NFL Previews and Predictions Week 17 2013 + Playoff Picture

We have made it to the regular season finale with only 3 teams left to be determined in the NFC and only 1 spot open in the AFC.

After spending most of my day looking into all the standings I got a picture of how the playoffs are looking, this is what how they're looking at the moment, check it out.

NFC

1. (12-3)Seattle Seahawks

2. (11-4)Carolina Panthers

3. (9-6)Philadelphia Eagles

4. (8-7)Chicago Bears 

5. (11-4)San Francisco 49ers

6. (10-5)New Orleans Saints

The Seahawks, Panthers and 49ers have already clinched a playoff spot. The Eagles will be playing the Cowboys for the NFC East championship with the loser going home. The Chicago Bears are in the exact same situation with the Green Bay Packers for the NFC North championship. The Arizona Cardinals are the last team vying for a spot into the playoffs and they will need to get a win over San Francisco and if the Saints lose to the Bucs then the Cardinals would make the playoffs.

AFC

1. (12-3)Denver Broncos

2. (11-4)New England Patriots

3. (10-5)Cincinnati Bengals

4. (10-5)Indianapolis Colts

5. (11-4)Kansas City

6. (8-7)Miami Dolphins

All but the 6th seed in the AFC is up for grabs this weekend. The Dolphins will get the spot if they win and Baltimore loses to the Bengals. Baltimore will need a win and a Dolphins loss to secure the 6th seed in the playoffs. The San Diego Chargers will have to get a win over the Chiefs and will also need the Jets to beat the Dolphins and Bengals to beat the Ravens in order to make the playoffs. The Pittsburgh Steelers still have an outside shot at making the playoffs, but would need a win over the Browns as well as all the other teams stated above to lose out as well in order to make the playoffs.

Anyways lets get to the best part, my NFL Previews and Predictions Week 17 2013:

Sunday Afternoon Football:

CAR @ ATL - The Panthers defense have been terrific all season, including my fantasy football season, and were in mind control of Matt Ryan in the first meeting when they picked him off 3 times including a 38-yard INT returned for a TD.
CAR over ATL 26-13

BAL @ CIN - The Bengals will be wanting to win to get a first round bye, the Ravens will be wanting to keep their playoff chances alive, advantage to the division rival home team
CIN over BAL 24-20

HOU @ TEN - The last time Houston won was against the Titans in Week 2, they are not the same team as week 2 as we have seen all season.
TEN over HOU 27-24

JAX @ IND - The Jags found something going there for a second, but they're still the Jags and are playing the Colts who are getting back on track and hitting a stride just in time for the playoffs, oh and they already put a beating on the Jags in week 4 in Jacksonville, 37-3.
IND over JAX 34-13

NYJ @ MIA - The Dolphins are looking to make the playoffs for the first time since 2008 and need this win to make it, the Jets may be losing their coach Monday morning but not if he has anything to say about it, I think the team steps up for their coach with his job on the line and keep the drought going for the Miami Dolphins
NYJ over MIA 27-24

DET @ MIN - Hardest game to wrap my mind around because both teams have been dreadful all season and  both will probably be losing their coach Monday morning, you would think Detroit as a team would want to at the very least finish .500.
DET over MIN 31-27

WSH @ NYG - Cousins hasn't really been the backup we got to see last year but he has kept it close, losing his first 2 starts by 1 point each, but the Giants have a well disciplined squad and will want to close out the home finale and last game in MetLife stadium before the Super Bowl with a win.
NYG over WSH 35-31

CLE @ PIT -The only thing the Browns have to look forward to is a full season with Josh Gordon next year and hopefully a QB somehow in the offseason, the Steelers get an easy win in this one.
PIT over CLE 34-24

GB @ CHI -Check out my Preview of 188th meeting of these two teams and the return of Aaron Rodgers here! 
*NFC North Championship Game*
GB over CHI 38-28

DEN @ OAK - The soon-to-be 5 time MVP will be locking up the #1 seed in the AFC and home field advantage, and now the Raiders are having an issue going on with Pryor's agent and the team that will be sure to cause distraction for the already plagued Raiders.
DEN over OAK 48-24

KC @ SD - Andy Reid will probably want to rest some of his injured starters on defense this week since they are already locked into the #5 seed in the AFC, that's great news for the Chargers who have already got a win over the Chiefs at Arrowhead a couple weeks ago.
SD over KC 31-25

STL @ SEA - The Seahawks will have one more chance to clinch the NFC West at home on Sunday and will more than likely be the battleground for a couple Playoff games in January.
SEA over STL 24-18

BUF @ NE - Belichick and Brady haven't lost at home all season and if their is one game to feel good about betting on who to win it would be this one, Buffalo hasn't won in New England since Bill Belichick's rookie season as the head coach, in the year 2000
NE over BUF 27-20

TB @ NO - The Saints can guarantee a playoff spot with a win but if they lose and the Cardinals are able to pull out a win against division rival San Francisco then the Saints would miss the playoffs with a 10-win season.
NO over TB 26-17

SF @ ARI -As stated above the Cardinals will need this win and a Saints loss to make the playoffs and will give it their all to make it happen, however the 49ers have plans of their own and that is the possibility of the #1 seed in the NFC and will bring their A-game to Arizona.
ARI over SF 25-24

Sunday Night Football:

PHI @ DAL - The ball is in Philly's court and will have a chance to claim the NFC East championship and end the Cowboys season a week after the ending of Romo's with Dallas now relying on backup QB Kyle Orton to put an end to a 3rd straight season of losing the NFC East title on the final game of the season.
*NFC East Championship Game*
PHI over DAL 45-24 


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