Lions cannot stray away from him early even if they are trailing. The Lions offense has to move the ball for 60 minutes and methodically drive the ball down the field to protect their defense, which gave up nearly 600 yards of offense to the Bucs last week.
Blain Gabbert threw two touchdown passes against the Lions in garbage time last week. That's all you need to know about the state of Detroit's defense. The Vikings will rip them to shreds.
Prediction: Vikings 34, Lions 20
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| Jets @ Patriots |
Bill Belichick is fired up for the offseason. New England's terrible, horrible, no good 2020 will mercifully end after their obligatory home meeting with the New York Jets to close the regular season. Since Belichick has not said otherwise, Cam Newton is expected to start at quarterback once again. It may be the final game Newton starts in a very long time, after a disastrous season for the former MVP and the Patriots offense. Newton has completed 52 total passes and thrown for a combined 449 passing yards in his last five games. His arm strength is inept, and the passing game is nonexistent. The ground game can spearhead the Patriots to a win against the Jets if they lean on Newton's legs, as well as Sony Michel. But the Jets defense has improved dramatically over the course of December, and they will have answers for the Pats predictable rushing attack.
After starting the season 0-13, the Jets have rattled off a pair of consecutive wins and have clinched their spot in the draft. Their draft pick will be unchanged by the outcome of Sunday's game, so there's no reason to hold back. The Jets can lay it all on the line and go for the win to end the season on a three game win streak. Albeit, Sam Darnold's career against the Patriots is horrific. In New Jersey last season, Darnold threw for just 86 passing yards and tossed 4 interceptions. Darnold has to protect the football to sustain offense this time around, and lean on a methodical game plan to drive the ball down the field in long lasting drives to keep the Patriots offense on the sidelines.
These offenses average 190 yards per game each, making for an inevitably low scoring field position battle. It would not be surprising to see the Jets close out the season with a third straight win, considering how rapidly the flame is spreading in New England. But Belichick will set out to close the season with any semblance of momentum they can find, even if that's a Week 17 win against the 2-13 Jets.
Prediction: Jets 14, Patriots 20
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| Packers @ Bears |
For the Bears, this is practically a playoff game. They have to win this game, there's no way around it. Mitchell Trubisky is going to have to go toe-to-toe with Aaron Rodgers for 60 minutes, which bodes horrifically for him. In Week 12 against the Packers, Trubisky threw for 242 yards to three touchdowns and two interceptions, and could not keep up with the unstoppable Green Bay offense. The Bears can win the game if they can fulfill a three point plan. Number one: no turnovers. Absolutely zero. Gift-wrapping extra possessions for Rodgers will end the season very quickly for the Bears. Number two: run the ball, run the ball, run the ball. Suddenly, David Montgomery is the NFL's fifth leading rusher. Ride the hot hand, and trust what is working. The Bears need to control the line of scrimmage to keep Rodgers on the sidelines. Number three: don't settle for field goals. Three point possessions will not outscore the MVP favorite. Go for it on fourth down, be aggressive in the red zone, and score points. Field goals will not beat the Packers.
Historically, the Bears are 0-5 against the Packers in Week 17, and the Bears are 4-20 against the Packers since 2009. If there's a time to rise above and stun the football world by beating your big brother, it's now. But Aaron Rodgers will deliver another vintage performance in Week 17, posterizing the Bars once again. This is my Lock of the Week.
Prediction: Packers 27, Bears 23
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| Cardinals @ Rams |
It is unimaginable to fathom the Rams could miss the playoffs after the season they have had up to this point. But their playoff hopes lie on the shoulders of John Walford. Jared Goff suffered a broken thumb against the Seahawks, and the former AAF legend will suit up for the Rams against the Cardinals. Goff is not the only offensive starter who will not be available, after Cooper Kupp tested positive for COVID-19, Malcolm Brown is banged up, and Darrell Henderson is on injured reserve. Walford has an uphill battle ahead to muster offense without two of LA's most explosive weapons. This is an opportunity for Walford to prove what he's worth, and show if he has a shot at competing for the starting job. But this is not a preseason exhibition, this is the playoffs. Sean McVay will do his best to scheme Robert Woods and Van Jefferson in positions to make splash plays, but it will be challenging to muster it for 60 minutes.
Kyler Murray is banged up after suffering a leg injury against the 49ers, but he is healthy enough to play, and he is not going to miss the chance to lead the Cardinals to the playoffs. Against the 49ers, the Cardinals offense was pathetic. The team converted four of sixteen third downs, and scored just twelve points. Murray was forced to win the game with his arm, but the 49ers congested the pocket all day long for him. Nonetheless, the Cardinals offense is somehow in better shape than the Rams. They can ride Chase Edmonds and Kenyan Drake out of the backfield to a strong running game, but Murray needs to hit the deep pass down the field in between to exploit and wear down the number one defense in the NFL. Protecting the football and converting on third down will be paramount for Arizona to turn the tide from what happened when the Cardinals fell to the Rams in Week 13.
LA's injury report is piling up at the worst time. If the Rams lose to the Cardinals and the Bears defeat the Packers, the Rams will miss the playoffs entirely. John Walford is X-factor, but Kyler Murray has to be trusted in such a big spot.
Prediction: Cardinals 23, Rams 14
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| Seahawks @ 49ers |
There's still a possibility for the Seahawks to clinch home field advantage this late in the season, but they have to beat the 49ers. Since losing to the Giants in Week 14, the Seahawks have regained their footing and are riding a three game win streak. The offense has scored 80 points in its last three, but Russell Wilson has looked like a shell of himself. The once MVP frontrunner has not eclipsed 300 yards passing since Week 9, and has thrown one or fewer touchdown passes in five of seven gams since that mark. The Seahawks need the best version of Wilson to contend in January, and it begins with feeding D.K. Metcalf. The star wideout has just one touchdown reception in his last six games, and has not passed 80 yards receiving since Week 12. Metcalf caught 12 balls for 161 yards and two touchdowns in Week 8 against these Seahawks, and a similar performance would be more than enough to overwhelm the 49ers secondary.
If there's one takeaway to pull from San Francisco's 2020 season, it's that they do not make excuses. The 49ers fight until the end. Even at 6-9, C.J. Beathard and friends are playing hard, and they even took down the Cardinals during their playoff push. They would love nothing more than to foil the Seahawks going into the playoffs. The 49ers will build their game plan around Jeffrey Wilson, who carried the ball 22 times a week ago for 183 yards. George Kittle is back from injury, and he is a game wrecker at the tight end position. A productive day at the office for Wilson opens up the passing lanes for Kittle, and explosive plays for Brandon Aiyuk. The offense is well-coached and schematically sound, and they match up intriguingly with the Seahawks defense which is trending upwards over the course of December. But the offense is streaky, and a turnover meltdown would unravel everything for the 49ers. Protecting the quarterback and the football will decide this game for the 49ers.
Now is the time for the Seahawks to hit their stride. This is a tuneup for Seattle's offense going up against San Francisco's fifth ranked defense in the league. The Seahawks will pass this test, with a challenging postseason looming.
Prediction: Seahawks 20, 49ers 17
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| Saints @ Panthers |
Saints fans had a very Merry Christmas, and Alvin Kamara itched his name into the record books. Kamara scored six touchdowns in Week 16, spearheading a dominant offensive performance by the Saints. Drew Brees is still sorting out his rust, and the offense will not be able to compete in the NFC until he sorts all of it away. But Brees clearly does not have to drop back 40 times to win, Kamara is the key to Ferrari. A dynamic ground game will be dangerous in the playoffs, and should dominate against a young Panthers defense. Kamara opens up play-action and mitigates Carolina's pass rush to protect Brees in the pocket, and open passing lanes up for Emmanuel Sanders and Jared Cook. If Brees submerges 30 pass attempts without turning the ball over, and Kamara touches the ball 20 or more times, the Saints should stroll.
In Week 7, a Will Lutz field goal was the only play to separate the Panthers and Saints in a 27-24 Saints win. The Panthers could not contain the explosive Saints offense, and Alvin Kamara was unstoppable. To throw a monkey wrench into the NFC playoff picture, the Panthers have to run the ball. It sounds simple, but Mike Davis carried the ball just seven times for 12 yards against the Saints in October. An imbalanced offensive attack will not cut it. The Panthers need production from the running backs, even if the Saints rush defense is among the league's best. Likewise, Teddy Bridgewater needs protection to find his speedy receivers deep down the field. The Panthers will win the game with aggression, mistake-free football, and catching the Saints asleep.
This is far from an easy win for the Saints. The Panthers play hard-nosed football under Matt Rhule, and the defense seemingly steps up to the plate against top notch opponents every single game. But the Saints have tunnel vision, and have their sights set on the playoffs. If the Saints are true Super Bowl contenders, then the Panthers should be a walk in the park. Right?
Prediction: Saints 30, Panthers 27
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| Titans @ Texans |
A win over the Texans clinches the first AFC South title for the Titans since 2007. The door was open for them against the Packers in a snowy Green Bay, but they fell flat on their faces in the second half. Strangely enough, Derrick Henry has not wreaked havoc on the NFL in December as he typically does. But the Texans are the perfect matchup for Henry to revert back to his game-wrecking ways. The Texans give up 152 yards per game this season, and Henry posterized their defense in Week 6 with 212 yards rushing and two touchdowns. Henry should see a similar output, and will be itching at the bit to attempt to eclipse 2,000 yards rushing on the season. This week will also be a chance for Ryan Tannehill to redeem himself after a disappointing performance against the Packers, completing under 50 percent of his passes for one touchdown and two interceptions.
Rock bottom is an understatement for the Texans. Brandon Allen and the Bengals put up 37 points against Houston's defense, and Deshaun Watson couldn't pull enough rabbits out of his hat to win all on his own. David Johnson is exploding just as the season is dwindling down, and he could be the decisive factor against the Titans. The Texans have to match Tennessee's output and scoring somehow, and Johnson is the hot hand for Houston. Brandin Cooks will be targeted early and often down the field to stretch out the Titans secondary, but Watson will have time in the pocket to find his man in stride. The Titans total just 14 sacks on the season, which is by far the worst in the NFL. Watson should not worry about running around in the pocket all day as he usually does going against Tennessee's pathetic pass rush.
Deshaun Watson will keep this one close, but Derrick Henry will be unstoppable. The Titans will finally wrap up the AFC South title, and sweep the Texans for the first time since 2007.
Prediction: Titans 28, Texans 23
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| Jaguars @ Colts |
There is a foreseeable possibility that the Colts finish 11-5 and miss the playoffs in an expanded postseason. But if they beat the Jaguars and they get help, they are in. Thirty-nine year old Philip Rivers admitted that the 2020 season could be his last, and Sunday may be his final career regular season game. For him to will the Colts back into the playoffs, he will need to drastically improve from his performance against the Steelers. The Colts offensive coaching staff would be wise to keep the ball out of his hands as much as possible, and let Jonathan Taylor and Nyheim Hines roll over Jacksonville's defense. Rivers can dish it out on play-action with a strong ground game, and find T.Y. Hilton, Michael Pittman, Jr., and Zach Pascal deep down the field. The Colts have too much offensive firepower to be slowed down, but they need to establish the run to have any chance of saving their season.
Jacksonville's draft status does not change based on the outcome of this game. The Jaguars will select first overall in April, but the team will have every motivation to go out and sweep the Colts for the first time since 2017. This team is riding a fourteen game losing streak, but would love to throw a monkey wrench into the AFC playoff picture by upsetting their division rivals. They will have to do it without undrafted rookie sensation James Robinson, which could be troublesome. Mike Glennon will be all on his own behind center unless Dare Ogunbowale runs wild. D.J. Chark and Laviska Shenault, Jr. are explosive receivers who can be frisky in Indy's secondary, but Glennon is a turnover waiting to happen. The Colts defense should devour Glennon and Jacksonville's offense.
The stakes are too high for the Colts to be swept by the Jaguars. It could be close, but the Colts will take care of business this time around.
Prediction: Jaguars 23, Colts 27
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| Raiders @ Broncos |
Another year, another disastrous December for the Raiders. Their inexplicable 26-25 loss to the Dolphins was head-scratching and humiliating, but they have to regroup to end the season with a win against a divisional opponent. Despite the loss, the Raiders can pull some positives. Derek Carr was on the money when it mattered most, Darren Waller's hands are seemingly magnetic, and Nelson Agholor continues to break thee game wide open every week with a game-changing play or two. The offense is strong enough to assert themselves against Denver's stiff defense, but a lack of a running game would demote the Vegas offense into an uninspiring, predictable unit. Josh Jacobs needs more than 13 carries as he toted against the Dolphins. He needs to be the bell cow for the Raiders to win this game.
The Broncos have a lot of questions to answer in the offseason, primarily about their quarterback. Drew Lock leads the NFL in interceptions alongside Carson Wentz, and added two more against the Chargers last week. Lock has to protect the football to bolster his chances of returning as Denver's starter, and to beat the Raiders. He has a stellar young receiving core, led by rookies Jerry Jeudy and KJ Hamler. If Lock protects the ball and dials up their numbers down the field, the Broncos could cook on offense. They cannot forget Melvin Gordon or Philip Lindsay in the backfield, who have been neglected too often this season. A strong ground game calms Lock's nerves, and keeps the defense honest and spread out too thin.
There is nothing to gain for either of these teams other than pride heading into the offseason. The Raiders are the stronger side, but they are their own worst enemies at the moment. They will shoot themselves in the foot again, somehow.
Prediction: Raiders 17, Broncos 23
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| Chargers @ Chiefs |
The road to Super Bowl LV runs through Kansas City. The Chiefs have already clinched the number one seed in the AFC, and they have nothing to play for in Week 17 as the Chargers fly into town. As a result, the Chiefs will look very different. Patrick Mahomes will not play at all, backup Chad Henne will start and look to send the Chiefs to 15-1 in the regular season finale. Chiefs Tyreek Hill, Sammy Watkins, Le'Veon Bell, Clyde-Edwards Helaire, and Mike Remmers did not practice on Thursday, and Andy Reid would be wise to rest all of them. The offense will be curtailed, and Henne will be thrown into the fire against a very talented Chargers defense. Henne is not as mobile or strong-armed as Mahomes, but he will look to lead a methodical offense and drive the ball down the field in lost lasting drives.
Keenan Allen's season is over, after being placed on the COVID-19 list. He will miss the curtain-dropper to Justin Herbert's sensational record-breaking rookie season. With Herbert's touchdown pass to Austin Ekeler against the Broncos, the rookie itched his name in the record books with the most touchdown passes ever by a rookie quarterback. He will seek to harness that momentum in Arrowhead and end the season on a high note, rattling off four straight wins to end 2020. He can neutralize Kansas City's shorthanded defense by controlling the line of scrimmage with Austin Ekeler, and burning the secondary by finding the speedy receivers. Jalen Guyton and Tyron Johnson should have breakout performances of their own.
For all intensive purposes, Kansas City's regular season is over. Week 17 will be Chad Henne's chance to prove his worth, but the Chargers are hot for the first time all year. For just the second time in 2020, the Chiefs will lose.
Prediction: Chargers 24, Chiefs 10
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| Football Team @ Eagles |
If Alex Smith did not go down with a calf injury three weeks ago in Arizona, Washington may have clinched the division by now. Even as tumultuous a week as it has been, the Football Team controls their path to the playoffs. They are in with a win over the eliminated Eagles. Should be easy, right? Not at all. Smith is practicing in very limited capacity, and will be far from 100 percent even if he plays. The offense has been stale all season, and the Football Team may need an explosive attack to outscore a dynamic Eagles offense. Antonio Gibson and JD McKissic are the pieces to the puzzle that can slow Philly's defense down, and control the line of scrimmage. But as the Panthers exposed a week ago, Washington cannot come from behind. If the Eagles lead early, the quarterback, whether Smith or Taylor Heinicke starts, will have to put the team on their back.
Ultimately, the same problems which plagued Carson Wentz reared their ugly heads for Jalen Hurts last week. No running game, regrettable offensive line play, and porous defense eliminated the Eagles from postseason contention in the penultimate game. But they can thwart Washington's postseason plans with a strong curtain closer performance from Jalen Hurts. The second round pick can cement his spot as the Eagles starting quarterback in 2021 with a standout performance under the Sunday night spotlight. He is facing the third ranked pass defense in the NFL, which is allowing under 200 yards per game through the air. He will be running for his life all night with Chase Young and Jonathan Allen breathing down on him, but he has the mobility to escape pressure and keep his eyes down the field. Because Washington's defense is so stellar, the Eagles defense needs to come up with turnovers. Taking the ball away and winning the field position battle could make the difference on the scoreboard.
In crunch time, Washington has failed to show up too often this season. The Football Team cannot be trusted, even if their defense is sensational. The inadequacy at the quarterback position will cost Washington a spot in the playoffs, and the Eagles will come out with the upset.
Prediction: Football Team 10, Eagles 23
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