NFL Game Previews: Breaking Down Week 17

Washington at N.Y. Giants (+3), 39.5 o/u – Sunday, 1 p.m. EST

The Story: The NFL gets a lot – and I mean a lot – of things wrong these days, but Week 17 isn't really one of them. Scheduling nothing but division rivalry games for the final weekend ensures that every contest has some meaning and teeth to it, even if the teams involved are long out of playoff contention as these two are. (As for teams resting stars in Week 17, hey, that's on the coaching staffs and front offices, not the league.) While Washington doesn't have much to play for other than the chance to kick a dysfunctional enemy while they're down, the game does carry some weight for the Giants, as a win and a Colts loss would bump them down to the No. 3 slot in next year's draft. Given the situation, you'd think they'd be giving young Davis Webb the start under center to see what he's made of, and try not to cost themselves draft position, but apparently the "bench Eli Manning" ship has already sailed. And sunk.

The Skinny:
•2017 WAS offense: 22.1 PPG (14th), 92.5 rushing yds/gm (26th), 262.3 passing yds/gm (9th), 38 sacks allowed (T-18th), 24 turnovers (T-23rd)
•2017 NYG offense: 15.2 PPG (31st), 85.9 rushing yds/gm (29th), 236.5 passing yds/gm (17th), 32 sacks allowed (T-11th), 21 turnovers (T-17th)
•2017 WAS defense: 24.7 PPG allowed (T-26th), 125.7 rushing yds/gm allowed (29th), 237.3 passing yds/gm allowed (13th), 40 sacks (T-7th), 22 turnovers (T-11th)
•2017 NYG defense: 25.2 PPG allowed (29th), 124.8 rushing yds/gm allowed (28th), 269.4 passing yds/gm allowed (30th), 24 sacks (30th), 16 turnovers (T-25th)
•Head-to-head record, last five-plus years: 7-4 NYG, average score NYG 23-WAS 17, average margin of victory 10 points, WAS has won three of the last four meetings, including Week 12's 20-10 victory.
•Key injuries/absences: WAS, LB Ryan Kerrigan (calf, questionable), LB Zach Brown (various lower body, out); NYG, WR Sterling Shepard (neck, out), TE Evan Engram (ribs, out), DE Jason Pierre-Paul (finger, questionable), CB Eli Apple (suspension, out)
•Weather forecast: partly cloudy, 13 mph wind, less than 10 percent chance of snow

The Scoop: Samaje Perine gashes the Giants again for 90 yards and two TDs. Kirk Cousins throws for 230 yards and a touchdown to Josh Doctson. Wayne Gallman leads the NYG backfield with 50 yards. Manning throws for less than 200 yards and gets picked off twice before giving way to Webb in the second half, but the rookie doesn't fare much better. Washington, 24-6

N.Y. Jets (+15.5) at New England, 44.0 o/u – Sunday, 1 p.m. EST

The Story: The Jets could still pick as high as fifth in next year's draft with a Buccaneers win, but more likely they'll be somewhere in the back half of the top 10 even if they drop this one as expected. Bilal Powell could get a big workload again given the state of Matt Forte's knee, and while he's coming off one of his best games of the season, positive performances have been few or far between for him in 2017 – he has three games with a YPC of 7.6 or higher, and 10 of 3.8 or lower. The Pats, meanwhile, still need a win to secure home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs, so while they do have some nagging injuries littering their roster, don't expect them to start resting stars unless the game is well in hand. It hasn't drawn much attention, but this has quietly been one of the best coaching efforts of Bill Belichick's career. Think about how brutal the New England defense looked in their opener, and even through the entire first month of the season – heading into Week 5, they were allowing 32 points a game, second most in the league. Barring a collapse against Bryce Petty, they're going to finish the year comfortably in the top 10 in scoring defense.

The Skinny:
•2017 NYJ offense: 19.5 PPG (22nd), 110.8 rushing yds/gm (17th), 217.9 passing yds/gm (23rd), 43 sacks allowed (T-23rd), 24 turnovers (T-23rd)
•2017 NE offense: 28.8 PPG (3rd), 116.1 rushing yds/gm (T-13th), 294.9 passing yds/gm (1st), 33 sacks allowed (T-14th), 12 turnovers (2nd)
•2017 NYJ defense: 23.7 PPG allowed (23rd), 116.0 rushing yds/gm allowed (19th), 247.3 passing yds/gm allowed (22nd), 26 sacks (T-26th), 20 turnovers (T-17th)
•2017 NE defense: 19.3 PPG allowed (7th), 119.7 rushing yds/gm allowed (26th), 272.5 passing yds/gm allowed (32nd), 38 sacks (T-12th), 18 turnovers (T-22nd)
•Head-to-head record, last five-plus years: 9-2 NE, average score NE 27-NYJ 19, average margin of victory 10 points. Nine of the 11 games have been decided by a single score, with three being decided in overtime (including both NYJ wins), but the other two games were NE blowouts in the second meeting of the season: 41-3 in 2016, and 49-19 in 2012.
•Key injuries/absences: NYJ, RB Matt Forte (knee, questionable), WR Robby Anderson (illness, questionable); NE, QB Tom Brady (shoulder/Achilles, questionable), TE Rob Gronkowski (illness, questionable), RB Rex Burkhead (knee, questionable), WR Chris Hogan (shoulder, questionable)
•Weather forecast: clear, 11 mph wind, less than 10 percent chance of snow

The Scoop: Powell leads the NYJ backfield with 60 yards. Petty throws for less than 200 yards and gets picked off three times. Dion Lewis piles up 140 combined yards and two scores, one rushing and one receiving. Brady throws for 210 yards and a second TD to Brandin Cooks before turning things over to Brian Hoyer, who also throws a touchdown to Phillip Dorsett. Patriots, 37-3

Chicago (+11.5) at Minnesota, 39.5 o/u – Sunday, 1 p.m. EST

The Story: Other than getting Mitchell Trubisky some extra reps against one of the toughest defenses in the leagues, there's not a lot to motivate the Bears. Their strength of schedule locks them out of the top five in the draft even if the other 5-10 teams engineer upsets this week, and a win could second them tumbling out of the top 10 entirely. On the other hand, the Vikings want a win to ensure a first-round bye (though they could back into it without one), so they have plenty of incentive to leave their horses in the lineup for four quarters. Last time out, Chicago held Case Keenum in check but got ripped up by Jerick McKinnon, who had arguably his best game of the season in Week 5 right after Dalvin Cook blew out his knee. Expect a different script in this one, but the same result.

The Skinny:
•2017 CHI offense: 16.9 PPG (29th), 117.2 rushing yds/gm (11th), 193.8 passing yds/gm (31st), 38 sacks allowed (T-18th), 22 turnovers (T-20th)
•2017 MIN offense: 23.9 PPG (10th), 120.7 rushing yds/gm (8th), 249.3 passing yds/gm (15th), 25 sacks allowed (T-7th), 14 turnovers (3rd)
•2017 CHI defense: 19.8 PPG allowed (10th), 105.5 rushing yds/gm allowed (9th), 230.9 passing yds/gm allowed (7th), 40 sacks (T-7th), 22 turnovers (T-11th)
•2017 MIN defense: 16.1 PPG allowed (1st), 87.1 rushing yds/gm allowed (2nd), 210.1 passing yds/gm allowed (3rd), 36 sacks (16th), 19 turnovers (T-19th)
•Head-to-head record, last five-plus years: 7-4 MIN, average score MIN 22-CHI 19, average margin of victory 10 points.
•Key injuries/absences: CHI, TE Adam Shaheen (chest, questionable); MIN, none
•Weather forecast: indoors

The Scoop: Jordan Howard grinds out 60 yards. Trubisky throws for less than 200 yards but does run in a score. Latavius Murray bangs out 80 combined yards and a TD, while McKinnon adds 70 combined yards. Keenum throws for 240 yards and a touchdown to Adam Thielen. Vikings, 20-10

Green Bay (+6.5) at Detroit, 43.0 o/u – Sunday, 1 p.m. EST

The Story: There's little on the line here from a standings perspective, as both teams will draft in the middle morass of the first round in 2018, but a Lions win would give them their first series sweep against the Pack since Barry Sanders was in his prime, a drought that's lasted 25 years. Brett Hundley will be without the one receiver he trusts, Davante Adams, so it's tough to see him producing much with his arm and fairly easy to imagine Joe Callahan getting a chance in the second half. Matthew Stafford's been playing at less than 100 percent while Detroit tried to make a playoff push – his 5:4 TD:INT over the last four games is a far cry from the 9:2 TD:INT he posted over the previous four – but Jim Caldwell says he's not going to take out his high-priced QB even with the postseason now off the table, bless his soon-to-be-fired heart.

The Skinny:
•2017 GB offense: 20.6 PPG (19th), 108.1 rushing yds/gm (18th), 222.6 passing yds/gm (22nd), 47 sacks allowed (T-28th), 21 turnovers (T-17th)
•2017 DET offense: 25.0 PPG (8th), 78.0 rushing yds/gm (32nd), 276.5 passing yds/gm (5th), 45 sacks allowed (27th), 22 turnovers (T-20th)
•2017 GB defense: 23.3 PPG allowed (21st), 116.1 rushing yds/gm allowed (20th), 247.9 passing yds/gm allowed (23rd), 35 sacks (T-17th), 22 turnovers (T-11th)
•2017 DET defense: 24.3 PPG allowed (25th), 113.1 rushing yds/gm allowed (17th), 261.8 passing yds/gm allowed (27th), 31 sacks (T-20th), 28 turnovers (4th)
•Head-to-head record, last five-plus years: 7-4 GB, average score DET 23-GB 22, average margin of victory 10 points. Ten of the games were decided by 13 points or less, but a DET blowout in the 11th (a 40-10 win in 2013 with Matt Flynn under center for the Pack) skews the averages.
•Key injuries/absences: GB, WR Jordy Nelson (shoulder, out), WR Davante Adams (concussion, out), LB Clay Matthews (hamstring, questionable), RB Aaron Jones (knee, out); DET, none
•Weather forecast: indoors

The Scoop: Jamaal Williams picks up 80 yards and a touchdown. Hundley throws for 200 yards and runs for 40 yards and a TD. Theo Riddick leads the DET backfield with 90 combined yards and a receiving score. Stafford throws for 230 yards and a second TD to Golden Tate. Lions, 23-17

Houston (+4.5) at Indianapolis, 40.0 o/u – Sunday, 1 p.m. EST

The Story: It's fun to imagine what the final score in this game might be if Andrew Luck and Deshaun Watson were both healthy. These defenses have been absolutely awful all year, and it's no accident that they rank last and second last in points allowed. Then again, their offensive lines have been equally inept, also ranking last and second last in sacks allowed, so maybe it's just as well there are no franchise QBs available to put at risk. The Colts have nominally more on the line, as a loss plus a Giants win would sneak them up to the No. 2 pick in the draft, while the Browns already own the Texans' pick so they've got nothing to lose by going all out. What "going all out" means without DeAndre Hopkins in the lineup, though, remains to be seen.

The Skinny:
•2017 HOU offense: 21.7 PPG (T-16th), 117.1 rushing yds/gm (12th), 233.8 passing yds/gm (20th), 52 sacks allowed (31st), 27 turnovers (29th)
•2017 IND offense: 16.1 PPG (30th), 101.0 rushing yds/gm (22nd), 207.5 passing yds/gm (29th), 55 sacks allowed (32nd), 15 turnovers (T-4th)
•2017 HOU defense: 27.6 PPG allowed (32nd), 106.7 rushing yds/gm allowed (12th), 259.0 passing yds/gm allowed (26th), 31 sacks (T-20th), 16 turnovers (T-25th)
•2017 IND defense: 26.1 PPG allowed (31st), 122.8 rushing yds/gm allowed (27th), 265.7 passing yds/gm allowed (29th), 23 sacks (31st), 19 turnovers (T-19th)
•Head-to-head record, last five-plus years: 7-4 IND, average score IND 22-HOU 19, average margin of victory eight points. The last seven games have all been decided by seven points or less.
•Key injuries/absences: HOU, WR DeAndre Hopkins (calf, out); IND, none.
•Weather forecast: indoors

The Scoop: Lamar Miller reels off 80 combined yards and a touchdown. T.J. Yates throws for 240 yards and a TD to Will Fuller. Frank Gore thuds ahead for 50 yards. Jacoby Brissett throws for 260 yards and touchdowns to T.Y. Hilton and Chester Rogers while running in a score of his own. Colts, 24-20

Cleveland (+11) at Pittsburgh, 38.5 o/u – Sunday, 1 p.m. EST

The Story: Well now, this game suddenly got a whole lot more interesting. The Steelers, having apparently decided they have no shot at the top seed in the AFC since it would require the Jets to upset the Patriots, seem to be getting ready to sit Ben Roethlisberger and Le'Veon Bell to give them two weeks rest heading into the postseason. That puts 0-16 on the line for the Browns, who have lost five consecutive against their division rivals. Their last win in the series came in 2014 ... when Roethlisberger was hurt and Charlie Batch was under center. Their last win in Pittsburgh came all the way back in 2003, the year before Big Ben was drafted. Dun-dun daaaah! Ominous as those signs are, it's still the Browns. Let's not get crazy here. Let's also not forget that Landry Jones threw for 277 yards and three TDs in the same Week 17 spot against Cleveland last year.

The Skinny:
•2017 CLE offense: 14.0 PPG (32nd), 107.5 rushing yds/gm (19th), 214.9 passing yds/gm (25th), 44 sacks allowed (26th), 39 turnovers (32nd)
•2017 PIT offense: 25.2 PPG (7th), 102.9 rushing yds/gm (20th), 286.3 passing yds/gm (2nd), 21 sacks allowed (3rd), 18 turnovers (T-10th)
•2017 CLE defense: 25.5 PPG allowed (30th), 96.1 rushing yds/gm allowed (7th), 242.8 passing yds/gm allowed (18th), 31 sacks (T-20th), 11 turnovers (32nd)
•2017 PIT defense: 18.9 PPG allowed (5th), 106.1 rushing yds/gm allowed (10th), 219.7 passing yds/gm allowed (5th), 50 sacks (2nd), 20 turnovers (T-17th)
•Head-to-head record, last five-plus years: 9-2 PIT, average score PIT 23-CLE 16, average margin of victory 12 points.
•Key injuries/absences: CLE, none; PIT, WR Antonio Brown (leg, out)
•Weather forecast: cloudy, wind less than 10 mph, less than 10 percent chance of snow

The Scoop: Duke Johnson leads the CLE backfield with 80 combined yards, but Isaiah Crowell scores a TD. DeShone Kizer throws for less than 200 yards. With Bell out, Stevan Ridley leads the PIT backfield with 50 yards. Jones throws for 240 yards and touchdowns to Martavis Bryant and Xavier Grimble. Steelers, 23-13

Dallas at Philadelphia (+3), 39.5 o/u – Sunday, 1 p.m. EST

The Story: The Cowboys crashed and burned at home last week despite the return of Ezekiel Elliott, which makes their mindset heading into this matchup a question mark. Do they rally around a chance to secure a winning record on the backs of the Eagles, adding one more troll to the long history of trolling between these franchises? Or do they just fold up and slink home? Getting the good version of Dak Prescott would help. He's thrown multiple TD passes and zero INTs in four of 10 games since the Cowboys' bye, but also thrown zero TDs and multiple picks in four. Complicating the picture is that Philly has locked up the top seed in the NFC, giving them no motivation beyond avoiding injuries – and sticking it to Dallas, of course. Nick Foles still looks like he'll start the game, but that doesn't mean he'll finish it, and the same could be said for most of the club's key skill players.

The Skinny:
•2017 DAL offense: 23.2 PPG (12th), 136.1 rushing yds/gm (3rd), 209.8 passing yds/gm (27th), 31 sacks allowed (10th), 21 turnovers (T-17th)
•2017 PHI offense: 30.5 PPG (2nd), 136.3 rushing yds/gm (2nd), 252.9 passing yds/gm (13th), 33 sacks allowed (T-14th), 18 turnovers (T-10th)
•2017 DAL defense: 22.1 PPG allowed (16th), 106.3 rushing yds/gm allowed (11th), 238.2 passing yds/gm allowed (T-14th), 35 sacks (T-17th), 19 turnovers (T-19th)
•2017 PHI defense: 19.3 PPG allowed (6th), 75.9 rushing yds/gm allowed (1st), 246.9 passing yds/gm allowed (21st), 37 sacks (T-14th), 30 turnovers (3rd)
•Head-to-head record, last five-plus years: 6-5 DAL, average score PHI 25-DAL 24, average margin of victory 12 points. Only four of those 11 games have been decided by a single score, while five of them were decided by 14 points or more.
•Key injuries/absences: DAL, none; PHI, DE Brandon Graham (ankle, out), CB Jalen Mills (ankle, questionable)
•Weather forecast: partly cloudy, 13 mph wind, less than 10 percent chance of snow

The Scoop: Elliott chews up 110 combined yards and a TD. Prescott throws for 230 yards and touchdowns to Dez Bryant and Jason Witten. Corey Clement leads the PHI backfield with 80 combined yards and a score. Foles throws for less than 200 yards but two TDs to Zach Ertz before giving way to Nate Sudfeld in the second half. Cowboys, 27-24

San Francisco at L.A. Rams (+3.5), 43.5 o/u – Sunday, 4:25 p.m. EST

The Story: The legend of Jimmy Garoppolo continues to grow after he dispatched the Jaguars, a team with a legitimate claim to being the best defense in the league, last week with relative ease. In fact, his 8.1 YPA against the Jags was the second highest mark they've allowed all season, behind Russell Wilson's 8.7. The Rams' defense is nearly as good, but Jimmy GQ likely won't be facing them at their best – locked into a division title but out of a first-round bye, L.A. has nothing to play for this week, so stars like Jared Goff, Todd Gurley and Aaron Donald are already getting the day off.

The Skinny:
•2017 SF offense: 19.8 PPG (21st), 99.5 rushing yds/gm (23rd), 262.9 passing yds/gm (8th), 43 sacks allowed (T-23rd), 20 turnovers (16th)
•2017 LAR offense: 31.0 PPG (1st), 123.4 rushing yds/gm (7th), 256.9 passing yds/gm (10th), 25 sacks allowed (T-7th), 19 turnovers (T-13th)
•2017 SF defense: 24.7 PPG allowed (T-26th), 117.3 rushing yds/gm allowed (22nd), 251.6 passing yds/gm allowed (24th), 27 sacks (25th), 18 turnovers (T-22nd)
•2017 LAR defense: 19.7 PPG allowed (T-8th), 119.2 rushing yds/gm allowed (T-24th), 233.8 passing yds/gm allowed (10th), 48 sacks (4th), 25 turnovers (T-5th)
•Head-to-head record, last five-plus years: 6-4-1 SF, average score SF 23-LAR 18, average margin of victory 10 points.
•Key injuries/absences: SF, none; LAR, QB Jared Goff (rest, out), RB Todd Gurley (rest, out), DT Aaron Donald (rest, out), WR Cooper Kupp (knee, questionable), LB Mark Barron (Achilles, doubtful)
•Weather forecast: partly cloudy, wind less than 10 mph, less than 10 percent chance of rain

The Scoop: Carlos Hyde puts together 70 combined yards. Garoppolo throws for 270 yards and TDs to Marquise Goodwin and George Kittle. Malcolm Brown rumbles for 80 yards and a touchdown, while Lance Dunbar catches a TD pass. Sean Mannion throws for under 200 yards. 49ers, 23-20

Oakland (+7.5) at L.A. Chargers, 42.0 o/u – Sunday, 4:25 p.m. EST

The Story: Trying to predict Week 17 sometimes feels like shaking a magic eight ball, but signs point to this being one of the most competitive games of the day. The Chargers will need some help, mainly from Jacksonville against Tennessee, but they are still very much alive in the AFC wild-card chase, while the Raiders are still the Raiders and would love nothing more than to ruin a division rival's season. The history of this series also suggests it could come down to the final possession – the last four games have been decided by a field goal or less, including Week 6's 17-16 nailbiter. Oakland also has a not-so-secret weapon in Marshawn Lynch, who's been playing his best football of the year in recent weeks and will now be facing the worst run defense in the league. Melvin Gordon is also less than 100 percent healthy, but in a must-win game it will be all hands on deck for the Bolts.

The Skinny:
•2017 OAK offense: 19.4 PPG (23rd), 96.64 rushing yds/gm (25th), 234.5 passing yds/gm (19th), 22 sacks allowed (T-4th), 26 turnovers (28th)
•2017 LAC offense: 21.7 PPG (T-16th), 98.7 rushing yds/gm (24th), 277.6 passing yds/gm (4th), 17 sacks allowed (1st), 15 turnovers (T-4th)
•2017 OAK defense: 22.9 PPG allowed (T-18th), 108.5 rushing yds/gm allowed (13th), 243.9 passing yds/gm allowed (20th), 30 sacks (24th), 14 turnovers (29th)
•2017 LAC defense: 17.5 PPG allowed (3rd), 132.9 rushing yds/gm allowed (32nd), 211.6 passing yds/gm allowed (4th), 41 sacks (T-5th), 25 turnovers (T-5th)
•Head-to-head record, last five-plus years: 6-5 LAC, average score LAC 22-OAK 22, average margin of victory six points. None of the last six games have been decided by more than one score.
•Key injuries/absences: OAK, none; LAC, RB Melvin Gordon (ankle, questionable)
•Weather forecast: partly cloudy, wind less than 10 mph, less than 10 percent chance of rain

The Scoop: Lynch beasts out for 120 yards and a touchdown. Derek Carr throws for only 200 yards but does hit Amari Cooper for a TD. Gordon manages 70 combined yards but scores. Philip Rivers throws for 280 yards and two scores, hitting Keenan Allen and Tyrell Williams. Chargers, 24-23

Kansas City (+3.5) at Denver, 38.0 o/u – Sunday, 4:25 p.m. EST

The Story: The Chiefs, staring at the No. 4 seed and having honorary Pokemon evolutionCharcandrick West on the roster, seem to have decided discretion is the better part of being Valor and are leaning toward resting the likes of Alex Smith, Kareem Hunt, Travis Kelce and Tyreek Hill. That puts preseason hero Patrick Mahomes under center for his first career NFL start, and while he gets a tough matchup in the Broncos secondary and not much of a supporting cast, his performance could go a long way toward determining Smith's future in Kansas City. Not to be outdone, the Broncos counter with Paxton Lynch, as they try once again to figure out if he's their guy or not, or whether they need to get in on the likely QB frenzy at the top of the 2018 draft.

The Skinny:
•2017 KC offense: 25.9 PPG (6th), 119.5 rushing yds/gm (9th), 269.5 passing yds/gm (7th), 35 sacks allowed (17th), nine turnovers (1st)
•2017 DEN offense: 17.7 PPG (T-26th), 116.1 rushing yds/gm (T-13th), 227.6 passing yds/gm (21st), 47 sacks allowed (T-28th), 31 turnovers (31st)
•2017 KC defense: 21.0 PPG allowed (14th), 118.7 rushing yds/gm allowed (23rd), 258.5 passing yds/gm allowed (25th), 26 sacks (T-26th), 23 turnovers (10th)
•2017 DEN defense: 23.7 PPG allowed (22nd), 88.0 rushing yds/gm allowed (3rd), 206.7 passing yds/gm allowed (2nd), 31 sacks (T-20th), 15 turnovers (T-27th)
•Head-to-head record, last five-plus years: 7-4 DEN, but KC has won four straight. Average score DEN 25-KC 21, average margin of victory 13 points.
•Key injuries/absences: KC, QB Alex Smith (rest, out), RB Kareem Hunt (rest, out), WR Tyreek Hill (rest, out), TE Travis Kelce (rest, out); DEN, WR Emmanuel Sanders (ankle, out)
•Weather forecast: partly cloudy, wind less than 10 mph, less than 10 percent chance of snow

The Scoop: West fires up for 90 combined yards and a TD. Mahomes throws for less than 200 yards but hits Demetrius Harris for a score. C.J. Anderson runs for 60 yards. Lynch throws for 220 yards and touchdowns to Demaryius Thomas and Bennie Fowler but gets picked off twice, including one that Eric Murray returns to the house. Chiefs, 27-17

Jacksonville (+3) at Tennessee, 42.0 o/u – Sunday, 4:25 p.m. EST

The Story: The Jags will be the third seed in the AFC no matter what happens, but that's apparently not enough incentive to go easy on the Titans. Coach Doug Marrone has said that stars like Leonard Fournette will start, which is bad news for a Tennessee squad that needs a win to secure a wild-card spot. Frankly, the decision makes a lot of sense. Coming off last week's loss to the Niners, Jacksonville doesn't want to head into the postseason on a downer, and if the Jags do lose they'll probably be playing the Titans again next week, albeit at home. Much better to just stomp the division rival now (and one they already lost to back in Week 2) rather than handing them some momentum before a rematch. Tennessee will also be without DeMarco Murray, though given how he's looked in recent weeks compared to Derrick Henry, that might actually improve the Titans' chances of winning.

The Skinny:
•2017 JAC offense: 27.1 PPG (5th), 145.3 rushing yds/gm (1st), 237.2 passing yds/gm (16th), 22 sacks allowed (T-4th), 19 turnovers (T-13th)
•2017 TEN offense: 21.3 PPG (18th), 114.5 rushing yds/gm (16th), 217.3 passing yds/gm (24th), 32 sacks allowed (T-11th), 24 turnovers (T-23rd)
•2017 JAC defense: 16.9 PPG allowed (2nd), 116.3 rushing yds/gm allowed (21st), 196.0 passing yds/gm allowed (1st), 52 sacks (1st), 32 turnovers (2nd)
•2017 TEN defense: 23.1 PPG allowed (20th), 89.1 rushing yds/gm allowed (5th), 262.8 passing yds/gm allowed (28th), 41 sacks (T-5th), 17 turnovers (24th)
•Head-to-head record, last five-plus years: 6-5 TEN, average score TEN 25-JAC 23, average margin of victory nine points. The last three meetings have all been decided by two touchdowns or more.
•Key injuries/absences: JAC, WR Marqise Lee (ankle, out); TEN, RB DeMarco Murray (knee, out)
•Weather forecast: clear, 10 mph wind, less than 10 percent chance of snow

The Scoop: Fournette rumbles for 80 yards and a TD. Blake Bortles throws for 280 yards and touchdowns to Allen Hurns and Marcedes Lewis. Henry also pounds out 80 yards and a score. Marcus Mariota throws for 230 yards and a touchdown to Delanie Walker. Jaguars, 27-20

New Orleans at Tampa Bay (+7), 50.5 o/u – Sunday, 4:25 p.m. EST

The Story: The Saints need a win or a Carolina loss to lock up the NFC South, but they have no shot at a first-round bye, which means you could see Sean Payton rest his key personnel in the second half if the game is a blowout. Fortunately for New Orleans everyone is healthy, including rookie CB sensation Marshon Lattimore – who has a three-game INT streak going – so there's no extra incentive to sit anyone down. The Bucs are just playing out the string, so banged-up players like Cameron Brate could get the day off, but Jameis Winston might have a little extra bounce in his step facing the team that he got injured against in Week 9.

The Skinny:
•2017 NO offense: 28.3 PPG (4th), 131.9 rushing yds/gm (5th), 272.6 passing yds/gm (6th), 18 sacks allowed (2nd), 17 turnovers (T-8th)
•2017 TB offense: 20.3 PPG (20th), 89.3 rushing yds/gm (27th), 282.9 passing yds/gm (3rd), 38 sacks allowed (T-18th), 24 turnovers (T-23rd)
•2017 NO defense: 19.7 PPG allowed (T-8th), 111.8 rushing yds/gm allowed (16th), 234.7 passing yds/gm allowed (11th), 40 sacks (T-7th), 22 turnovers (T-11th)
•2017 TB defense: 23.9 PPG allowed (24th), 119.2 rushing yds/gm allowed (T-24th), 270.7 passing yds/gm allowed (31st), 20 sacks (32nd), 25 turnovers (T-5th)
•Head-to-head record, last five-plus years: 9-2 NO, average score NO 28-TB 18, average margin of victory 12 points.
•Key injuries/absences: NO, none; TB, WR DeSean Jackson (ankle, questionable), TE Cameron Brate (hip/knee, questionable)
•Weather forecast: clear, wind less than 10 mph, less than 10 percent chance of rain

The Scoop: Mark Ingram hammers out 100 yards and a touchdown, but Alvin Kamara tops him with 130 combined yards and a receiving score. Drew Brees throws for 250 yards and two more TDs to Michael Thomas and Brandon Coleman. Peyton Barber collects 80 combined yards. Winston throws for 250 yards and touchdowns to Adam Humphries and Charles Sims. Saints, 31-17

Buffalo at Miami (+2.5), 42.5 o/u – Sunday, 4:25 p.m. EST

The Story: The Bills are still alive for a wild card, needing a win and a Ravens loss (or a win and losses by the Titans and Chargers) to sneak into the postseason. Their road is even tougher that that, though, as they have to face a divisional opponent on the road playing for nothing but pride just two weeks after their first meeting. In other words, there probably won't be any surprises coming from either team. The Dolphins are the only team in the last month to hold LeSean McCoy to less than 100 yards from scrimmage, but they also gave up two touchdowns to him so it's not like they did a great job containing him or anything. Kenyan Drake has also started to slow, but Jay Cutler can't be as bad as his three-INT performance in Buffalo. Can he?

The Skinny:
•2017 BUF offense: 18.7 PPG (24th), 126.1 rushing yds/gm (6th), 192.1 passing yds/gm (32nd), 43 sacks allowed (T-23rd), 16 turnovers (T-6th)
•2017 MIA offense: 17.7 PPG (T-26th), 86.3 rushing yds/gm (28th), 234.7 passing yds/gm (18th), 32 sacks allowed (T-11th), 28 turnovers (30th)
•2017 BUF defense: 22.9 PPG allowed (T-18th), 126.7 rushing yds/gm allowed (30th), 238.2 passing yds/gm allowed (T-14th), 26 sacks (T-26th), 24 turnovers (T-8th)
•2017 MIA defense: 24.7 PPG allowed (28th), 109.5 rushing yds/gm allowed (15th), 238.9 passing yds/gm allowed (17th), 26 sacks (T-26th), 15 turnovers (T-27th)
•Head-to-head record, last five-plus years: 7-4 BUF, average score BUF 24-MIA 18, average margin of victory 12 points.
•Key injuries/absences: BUF, none; MIA, WR DeVante Parker (ankle, questionable), DE Cameron Wake (illness, questionable)
•Weather forecast: clear, 10 mph wind, less than 10 percent chance of rain

The Scoop: McCoy rips off 120 combined yards and a TD. Tyrod Taylor throws for 210 yards and runs for 50, but can't get the ball into the end zone. Drake bounces back with 140 combined yards and a score. Cutler throws for 250 yards and a touchdown to Jarvis Landry. Dolphins, 20-16

Arizona (+9.5) at Seattle, 38.5 o/u – Sunday, 4:25 p.m. EST

The Story: What's one more injured running back for the Cardinals? With David Johnson and Adrian Peterson already on IR, Kerwynn Williams is now dealing with multiple issues as he limps to the finish line. Arizona doesn't have much to play for here other than the chance to play spoiler for a division rival, and with Drew Stanton under center the chance of an upset seems remote. The Seahawks also seemed to get their swagger back last week in Dallas – or at least, their defense did – but we've seen this before from them this year, where they show a brief spark of life before all their injuries drag them back down to mediocrity. A win, and Atlanta not winning, puts them in the playoffs, though, so don't expect that regression to catch up to them Sunday.

The Skinny:
•2017 ARI offense: 17.9 PPG (25th), 84.7 rushing yds/gm (30th), 255.6 passing yds/gm (11th), 51 sacks allowed (30th), 24 turnovers (T-23rd)
•2017 SEA offense: 22.8 PPG (13th), 101.9 rushing yds/gm (21st), 250.5 passing yds/gm (14th), 40 sacks allowed (22nd), 17 turnovers (T-8th)
•2017 ARI defense: 22.5 PPG allowed (17th), 88.9 rushing yds/gm allowed (4th), 238.3 passing yds/gm allowed (16th), 34 sacks (19th), 21 turnovers (T-15th)
•2017 SEA defense: 20.4 PPG allowed (13th), 113.9 rushing yds/gm allowed (18th), 231.4 passing yds/gm allowed (8th), 38 sacks (T-12th), 24 turnovers (T-8th)
•Head-to-head record, last five-plus years: 6-4-1 SEA, average score SEA 27-ARI 15, average margin of victory 16 points. Four of SEA's wins have been by 16 points or more, including a 58-0 shellacking in 2012.
•Key injuries/absences: ARI, RB Kerwynn Williams (quad/ribs, questionable); SEA, LB Bobby Wagner (hamstring, questionable)
•Weather forecast: clear, 10 mph wind, less than 10 percent chance of rain

The Scoop: Elijhaa Penny leads the ARI backfield with 50 yards. Stanton throws for less than 200 yards. Mike Davis puts together 70 yards and a TD. Russell Wilson throws for 260 yards and TDs to Doug Baldwin and Tyler Lockett while also running in a score of his own. Seahawks, 34-6

Carolina (+4) at Atlanta, 45.0 o/u – Sunday, 4:25 p.m. EST

The Story: The weekend's marquee matchup features two teams with almost everything to play for. The Panthers can take the NFC South with a win and a Saints loss, while a first-round bye is even possible if the Vikings and Rams falter as well. The Falcons, meanwhile, can clinch a wild-card spot with a win (or a Seahawks loss, however unlikely that might be), so neither squad will be holding anything back. Last time out in Week 9, Atlanta's secondary held Cam Newton to one of his worst passing performances of the year but couldn't contain Carolina on the ground. Their run defense has toughened up considerably since then, and over the last month only the Vikings have (barely) topped 100 rushing yards against them, a stretch that includes two games against the Saints. If the Falcons can bottle up Newton and Christian McCaffrey, Matt Ryan's job gets a whole lot easier.

The Skinny:
•2017 CAR offense: 23.5 PPG (11th), 134.3 rushing yds/gm (4th), 209.3 passing yds/gm (28th), 33 sacks allowed (T-14th), 19 turnovers (T-13th)
•2017 ATL offense: 22.1 PPG (15th), 119.1 rushing yds/gm (10th), 255.3 passing yds/gm (12th), 23 sacks allowed (6th), 18 turnovers (T-10th)
•2017 CAR defense: 20.3 PPG allowed (T-11th), 89.9 rushing yds/gm allowed (6th), 243.5 passing yds/gm allowed (19th), 49 sacks (3rd), 21 turnovers (T-15th)
•2017 ATL defense: 20.3 PPG allowed (T-11th), 105.2 rushing yds/gm allowed (8th), 236.3 passing yds/gm allowed (12th), 37 sacks (T-14th), 13 turnovers (T-30th)
•Head-to-head record, last five-plus years: 6-5 CAR, average score CAR 26-ATL 20, average margin of victory 14 points. The averages are skewed by back-to-back CAR routs in 2014-15, 34-3 and 38-0.
•Key injuries/absences: CAR, none; ATL, none
•Weather forecast: indoors

The Scoop: McCaffrey manages 70 combined yards. Newton throws for 210 yards and runs for 40, throwing a TD to Greg Olsen. Devonta Freeman picks up 90 combined yards and a touchdown, while Tevin Coleman adds 50 combined yards. Ryan throws for 250 yards and a score to Julio Jones. Falcons, 23-16

Cincinnati (+9.5) at Baltimore, 40.0 o/u – Sunday, 4:25 p.m. EST

The Story: It's win and they're in for the Ravens, though a back-door wild-card berth is also possible if the Titans and Bills blow it. Joe Flacco's late-season resurgence – 265.8 passing yards a game and a 7:1 TD:INT over the last four games – may get derailed by injuries to his receiving corps, though Mike Wallace is trending toward playing. The Bengals, meanwhile, are just trying to send Marvin Lewis out in style, and while a win in his final home game last week was a nice touch, beating a motivated Ravens squad in Baltimore in another thing entirely.

The Skinny:
•2017 CIN offense: 17.3 PPG (28th), 81.3 rushing yds/gm (31st), 210.9 passing yds/gm (26th), 39 sacks allowed (21st), 22 turnovers (T-20th)
•2017 BAL offense: 24.5 PPG (9th), 115.9 rushing yds/gm (15th), 202.1 passing yds/gm (30th), 26 sacks allowed (9th), 16 turnovers (T-6th)
•2017 CIN defense: 21.5 PPG allowed (15th), 128.5 rushing yds/gm allowed (31st), 230.3 passing yds/gm allowed (6th), 40 sacks (T-7th), 13 turnovers (T-30th)
•2017 BAL defense: 18.1 PPG allowed (4th), 108.9 rushing yds/gm allowed (14th), 231.9 passing yds/gm allowed (9th), 40 sacks (T-7th), 33 turnovers (1st)
•Head-to-head record, last five-plus years: 7-4 CIN, average score CIN 21-BAL 21 (actually CIN 20.91-BAL 20.64), average margin of victory 11 points.
•Key injuries/absences: CIN, RB Joe Mixon (ankle, questionable), LB Vontaze Burfict (shoulder, doubtful); BAL, WR Jeremy Maclin (knee, doubtful), WR Mike Wallace (knee, questionable)
•Weather forecast: partly cloudy, 13 mph wind, less than 10 percent chance of snow

The Scoop: Giovani Bernard leads the CIN backfield with 60 combined yards. Andy Dalton throws for less than 200 yards and a touchdown to Tyler Kroft but gets picked off twice. Alex Collins runs for 80 yards and a TD. Flacco throws for 240 yards and touchdowns to Michael Campanaro and Ben Watson. Ravens, 27-10

Last week's record: 14-2, 10-4-2 ATS, 6-10 o/u
2017 regular-season record: 154-86, 106-120-14 ATS, 107-129-4 o/u
2016 regular-season record: 155-99-2, 110-136-10 ATS, 139-112-5 o/u
2015 regular-season record: 157-99, 137-111-8 ATS