Week 17 NFL Picks

December 31, 2015

By the Football Garbage Time Staff

Time now for our Week 17 NFL Picks!

Week 17 Games

Ha Kung Wong’s Picks

Ha Kung’s Thoughts:

As I mention every week, copy my picks and you can thank me later. I’m still in the lead with 146-94 for the season. So if you like winning, I think I can help.

Also, just because we love competition here at Football Garbage Time, we’ve been going heads up against Wally, Will and Ray at Urban Sports Scene on our NFL Picks. Last we checked after Week 15, we were 2-1-1, but keep it tuned in, to both us and them, because there’s still Week 17 to come!

Alright, now on to the most interesting game of the week for me, which is the Seattle Seahawks @ Arizona Cardinals.

Both the Cardinals and the Seahawks are heading to the playoffs. But with a win this week, the Cardinals not only would cap a historic season, but they will have an opportunity to grab the 1 seed (with a Carolina Panthers loss) and ensure home field advantage throughout the playoffs. And if the Seahawks win? Well, they have the opportunity reclaim the 5 seed (with a Minnesota Vikings loss) and have the chance for at least one home game during the playoffs.

Unexpectedly, it’s Arizona that’s the more imposing team this year. The Cardinals lead the NFL in total offense (6,301 yards) and is fifth in total defense (4,793). They are the only team with more touchdowns (57) than punts (55). But Seattle’s defense has held opponents to averages of 12.3 points and 216 total yards in the last four games, and at least before Week 16, their offense had also been clicking.

Unfortunately for the Seahawks, one of the reasons their offense fell apart in Week 16 was their lack of ground game after losing Marshawn Lynch and Thomas Rawls to injury. They were able to take care of the Cleveland Browns in Week 15 without much help, but were unable to generate much on the ground with Christine Michael and Bryce Brown, each signed following Rawls’ injury, as they combined for only 15 yards on 13 carries. The Seahawks totaled just 60 yards rushing, the first time under 100 yards since Week 6 of 2014.

Arizona was able to beat the Seahawks in Seattle earlier this year. Without any viable ground threats other than potentially Russell Wilson scrambling, I think Arizona will be able to do it again at home.

Scott King’s Picks

Scott’s Thoughts:

Hard to believe we are at week 17 already. The NFL has come and gone for many of us. With only 12 playoff teams, most of our teams have been eliminated for weeks. Time for draft prep. So, in closing, my picks were terrible this year and I’m embarrassed to say that I even watch football. I’ll throw one final Hail Mary for the leader but I doubt I’ll catch him.

Joanne Kong’s Picks

Joanne’s Thoughts:

New York Jets (10-5) @ Buffalo Bills (7-8)

Ryan Fitzpatrick

Currently standing on top of the AFC are the New England Patriots, Denver Broncos, Cincinnati Bengals, and Houston Texans.

The Jets are currently in the AFC Wild Card, with the Kansas City Chiefs (10-5). Currently also in the hunt for the post season are the Pittsburgh Steelers. With that said, the Jets will need a win to secure a Wild Card spot (with the Patriots locking in the AFC east divisional standing). A loss will open the door to the Pittsburg Steelers (9-6) to take the wild card spot.

The Jets are looking to secure their post season, while the Bills are looking to ruin it. The Jets have already lost to the Bills in week 10 at home. And, this game will be as difficult a game for the Jets as week 16 against the New England Patriots, which they won 26-20.

Ryan Fitzpatrick has been fighting one injury after another, sitting out Wednesday’s practice with elbow and back issues, but Fitzpatrick will play on Sunday and he hasn’t lost since he trimmed his beard. Fitzpatrick is looking for redemption for the week 10 loss. The Jets are motivated healthy and on a 5 game tare. They will be hard to beat even in Buffalo.

Tennessee Titans (3-12) @ Indianapolis Colts (7-8)

T.Y. Hilton – Getty Images

This will be a virtuously meaningless AFC South divisional game, unless the Houston Texans lose week 17 against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Then we get into a third tie breaker of a complicated matrix called the “strength of victory” – which is the combined winning percentages of the opponents the particular team has beaten. A win for the Colts is likely, since the Titans seek the first draft pick in 2016. But a 8-8 record for the Colts will only tie the Houston Texans, if the Texans lose week 17.

Just for your knowledge…

Tie breaker 1: AFC South divisional record – Both the Colts and the Texans will have the same number of AFC south divisional wins (4).

Tie Breaker 2: AFC division record – The Colts have won 6 AFC divisional games (if they win week 17). The Texans have won 6 AFC divisional games.

Jacksonville Jaguars (5-10) @ Houston Texans (8-7)

J.J. Watt

The Jaguars will have to try for the post season in 2016, while the Texans have almost sealed the post season. A victory in week 17 will guarantee their place as the AFC south division leaders. A loss…well refer to Tennessee Titans @ Indianapolis Colts.

Brian Hoyer is said to play against the Jaguars, whether this means a Texans victory or defeat will be a coin flip. The Texans are currently on a 2 game win streak thanks to Brian Weeden. The last time these two team met (week 6) the Texans defeated the Jaguars 31-20. Brian Hoyer was quarterback and J.J. Watt had two functional hands. The Jacksonville Jaguars are a better team, but so are the Houston Texans.