Mark Maske's Week 17 NFL Picks
What Do You Think? Which Teams Will Win This Week's Games?
By Mark Maske
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2004; 12:36 p.m. EST
Vikings at Redskins
Without RB Clinton Portis, the Redskins have no one left on offense who scares a defense.
Pick: Vikings
Dolphins at Ravens
Miami has been respectable under interim coach Jim Bates, but the Ravens will be intent on keeping their long-shot playoff hopes alive.
Pick: Ravens
Games of the Week
Saints at Panthers
Two comeback teams square off, perhaps for a wild-card spot.
Pick: Panthers
Steelers at Bills
Steelers Coach Bill Cowher says he's playing to win. But he'll probably be without QB Ben Roethlisberger and RB Jerome Bettis. The Bills have played as well as anyone lately and are trying to reach the postseason.
Pick: Bills
Jets at Rams
Jets can't compete with the elite teams, but the Rams aren't in that group.
Pick: Jets
Lock of the Week
Browns at Texans
Houston goes for a .500 season, and Cleveland can't beat anyone.
Pick: Texans
Upset of the Week
Colts at Broncos
Denver is a heavy favorite because Indy has so little to gain. But the Broncos just aren't a team worth trusting, even with a playoff spot on the line.
Pick: Colts
Other Games
Jaguars at Raiders
Jags came up small last week at home against the Texans, and their playoff hopes could be finished by the time they kick off.
Pick: Raiders
Bengals at Eagles
Eagles apparently plan to treat this one like another exhibition.
Pick: Bengals
Falcons at Seahawks
Michael Vick returns to the Atlanta lineup.
Pick: Falcons
Chiefs at Chargers
Kansas City can reach .500 and San Diego is locked into the fourth playoff seed in the AFC no matter what happens. But the Chargers simply are better.
Pick: Chargers
49ers at Patriots
New England could play its practice squad and still win.
Pick: Patriots
Packers at Bears
It's a rivalry game and this one means more to the Bears, but their quarterbacking is just so inept.
Pick: Packers
Buccaneers at Cardinals
Neither of the high-profile head coaches in this game did a very good job this season.
Pick: Cardinals
Lions at Titans
Titans are running on fumes.
Pick: Lions
Cowboys at Giants (Sunday night)
Eli Manning keeps getting closer and closer to his first win as an NFL starter, and this is his last chance to avoid a rookie-year shutout.
Pick: Giants
Record
Last Week: 12-4
Season: 135-89
© 2004 The Washington Post Company
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