Broncos-Chiefs Preview and Week 17 Picks!

The worst Broncos team of my lifetime finishes the 2017 regular season at home against the Kansas City Chiefs. KC has already locked up the AFC West, and they will be resting Alex Smith and other starters. Pat Mahomes gets the start against Paxton Lynch. The outcome of this game means nothing. I would rather see Denver lose this game and finish 5-11, and get a better draft pick then finishing 6-10. The only thing that matters in this game is what happens after the game is over. Is Vance Joseph out as head coach after one year? What other staff changes are going to be made? Are there any moves that will be made to the front office? Which players are playing their last game as a Bronco on Sunday? Who will be the next Broncos starting quarterback? All those decisions will need to be answered in the coming days, weeks, and months. In the meantime, it will be nice to put the bow on this awful Broncos season and start fresh for 2018 right away.

Prediction: Kansas City (+4) over DENVER
Final Score: Chiefs-24 Broncos-17

Now, onto the picks for Week 17 with a little added bonus as I project the NFL Playoff Schedule. Week 17 features seven 1:00 games and nine 4:25 games, and it also doesn't have a final Sunday Night Football game due to the fact that it is New Year's Eve and there was no guarantee of a great game with playoff implications to fill that spot. Here we go.....

Last Week's Record: 6-8-2
Overall Record: 122-103-15
(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)

NEW ENGLAND (-14) over NY Jets: The Pats will take care of business and get to 13-3 and get the #1 seed in the AFC. The Jets will finish 5-11 and look to get a franchise QB in the offseason.

Green Bay (+7) over DETROIT: The Packers finish the season with a win and an 8-8 record, and the Lions finish 8-8 and probably fire Jim Caldwell in the process.

INDY (-4) over Houston: The Colts will win to finish 4-12 in Chuck Pagano's last game as head coach, and Houston finishes 4-12 and thinks about Deshaun Watson returning next year.

PITTSBURGH (-8) over Cleveland: The Steelers get to 13-3, but get the #2 seed in the AFC. Cleveland goes 0-16 and gets the #1 pick in the NFL Draft next April.

Washington (-3) over NY GIANTS: The Redskins finish 8-8 and think about what they will do with Kirk Cousins, and the Giants finish 2-14, secure the #2 pick in the draft and think about getting a new head coach and a new QB.

MINNESOTA (-11) over Chicago: The Vikings will roll and finish 13-3 and the #2 seed in the NFC, and the Bears will finish 5-11 and look to move on from John Fox and find a new HC.

Dallas (-3) over PHILLY: The Eagles have the #1 seed in the NFC locked up, so this game means nothing to them. The Cowboys will want to finish the season at 9-7 and on a high note.

Cincy (+9) over BALTIMORE: The Ravens will win the game and get into the playoffs. There is no doubt that will happen, but I think the Bengals will play hard in what will likely be Marvin Lewis' last game as head coach.

Miami (+3) over BUFFALO: I would love to see Buffalo get into the playoffs, but I don't think it will happen, and I don't think they will even win this Sunday in Miami. The Dolphins finish a disappointing season at 7-9.

Carolina (+4) over ATLANTA: The Falcons can clinch the #6 seed in the NFC with a win over the Panthers at home on Sunday. I think this is the game that is a little wild and crazy, and I think the Panthers defeat the Falcons and knock Atlanta out of a playoff spot. The Panthers will finish 12-4 and the #5 seed in the NFC.

TENNESSEE (-3) over Jacksonville: The Jags have the AFC South locked up, and they have nothing to play for, but they will play everyone and play hard. I don't buy it and I think the Titans will benefit from the Jags having everything all clinched. I think Tennessee wins, finishes 9-7 and gets the #6 seed in the AFC.

Oakland (+8) over LA CHARGERS: I think the Chargers win the game and finish 9-7, but they won't cover and I think Oakland plays with some heart and guts as they are 6-9 and out of the playoff race this year.

Arizona (+9) over SEATTLE: The Seahawks will win and finish the season 10-6, but this game will come down to the end. The Cardinals will play hard for Bruce Arians, who is probably coaching his final game as head coach for Arizona. Seattle wins and gets the #6 seed in the NFC due to Atlanta's loss.

San Francisco (-3) over LA RAMS: The 49ers will win their fifth in a row and finish 6-10 with Jimmy G at QB. The Rams are resting their main players and will finish 11-5 and secure the #4 seed in the NFC.

New Orleans (-6) over TAMPA BAY: The Saints will win handily and finish 12-4, win the NFC South and get the #3 seed in the NFC. The Bucs finish a disappointing 4-12 and Dirk Koetter is likely getting fired after the season is over.


NFL PLAYOFF SCHEDULE PREDICTIONS:

Wild Card Weekend
Saturday 1/6
4:30 PM (ESPN/ABC)
(6) Tennessee at (3) Jacksonville
8:00 PM (NBC)
(5) Carolina at (4) Los Angeles Rams

Sunday 1/7
1:00 PM (CBS)
(5) Baltimore at (4) Kansas City
4:30 PM (FOX)
(6) Seattle at (3) New Orleans

Divisional Weekend
Saturday 1/13
4:30 PM (FOX)
at (2) Minnesota
8:00 PM (NBC)
at (1) New England

Sunday 1/14
1:00 PM (CBS)
at (2) Pittsburgh
4:30 PM (FOX)
at (1) Philadelphia