The final season comes to an end, and this is always a tough week for picks, since different teams have different things at stake and different approaches to games that \u201cdon\u2019t matter.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sunday 1:00<\/strong> Saints @ Carolina(-7)<\/em> Jaguars @ Cleveland(-1.5)<\/em> Bears @ Detroit(+3)<\/em> Patriots @ Texans(-7)<\/em> Steelers @ Miami(+3)<\/em> Giants @ Minnesota(-8)<\/em> Niners @ St. Louis(+8)<\/em> Falcons @ Tampa(+2)<\/em> Sunday ~4:10<\/strong> Packers @ Arizona(-3.5)<\/em> Chefs @ Denver(-11)<\/em> Ravens @ Oakland(+10.5)<\/em> Redskins @ San Diego(-3.5)<\/em> Titans @ Seattle(+4)<\/em> SNF<\/strong> The final season comes to an end, and this is always a tough week for picks, since different teams have different things at stake and different approaches to games that \u201cdon\u2019t matter.\u201d Sunday 1:00 Colts @ Buffalo(-8) I think the Bills are so bad that the Colts can play their practice squad and only lose … Continue reading NFL Week 17<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[4],"tags":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/byrneweb.com\/sunburn\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/332"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/byrneweb.com\/sunburn\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/byrneweb.com\/sunburn\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/byrneweb.com\/sunburn\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/byrneweb.com\/sunburn\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=332"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/byrneweb.com\/sunburn\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/332\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":333,"href":"http:\/\/byrneweb.com\/sunburn\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/332\/revisions\/333"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/byrneweb.com\/sunburn\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=332"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/byrneweb.com\/sunburn\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=332"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/byrneweb.com\/sunburn\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=332"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\nColts @ Buffalo(-8)<\/em>
\nI think the Bills are so bad that the Colts can play their practice squad and only lose by a TD, so I\u2019ll take the points.<\/p>\n
\nNew Orleans has nothing to play for and the Panthers, while eliminated, actually do, which is making sure that Fox really gets to keep his job. They\u2019ll be up for the Saints\u2019 second team, and will cover.<\/p>\n
\nAbsolutely everything has to go right in terms of other teams for the Jags to make the playoffs, but that slim chance will keep them ahead in this game. Give the ball to MJD!!<\/p>\n
\nThe Bears aren\u2019t very good, but the Lions remain terrible; give the points.<\/p>\n
\nSo, I\u2019ll be at this game, and it could be really interesting. The Pats secondary is bad, and the Texans can throw. Houston\u2019s real problem has been closing out games, but will New England be resting their key guys by then? Also, the Pats have been horrible on the road this year. So much uncertainty… I like the Texans to win, but I cannot in good conscience give that many points, so I\u2019ll be picking the Pats.<\/p>\n
\nWill Polamalu actually play? That\u2019s clearly the big question here. In this game it probably matters less than in some other matchups because the Dolphins don\u2019t throw that much. I just hate the way the Steelers have been all over the place this season, and I think it should cos them, so I\u2019ll take the Dolphins here.<\/p>\n
\nErr, I don\u2019t know if people have noticed this, but the Vikings are looking mighty dysfunctional of late. The Giants still have some heart left, so I like them to keep it closer than this.<\/p>\n
\nThe Rams won\u2019t even try to win this because they won\u2019t want to jeopardize that first overall pick. Oh, and the also suck, so it won\u2019t be a problem. Niners blow them out.<\/p>\n
\nAtlanta looked good last week, but playing the Bills often has that effect. The Bucs seem to have a little fight in them, but I think the Falcons can cover the small spread.<\/p>\n
\nEagles @ Dallas(-3)
\nAhh, the official \u201cwe\u2019re just as clueless as everyone else\u201d spread, home team by three. Dunno, it\u2019s actually a big game because the Iggles could take the #2 seed if the Vikings stumble, which they easily could. On the other hand, Dallas seems to have gotten over their December woes, and hey, it\u2019s not December anymore anyway. If the Vikings lose then the Eagles will have it locked up and will rest guys. If the Vikings win, the Eagles will go all-out for the #2 seed. So, my pick hinges on whether the Vikings win… ugh. I don\u2019t like the Vikes to cover the big number, but will they actually lose? Hard choice. Can\u2019t do it, have to take the points.<\/p>\n
\nWeird, seems like too many points in a game that neither team needs for anything. Err, wait, if both the Vikings and the Eagles lose, they can get the #2 seed, whereas the Packers have nothing at all on the line. In fact, the seeding is such that the Packers will face the Cards in Arizona if the seeding doesn\u2019t change, so with that possibility on the table for Green Bay, they\u2019ll play close to the vest and won\u2019t show anything. OK, I\u2019ve talked myself into it, Cards cover.<\/p>\n
\nReally? Eleven? I mean, yeah, KC is bad, but that seems a little excessive, especially with the Broncos in self-destruct mode at the moment. I\u2019ll take 11 points, that\u2019s way too many to give here.<\/p>\n
\nBaltimore is playing for their playoff lives, and I believe Oakland is back to JaMarcus at QB. Give the big number.<\/p>\n
\nThe Bolts have the #2 spot wrapped up and will sit guys. A lot of the guys on the Skins are playing for their jobs next season. Take the points.<\/p>\n
\nErr, has nobody seen the Seabags the last few weeks? They\u2019re… atrocious, and CJ has a shot at the 2000 yard mark, so Tennessee, while having no shot at the playoffs, will still be going for it. I\u2019d give 8 here no problem, so 4 is a gimme.<\/p>\n
\nBengals @ New Jersey Jets(-10)<\/em>
\nWow, that\u2019s a big number, but Cincy has already checked out for this game, no matter what anybody is saying in public. Nice for the Jets to be handed two games at the end of the season to lock up their playoff spot, isn\u2019t it? Total BS, but what can you do? Ugh, give the points.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"