With only one week left in the regular season, it almost seems bittersweet. It seems like only a few weeks ago the 2011 NFL season was kicking off and every team was full of hope. Now, the vast majority of NFL teams are already playing out the schedule and preparing to go home. For a lucky few, the season has only just begun. Now it is time for the playoffs. Then, there are those that are still not sure what is going to happen. The Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants epitomize that final week struggle with an epic Sunday Night Football game to directly determine who is in or out. Here is how I see this fantastic final week seventeen breaking down:
Buffalo Bills (6-9) at New England Patriots (12-3)
Remember when the Buffalo Bills were set to take the NFL by storm back in the early weeks of 2011? I was a believer and still think that they will be a very good team in the coming years. This season was simply not to be. For the Patriots, it is business as usual.
NFL Week Seventeen Winner - New England Patriots
Chicago Bears (7-8) at Minnesota Vikings (3-12)
The Bears really let me down this season. I am no Bears fan by any means, but I do count on them to put up some competition against the Packers. Without them beating up on each other, the rest of the NFC has that much harder of a time catching up. With the Cutler injury, you had to figure they were going to suffer. Either way, I think they will take out those frustrations on the Vikings in week seventeen.
NFL Week Seventeen Winner - Chicago Bears
Detroit Lions (10-5) at Green Bay Packers (14-1)
This is certainly a game that could be seen again, and with much more on the line. Hopefully the Lions will come ready to run up and down the field. I think the Packers will hand it to the Lions to send a message. The message?
Not yet, grasshoppers.
NFL Week Seventeen Winner - Green Bay Packers
Tennessee Titans (8-7) at Houston Texans (10-5)
The Titans simply refuse to go away and Jake Locker seems like he just might be a keeper. This season may one day be considered the greatest year ever for rookie quarterbacks. No matter what happens this week, the Titans need the Bengals to lose and they have to win to have any chance of the playoffs. The Texans seem to be on a mini-slide of late and really need a win to get momentum back on their side. This week, I see the Texans pulling out an emotional win at home.
NFL Week Seventeen Winner - Houston Texans
Indianapolis Colts (2-13) at Jacksonville Jaguars (4-11)
This game is going to be the ultimate in boring. What would really be horrible is if the Colts miss out on drafting Andrew Luck because of a win over the Jaguars. That would be truly sad.
NFL Week Seventeen Winner - Jacksonville Jaguars
San Francisco 49ers (12-3) at St. Louis Rams (2-13)
The Niners will roll. That is all.
NFL Week Seventeen Winner - San Francisco 49ers
New York Jets (8-7) at Miami Dolphins (5-10)
With all the crap that Ryan has talked all season, the Jets deserve to go home. I would love it personally, as I have never liked his brash style of coaching. Whatever the case, the Dolphins have made some great strides in 2011 as the season has worn on. They are no longer pushovers, but they will come up short in this one.
NFL Week Seventeen Winner - New York Jets
Carolina Panthers (6-9) at New Orleans Saints (12-3)
As a huge Carolina Panthers fan, I have to admit I wanted to see this game the minute the first match up ended. The first time around, the game was like watching a circus of offense. I expect more of the same in this one. I do think the Carolina Panthers will take this one, if only because the Saints will be looking ahead.
The NFC had best be ready for my Panthers in 2012.
NFL Week Seventeen Winner - Carolina Panthers
Washington Redskins (5-10) at Philadelphia Eagles (7-8)
The Eagles have done what they could to right the ship, but it came up a bit too late. This will be an end of year party that could get ugly before it is over. The Eagles will dominate the game, however.
NFL Week Seventeen Winner - Philadelphia Eagles
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-11) at Atlanta Falcons (9-6)
Atlanta will win in a laugher. The Bucs are playing out the string and ready to move on to the offseason.
NFL Week Seventeen Winner - Atlanta Falcons
Baltimore Ravens (11-4) at Cincinnati Bengals (9-6)
This game is absolutely the biggest game in the Bengals recent history. Can rookie Andy Dalton pull out this huge win? I say yes they can.
NFL Week Seventeen Winner - Cincinnati Bengals
Pittsburgh Steelers (11-4) at Cleveland Browns (4-11)
The Steelers find a way every season to be right in the middle of things, and this year is no different. They have some challenges ahead, but I would not expect the Browns to be one of them at this point.
NFL Week Seventeen Winner - Pittsburgh Steelers
Kansas City Chiefs (6-9) at Denver Broncos (8-7)
Nobody in their right mind will expect the Chiefs to simply give this one to the Broncos. This is going to be a fight to the finish. The Broncos will win the game in the end, but it will not be easy.
NFL Week Seventeen Winner - Denver Broncos
San Diego Chargers (7-8) at Oakland Raiders (8-7)
The Chargers are another team that really let me down this season. I would love to see the Raiders make the playoffs, but I have a feeling the Chargers are going to want to make a statement. Expect this one to be very close with the Raiders winning at the last minute.
NFL Week Seventeen Winner - Oakland Raiders
Seattle Seahawks (7-8) at Arizona Cardinals (7-8)
Two teams that both made late season surges collide with little but bragging rights on the line. Who will win? I say the home team will pull out one more.
NFL Week Seventeen Winner - Arizona Cardinals
Dallas Cowboys (8-7) at New York Giants (8-7)
It seems appropriate that the final game of the regular season would be an NFC East battle to determine a direct playoff spot and division title. The Cowboys should have wrapped this up long ago in my mind, but they have faltered at key moments. Not to be outdone, the Giants have had some slip-ups as well. None of this will matter as they do battle on Sunday Night Football. I am expecting the Dallas Cowboys to finally step up and take the brass ring. Could this be Tony Romo's year to finally get some respect?
NFL Week Seventeen Winner - Dallas Cowboys
Week Sixteen NFL Picks Record - 12-4
Season Picks Record - 161-79
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