Sanders's Week 17 NFL Predictions

By Jacob Sanders

I know it seems a little lazy, but I am going to give picks for non-relevant playoff games but next to zero analysis. Those games don’t matter than much except to fans. That and I’m on vacation and would rather enjoy that than write about teams that won’t matter till April again.

Anyhoo, on to the picks! I’ll give a full score of my season next week.

Green Bay Packers VS Detroit Lions

After last week’s offensive showing, it seems that this team has given up since being eliminated. The Lions will be at home and still wont to put up a winning record so they have that to play for.

Packers 13 Lions 17

Indianapolis Colts VS Houston Texans

The Texans got beat up last week while the Colts put up a fight. The difference here is the Colts are gritty and like to be competitive if not for all four quarters. Considering how I have enjoyed the Colts more than the Texans w/o Deshan Watson, I’ll take the Colts here.

Colts 17 Texans 14

Chicago Bears VS Minnesota Vikings

Can the Bears pull of the upset? Probably not. In other news, the Vikings are going to clinch the No. 2 seed here. Would love to see Bridgewater get some playing time here if the Vikings run away with the game in the first half.

Bears 13 Vikings 20

New York Jets VS New England Patriots

Same logic goes here as the above pick. Can the Jets pull off the upset? Probably not. Especially because New England is at home and the Jets don’t have a capable QB.

Jets 7 Patriots 28

Washington Redskins VS New York Giants

Yeah. No playoffs for either team here as well. Shame. The Redskins may have been fun to watch in the playoffs if they weren’t so banged up.

Redskins 20 Giants 10

Dallas Cowboys VS Philadelphia Eagles

This game will be much closer than people think. But with the No. 1 seed wrapped up and Cowboys eliminated, there could be more motivation for the Cowboys to win the game. However, Foles needs the reps as well and needs to beat the ‘Boys early.

Cowboys 17 Eagles 19

Cleveland Browns VS Pittsburgh Patriots

You know, with the Steelers resting their starters, it means they gave up on achieving the No. 1 seed. I mean, the Jets would have to beat the Patriots, but it’s telling they are looking to the post-season already. Smart move since the 3 Killer Bs haven’t all been healthy in the last 3 consecutive post-seasons they have been in. They’ll probably still win here. The 0-16 dream is real, Cleveland.

Browns 10 Steelers 14

Carolina Panthers VS Atlanta Falcons

I went back and forth on this game, and then realized that the Panthers are just the better team than the Falcons. Yeah, it took them to go 11-4 heading into Week 17 for me to finally believe in Carolina. This game is more about seeding because the Saints will clinch if they win against the Bucs but if they lose, the Panthers get the division and a home game. Huge implications here. But, the Panthers have just become a more explosive offense with a solid defense. Sound familiar? Maybe they’ll beat an elite defense this time in the post-season…

Panthers 27 Falcons 20

Cincinnati Bengals VS Baltimore Ravens

Let’s get this straight. No one will be surprised if Cincinnati wins here. The Bengals are one of the better teams against Baltimore and HC Marvin Lewis owns a 17-12 record against the Ravens. That’s pretty good. Also, this is potentially Lewis’s last game. The Ravens have a No. 5 seed to play for but the Bengals would love to send their coach out winning his last game. Feels like that’s more relevant for a team who plays through talent and passion. Still, the advantages that Baltimore has are glaring compared to the Bengals emotional advantage. That and the Ravens are at home. So, Baltimore wins it here.

Bengals 19 Ravens 23

Buffalo Bills VS Miami Dolphins

The Bills have a better chance to make the playoffs than people are giving them credit for. They are only need the Chargers and Titans to lose. There is a scenario where the Ravens lose too and they get in. Those are both real possibilities. Against a Dolphins team that hasn’t been the most impressive, the Bills can take care of business. However, it would be just like the Bills to lose this game and kill their fans hopes.

Bills 17 Dolphins 10

New Orleans Saints VS Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Saints win, and the get the division. It’s that easy. Against a team that hasn’t played so well? Sounds even easier. However, Jameis Winston has been playing well all season and even better the last couple weeks. However, however, he is playing against the Saints defense that has been one of the better surprises of the seasons. That is enough to make me believe the Bucs won’t pull off the upset here.

Saints 27 Bucs 20

Jacksonville Jaguars VS Tennessee Titans

The Jaguars don’t have much to play for. Except that they just got embarrassed on Christmas Eve and don’t want to rest their starters because they want to go into the off-season winning. This makes a lot of sense to me. Whether you’re playing the Titans or Chargers next week shouldn’t matter to you. It’s a week-to-week league and you need to just win no matter who your opponent is if you want to get to the Super Bowl. Bellichick is the master of this and knows it. Marrone knows it too which is why they are going full speed against the Titans. As anyone who has read this column knows, I have not been a fan of the Titans since Week 6, their 8-4 record at one point was misleading and their now 8-7 record shows it. They have looked like a mediocre team all season and will end up with a mediocre record.

Jaguars 26 Titans 17

Kansas City Chiefs VS Denver Broncos

Patrick Mahomes is starting. Bodes good news for a defense like the Broncos defense. Well, at least you would want to assume that looking at their on paper roster. But, the Broncos just haven’t played that well since Week 3. It’s a mystery I can’t figure out because this Denver team played like I thought they would in the first two weeks. I believed in Siemian and he showed his stuff in Weeks 1 and 2. Now? I’ve been burned for my faith. Ugh. KC wins it.

Chiefs 27 Broncos 20

Oakland Raiders VS Los Angeles Chargers

Okay. I’m gonna make this simple. The Raiders have looked deceivingly competitive the last two weeks. They’ll do it again here. They have looked competitive in the sense the opposing team hasn’t blown them out like they should have. Don’t think the Chargers will blow them out either. It will be a gritty close game that the Chargers defense finishes off in the 4^th quarter.

Raiders 16 Chargers 23

UPSET OF THE WEEK!!!!

San Francisco 49ers VS Los Angeles Rams

Oh yeah. It’s happening. It’s not that the Rams are bad or anything. It’s just that the 49ers are THAT good with Jimmy G as the QB. He gets a fine test here against a Rams defense that has seemingly been bend but don’t break in recent weeks. But, after watching them decimate the Jaguars, I actually believe in this 9ers team with Jimmy G at center. They’ll have a top 10 pick in the draft and with Lynch having a successful first season as a GM, I have no doubt in my mind they have potential to be a sleeping giant for next season.

49ers 28 Rams 27

DOUBLE UPSET!!!!

Arizona Cardinals VS Seattle Seahawks

Alright. So, if my picks go the way I’m thinking, this will be an upset. If the Falcons lose, the Seahawks have everything to play for at home. Its true, they won't know if the Falcons won or not because they play at the same time. But, let me give you a little secret. HC Bruce Arians is 3-1 in Seattle AND loves nothing more than to play spoiler to other teams. That’s just the culture the Cardinals have. While they won’t be at full fire-power, I think the passion of this team along with the abilities of Fitzgerald and Peterson (CB) can lead them to kick Seattle out of the playoffs. Spicy. I have my popcorn out.

Cardinals 15 Seahawks 14

Sanders's Week 16 NFL Predictions

By Jacob Sanders

A quick short thing here. Thanks to those who continue reading what I put out each week. You’re the reason I still do it even when there have been times where I don’t want to do it at all. I enjoy doing this as a hobby and it wouldn’t mean anything if there weren’t anybody to read them.

Anyway, on to the picks!

Sanders went 11-5 last week putting him to 125-85 on the season.

Indianapolis Colts VS Baltimore Ravens

Well. This will be short. Flacco has consistently put up season high games three weeks in a row now. He is playing against a very poor secondary this week so you tell me what you think it is going to happen. With the Baltimore offense averaging 30.7 points in the last 5 games and the defense still being tight as usual, I don’t see an outcome where the Colts manage to win this game. To me, they are riding out a lost season while Baltimore still has everything to play for.

Colts 10 Ravens 27

Minnesota Vikings VS Green Bay Packers

Even with Rodgers in the game, this feels like a loss for the Packers. The Vikings have proved to a be a great team this season and need to win here to keep their hopes of a bye week and slim chances of home field-advantage alive. But, Rodgers has been placed on IR and they are turning back to Hundley. While Hundley has proved to shine in moments, who knows if it’s enough to beat a vicious defense that the Vikings have.

Vikings 24 Packers 14

Tampa Bay Buccaneers VS Carolina Panthers

The Bucs threw everything and the kitchen sink at the Falcons on Monday night and it resulted in a 24-21 loss with a missed field goal heartbreaker. Typical of this Bucs team. As for the Panthers, they have proven themselves to be an NFC team that the NFC should look out for come post-season time. I myself thought this team would go 6-10. Even when they were starting to do well, I had my doubts. Not so much anymore. I expect them to beat the Bucs handily.

Bucs 16 Panthers 23

Cleveland Browns VS Chicago Bears

What a matchup. Two teams getting ready for the Super Bowl…except not really. Both of these teams are just riding out the season and trying to figure out what they’re going to do in the offseason. Meanwhile, most of these players are trying to prove why they belong to these organizations. I wanted to pick the Browns here. I really did. But the after seeing the Bears blow up the Bengals, I’m not sure the Browns beat the Bears. Kizer just makes too many mistakes and the Browns offense, in general, commits too many turnovers.

Browns 14 Bears 20

Detroit Lions VS Cincinnati Bengals

The Bengals feel like a team with no direction. Not only is their season already over, but they know their head coach leaves the organization after these next two games. The Lions, on the other hand, have very, very, very, very slim playoff hopes that they can only keep alive by winning their last two games and even they need some help. Call it lazy if you want, but I’m taking the desperate team that still has something to play for.

Lions 24 Bengals 14

Miami Dolphins VS Kansas City Chiefs

Suddenly the Chiefs offense looks like the one we came to expect watching on a weekly basis after their hot 5-0 start. However, their secondary is still suspect and a weakness that can be exploited by many different teams. While the Dolphins seems to be up and down, their victory on Monday Night football against New England appears to be an aberration more than anything else. By the way, Alex Smith is still one of the best QBs in the NFL this season. Don’t believe me? Look up his numbers and watch him play. You’ll see what I mean.

Dolphins 17 Chiefs 31

Buffalo Bills VS New England Patriots

Call last week’s win whatever you want but one thing is clear. Tom Brady and the Patriots just seem to always come in the clutch. The Patriots are hard team to beat. They are even harder to beat in New England. The Bills have to win their last two games in order to stay in the playoffs. The Patriots need to win to secure home field advantage. Considering how the Patriots are just a better team and the Bills offense always seems to be in flux, the Patriots are an easy choice here.

Bills 17 Patriots 27

Los Angeles Chargers VS New York Jets

This game would be tougher than I expect. Except that the Jets QB position is still a major question mark. I expect Bosa and Ingram to give the Jets offense hell all day. The Saints were able to ink out the win against these feisty Jets. The Chargers should be able to do the same.

Chargers 23 Jets 17

Los Angeles Rams VS Tennessee Titans

Let’s be real here. My doubt of the Titans for the last 10 weeks have been reasonable. Even when they were winning, I just didn’t understand what made them any good. Now, after losing two consecutive games to the Cardinals and then the 49ers, the Titans just simply are not a playoff team and have shown their true colors. I thought they would get bounced in the first round of the playoffs but now I’m pretty sure they don’t even make it. Their playoffs hopes suffer a major blow if they lose this game here against the Rams. Which, in this case, I believe Goff is the better quarterback and the Rams hold the better defense. Thus, the Rams should be able to pull this one off.

Rams 27 Titans 14

Denver Broncos VS Washington Redskins

I have gone back and forth on who comes in more clutch. The Denver defense or the Kirk Cousins. Then I realized this doesn’t come down to either of those options. This game comes down to if the Broncos quarterbacks can perform well enough or if the Redskins defense can hold down the fort. Considering how this game will be played in Washington, and none of the Broncos QBs have really inspired anyone, I’ll take a close game that Washington wins in the end.

Broncos 19 Redskins 23

Jacksonville Jaguars VS San Francisco 49ers

So the 49ers are a decent team when they have a quarterback who can actually play. But, Jimmy G’s real test comes against a stalwart defense that isn’t going to give up anything for free. This game will be harder than it looks on paper for the Jaguars, but they’ll contine proving that they are a real team by beating an inferior opponent.

Jaguars 28 49ers 20

New York Giants VS Arizona Cardinals

Neither of these teams matter anymore. Both have been eliminated from the playoffs. However, the Cardinals tend to play well at home and since they’re playing the Giants at home, they should be able to take care of business here. A welcome Christmas present for Cardinals fans.

Giants 10 Cardinals 17

Seattle Seahawks VS Dallas Cowboys

A game that is do or die for both teams here. However, Seattle is just too banged up and is now on a two game losing streak to playoff-worthy teams. They didn’t even show up last week when the Rams came to town. It might be time to face the music that we have seen the last of the legendary Legion of Boom. Not because they are injured but because this defense won’t be the same after this season. Looking at the Cowboys, Elliot is coming off of his 6-game suspension. I don’t expect a huge game from him because he has been out for 6 weeks but he very well could help the Cowboys run over the Seahawks like the Rams did last week.

Seahawks 17 Cowboys 28

Pittsburgh Steelers VS Houston Texans

The Texans just aren’t a very good team. The Steelers are. After two demanding games in a row, the Steelers get a break with a relatively easier opponent. Will they over-look the Texans? Probably not. This year, the Steelers have been an uber-focused team with their eyes on the prize. One could argue they should have beat the Patriots. With that in mind, I don’t believe they will falter here.

Steelers 30 Texans 17

Oakland Raiders VS Philadelphia Eagles

Alright. The Eagles don’t have their QB. But Nick Foles wasn’t bad against the Giants. Next up is a terrible secondary in the Oakland Raiders. That’s all I have to recognize to see that the Eagles are going to win. The Raiders provided us an exciting game against the Cowboys. News flash. These Eagles aren’t the Cowboys.

Raiders 20 Eagles 24

Sanders's Week 15 NFL Predictions

By Jacob Sanders

Miami Dolphins VS Buffalo Bills

Well. The Dolphins are suddenly frisky again. I’m not sure how that happened. But, Tyrod Taylor is back in the lineup again. With how much they’re flipping in between QBs, it’s hard to trust the Bills. I really want to as well as they seem like the logical pick. But I’m going with the Dolphins. It might have been an aberration but I watched them hand it to New England. It’s still fresh in my mind and if they play that way again, they win.

Dolphins 21 Bills 14

Green Bay Packers VS Carolina Panthers

Okay okay. Before I tell you my pick, let me make a case for it. The Carolina Panthers, despite being 9-4, have been an inconsistent team. And if you ask me, they won last week in large part to the Case Keenum magic running out. To most fans, they’ll call me crazy. But I think the writing has been on the wall for two weeks now. Is it over for the Vikings? Not at all. It’s just clear against a defense that’s on top of their game won’t be beat by Keenum as shown last week unless the Vikings D prevents scoring. Anyhoo, the Panthers aren’t playing Keenum this week and that game was close. They’re playing Rodgers. A FRESH Aaron Rodgers. Oh boy. Packers pull of the upset here.

Packers 28 Panthers 20

Baltimore Ravens VS Cleveland Browns

Is it just me or does this feel like the Browns first win? The Browns have Josh Gordon who should be able to shred the Baltimore secondary like Antonio Brown did last weekend. Yes, a future HoF is not throwing to Josh Gordon, but Gordon is still a game-changer and one that can take over. And it’s not like the Browns defense is bad either. They’re nearly a top 10 unit. Alright, enough defending the Browns. The Ravens win it here. Their defense is just as spectacular but their offense is better. If the last few weeks for Baltimore are any indication, the Baltimore offense figured it out at the right time in the season. No win for the Browns here.

Ravens 28 Browns 17

Houston Texans VS Jacksonville Jaguars

Alright. I almost laughed at this matchup. Whoever is playing at QB is going to be swallowed whole by the Jaguars because the QB room in the Texans just doesn’t have the talent to beat the Jaguars. The question, as usual, is can Bortles perform? Well, I happened to catch the Seahawks-Jags game. Yes, Bortles can perform. I can’t say he’ll continue his career like this but the guy has been having a nice mistake-free season. That’s all the Jaguars can ask from him with the talent they have.

Texans 16 Jaguars 27

Cincinnati Bengals VS Minnesota Vikings

How motivated will these Bengals be to win their final 3 games for their coach? Quite a bit since he will be leaving. Is it enough? Not at all. Vikings win it at home. As usual, defense is just too good. Keenum has raised my eyebrow in concern as of late but he can settle me down with a nice performance here. If not, I’m pressing the “too early to panic” panic buttion. Oh yeah. I’m one of those guys.

Bengals 17 Vikings 31

New York Jets VS New Orleans Saints

This. This would have been a nice matchup if McCown was in the game. Because he isn’t I’m pretty sure the Saints D is going to swallow the Jets’ QBs whole. Yes, I mean muiltiple QBs. I don’t trust only one starter for this game. At this point, you’re evaluating who and what you have for QB. And with that defense, I can guarantee turnovers will happen. OOF.

Jets 13 Saints 30

Philadelphia Eagles VS New York Giants

The Eagles just lost Carson Wentz. But, this team is still great and while I did not like Foles with the Rams, I think he may be okay with the Eagles. I’m probably wrong, but it’s not over for the Eagles yet. They’ll prove it here against a lackluster Giants team.

Eagles 20 Giants 10

Arizona Cardinals VS Washington Redskins

Okay. I told my friend at the beginning of the season his Cardinals team was going to lose this game. Fast forward and both teams are banged up and I have no clue who wins. Yikes. To be honest, I think the Cardinals can win it here. They just have more healthy talent than the Redskins do. This would be the exact kind of game Cousins has to take over in. He didn’t do it last week. Don’t think he does it here either.

Cards 17 Redskins 14

Los Angeles Rams VS Seattle Seahawks

Well. Usually, the Rams have Seattle’s number. But that was when the Rams were terrible. Now they’re a good team. So wouldn’t it be fitting for the Rams to lose because of that? Don’t think they will though. I watched the Jags VS Seahawks game closely. As I thought, this team is screwed when Wilson is contained. The Rams have the defense to do that like the Jaguars do. In a make or break game for the division and maybe even a playoff spot, the Seahawks normally step up. Their leadership is gone though this time due to injuruies. It’s possible they can win. But, I just don’t see it.

Rams 17 Seahawks 16

New England Patriots VS Pittsburgh Steelers

I think this is it. I think this is finally the time the Steelers can beat the Patriots. They sorely missed Shazier on the outside runs but the Killer B’s just can not be ignored. Roethlisberger, Brown, and Bell just can take over a game and they proved that with their backs against the wall at home last Sunday against a defense that had never allowed more than 300 passing yards this season. Well they put out 500. Holy ****. Welp, they’re at home again. And with the Steelers so focused on this one, it feels like they break the curse this time. And, you know, that O-line isn’t doing any favors for Tom Brady. He needs to get that ball out fast. But now that I’m doubting the Patriots, they’ll win. Watch.

Patriots 30 Steelers 34

UPSET OF THE WEEK!!!!

Tennessee Titans VS San Francisco 49ers

Yup. That’s how much I don’t have faith in this Titans team. With the 49ers suddenly becoming a viable team, and the Titans having to be the worst playoff team in the picture at the moment, I believe this is where we see the Titans true colors. Either they beat up on a 3 win team, or they struggle and actually lose. I’m thinking they lose. This could also be wear Jimmy G earns his contract. Beating a team in the playoff picture will do wonders for him.

Titans 13 49ers 20

Dallas Cowboys VS Oakland Raiders

Exactly how bad are the Raiders here? That’s the real question for this matchup. They stunk up the join last week and, frankly, probably will again. It’s hard to believe a team that looked so good last year can look that bad this year. I mean…yeah. Moving on. Dallas isn’t that great offensively without Elliot. But, with such a suspect secondary in Oakland, I think Prescott can take advantage and deliver a nice performance for his team in primetime.

Cowboys 24 Raiders 14