Pigskin Prognostications, Week Seventeen

Last regular week of the season, all the games are today (yes, rock!), and quite a handful are meaningful.

Falcons 31, Rams 13 - Atlanta's playing for a first-round bye, and St. Louis is playing for their coach's job. Motivation for both is almost equal. Talent, of course, is not.

Patriots 34, Bills 16 - The past five weeks, New England has looked like it did during the regular season last year, and--with a playoff spot on the line--I expect no different this week.

Chiefs 28, Bengals 17 - KC might blow another close one, but I really admire their quarterback, so here's hoping...AND that shutout Cincinnatti took from Cleveland was one taken from an offensively-anemic team with a fourth-round QB starting.

Bears 17, Texans 10 - I give this one to Chicago based on motivation, because with Houston--especially after last week's whodathunkit loss to Oakland--it all depends on...man, I don't know.

Vikings 20, Giants 18- New York will rest Brandon Jacobs and--after the first quarter--most of their starters.

Panthers 35, Saints 28 - The Panthers are still trying to secure that first-round bye and not drop from second seed to fifth seed, but Brees is only 402 yards away from Marino's passing yards record, so this one should be good.

Steelers 21, Browns 0 - The Steelers will probably rest prominent starters after the first half (or first quarter), but even then....

Buccaneers 24 , Raiders 10 - Is JaMarcus Russell finally starting to bloom? Maybe so, but I believe the Bucs--hoping for a playoff berth--will stunt his growth this week.

Titans 19 , Colts 17 - They'll both rest starters early, so this will essentially be like a pre-season game, and Tennessee's deeper on D than Indianapolis is, therefore....

Lions 17, Packers 16 = I think Green Bay will win, but I'm not betting any money on any of my picks, so here's hoping that Detroit will avoid the biggest one-season donut in the history of the NFL.

Ravens 20, Jaguars 10 - Baltimore's fighting for a playoff spot, and Jacksonville's had some internal goings-on this week.

Cardinals 27, Seahawks 20 - Yeah, Seattle's been playing great lately, and this is Mike Holmgren's last game, but I just don't believe Kurt Warner and the Birds will lay yet another stinker the week before they host their first playoff game in over forty years.

Redskins 17, 49ers 13 - If last week's Washington team--and specifically their defense--shows up, this one's theirs. If not, then with the way Samurai Mike has his team primed, it could turn the other way.

Dolphins 19, Jets 18 - I'm pulling for Pennington.

Cowboys 27, Eagles 24 - DeMarcus Ware may not set the single-season sack record in this one (for surely he'll be at least double-teamed), but with enough O-line devoted to him, the Eagles...nah. They won't have a prayer if they pass all day. Their only hope is to run right at Ware, and we all know how much Andy Reid likes to run.

Chargers 30, Broncos 23 - Rivers has been playing the best ball of his career these past five weeks, and his best ball is as good as anyone else's this season.