NFL Week 17 Predictions

 

Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens runs for a touchdown during an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Sunday, Sept. 18, 2022, at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, MD. (Joey Pulone/Baltimore Ravens)

It's hard to believe, but the 2023 NFL regular season is almost over. There are only two weeks left in the season and the playoff race is starting to heat up with the postseason approaching.

This week, there are some big games on tap, including a matchup between the top two teams in the AFC (Dolphins-Ravens), a heavyweight showdown in the NFC (Lions-Cowboys), and a de facto elimination game on "Sunday Night Football" between the Packers and the Vikings.

Let's get straight to the predictions!

Saturday Night:

Detroit Lions (11-4) @ Dallas Cowboys (10-5): 8:15 p.m. EST (on ABC/ESPN/ESPN+)

This is a huge game. The Lions just clinched a division title for the first time in 30 years with a win over the Vikings, and they look like a prime darkhorse Super Bowl contender led by their elite offence. However, on the other side of the spectrum, the Cowboys have lost back-to-back games on the road to the Bills and the Dolphins. The good news for Dallas, though, is that this game is at home, where they are 7-0 this season. Dak Prescott and the 'Boys will bounce back and win a shootout at AT&T Stadium.

Lions 30 Cowboys 33

Sunday Afternoon:

Miami Dolphins (11-4) @ Baltimore Ravens (12-3): 1:00 p.m. EST (on CBS)

The stakes couldn't get any higher for this matchup. With a win, the Dolphins will clinch the AFC East for the first time since 2008, while if the Ravens win, they will clinch home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs. Both teams are evenly matched, so expect this one to be close.

 The Dolphins managed to get the best of the Ravens in their meeting last season, but this time around, look for Baltimore's elite defence to slow down Tua Tagovailoa and Tyreek Hill just enough, while Lamar Jackson continues to build his MVP resume. The Ravens will win, and ensure that the road to the Super Bowl in the AFC will have to go through M&T Bank Stadium.

Dolphins 24 Ravens 26

Tennessee Titans (5-10) @ Houston Texans (8-7): 1:00 p.m. EST (on FOX)

This is a must-win game for the Texans, who are currently sitting outside of the AFC playoff picture. Meanwhile, the Titans have already been eliminated from playoff contention, and they are just 1-6 on the road in 2023. Look for Houston (with rookie sensation C.J. Stroud cleared to play after missing the last two weeks with a concussion) to win comfortably at home.

Titans 13 Texans 24

San Francisco 49ers (11-4) @ Washington Commanders (4-11): 1:00 p.m. EST (on FOX)

Tough spot for the Commanders here. San Francisco just got thoroughly outplayed by the Ravens on Christmas Day, and they will be motivated to win this game as they continue to pursue clinching the number one seed in the NFC. Brock Purdy had a tough outing against Baltimore's ferocious defence, but Washington's defence is dreadful. The 49ers will win big on the road.

49ers 38 Commanders 17

Atlanta Falcons (7-8) @ Chicago Bears (6-9): 1:00 p.m. EST (on CBS)

The Falcons managed to snap a two-game losing streak last week by beating the Colts to keep their postseason hopes alive. But going on the road and beating a rapidly improving Bears team won't be easy. After starting the season off with a 2-7 record, the Bears have now won four out of their last six games. I say they'll make it five out of seven on Sunday afternoon.

Falcons 17 Bears 23

New England Patriots (4-11) @ Buffalo Bills (9-6): 1:00 p.m. EST (on CBS)

The Patriots have won back-to-back road games against the Steelers and the Broncos respectively. But can they go on the road and beat a red-hot Bills team that is trying to make the playoffs and still has a chance to win the division? I don't think so. Josh Allen and Co. will take care of business against the Pats and set up a Week 18 AFC East division title matchup against the Dolphins next week.

Patriots 14 Bills 27

Carolina Panthers (2-13) @ Jacksonville Jaguars (8-7): 1:00 p.m. EST (on CBS)

Coming into December, the Jaguars were 8-3 and had their eyes set on the coveted number-one seed in the AFC. Since then, Jacksonville has lost four straight games, and right now, they are in serious danger of missing the playoffs, let alone not winning their division. Franchise quarterback Trevor Lawrence will miss his first game of his career on Sunday with a shoulder injury, and the Jags have struggled at home this season (3-5 record at EverBank Stadium). Behind star running back Travis Etienne Jr., they will manage to beat the lowly Panthers, but it will be close.

Panthers 20 Jaguars 21

Arizona Cardinals (3-12) @ Philadelphia Eagles (11-4): 1:00 p.m. EST (on FOX)

On paper, this game looks like a complete mismatch. A rebuilding Cardinals team going on the road against the defending NFC champion Eagles? Looks like a blowout, right? Not so fast.

The Eagles managed to snap their three-game losing streak with a Christmas Day win over the Giants, but the fact that they struggled to put away a below-average Giants team (in Philly) has to cause some concern. Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon was Philadelphia's defensive coordinator from 2021-2022 so that familiarity could help Arizona stay in this game for a while before the Eagles eventually pull away with the victory.

Cardinals 19 Eagles 27

Las Vegas Raiders (7-8) @ Indianapolis Colts (8-7): 1:00 p.m. EST (on CBS)

Both teams desperately need to win this game. Under interim head coach Antonio Pierce, the Raiders have impressed lately, winning back-to-back games (including a stunning victory over the Chiefs in Kansas City on Christmas Day). Meanwhile, the Colts have lost two out of their last three games, but they've also won three straight games at home. In a reversal from an eerily similar matchup between these two squads in 2022, Indy will win a close one and inch ever closer to clinching a playoff berth.

Raiders 17 Colts 20

Los Angeles Rams (8-7) @ New York Giants (5-10): 1:00 p.m. EST (on FOX)

After starting the season with a 3-6 record, the Rams have won five out of their last six games (with their only loss coming in overtime to the league-leading Ravens in Baltimore). Led by Matthew Stafford, Cooper Kupp, Puka Nacua, Aaron Donald, and head coach Sean McVay, this is a dangerous Rams team that knows how to win during this time of year. The Giants will put up a fight, but L.A. will march on to continue their winning ways.

Rams 31 Giants 21

New Orleans Saints (7-8) @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-7): 1:00 p.m. EST (on FOX)

With a win over the Saints, the Buccaneers will clinch a playoff berth and the NFC South for the third consecutive season. The Saints have been one of the most inconsistent teams in the NFL in 2023, but with their season on the line, they will show up in this one. However, the Bucs (winners of four straight) are just playing better football at the moment, and they are at home. Baker Mayfield will continue to play at a high level and help Tampa Bay punch their ticket to the playoffs.

Saints 23 Buccaneers 26

Pittsburgh Steelers (8-7) @ Seattle Seahawks (8-7): 4:05 p.m. EST (on FOX)

Both teams are mirror images of each other. The Steelers and the Seahawks are led by future Hall of Fame head coaches, and both squads are 8-7, right in the thick of the playoff race. Seattle has won back-to-back games in dramatic fashion, while the Steelers managed to snap their three-game losing streak with an emphatic win over the Bengals. Led by backup quarterback Mason Rudolph (who was fantastic in last week's win), Pittsburgh will go on the road and do something they haven't done in 40 years: win a game in Seattle.

Steelers 23 Seahawks 20

Los Angeles Chargers (5-10) @ Denver Broncos (7-8): 4:25 p.m. EST (on CBS)

The Broncos have been in the spotlight over the last few days, as head coach Sean Payton decided to bench quarterback Russell Wilson. Jarrett Stidham will start in his place, and with their slim postseason hopes on the line, look for Denver to come out aggressively in this one. The Chargers will keep it close, but the Broncos will come out with the win at home.

Chargers 17 Broncos 24

Cincinnati Bengals (8-7) @ Kansas City Chiefs (9-6): 4:25 p.m. EST (on CBS)

Over the last few seasons, Bengals-Chiefs has become the best rivalry in the NFL. These two teams have met in the last two AFC Championship Games (with each team winning one). The main difference this time around, of course, is that Cincinnati won't have Joe Burrow available for this one. Meanwhile, Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs are mightily struggling right now, but fortunately for K.C., the Bengals' pass defence is one of the worst in the NFL. Mahomes will outplay Jake Browning in a shootout to clinch the AFC West for the Chiefs for the eighth consecutive season.

Bengals 27 Chiefs 30

Sunday Night:

Green Bay Packers (7-8) @ Minnesota Vikings (7-8): 8:20 p.m. EST (on NBC)

As previously mentioned, this is basically a playoff game, with the winner still having a chance to clinch a playoff berth next week, and the loser having less than a 2% chance of making the playoffs. The Vikings are benching quarterback Nick Mullens and are starting rookie quarterback Jaren Hall in his place, as Mullens has struggled with turnovers. The Packers' defence has been abysmal over the last three weeks and will be without All-Pro corner Jaire Alexander for this matchup, so Hall will certainly have his opportunities down the field in this one.

On the flip side, Jordan Love has played very well over the last two months, and the Vikings' defence has struggled recently, allowing 57 points over their last two games. 

This will be a back-and-forth affair between the two NFC North rivals, with Love making a few key plays late to help Green Bay steal a road victory at U.S. Bank Stadium.

Packers 31 Vikings 28