2013 NFL Season: Week 17 Picks and Upsets

NFL Week 17 Picks, Upsets and Predictions

We like the Eagles to clinch the NFC East and the NFC’s #3 seed. (Credit Kalel2007)

It all comes down to this. Week 17 of the 2013 NFL season features 16 games, 13 of which have direct impact on the 2013-14 NFL playoffs. The schedule makers have done it again, giving us a compelling slate of games that will ensure riveting action from kickoff in Atlanta through the end of Sunday Night Football.

For the first time since the 4 division playoff format was implemented in the NFL, no team from the NFC has clinched a division title. The NFC East (Eagles and Cowboys), NFC North (Packers and Bears), NFC South (Panthers and Saints), and NFC West (Seahawks and 49ers) can all be claimed by 2 teams apiece. While all 4 AFC division titles have been won, no division winner has locked in its playoff seed just yet.

Then there’s the matter of wild card teams. 4 separate AFC teams – the Ravens, Dolphins, Chargers and Steelers – can all claim the AFC’s #6 seed this weekend. In the NFC, the Arizona Cardinals run the risk of being an 11-5 team that’s left out of the playoffs entirely.

Who will emerge victorious in Week 17 and take one step closer to the Super Bowl? Here are SidelineMOB’s final regular season staff picks, for Week 17 of the 2013 NFL season.

2013 NFL Week 17: LOCK of the Week

SEATTLE (home) over St. Louis

2013 NFL Week 17: UPSET of the Week

HOUSTON (away) over Tennessee

2013 NFL Week 17 picks and predictions

Carolina at Atlanta: Should the Falcons spring the upset here, it would provide a very interesting launch point for Week 17 in the NFL. The Panthers could, conceivably, fall all the way from the NFC’s #2 seed to the #6 seed with a loss and wins by New Orleans and San Francisco. The Panthers need this victory as much as any team in the NFC needs a win this week – home field advantage and a first-round bye will likely mean the difference between an NFC Championship appearance and a wild card loss. Panthers 26, Falcons 17.

Baltimore at Cincinnati: The Ravens need to win this game to make the AFC playoffs (as the chances of San Diego, Miami and Pittsburgh all losing are slim). The Bengals are 7-0 at home this season, and a win could put them in line for the AFC’s #2 seed and a first-round bye. With a sterling home record and the AFC’s #2 scoring defense, the Bengals would be a frightening home playoff team for any opponent. We just can’t pick a Ravens team that’s 2-5 on the road here. Bengals 24, Ravens 23.

Houston at Tennessee: If a big upset occurs this week, chances are it takes place in one of the 3 games that have zero playoff implications. The Houston Texans have to be the best 2-win team we’ve seen in years, while the Titans are hobbling towards the finish line. Even if Houston wins this game, they’re still in line for the #1 pick (or #2 at worst) in the 2014 NFL Draft, so there’s no harm in a victory. Texans 26, Titans 20.

Jacksonville at Indianapolis: Easily the least appealing of all games with playoff implications. Indianapolis has won the AFC South, and can only achieve a first round bye with home losses by the Patriots and Bengals. In all likelihood, the Colts will play the Chiefs on AFC wild card weekend. Colts 32, Jaguars 17.

NY Jets at Miami: Some how, some way, the Dolphins may find their way into the AFC playoffs after a tumultuous season. After losing Jake Long in free agency, Jonathan Martin, Richie Incognito, the media firestorm, and everything in between, Miami is on the cusp of a wild card berth. Note to the New York Jets: this is how you play through a media circus. Dolphins 24, Jets 20.

Detroit at Minnesota: Just a few weeks ago, the Detroit Lions controlled their own destiny in the NFC North. Now, they’re not even eligible for the playoffs. Both Jim Schwartz and Leslie Frazier are coaching for their jobs – it may turn out that while the Vikings are willing to fight for Frazier, the Lions players may be just about done with Schwartz. There’s no accountability in Detroit. Vikings 27, Lions 24.

Washington at NY Giants: The Redskins have no reason to “tank” this game for NFL draft positioning; their pick belongs to the Rams this year thanks to Robert Griffin III and his 1 1/2 functional knees. So Washington will play hard – well, as hard as a 3-12 team with a lame duck coach and a backup QB can. The only suspense surrounding this game is whether or not Eli Manning can throw 6 interceptions. Giants 31, Redskins 21.

Cleveland at Pittsburgh: The Browns are once again going to be a trendy sleeper team during the 2014 NFL offseason, but this game is all about the Steelers’ last-ditch efforts to make the NFL playoffs. Pittsburgh needs too many breaks to make it happen, but Mike Tomlin and company will at least take care of their business at home. Then, they have to figure out how to enhance their aging core. Steelers 25, Browns 16.

Green Bay at Chicago: Aaron Rodgers is back just in time for the weight of Wisconsin to be placed squarely on his shoulders (again). Meanwhile, Jay Cutler is playing for his career (and a contract) in Chicago. Should the Packers win on the road, they will become the most dangerous 8-7-1 team in playoff history. Note to the Bears’ front office: even if you make the playoffs, please remember the coach you fired won 10 games last year. Marc Trestman can go (at best) 9-7, and he sold the Bears defense to the CFL for a plate of poutine. Packers 31, Bears 27.

Denver at Oakland: Denver is playing for the #1 seed in the AFC playoffs, and Peyton Manning needs less than 270 yards to break Drew Brees’ single-season record for passing yards. Meanwhile, the Oakland Raiders are playing for a game check. Broncos 36, Raiders 20.

Buffalo at New England: The Bills can play a big-time divisional spoiler this weekend: by defeating New England, the Bills can send the Patriots plummeting as far down as the #4 seed in the AFC. With a win, New England secures a first round playoff bye and at least 1 home game. Strangely enough, these teams haven’t met since Week 1 (a 23-21 Patriots victory). The Bills are 2-5 on the road. Patriots 30, Bills 20.

Tampa Bay at New Orleans: If it wasn’t for the Atlanta Falcons laying a giant egg this season, there’d be a lot more NFC South-related heat on Greg Schiano, wouldn’t there? Any scenario in which Schiano could keep his job after this season seems implausible. Meanwhile, the Saints must have this game to have any chance of snagging the NFC #2 seed (and NFC South title) from Carolina. Saints 34, Buccaneers 17.

San Francisco at Arizona: The Arizona Cardinals could go 11-5 and miss the playoffs. Even if they win this game, Arizona needs the Saints to lose in order to make the playoffs (as the 49ers have already clinched, with tiebreakers over the Cardinals). But win or lose, the case can – and should – be made that Bruce Arians is in line for back-to-back NFL Coach of the Year honors. Meanwhile, if Seattle loses 2 in a row at home to St. Louis, the 49ers would get the NFC’s #1 seed. (They won’t.) 49ers 28, Cardinals 24.

Kansas City at San Diego: The Chiefs are resting many of their starters for most or all of this contest, as KC is locked into the #5 seed in the AFC playoffs. This gives the Chargers a golden opportunity – San Diego reaches the playoffs with a win and losses by Miami and Baltimore, and the Chiefs are virtually gift-wrapping this win for Philip Rivers. It’s a longshot, but the Chargers should be able to take care of their own business come Week 17. Chargers 27, Chiefs 17.

St. Louis at Seattle: Forget all the playoff implications here. The simple fact is that Russell Wilson just lost his first home game ever as the Seahawks QB after a 14-0 start at CenturyLink Field. He’s not losing at home in two consecutive games. Seattle wraps up home field. Seahawks 35, Rams 16.

Philadelphia at Dallas, Sunday Night Football: Tony Romo is out for this game, which may be a blessing in disguise for his career: should Romo have lost this game at home, Dallas fans would finally have shown up at Jerry Jones’ door with pitchforks and torches demanding Romo’s head. Now, no one’s going to blame Kyle Orton for dropping this one – not when it’s painfully obvious the Cowboys’ defense is the problem. Eagles 34, Cowboys 20.

WEEK 16 PICKS: 10-6

OVERALL 2013 NFL SEASON RECORD THRU WEEK 15: 156-83-1 (65.2%)