NFL Week 17 Picks by Cooper NFL Analyst and Cup of Joe in the D

       NFL Football Week 17 is finally here, the last week of the NFL regular season. Some team are in, some are already out and some are fighting to make the post season with a win and help by other teams. It is always a great Sunday of football for most fans to sit back and watch and enjoy.
       On Sunday, the early games start with the Ravens traveling to Cincinnati in a game that features Baltimore WR Steve Smith playing in his last game after 16 NFL seasons and possibly the last game for HC Marvin Lewis of the Bengals.  The disappointing Panthers visit the surprising Buccaneers. Tampa Bay needs a win and lots of help to make the playoffs while last years Super Bowl runner ups have no chance at all to make the playoffs this year.  The NY Jets host the Buffalo Bills in pretty much a game played between 2 teams that had high hopes beginning this season. The Bills also fired HC Rex Ryan this past week, as Buffalo failed to make the playoffs for the 12th straight year.  The Eagles are at home playing the Cowboys.  Philadelphia which started out the season 3-0, then  tanked and will finish last in the NFC East while the Cowboys have clinched home field advantage throughout the playoffs. This game will be a dud for the most part with Dallas resting many of their starters in this game. The Bears travel to Minnesota to face the Vikings. The Vikings started the season 5-0 but have lost 8 of their last 10 games. Chicago is looking to see if back up QB Matt Barkley can be the QB of the future.  Jacksonville visits the Colts in a game most thought would be for the AFC South Division winner but neither team will be in the playoffs this season. Pittsburgh, winners of the AFC North will host the Cleveland Browns who won their first game of the season last week. The Steelers will also be resting many of its starters in a game that means nothing to either team at this point.  New England travels to Miami to play the Dolphins. The Patriots who earned home field advantage thru the playoffs face Miami a team who have clinched a WC spot and are playing backup QB Matt Moore. Tennessee hosts the Texans in a game that means nothing. The Titans were eliminated last week and lost QB Marcus Mariota for the rest of the season with a broken leg.
      In the Sunday late games, Oakland travels to Denver to face the Broncos. Denver last years Super Bowl Champion were eliminated last week and the Raiders who lead the AFC West, lost QB Derek Carr for the season with a broken leg. The Redskins who host the NY Giants need to win and need allot of help from other teams for Washington to make the playoffs. The Giants who currently have the #1 WC spot seek to have a home field game in the 1st round.  The Chargers who may be playing their last game in San Diego face the Kansas City Chiefs, who are still in the hunt for the #2 team in the AFC and with a win and an Oakland loss will have a 1st round bye.  Seattle travels to San Francisco, in a game that could be a trap game for the Seahawks. The 49'ers fresh off their second win of the season have nothing to lose in this game where as Seattle who needs to win, wants to stay healthy while maintaining the #2 seed in the NFC. The Falcons host he New Orleans Saints in a game that has no meaning for New Orleans and a chance for Atlanta to get the #2 seed and a 1st round bye in the NFC.   The Arizona Cardinals visit the LA Rams in another game with nothing for either team to play for. The Cardinals who have played better in the last couple of games have also been one of the huge disappointments in the NFL this season. 
      The Sunday night game which is the biggest game of the day pits the Green Bay Packers at the Detroit Lions. With the NFC North title on the line, both teams will be playing for a win and guaranteed spot int he playoffs, the loser needs help to make the playoffs. It is a do or die game for both the Lions and the Packers. Green Bay winners of 5 straight will face in the Detroit Lions a team that has lost 2 on a row and are banged up on both sides of the ball.  The Detroit fans will have to be the 12th man and be as loud and boisterous as they can every time the Packers have the ball.                   
      A question for all those who love the NFL, is the NFL becoming too friendly of a league between the players?  It seems the days of hated rivalries and teams playing good tough physical football with a chip on their shoulders has gone by the wayside.
       As it is in all major sports, teams which have already clinched a playoff position will generally rest their star players most notably in the NFL and NBA but I do agree with the fans that pay a crazy amount of money for season tickets and a game ticket, they shouldn't be forced to see a game where the star players are not playing at full price. The Owners make more than enough money off the fans stuffing their pockets.    Week 16 results;  Cooper 12-4, YTD; 178-59-2   CupofJoeintheD 10-6 ,  twitter; @cupofjoeinthed  email; cupofjoeinthed@gmail.com 
   
Wishing Everyone a Happy New Years and a Joyous Holiday Season. 

                            Cooper the NFL Cat Analyst after making Week 17 picks

 

		NFL - Week 17			CupofJoe		Cooper
Baltimore at Cincinnati						Balt	Balt
Carolina at Tampa Bay						TB	TB
Buffalo at NY Jets						Buff	Buff
Dallas at Philadelphia						Philly	Dallas
Chicago at Minnesota						Minn	Minn
Jacksonville at Indianapolis						Indy	Indy
Cleveland at Pittsburgh						Pitt	Pitt
NY Giants at Washington						NYG	Wash
New England at Miami						Miami	Miami
New Orleans at Atlanta						Atl	Atl
Green Bay at Detroit						Det	Det
Houston at Tennessee						Hou	Hou
Oakland at Denver						Oak	Oak
Kansas City at San Diego						KC	KC
Seattle at San Francisco						Sea	Sea
Arizona at Los Angeles						Az	Az