“Pick ‘Em or Kick ‘Em”™: FGT VS. Urban Sports Scene 2023 Week 17 NFL Picks

December 28, 2023

By the Football Garbage Time Staff

If you followed last year, you won over 60% of your picks, and we aim to do even better this year.

And if you’ve been following us, you know that we here at Football Garbage Time have gone head-to-head against Wally, Will and Ray at Urban Sports Scene on our NFL Picks for the last 6 seasons. Why? Because they’re awesome competitors, they KNOW their sports, and, heck, they’re just good guys! This year we’ll have their picks up right HERE, so keep it tuned in, to both us and them, because we’ll be picking all season all long.

Without further to do, here we go:

Week 17 Games

Ha Kung Wong’s Picks

Ha Kung’s Thoughts:

After a 64.7% record two seasons ago, I ended last season 63.3% (178-103). So that’s eight years in a row with over a 60% pick rate. I also ended up 16-4 for Locks of Week (80%) and 8-12 for Upsets of the Week (40%) which is also eight years in a row of Locks being over 70%. I was 10-6 in Week 16 making me 150-90 (62.5%) overall for the season. I hit my Lock of the Week (Bills) but missed my Upset of the Week (Colts), meaning I’m 13-3 (81.3%) for Locks and 6-10 (37.5%) for Upsets so far.

Let’s get to that Lock (for Survivor Leagues) and Upset for Week 17…

Lock of the Week ➡ Buffalo Bills (-12.0) over New England Patriots

The Bills are on the rise with wins over the Chiefs, Cowboys and Chargers, narrowly missing out on beating the Eagles a month ago and now have the 6th most points per game this season (26.9). The Patriots managed to get a win in Week 16, but the season is essentially over with just 4 wins. They also have the least points per game this season (14.1). Don’t overthink it. Lock it in.

Upset of the Week ➡ Los Angeles Chargers (+5.5) over Denver Broncos

On the year, the Chargers and Broncos score approximately the same number of points per game (21.7 vs. 21.8). But the Chargers now have backup QB Easton Stick behind center and the Broncos benched Russell Wilson to see what they got in Jared Stidham. But we now know that starting Stidham has nothing to do with the Broncos thinking he’s any good and everything to do with saving cash by avoiding paying Wilson $37 million for the last two games of the season and giving the Broncos the flexibility to release him in March. Stidham has done nothing to make me believe that he can be effective as the Broncos starter. Stick hasn’t won a game yet, but over essentially 3 starts this season, he has a decent 94.4 passer rating and almost got the Chargers to beat the Bills in Week 16 without Keenan Allen or Mike Williams. I don’t think the Chargers are good, but I like the potential for an upset here.

Joanne Kong’s Picks

Scott King’s Picks

Scott’s Thoughts:

Week 17 is here. Playoff spots are being locked up but thankfully there’s still a lot a play for this week. We also have a ton of backup QBs playing. Should be an interesting week. Lions at Cowboys Saturday night has a lot on the line.

Wole’s Picks

Wole’s Thoughts:

Check out Wole’s thoughts on his picks in the recent Urban Sports Scene Podcast!

Ray’s Picks

Ray’s Thoughts:

Check out Ray’s thoughts on his picks in the most recent Urban Sports Scene Podcast!

Will’s Picks

Coming Soon!

Will’s Thoughts:

Check out Will’s thoughts on his picks in the most recent Urban Sports Scene Podcast!

George’s Picks

George’s Thoughts:

Dallas is surprisingly a big favorite but remember they are pretty tough at home and in Detroit they face a struggling secondary. Cowboys push for a division title gets back on track.

Baltimore is in a tough spot. They routed San Francisco away from home but does that mean a potential let down against Miami in a huge game for the #1 seed in the AFC. And if this turns into a shootout, I am not sure the Ravens can keep up (remember they had 3 interceptions in the first half and only led 16-12 at halftime).

And the other big game is the win or bust game for the Packers and the Vikings. The loser is almost certainly out. And Minnesota is really going to go with Nick Mullens? For that reason, I’ll take Jordan Love and Green Bay.