Mattie T’s Week 17 NFL Predictions
Written by The Go-To-Man Mattie T. on January 2, 2011
Happy New Year to all! This is the most dangerous week of the season, because you never know what could happen to teams who still need to get into the playoffs. Let’s see how it all plays out today…
Week 16: 11-5
Overall: 150-90 (.625)
(Winners in bold)
Buccaneers/Saints: Expect Sean Payton to play his starters for the entire game, as New Orleans still has an outside shot at the NFC South title & home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.
Vikings/Lions: The Vikings have their quarterback of the future, and his name is not Brett Favre.
Bills/Jets: I don’t think Rex Ryan will let his Jets enter the playoffs on a losing streak. Look for them to have a nice bounceback game here.
Dolphins/Patriots: Regardless of what the final score of this one is, there are changes on the way in Miami, and they could be mighty big.
Jaguars/Texans: Jaguars can still win division if they beat Houston, but that’s a tall task without both David Garrard & Maurice Jones-Drew.
Bears/Packers: Packers need the win more, but i have a feeling the Bears will play spoilers quite well.
Steelers/Browns: No Peyton Hillis for the Browns means no chance at an upset.
Titans/Colts: Tennesse is in such a freefall that i don’t think they could win this game even if they gave it 110%.
Raiders/Chiefs: Chiefs get some nice payback with a divisional win, which puts them unbeaten at home for the season.
Bengals/Ravens: Look for the Ravens to take this game seriously, as a Steelers slip-up could give them the AFC North crown & a 1st-round bye.
Giants/Redskins: Giants know they need this game to have a shot at the playoffs. I’m pretty sure there will be a lot of scoreboard watching of the Bears/Packers game as well.
Cowboys/Eagles: Eagles will wisely rest Michael Vick for the playoffs, and Kevin Kolb has enough firepower around him to get it done against a disappointing Cowboys defense.
Panthers/Falcons: Carolina has some incentive here to send John Fox out with a win, but i think the upset triumph falls just short as Atlanta holds on to clinch the #1 seed in the NFC.
Cardinals/49ers: I think it’s totally weird that the 49ers didn’t wait until the end of the season to can Mike Singletary. One last home win would be nice for a team that had serious playoff hopes back in Training Camp.
Chargers/Broncos: This Charger team totally confuses me. Yes, they have the talent to dominate every single week, but just doesn’t show it on the field. Broncos may have found their QB of the future in Tim Tebow, as he led a nice 2nd-half comeback last week against Houston.
Rams/Seahawks: Damn NBC for “flexing” this game. But somebody has to win, and i think that team will be the Rams.
