Week 17 NFL picks: Raiders-Chiefs and all others
Nov 15, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs strong safety Ron Parker (38) intercepts a pass intended for Denver Broncos wide receiver Cody Latimer (14) during the second half at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The Chiefs won 29-13. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
It’s Week 17 of the National Football League season, and that means a bunch of bad teams playing out the string mixed with some good teams desperately fighting for a postseason spot.
It is a weird mix, frankly. There are some games that mean nothing with half-empty stadiums. Then, the other half of the league has stadiums going insane, shaking to their cores with fans that are dreaming of a Lombardi Trophy. Luckily, we root for the Kansas City Chiefs, and they will be going to the postseason in one capacity or another.
Without further adieu, lets get to the Week 17 NFL picks and see what will be what come Sunday night.
Oakland Raiders at Kansas City Chiefs (-7.5)
Oakland (7-8) and Kansas City (10-5) are going to play a close game, whether or not Tamba Hali and Justin Houston play. However, the difference is going to be a stadium going insane, hoping for an AFC West crown and a 10th-straight win.
Pick: Kansas City 23, Oakland 20
New Orleans Saints at Atlanta Falcons (-4)
New Orleans (6-9) is rancid and Atlanta (8-7) is at home, trying to close out the season on a high note. Also, two defenses will fail to show up.
Pick: Atlanta 34, New Orleans 19
New York Jets (-3) at Buffalo Bills
New York (10-5) beat the Patriots, and now it is going to get revenge on Rex Ryan and pound Buffalo (7-8). The Bills have talent, but they have no heart.
Pick: New York 27, Buffalo 10
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Carolina Panthers (-11.5)
Carolina (14-1) is not going to lose out on home-field advantage because of a Tampa Bay (6-9) team that has completely fallen apart down the stretch.
Pick: Carolina 31, Tampa Bay 20
Detroit Lions at Chicago Bears (EVEN)
This is the crap sandwich of the NFC schedule. Chicago (6-9) and Detroit (6-9) are both rancid.
Pick: Chicago 24, Detroit 21
Baltimore Ravens at Cincinnati Bengals (-9)
Cincinnati (11-4) will beat Baltimore (5-10), mostly because the Ravens just played their Super Bowl last Sunday.
Pick: Cincinnati 23, Baltimore 13
Pittsburgh Steelers (-11) at Cleveland Browns
Pittsburgh (9-6) will absolutely hammer Cleveland (3-12). The Steelers are going to be taking out a ton of frustration after that brutal loss to the Ravens.
Pick: Pittsburgh 37, Cleveland 19
Next: The rest of the slate...