It all comes down to this.
Sixteen games on the last day of the NFL regular season. One NFC and two AFC wild-card playoff berths are still up for grabs, as well as one last division title (the NFC South) and most playoff seedings to be nailed down.
My picks record last week – straight up, not against the spread – sparkled: 13-3. Last-week selections can be most difficult, as we all have to guess which good teams might rest starters or pull them early, and which bad teams still care.
Let’s get right to it for Week 17:
Green Bay (7-8) at Detroit (8-7), Sunday, 1 p.m. EST
(TSN 4-5; via FOX)
KRYK PICK: Detroit
Last game for Jim Caldwell as Lions head coach? Probably. If winning this one would help his cause, he’ll have no excuses: far too many Packer backups are playing for Green Bay to expect to win.
Houston (4-11) at Indianapolis (3-12), Sunday, 1 p.m. EST
KRYK PICK: Indianapolis
Last game for Chuck Pagano as Colts head coach? Probably. Another injury-ravaged, write-off of a season for Indy. That said, in too many winnable games the Colts coughed up late leads.
Chicago (5-10) at Minnesota (12-3), Sunday, 1 p.m. EST
(CTV BC-Alberta-Saskatchewan-Winnipeg; via FOX)
KRYK PICK: Minnesota
Last game for John Fox as Bears head coach? Probably. More useful parts were at his disposal in ’17 but the Bears are still rebuilding on both sides of the ball. Question is, is old-school conservative Fox the right guy for the future?
NY Jets (5-1) at New England (12-3), Sunday, 1 p.m. EST
(CTV Ontario-Montreal-Atlantic; via CBS)
KRYK PICK: New England
Last game for Bill Belichick as Patriots head coach? Ha! Yeah, right. Once again, one of the best coaching jobs done by anyone in the NFL was by ol’ Hoody McGrumpypants himself. Nine straight division titles. Sheesh.
Washington (7-8) at NY Giants (2-13), Sunday, 1 p.m. EST
KRYK PICK: Washington
New York might be a sentimental pick to win one more time with Eli Manning at the helm. But New York was shut out last week at Arizona, fergosh sake, and this week is without both starting OTs and the two receivers. Poor Eli.
Dallas (8-7) at Philadelphia (13-2), Sunday, 1 p.m. EST
KRYK PICK: Philadelphia
Only meaningfulness for the Eagles is getting QB Nick Foles back on track, after a dreadful Christmas performance against Oakland. The Eagles defence is expert at harassing QBs. Rough day for Dak Prescott ahead.
Cleveland (0-15) at Pittsburgh (12-3), Sunday, 1 p.m. EST
KRYK PICK: Pittsburgh
There’s no stopping the Browns when there’s history to be made, no matter how many starters the Steelers don’t dress or pull early. Owen Sixteen, here Cleveland comes.
Carolina (11-4) at Atlanta (9-6), Sunday, 4:25 p.m. EST
(CTV Ottawa-Winnipeg; CTV Two Atlantic; via FOX)
KRYK PICK: Atlanta
Although the Panthers have a shot at the No. 2 NFC seed and a first-round bye, they’ve already clinched at least a wild-card berth, whereas the Falcons are fighting for their playoff lives: win and they’re in.
Cincinnati (6-9) at Baltimore (9-6), Sunday, 4:25 p.m. EST
(TSN 4-5; via CBS)
KRYK PICK: Baltimore
Look, the Ravens play up or down to their competition. Or didn’t you see how they barely held off the Colts last weekend? Win and the Ravens are in. Lose and they miss out. .
Kansas City (9-6) at Denver (5-10), Sunday, 4:25 p.m. EST
KRYK PICK: Denver
Rookie QB vs. the Broncos’ secondary? Not gonna end well for the kid. Patrick Mahomes will QB the Chiefs, who have nothing to play for. Therefore Alex Smith is resting. Therefore Broncos DBs are salivating.
Oakland (6-9) at LA Chargers (8-7), Sunday, 4:25 p.m. EST
KRYK PICK: Los Angeles
LA QB Philip Rivers has been to the playoffs only once in the previous seven years. His Chargers need a lot of help to get there his year. They’ll do their part against the self-destructing Raiders.
San Francisco (5-10) at LA Rams (11-4), Sunday, 4:25 p.m. EST
KRYK PICK: Los Angeles
It’s 11:59:59 p.m. for the Cinderella Niners and newly installed QB Jimmy Garoppolo. The Rams already have nailed down home field for next week’s wild-card round, but they’ll end Jimmy G’s impressive run.
Buffalo (8-7) at Miami (6-9), Sunday, 4:25 p.m. EST
(CTV Toronto-Kitchener-Montreal-Northern Ontario; via CBS)
KRYK PICK: Buffalo
The Bills’ record in last-month games at Miami this century: 2-3 (.400). The Bills smacked the Dolphins just two weeks ago in Buffalo, when the Fish had something to play for. They don’t this time. Bills season sweep.
Arizona (7-8) at Seattle (9-6), Sunday, 4:25 p.m. EST
(CTV BC-Alberta-Saskatchewan; via FOX)
KRYK PICK: Seattle
Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians didn’t do his team any favours by boasting about two wins in the last three years at Seattle, and that CenturyLink Field is like a home game for them. Uh, not this time.
New Orleans (11-4) at Tampa Bay (4-11), Sunday, 4:25 p.m. EST
KRYK PICK: New Orleans
With head coach Dirk Koetter off the hot seat, maybe the Bucs won’t play so darn uptight. The Saints have the division title plus playoff positioning for next week to play for, specifically home-field advantage.
Jacksonville (10-5) at Tennessee (8-7), Sunday, 4:25 p.m. EST
KRYK PICK: Jacksonville
Jags theoretically don’t have anything to play for, with the No. 3 AFC seed locked up. But they stunk in San Francisco last week. Pride game. The Titans need this to make the playoffs, but they’re 0-3 in December.
– – –
BYES THIS WEEK: None. All done.
SEASON RECORD: 156-84 (.650), through Week 16.
JoKryk@postmedia.com
@JohnKryk
