����������

NFL.com editors Ali Bhanpuri, Tom Blair, Brooke Cersosimo, Gennaro Filice and Dan Parr will predict every game of the 2024 ����������season, using the unbeatable combo of football analysis and excessive punctuation. Check out their Week 17 ����������picks below.

NOTES:

1. The lines listed below for Thursday Night Football through Monday Night Football were provided by DraftKings and are current as of 12:45 p.m. ET on Thursday, Dec. 26.
2. The lines listed for the two Christmas Day games were set at 2 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Dec. 24.
3. * -- Pick flipped after publishing.
4. ** -- Final score prediction changed after publishing.

SUNDAY, DEC. 29

Why Ali picked the Colts: A Colts win on Sunday would (potentially) keep them alive in the wild-card race, while a Giants loss would tighten their grasp on the 2025 draft’s No. 1 overall pick. And though the New York fan base might be looking ahead to April, the Giants players and coaches are unquestionably more focused on not finishing the campaign winless at home (currently 0-8) and at the bottom of the league's hierarchy. Given injuries, talent disparities and recent quality of play, however, the team is ill-positioned to rise from the basement. There are several reasons the Giants find themselves in the midst of a franchise-worst 10-game losing streak. But the two most obvious causes continue to be that they can't score or stop opponents from scoring. The Colts, meanwhile, have averaged 26 points over their seven games against sub.-500 teams this year, with a healthy 6-1 mark in those contests. As inconsistent as Indy has been from week to week this season, it doesn't have to be perfect to escape MetLife Stadium with win No. 8. A hearty dose of Jonathan Taylor and Anthony Richardson, with a few chunk throws mixed in, should do the trick.

EDITOR'S UPDATE: On Saturday, the Colts officially downgraded QB Anthony Richardson (back/foot) to out for Sunday's game. The second-year passer had been listed as questionable on Friday's injury report after not practicing all week.

Why Brooke picked the Bills: When the 2024 schedule came out in May, this Week 17 tilt looked like it might decide the AFC East. Well, we kissed that notion goodbye before Halloween. The Bills enter Sunday having won nine of their last 10 games. Josh Allen and the offense struggled a bit offensively last time out, scoring fewer than 30 points for the first time since their Week 6 meeting with ... the Jets. With Allen playing at an MVP level and James Cook rushing for 100-plus yards in back-to-back games, there are few concerns about this offense, though, even against a Jets D that's allowing the sixth-fewest yards per game and 22.9 points per contest. However, there is reason for concern when it comes to Buffalo's banged-up defense; starting safeties Taylor Rapp and Damar Hamlin, who missed the Bills' last two games, were listed as limited in Wednesday's practice report, as was LB Matt Milano, who also was sidelined in Week 16. Will Buffalo be without some of its key defensive players again this week, especially now that the top seed in the AFC is off the table? And speaking of banged up, 41-year-old Aaron Rodgers is dealing with a knee injury but should be -- positive news for a Jets offense that has shown signs of life since the team's Week 12 bye. As we've seen all season, division games are weird, and this one could be yet another example. But even if the Bills aren't at full strength, I trust their offense to do enough with Allen leading the way.

Why Gennaro picked the Titans: Let's start with the obvious: A Week 17 matchup between a pair of 3-12 teams is extremely depressing. But it's also wildly unpredictable. Especially when it's a divisional showdown ... with backup quarterbacks on both sides!! This isn't picking a game -- it's solving a riddle.

These AFC South foes faced off three Sundays ago in Nashville. You're forgiven if the outcome doesn't spring to mind; the Jaguars won, 10-6, in the lowest-scoring game of this ����������season. So, why pick the Titans to prevail in Jacksonville? Because water finds its level, even if it's contaminated.

Tennessee just gave up a mind-bending 335 rushing yards to another divisional foe in Indianapolis. Could Jacksonville follow suit, pounding the Titans into submission on the ground? Seems unlikely, considering the Jaguars have only eclipsed the century mark twice in their last 10 games. How about Tennessee's NFL-high 32 turnovers? "," Titans first-year HC Brian Callahan fumed earlier this week. Fortunately for him, the Jaguars rank dead last with just eight takeaways, having gone the past five games without one.

When assessing a matchup between two highly flawed teams, it's inherently difficult to find true advantages. But at this point in a lost season for both sides, I believe Tennessee offers more balance on offense. And while the Titans' defense just had a stinker last week, the Jags' D has been putrid all year.

EDITOR'S UPDATE: On Saturday, The Titans downgraded running back Tony Pollard and safety Amani Hooker to out for Sunday's game.

Why Ali picked the Raiders: These two teams are coming off very different weeks. The Raiders earned their first win since late September by fending off the equally hapless Jags in Vegas last Sunday, while the Saints became the first team to get shut out this season, losing 34-0 at Lambeau on Monday night. Hard to be confident in either squad at this stage, especially considering how unrecognizable their rosters look compared with the yearbook snapshots from the start of the campaign. But now that the Raiders have once again sipped the sweet taste of victory, I think they'll want to savor that flavor for as long as possible -- draft positioning be damned. The Superdome is still a challenging place to play for visiting teams, regardless of New Orleans' record, so a second consecutive win won't come easy for Antonio Pierce & Co. Like the Raiders, the Saints have been plenty competitive and gritty, even in defeat, over their past several games (last week notwithstanding). Because I have to pick one of these banged-up also-rans, I guess I'll go with the club that has a more consistent presence under center and a rookie tight end on the verge of making history. Brock Bowers needs just 10 yards to break Mike Ditka's decades-old ����������mark for most receiving yards by a rookie TE (1,076 yards set in 1961). Expect Aidan O’Connell to target Bowers early and often, which, to be fair, is probably his best approach for winning the game anyway. I'll take the (soon-to-be) record-breaking Raiders in a close one.

Why Brooke picked the Buccaneers: Bryce Young has looked much better in Dave Canales' offense of late, throwing at least one TD pass in all eight games since returning as the team's starter. Young's improvement as a passer, combined with Chuba Hubbard's physicality in the ground game, has brought balance to the Panthers' attack. Now, can that rising unit replicate last week's performance and keep pace with a Baker Mayfield-led offense averaging nearly 10 points more per game? It'll be tough to do on the road, and it doesn't help that Carolina's defense ranks last in points allowed per game (29.9), rush yards allowed per game (175.2) and yards allowed per carry (5.1). I expect Todd Bowles' group to be on a mission after last week's crushing loss to Dallas, which knocked the Bucs out of the division lead. Tampa has little room for error in the playoff race now.

Why Ali picked the Eagles: I waited as long as I could to make this pick, hoping to glean some insights as to who would, or perhaps more importantly, who wouldn't be suiting up for this NFC East battle. The unknowns related to Jalen Hurts (concussion) and CeeDee Lamb (shoulder) are particularly challenging to navigate, as neither team's offense looks remotely the same without its respective superstar on the field. The same could be said for the Cowboys' defense, which was a mess while Micah Parsons was sidelined earlier this season. But since Week 12, the unit has been among the NFL's most opportunistic, tied for first in takeaways and leading the league outright in sacks. I expect the Cowboys to carry a massive chip into this division contest, one that's been building since the beating the Eagles put on them back in Week 10. That desire for revenge helps to keep this game close, but not enough to keep Saquon Barkley and the Eagles' top-ranked defense at bay for 60 minutes.

EDITOR'S UPDATE: Hurts was ruled out for Sunday's game on Friday's injury report. Earlier Friday, coach Nick Sirianni said the QB was still in the concussion protocol. The Cowboys announced on Thursday that Lamb will miss the remainder of the season with his shoulder injury.

Why Dan picked the Dolphins: We all know the narrative about the Dolphins' tendency to crack like a fallen icicle when playing in wintry conditions, but the forecast is calling for unseasonably warm temperatures in Cleveland on Sunday. The Browns might be in bad enough shape at quarterback for Miami to quiet that talk even if an ice storm develops out of nowhere, though. Cleveland is averaging a measly nine points per game in its last three contests, with Dorian Thompson-Robinson failing to get much of anything going while dealing with a calf injury against a porous Bengals defense last week. DTR will start again if he's healthy, per coach Kevin Stefanski, with either Bailey Zappe or Jameis Winston backing him up. Miami's defense has had respectable showings against struggling offenses of late. If Tua Tagovailoa takes care of the ball, Miami should have the upper hand.

EDITOR'S UPDATE: On Saturday, the Dolphins downgraded Tua Tagovailoa to doubtful for Sunday's game at Cleveland.

Why Dan picked the Vikings: Green Bay is playing bully ball coming into this one, with a 23-point average margin of victory in its last four wins. The Packers have scored 30-plus points in five consecutive games, which is the longest active streak in NFL. So no, it would not be a surprise at all to see them go into Minnesota and outslug a division rival. No one has been able to beat the Vikings since October, though. They have the league's longest active winning streak (eight games) and rank among the top two in scoring, rush and third-down defense. The Packers are not far behind them in those categories, but in a game like this, the little differences are going to matter. I expect it to be tight, and right now, only one coach in ����������history (min. 25 games) has a better record than Kevin O'Connell's 25-9 mark in one-score affairs. I'll say the Vikings get their first season sweep of the Packers since 2017 with Green Bay having a short week to prepare for its biggest game of the season so far.

Why Tom picked the Commanders: Like I could do otherwise after Washington's stunning comeback against Philadelphia last week? Jayden Daniels and Co. refused to accept defeat against one of the best teams in the NFL, reminding the world -- and, not incidentally, those of us who predicted an Eagles win -- that the Commanders must still be taken seriously. If the Falcons' offense functions as well as it did in Michael Penix Jr.'s first start last week (piling up 329 total yards against the Giants), Atlanta could push Washington's defense, which did cough up 300-plus yards for the 10th time this season, even with Kenny Pickett leading Philly for much of the day. I just am definitely not going to pick against the Commanders after last week's display, especially against an opponent as closely matched as the Falcons.

MONDAY, DEC. 30

Why Dan picked the Lions: As banged up as the Lions might be -- and yes, their lengthy list of injured players is concerning -- the offense is still cooking. Until we see regression in that area, it's going to be hard for me to pick against them. It flies a bit under the radar, but Jared Goff leads the ����������in passing yards per game (335.8) and TD passes (17) since Week 11. Detroit has the league's top scoring offense (32.9 ppg). Meanwhile, the 49ers have scored 17 points or fewer in five of their last six games, winning once in that span (against a beleaguered Bears team). Plus, they have of their own. Are the Lions really going to have a letdown when they are trying to clinch home-field advantage and the NFC's lone first-round bye? I say no!

SATURDAY'S GAMES

Why Tom picked the Chargers: I am allowing my choice here to be dictated by belief, and not just because it allows me to make a hacky gesture -- I simply believe more in Jim Harbaugh's squad. Drake Maye has sparked enough one-score finishes (five) since becoming New England's starter in Week 6 to make me wary, as does the somewhat shaky play that preceded Los Angeles' prime-time win over the Broncos in Week 16, including a 1-3 stretch in which the Bolts' point differential was minus-28. Justin Herbert and Co. will surely be eager to secure their spot in the playoffs, and at this point in the season, it feels right to go with the more talented group lining itself up for postseason play. (Plus, for whatever it's worth, Harbaugh is 3-1 in games starting at 1 p.m. ET in the Eastern time zone this season.)

Why Dan picked the Bengals: The Broncos have had more than a week to recover from their collapse against the Chargers and it looks like they could get cornerback Riley Moss back from injury, which helps their cause heading into a game with major playoff implications. This is the type of game the Bengals have yet to prove they can win this season. Cincinnati is 0-7 against teams that currently have a winning record, tied for the league's worst such record with the Jaguars and Panthers. They have to get at least one before all is said and done this season, though ... right? I'm trusting the battle-tested Joe Burrow to find a way to lead his team to a W against a defense that will throw the kitchen sink at him. Denver has the second-highest QB pressure rate in the league (38.1%), but Burrow has the highest passer rating when pressured of any ����������QB with at least 150 attempts this season (98.4). Burrow plays his game and the highly unreliable Cincy defense does just enough to eke out a close one at home.

Why Tom picked the Rams: On a recent episode of the ����������Daily Podcast, the Rams were called out as one of the ����������teams that get better as the season wears on into December, and the record makes it clear: Sean McVay's group thrives at the end of the year. Since McVay was hired in 2017, Los Angeles has a winning percentage of .667 (28-14) in regular-season games in December and January, the fifth-best mark in that span. I've been partial to Kyler Murray and the Cardinals all season, but this week, I have no problem rolling with the battle-tested squad on the verge of clinching a postseason spot against an Arizona team less than one week into life in the "eliminated" section of the playoff picture.

THURSDAY'S GAME

Why Gennaro picked the Seahawks: After an offseason full of hope and a 4-2 start that engendered belief, the Bears have gone off the rails since their Week 7 bye. Mired in a nine-game losing streak that has induced a pair of coaching shakeups, Chicago is a team playing out the string of a highly disappointing campaign. So, what will the Bears offer to a disgruntled fan base in this home finale on the prime-time stage? Well, they started off the season with a 3-0 mark at Soldier Field. But alas, they've dropped the past four games in their lakefront abode, and now they're playing host to a group of certified road warriors.

Seattle is known for its raucous home environment, with the "12s" famously registering seismic activity on multiple occasions. Strangely, the 2024 Seahawks just fell to 3-6 at Lumen Field, the franchise's worst home mark since 2008. For whatever reason, this flock of 'Hawks plays better on the road, where Seattle owns a 5-1 mark with the lone defeat coming in Detroit.

The Seahawks have lost the past two games -- both at home, naturally -- putting their playoffs hopes on life support. But the Bears' season has been dead for weeks.

CHRISTMAS DAY GAMES

Why Gennaro picked the Chiefs: Pittsburgh needs star wideout George Pickens back from his hamstring injury. I know it, you know it, and Russell Wilson certainly knows it: "There's only so many people in the world -- you know, you can count 'em on one hand -- that can do what he can do," the Steelers quarterback . Strong words, but Wilson has good reason to use them …

• Russ with Pickens: 5-1 W-L, 28.7 team ppg, 271.0 pass ypg, 8.7 pass yds/att.
• Russ without Pickens: 1-2 W-L, 19.0 team ppg, 167.7 pass ypg, 6.2 pass yds/att.

Officially off the injury report on Tuesday, Pickens is set to return to action on Christmas Day. Unfortunately for Pittsburgh, though, Kansas City's receiving corps just received an early Christmas present, with free-agent signee Marquise Brown making his long-awaited Chiefs debut in this past Saturday's win over the Texans. After missing the first 14 games of the season due to a shoulder injury suffered in the preseason, the 27-year-old burner caught five passes for 45 yards. That stat line doesn't knock your socks off, but the fact that Patrick Mahomes immediately peppered his new toy with eight targets shows that "Hollywood" is indeed a consequential addition. Edge protection remains a concern for K.C.'s offense -- especially against a ferocious front like Pittsburgh's -- but it feels like the passing-game weaponry could be falling into place, with Brown and Xavier Worthy serving as the primary playmakers while Travis Kelce and DeAndre Hopkins operate as reliable chain-movers. If Isiah Pacheco can regain his pre-injury juice as the bell-cow back, the back-to-back Super Bowl champs could really hit the postseason in fighting form. Because of course.

Why Brooke picked the Ravens: Baltimore has been cruising since its Week 14 bye, averaging 431.5 offensive yards and 34.5 points per game over its last two outings. Lamar Jackson continues to move the ball at will this season -- throwing for a franchise-record 37 TDs (breaking his own mark from back in 2019) against just four INTs and rushing for 6.1 yards per carry -- as he pushes toward a potential third MVP. It's not exactly a surprise that Baltimore boasts a top-two rushing attack with Jackson and Derrick Henry sharing the backfield, but the fact that Jackson is also spearheading a top-five passing unit is downright scary for the rest of the league. Houston's defense, which ranks 11th against the run and sixth against the pass, will have its hands full versus this pick-your-poison attack. The best approach for the Texans likely will be keeping Lamar and Co. off the field. To do so, Houston must get a big-time performance from Joe Mixon -- not the version who's rushed for a grand total of 80 yards over the last two weeks. He'll make a huge statement if he can get going against Zach Orr's top-ranked run defense. A big concern, though, is the fact that C.J. Stroud will be without (another) one of his top wideouts (Tank Dell) against a Ravens pass defense that has improved of late. Baltimore has allowed fewer than 200 yards through the air in four of its last five games (with the Chargers barely clearing that threshold with 202 in Week 12) and the second-lowest passer rating to opposing QBs (78.4) since Week 11. Having clinched a playoff berth last week, these Ravens are blossoming into a group that could make a deep run. Beating a Texans team that's just 1-4 against opponents who are .500 or better this season feels like the next notch on the belt for John Harbaugh's bunch.

Visit to learn more about responsible betting.