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NFL Week 17 - early games

NFL Week 17 - late games

Fearless Rick & Coin Flip NFL Week 17 Late Games

All times Eastern

Click here for early games.

Sunday, December 28

Arizona Cardinals at Cincinnati Bengals (-7.5, 53) 1:00 pm - Neither team heading to the post-season, 3-12 Arizona in line for a high draft pick while the Bengals are likely to lose the services of Joe Burrow for next year.

More desperation on the home side, though likely the better team. Cardinals playing with nothing to lose except self-respect, which, after seven straight losses, is at low point.

Coin Flip: Arizona

Fearless Rick’s Pick: Bengals 28 Cardinals 24

Pittsburgh Steelers (-3, 34.5) at Cleveland Browns 1:00 pm - The Browns continue to groom rookie QB Sheduer Sanders, who only threw two picks in last week’s 23-20 loss to the Bills. Cleveland’s defense remains a strong point.

Resilient, the Steelers gutted out a 29-24 win at Detroit last week and are one win or one Baltimore loss from taking the AFC North division. If the Ravens lose on Saturday, this game loses any meaning because the Steelers cannot move up in the overall standings to earn the first week bye. Either way, this looks good for the Browns.

Coin Flip: Cleveland

Fearless Rick’s Pick: Browns 20 Steelers 14

Jacksonville Jaguars (-6.5, 48.5) at Indianapolis Colts 1:00 pm - Philip Rivers will give it another go for the Colts, but they’ve lost five in a row and their playoff possibilities appear to be at an end against the red-hot Jaguars, winners of six straight including a huge, 34-20, win at Denver last week.

Coin Flip: Jacksonville

Fearless Rick’s Pick: Jaguars 30 Colts 13

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-5.5, 45.5) at Miami Dolphins 1:00 pm - A Tampa Bay loss doesn’t necessarily eliminate them from the playoffs as the Seahawks will be playing at Carolina at the same time as this game, so there may be a bit of scoreboard-watching in both contests. Tampa Bay has lost six of their last seven, so they have nobody to blame but themselves. They host the Panthers next week.

Miami’s going nowhere fast except to the draft, where they hope to get a few good picks. Quinn Ewers to start for Miami, which should benefit the Buccaneers.

Coin Flip: Tampa Bay

Fearless Rick’s Pick: Buccaneers 27 Dolphins 14

New England Patriots (-13.5, 43) at New York Jets 1:00 pm - The Patriots can capture the AFC East with a win here and next week at home vs. Miami or a Buffalo loss to the Eagles or to the Jets next week.

Brady Cook gets his fourth start for the Jets. He’s thrown one TD pass and six picks. Guess which way this game is going. Lots of booing from the not-very-polite New York fans expected.

Coin Flip: New England

Fearless Rick’s Pick: Patriots 34 Jets 10

New Orleans Saints (-2.5, 40) at Tennessee Titans 1:00 pm - Though this game has no playoff implications, both teams have shown signs of life the past few weeks. The Titans have won two of their last three, including last week’s 26-9 rout of the now-toothless Chiefs.

New Orleans has won three straight and four of seven with Tyler Slough at QB. The defense has also stepped up considerably. Look for a low-scoring, hard-hitting affair.

Coin Flip: Tennessee

Fearless Rick’s Pick: Saints 20 Titans 17

Seattle Seahawks (-7, 42.5) at Carolina Panthers 1:00 pm - Big game for both sides as the Seahawks are eyeing the first week playoff bye in the NFC while the Panthers can wrap up the NFC South with a victory. Both squads need to focus, but especially Carolina, as they play at Tampa Bay next week in a win-or-go-home situation.

Though the Panthers are competitive and have home field, they are 5-2 at home, but Seattle is 6-1 on the road. They also don’t seem to stack up well against the best teams in the league.

Coin Flip: Seattle

Fearless Rick’s Pick: Seahawks 31 Panthers 14

Click here for early games.