Odds courtesy of OddsShark.com
The NFL doesn’t schedule a prime-time game in Week 17 because it wants to put the most important, drama-filled matchup in that slot. Ideally, a game where it’s a winner-take-all for a playoff spot.
For Week 17, the game flexed to prime time was San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks, a no-brainer. Both are in the playoffs regardless but the winner is not just the NFC West champion but also could be the top overall seed in the conference. The Niners would be with a victory, but the Seahawks would need a win and some help earlier in the day. Seattle visited San Francisco in Week 10 when then Niners were the NFL’s last unbeaten team at 8-0, and the Seahawks pulled off a 27-24 overtime upset. Jason Myers kicked a 42-yard field goal as time expired in the OT. This time, the Niners are -3.5 with Seattle covering its past nine as a home dog.
The Buffalo Bills host the New York Jets in a 1 p.m. ET game, and bettors should expect the Bills to not play some of their most important players like quarterback Josh Allen and cornerback Tre’Davious White very deep into the game (they will allegedly start). That’s because Buffalo is locked into the No. 5 seed as the AFC’s top Wild-Card team and will visit whichever division champion is seeded fourth next weekend. No reason for Buffalo coach Sean McDermott to risk injury to his top starters in Week 17. The Bills rallied from a 16-0 third-quarter deficit in Week 1 to stun the Jets 17-16. Buffalo is -2 and is 5-2 ATS in its past seven games against the AFC East.
Another team with no reason to play any starters in Week 17 is the Baltimore Ravens as they host the Pittsburgh Steelers at 4:25 p.m. ET. The Ravens have clinched the AFC’s top seed so NFL fans won’t see heavy MVP favorite Lamar Jackson on the field Sunday (that’s confirmed), among others. Baltimore’s top players will get two weeks to rest up before hosting TBA in the Divisional Round. Pittsburgh needs a win and a Titans loss in Houston for the AFC’s final Wild-Card spot. The Steelers lost at home to Baltimore in Week 5, 26-23 in overtime. Pittsburgh is -2, and Baltimore has failed to cover its past seven AFC North games at home.
Sunday will be the last game the “Oakland” Raiders play for the foreseeable future (barring a very unlikely playoff spot). The Silver & Black are moving to Las Vegas starting next season. Could be the last game in a Raiders uniform for starting QB Derek Carr amid reports coach Jon Gruden is looking for an upgrade/younger replacement under center. Oakland visits Denver at 4:25 p.m. ET. The Raiders go for the season sweep of their AFC West rivals, winning 24-16 in Week 1. The Broncos are -3.5 but have failed to cover the past four in the series.
