Betting
12/25/24
10 min read
2024 NFL Week 17: Expert Picks, Predictions For Every Game
We have just two weeks left of the NFL regular season, and Week 17 will be one of the wildest in NFL history. We’ve got games on Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, most of which have some type of playoff implication.
Five days of NFL action with playoff lives on the line? Sign us up! Here are the lines and our predictions for each contest going into this huge slate:
NFL Week 17 Expert Picks, Predictions
Kansas City Chiefs vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Spread: Chiefs -2.5
Total: 43
Both of these teams played on Saturday, but it was the Kansas City Chiefs who lost several key players due to injury. It seems unlikely that Chris Jones will be able to go after suffering a calf injury, and starting right tackle Jawaan Taylor is unlikely to play after dealing with a knee injury.
It’s hard to pick against the Chiefs, but it’s a short week where they will be playing on the road without their most important defensive player. Expect a really close game, but for the Pittsburgh Steelers to pull out a much-needed win and stop their losing streak. They just have too much to play for with the AFC North still on the line and a home playoff game.
Score Prediction: Steelers 24, Chiefs 20
Baltimore Ravens vs. Houston Texans
Spread: Ravens -3
Total: 47.5
The Baltimore Ravens defense has stepped up during the last few weeks, and this should be another favorable spot for them.
The Houston Texans will be without Tank Dell (knee) for the remainder of the season, and without him, they just don’t have much speed in their offense. Lamar Jackson has been outstanding all season long, and his legs should be the difference-maker on Wednesday. Take Baltimore to win and cover on the road in Week 17.
Score Prediction: Ravens 27, Texans 21
Seattle Seahawks vs. Chicago Bears
Spread: Seahawks -2
Total: 41.5
The Seattle Seahawks aren't quite out of the NFC West hunt just yet, but they have to win this game against the Chicago Bears. Chicago has now lost nine straight games, and their offense continues to be one of the worst in the NFL.
It’s hard to buy into either team right now, but the Seahawks are the most desperate team and can’t afford a loss here to one of the worst teams in the NFL. Look for Mike Macdonald’s defense to step up and hold the Bears under 20 points.
Score Prediction: Seahawks 24, Bears 17
Los Angeles Chargers vs. New England Patriots
Spread: Chargers -6
Total: 41.5
The Los Angeles Chargers got a much-needed win against the Broncos to put them in position to make the postseason. They can clinch a spot with a win against the New England Patriots, who were extra feisty against the Bills last week.
This won't be an easy game for the Chargers by any stretch, but look for Justin Herbert and the offense to do just enough to squeak by on Saturday afternoon.
Score Prediction: Chargers 23, Patriots 20
Denver Broncos vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Spread: Bengals -3
Total: 47.5
Maybe the most fun game of the week features the Cincinnati Bengals trying to keep their postseason hopes alive against the Denver Broncos, who need a win to hold off several other contenders for the No. 7 seed.
Denver’s defense should be able to slow down Joe Burrow and company, and with 10 days to prepare for this game, it sure feels like a good spot for Sean Payton’s team. Look for this one to be highly competitive throughout, but for the Broncos to get the victory and lock down the No. 7 seed in the AFC.
Score Prediction: Broncos 27, Bengals 24
Arizona Cardinals vs. Los Angeles Rams
Spread: Rams -5.5
Total: 49.5
The Arizona Cardinals led the NFC West not that long ago, but it’s the Los Angeles Rams who have retaken the lead in the division, and all they need to do is win out to clinch.
Arizona can be a tough out each week due to their balanced offense, but the Rams are at home and should be able to move the ball at will. Stay away from the point spread, but take the Rams to win and improve to 10-6 on the season.
Score Prediction: Rams 28, Cardinals 24
Green Bay Packers vs. Minnesota Vikings
Spread: Vikings -1.5
Total: 48.5
All the Minnesota Vikings need to do is win their final two games of the regular season to be the No. 1 seed in the NFC. That’ll be easier said than done as they take on the Green Bay Packers and the Lions to finish the year.
The good news is that they’ll have a rest advantage after the Packers play on Monday Night Football and will have to travel. And with Green Bay not having much to play for, this is a good spot for the Vikings. Take Minnesota to win and cover, which would set up the game of the year in Week 18 between the Lions and Vikings.
Score Prediction: Vikings 24, Packers 21
New York Jets vs. Buffalo Bills
Spread: Bills -10
Total: 48.5
If the Buffalo Bills were to win against the New York Jets in Week 17, it would lock them into at least the No. 2 seed in the AFC. But a loss from the Chiefs against the Steelers would give Buffalo a chance to still earn the No. 1 seed in the AFC.
So, no matter what, Buffalo will have a lot to play for here against the Jets, who have played better in the second half of the season. The Jets still aren’t a good team, and the Bills have a lot at stake, so expect Buffalo to play with a sense of urgency.
However, taking the Bills on the point spread seems foolish, as that spread is just too big for a divisional contest, as we saw last week against the Patriots. Take the Bills to win, but not cover in Week 17.
Score Prediction: Bills 28, Jets 20
Tennessee Titans vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Spread: Jaguars -1
Total: 39.5
These two teams played just a few weeks ago (Week 14), and the Jacksonville Jaguars won the lowest-scoring game of the season. There are many intriguing storylines here with Mason Rudolph and Mac Jones starting for their respective teams, but it does have major draft implications.
Outside of that, avoid watching and betting on this game if at all possible. We will take the Jaguars at home, but you shouldn’t feel great about this game in either direction.
Score Prediction: Jaguars 17, Titans 13
Carolina Panthers vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Spread: Buccaneers -7.5
Total: 47.5
After dropping a game against the Cowboys on Sunday Night Football, this is suddenly a huge game for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers if they want to have any chance of making the playoffs.
Tampa Bay is a big favorite, but Bryce Young has played outstanding during the last couple of weeks and will make this a tough out for the Buccaneers. The Carolina Panthers don’t have anything to play for but don’t tell them that.
They are treating every week like a must-win game, and David Canalas deserves a lot of credit for their effort. The Buccaneers are the better team and should win, but don’t be surprised if this one is close late in the fourth quarter.
Score Prediction: Buccaneers 28, Panthers 21
Las Vegas Raiders vs. New Orleans Saints
Spread: Saints -2.5
Total: 40.5
It’s tough to predict this game, given the quarterback situation in New Orleans, but the Las Vegas Raiders looked so bad in their victory against the Jaguars that it’s hard to pick them again this week.
Neither team has any playoff aspirations, and both have significant injuries on each side of the ball. But given that the New Orleans Saints are at home, we’ll take them to win in a low-scoring contest.
Score Prediction: Saints 17, Raiders 13
Indianapolis Colts vs. New York Giants
Spread: Colts -7.5
Total: 40
If you like watching high-flying aerial passing attacks, this isn’t the game for you. The Indianapolis Colts completed just seven passes last week and still managed to score 38 points.
The New York Giants can’t throw the ball down the field, and Drew Lock has really regressed under Brian Daboll. With the Colts still having an outside chance of making the playoffs, expect them to get a road win here.
And with the Giants having a firm grasp of the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, there is just no way they are going to let that slip away this year.
Score Prediction: Colts 27, Giants 17
Miami Dolphins vs. Cleveland Browns
Spread: Dolphins -6
Total: 41.5
The Cleveland Browns made the switch to Dorian Thompson-Robinson in Week 16, and it went just about as poorly as you would expect. DTR made some nice plays with his legs, but his turnovers and sacks were too much for the Browns to overcome.
That’ll probably be the case again this week as the Miami Dolphins try to sneak into the playoffs. Cleveland’s pass rush could be a major problem for Miami, but look for the Dolphins to get a close win on the road here in Week 17.
Score Prediction: Dolphins 20, Browns 17
Dallas Cowboys vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Spread: Eagles -8.5
Total: 44.5
The early line for this game had the Philadelphia Eagles favored by 11.5 points, but with Jalen Hurts in concussion protocol, it has dropped down to Eagles -8.5. Kenny Pickett would be the starter for Philadelphia, and it would likely lean heavily on the run game if that were the case.
The Dallas Cowboys have played much better in recent weeks, but don’t expect them to pull another upset on the road against the Eagles. Take the Eagles to win and cover, as they should be able to hold Cooper Rush and the rest of Dallas’ offense under 20 points.
Score Prediction: Eagles 27, Cowboys 17
Atlanta Falcons vs. Washington Commanders
Spread: Commanders -5
Total: 46
This game just got a whole lot more exciting, with the Atlanta Falcons now in first place in the NFC South. They will likely need to win out to ensure that they win the division, but this will be a tough matchup against the red-hot Washington Commanders.
Jayden Daniels is coming off a five-touchdown performance and was incredible against the Eagles. Washington doesn’t have a ton to play for, assuming the Eagles beat the Cowboys. But they will surely want to get a win in primetime and keep the positive momentum rolling into the postseason.
Score Prediction: Commanders 30, Falcons 23
Detroit Lions vs. San Francisco 49ers
Spread: Lions -3.5
Total: 51.5
When this game was released to the public back in May, it seemed like it could decide the No. 1 seed and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.
It’s a rematch of the NFC Championship Game from last year, but the stakes won’t be quite as high. The Detroit Lions still need this game to put away the No. 1 seed, but the San Francisco 49ers don’t have much to play for.
However, you can expect Kyle Shanahan’s team to play with pride, but that won’t be enough against the Lions, who have everything to play for on Monday Night Football.
Score Prediction: Lions 31, 49ers 24
