By Matt Stuart | Published | No Comments
There are just two weeks left in the regular season and teams are now either fighting for their playoff lives, or fighting for that all important seeding. We have an excellent mixture of both this week. I went 10-6 last week. I was doing well until Christmas Eve night and Christmas Day ruined my nice little gift I had wrapped for myself. This week is chance to get hot as we get set for the final stretch before the second season behind in just a few weeks.
Jets @ Browns ( – 6.5) | 8;15 PM/E – (AMAZON PRIME VIDEO)
Give me the team that has Amari Cooper on it roster. Yeah he looks really good.
PICK – Browns 21 – Jets 13
Lions @ Cowboys ( – 6.5) | 8:15 PM/E (ABC/ESPN)
The Cowboys can’t loose three in a row can they? More importantly could they lose their first one at home. I say no and no, but it’s close.
PICK – Cowboys 27 – Lions 23
Patriots @ Bills ( -13.0) | 1:00 PM/E (CBS)
I have to admit that Bailey Zappe is playing better than I thought he would over the last four game stretch, but the Bills remember their inexplicable loss to the Patriot back in October and they will take great glee in pounding the under matched Patriots into the ground.
PICK – Bills 28 – Patriots 13
Falcons @ Bears ( – 3.0) | 1:00 PM/E (CBS)
The Falcons are 2-4 on the road this season and are trotting Taylor Heinicke at their once more. The Bears are 3-2 in their last five game, or since Justin Fields returned under center. I predict that the Bears will be 4-2 after a close escape against the Falcons.
PICK – Bears 20 – Falcons 17
Raiders @ Colts ( -3.5) | 1:00 PM/E (CBS)
The Colts have been just a little too inconsistent as of late and have dropped two of their last there. The Raiders are playing like a team with nothing to lose and playing hard for their interim coach Antonio Pierce. Give me the Raiders in an upset.
PICK – Raiders 24 – Colts 17
Rams ( – 5.5) @ Giants | 1:00 PM/E (FOX)
The Rams have been one of the best teams in the NFL since coming off the bye week in week 11. They are 5-1 since, and their only loss was in overtime to the Ravens, on the road, a couple of weeks ago. They are a team that nobody wants to play right now and that definitely includes the Giants.
PICK – Rams 28 – Giants 16
Cardinals @ Eagles ( – 11.0) | 1:00 PM/E (FOX)
The Eagles righted the ship last week with a win over the Giants, though the game was uneven from start to finish. This week should be a bit easier and hopefully a little more even for the team that still has a shot at the top seed in the NFC.
PICK – Eagles 26 – Cardinals 13
Saints @ Buccaneers ( – 2.5) | 1:00 PM/E (FOX)
This game could decide the winner of the NFC South. I think the Saints grab an early lead in this game, but I have my faith on Baker Mayfield and the Bucs to rally late to a win and back-to-back to NFC South titles.
PICK – Buccaneers 24 – Saints 20
Niners ( – 12.5) @ Commanders | 1:00 PM/E (FOX)
The Niners got trucked last week against the Ravens. I still believe that the Niners are the most complete team in the NFL and they should have little trouble in taking care of business against the lowly Commanders.
PICK – Niners 34 – Commanders 13
Panthers @ Jaguars ( – 6.0) | 1:00 PM/E (CBS)
Bryce Young is finally starting to play like the QB that the Panthers expected when they traded up to take him #1 in this past draft. I could even see the Panthers hanging around in this one like they have done over their last two games. But the Jaguars are suddenly fighting for their playoff lives and have lost their last five games. I have to believe that the team with greatly more to play for will be able to stop the bleeding.
PICK – Jaguars 23 – Panthers 17
Dolphins @ Ravens ( – 3.5) | 1:00 PM/E (CBS)
The Dolphins stunned the Ravens last season in week two when Tua threw four touchdown in the fourth quarter and the Dolphins erased a 35-14 deficit. I have still never seen game unfold like that. Tua was brilliant in that game, late and when it mattered most. The crazy thing about that game is just how brilliant Lamar Jackson was. He threw for over 300-yard and had two touchdowns through the air and and another 100-plus yards on the ground and one more touchdown. But people only remember the winning team’e best, and on that day Tua was the best. This time things are a little different. Instead of a week 2, not much on the line game, it’s week 17 and everything is on the line. The Dolphins can win the AFC East title with a victory, and do wonders for their chances at still getting the top seed in the AFC. The Ravens can clinch the AFC North with a win or Browns loss and a win would all but guarantee the top seed status in the AFC. So who wins? I think the Dolphins keep it close, but the Ravens just have two really imposing and physical units that at times can be almost impossible to stop. I’ll take the Ravens.
PICK – Ravens 28 – Dolphins 20
Titans @ Texans ( -4.5) | 1:00 PM/E (FOX)
It looks like Texans QB C.J. Stroud should be back under center after missing the last two games due to a concussion. With the Titans quarterback situation an absolute mess at the moment, this should be a game to welcome the Texans and their sensational rookie QB back into the win column.
PICK – Texans 27 – Titans 16
Steelers @ Seahawks ( – 3.5) | 4:05 PM/E (FOX)
The Seahawks have won two in a row, after their four game skid. That has put them back in the playoff picture and they currently hold the last playoff spot as the seventh seed. The Steelers are also secure, for the moment, in the playoff picture on the AFC side, but both team probably have to win out to keep their place. The Steelers have been a very up and down team this season, but then again so have the Seahawks. With these teams being fairly evenly matched, I will take the team that is playing at home to have the slight edge.
PICK – Seahawks 21 – Steelers 17
Chargers @ Broncos ( – 3.5) | 4:25 PM/E (CBS)
The Chargers have played a little more determinately since they sacked their head coach a few weeks ago. With the Broncos curious decision to bench Russell Wilson for their last two remaining games, this one likely comes down to who wants to win more for their current coach. That feels like the Chargers to me. Give me L.A. in an upset.
PICK – Chargers 23 – Broncos 17
Bengals @ Chiefs ( -7.0) | 4:25 PM/E (CBS)
Both of these teams are reeling a bit at the moment. The Chiefs have lost two of three and suddenly find themselves in a crazy scenario where they could say bye-bye to the AFC West crown if they lose their last two games and the Raiders win their last two. The Bengals took an ugly loss last week against the Steelers. I am a little conflicted here, because I do feel that the Chiefs are the better and more talented team, but I can’t trust them entirely at the moment. I am going with my gut here and saying the Chiefs will do what is necessary to avoid back-to-back loses at home.
PICK – Chiefs 26 – Bengals 17
Packers @ Vikings ( -1.0) | 8:20 PM/E (NBC)
This one could determine which of these two teams, if either, can claw their way back into the playoff picture. The Packers were taken to the breaking point last week against the lowly Panthers, and quite honestly they really should have lost that game. The Vikings let a crucial one get away from them last week against the Lions and they absolutely must grab an early lead and not squander it this time or they can kiss any hope of reaching the playoffs in back-to-back season away. This matchup always seems to be close and usually quite thrilling right down to the very end. I was tempted to pick the Packers in an upset, but I will go with the Vikings to pull out a close one at home.
PICK – Vikings 23 – Packers 20
