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NFL Survivor Pool Picks Week 17: Advice and Predictions

by Chris Vasile - 12/28/2021

NFL survivor pool picks Mac Jones New England Patriots Week 17 predictions

**NOTE: This will be the final NFL Survivor Pool article for the season

We have reached the penultimate regular season week in the NFL, and the playoff picture is slowly starting to take shape. The Packers, Cowboys, Chiefs, and Bucs have all clinched their division and are gearing up for the playoffs, while the remaining 10 spots are up for grabs and could go to a handful of teams. This week, with survivor pools dwindling down, I will give my best choice for each game on the moneyline, which is similar to a survivor pool, but I just won’t rank them in any particular order. Good luck this week.

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Week 17 Survivor Selections

Miami Dolphins over Tennessee Titans: You can only play the teams on your schedule. That’s how I look at the Miami Dolphins. And for them to come back from a 1-7 record to now own an 8-7 record is impressive. The Titans will be essentially playing for the division title in this one, but I don’t see their defense holding up in this one. Give me the Fins.

Buffalo Bills over Atlanta Falcons: I told everyone who would listen to me last week that the Bills were the best bet of the week. They made it personal against the Patriots and came out and dominated them. Now they return home to take on a Falcons team that has nothing to play for. The Bills currently hold the No. 1 spot in the AFC East, and I don’t see them letting the division crown slip away.

New England Patriots over Jacksonville Jaguars: One team is fighting for playoff positioning, while the other is fighting for the No. 1 overall draft pick. I don’t see the Jags having enough in this contest to spring the upset.

Indianapolis Colts over Las Vegas Raiders: This will be an intriguing matchup that pits the 9-6 Colts vs the 8-7 Raiders. The Colts own one of the three wild card spots, while the Raiders are on the outside looking in with two other teams right beside them. I understand Carson Wentz is going through the COVID protocol and may miss the game entirely, but I think the Colts’ defense can do enough to limit the Raiders.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers over New York Jets: Don’t overthink this one. The Bucs are still looking to snatch the No. 1 seed in the NFC away from the Packers, while the Jets are just not very good.

Los Angeles Rams over Baltimore Ravens: Will he or won’t he? That’s the question we all need to have answered before wagering on this game. Lamar Jackson’s status will no doubt be the talking point in the build-up to the game. However, even with Jackson in the lineup, I think the Rams are the better and more complete team.

Philadelphia Eagles over Washington Football team: Depending on which Eagles’ game you’ve watched this season, it may or may not come as a shock to you to find out they are 8-7 and in a wildcard spot right now. The Eagles have been erratic. However, with their playoff lives on the line, I say they beat a Washington team that threw in the towel last week.

New York Giants over Chicago Bears: I don’t really know why, but I think the Giants might spring the upset here. The defense can limit weak offenses given the right situation. And with the way the Bears’ offense has been sputtering along, I think the Giants are due for a win.

Kansas City Chiefs over Cincinnati Bengals: This game should be one of the higher-scoring games of the week, but I ultimately see the Chiefs coming out on top. The Bengals will be a scary team to play in the wild card round, but their defense leaves a lot to be desired. And with the Chiefs likely getting Kelce back in the lineup, they should win this game.

Los Angeles Chargers over Denver Broncos: The Chargers got “COVID’ed” last week with a bunch of players missing per league protocol. They now get to play a division foe to keep their playoff hopes alive. And if what we saw from the Broncos last week is any indication, the Chargers should live to fight for another week.

San Francisco 49ers over Houston Texans: Will the Texans spring two massive upsets in a row? I say no. However, the way that the Niners fell apart last Thursday against the Titans is definitely concerning heading into the postseason. Jimmy Garoppolo looks shaky, and I’m not sure he’s the guy who can lead the Niners deep into the playoffs.

Dallas Cowboys over Arizona Cardinals: The Cowboys are a legitimate Super Bowl contender. Anyone who tells you otherwise is a fool. They have an explosive offense, and their defense has been impressive throughout the season. The Cardinals have major issues, and they’ve gone from possibly securing No. 1 in the NFC and a bye to fighting for the division title, which they no longer have the inside track to. Cowboys win this one.

Detroit Lions over Seattle Seahawks: I don’t know why, but I think this is one of those games where the Lions show up and pull off the upset. The Seahawks have done nothing worth noting over the last handful of weeks, and the Lions (should Goff start) tend to play hard for their coach.

Carolina Panthers over New Orleans Saints: Ian Book? Well, that chapter closed quickly. He was awful on Monday night. And if Taysom Hill can’t come back in time, the Panthers will for sure beat the Saints. I do like the Panthers with Hill under center in what should be an upset special.

Green Bay Packers over Minnesota Vikings: I don’t want to bet against Aaron Rodgers. That’s my take on this game. The Vikings, especially Kirk Cousins, tend to find ways to lose prime time games, while Rodgers, at home, in primetime, is essentially free money.

Cleveland Browns over Pittsburgh Steelers: Do you want to back the Steelers after watching them get blown out vs the Chiefs? I don’t. The Browns were unlucky not to beat the Packers last Saturday, as they outgained them but were done in by four Mayfield interceptions. I think he’ll have a bounce-back game on Monday night.

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