NFL 2024 (Week 17)

Patrick Mahomes and Ben Roethlisberger have spoken out about the NFL's decision to play on Christmas this season, despite it being a Wednesday, and forcing four playoff teams to play three games in 11 days as a result.  They aren't wrong.  But here we are.  The end of the brutal stretch for Steelers, Chiefs, Ravens and Texans before they get at least 10 days off.  (See how much dumber that looks when you put it in that perspective?)

Anyway, with the Christmas games and the NFL Network tripleheader, there are eight games in national windows this week!  There are only eight games total on Sunday afternoon!  And, by the end of the Monday night game, the NFL will have played on 11 of 16 days from December 15-30.  That's a lot of football!

Chiefs (14-1) at Steelers (10-5): Kansas City-Kansas City just finds ways to win.  It's been the same story all season.  They play a one-score game seemingly every week.  Every week, they manage to win.  So, why should we think their matchup with the Steelers will be any different?  Sure, we saw them lose to the Raiders last Christmas.  Their only loss since then came in Buffalo in Week 11.  They wrap up the three games in 11 days stretch with another one-score win, while Pittsburgh (who had by far the most difficult schedule of the four teams) finishes it 0-3.

Ravens (10-5) at Texans (9-6): Houston-The last time Beyonce performed at halftime of a Ravens game, she made the power go out and Baltimore almost blew a 28-6 lead after it came back on.  Yes, that was 12 years ago.  Let's hope it doesn't happen again.  Although, she's from Houston, so it's a much easier trip for her this time.  This matchup could easily be repeated two weeks from now in the wild card round.  Playoff preview or not, look for the Texans to win it.

Seahawks (8-7) at Bears (4-11): Seattle-After back-to-back home losses against the Packers and Vikings, Seattle's playoff hopes are hanging by a thread.  The Seahawks went just 3-6 at home this season, which really is remarkable when you consider how much of a home field advantage they've typically had through the years.  Anyway, they're on the road this week.  And playing the Bears.  If they can't beat Chicago, they'll need some help from the Cardinals to have any shot at having next week matter.

Chargers (9-6) at Patriots (3-12): Chargers-You really don't know what you're getting from the Chargers week-to-week.  They got their butts kicked in the second half by Tampa Bay, then completely turn around the Denver game with a free kick field goal at the end of the first half.  And it's got them in prime position to return to the playoffs in Jim Harbaugh's first season at the helm.  Their path is much easier than Denver's too.  The Chargers finish with the Patriots and Raiders and only need to win one.

Broncos (9-6) at Bengals (7-8): Denver-This is effectively a playoff game for Denver.  If they beat the Bengals, they're in for the first time since they won Super Bowl 50 nine years ago.  If they don't, they need to beat Kansas City next week.  Even though they arguably should've beaten the Chiefs the first time, they don't want to rely on that.  Especially since it's not just the Bengals who have a chance at catching them.  Cincinnati, meanwhile, needs to win both this game and next week in Pittsburgh to have any chance.

Cardinals (7-8) at Rams (9-6): Rams-While I don't think it's likely, it's possible the Rams could clinch the division this week.  (They need a win and either a Seahawks loss or a bunch of other teams winning.)  Quite the turnaround for a team that started 1-4!  And they're only getting better too!  That'll be quite a game against the Packers in the playoffs!  I'm getting ahead of myself a little bit, though.  They play Seattle next week in a game that should officially decide the division title (my guess would be on Saturday night).

Jets (4-11) at Bills (12-3): Buffalo-It'll be interesting to see how the Bills handle this game if the Chiefs win on Wednesday and clinch the 1-seed.  They'll actually be locked into the 2-seed if Kansas City and Houston both win.  Things will obviously be much different if either or both of the AFC North teams win, so you know they'll be paying attention on Christmas.  Regardless of what their situation is, I'd imagine they'll play their starters against the Jets, then use Week 18 against New England as their quasi-bye before the playoffs.

Titans (3-12) at Jaguars (3-12): Jacksonville-Third place in the AFC South will be decided here.  When these two met three weeks ago, it was a 10-6 slog won by the Jaguars.  Since then, Jacksonville has lost to two other bad teams (the Jets and Raiders), while the Titans have been competitive against Cincinnati and Indianapolis.  Even still, the game is in Jacksonville, which is enough for me to say the Jaguars take it and sweep the season series.

Raiders (3-12) at Saints (5-10): New Orleans-That was the first shutout in the NFL this season on Monday night.  Needless to say, it wasn't a good showing by the Saints' offense.  They won't be exposed to the elements or the frigid December Green Bay air this time, though.  They're back at home in the climate-controlled Superdome against a bad Raiders team.  That Raiders team is coming off a win, however.  It was against Jacksonville, but it was still a win.

Colts (7-8) at Giants (2-13): Indianapolis-Indianapolis has very realistic playoff hopes.  The Broncos are playing Cincinnati and Kansas City.  They're playing the Giants and Jaguars.  Of course, they can win both and still not make it.  And if they lose one, they'll be eliminated.  Which they'll deserve to be.  The Giants, on the other hand, can "accomplish" two things with a loss.  They can finish winless at home and lock up the No. 1 pick in the Draft for the first time since 1965.

Cowboys (7-8) at Eagles (12-3): Philadelphia-How long will Jalen Hurts be out?  That's the big question surrounding the Eagles.  With their loss last week, the 1-seed is pretty much gone.  But, more significantly, they haven't clinched the division yet.  So, they need to get a win and wrap that up.  And you know that the Cowboys would love to come into Philadelphia and play the spoiler.  It's so crazy that a Cowboys-Eagles game was flexed out of the national doubleheader spot, too.

Panthers (4-11) at Buccaneers (8-7): Tampa Bay-Tampa Bay is going to end up ruing that loss in Dallas.  The Bucs were in control of the NFC South, but now find themselves trailing Atlanta and needing some help to win another division title.  Of course, the Falcons are in Washington, so that help might come.  They absolutely can't lose to Carolina, though.  And they know this will be a tough game.  The Panthers won last week and the game went to overtime when these two met in Charlotte.

Dolphins (7-8) at Browns (3-12): Miami-Did the Dolphins dig themselves too big of a hole to make the playoffs?  Miami is 5-2 since starting the season 2-6 and ends with Cleveland and the Jets, so that could easily be a 7-2 finish.  Both of their remaining games are on the road, though, so it's not a lock.  The Dolphins need to win both if they're to have any chance at a wild card berth that seemed so far out of reach just a few weeks ago.

Packers (11-4) at Vikings (13-2): Minnesota-Are they just waiting until this one's over to announce Vikings-Lions as Game 272?  Because I really don't know what else it'll be.  And, if Minnesota wins on Sunday, it'll be guaranteed to be for the division and 1-seed in the NFC regardless of how the Lions do on Monday night.  Should the Packers win, however, Detroit can clinch the division on Monday night.  Although, it is relevant that Green Bay is 0-4 this season against the three NFC teams with fewer losses than them, including a loss to the Vikings at Lambeau.

Falcons (8-7) at Commanders (10-5): Washington-Somebody's got a chance to clinch something on Sunday night.  Washington can secure its first playoff berth since 2020 (and first wild card since 2007) with a win, while the Falcons could potentially wrap up the NFC South with a win and a Tampa Bay loss.  Atlanta hasn't been to the playoffs since 2017, when their head coach was...current Commanders coach Dan Quinn!  Good call to flex this one into Sunday night!  

Lions (13-2) at 49ers (6-9): Detroit-When the schedule was made the NFC Championship Game rematch in the final Monday night game of the season seemed like a no-brainer.  Except the Lions were the only team that got the memo.  They're going for the 1-seed, while the 49ers have already been eliminated.  Detroit will know going into the game whether they can clinch the 1-seed, but they also have the luxury of knowing that even with a loss, they can play for it in Week 18.

Last Week: 10-6
Overall: 155-85