Week 17 opened Thursday with Cleveland joining Detroit as a new face in this year's playoffs. It continues this weekend with 12 teams in each conference still in contention, including four 8-7 teams (Indianapolis, Houston, Pittsburgh and the Rams) and three 7-8 teams (Atlanta, Green Bay and New Orleans) that didn't make the playoffs a year ago.
Mark Craig's Week 17 NFL picks: Lions and Browns are in. Who else will join playoff field?
The Vikings and Packers meet in a battle of 7-8 teams, and wins by the Seahawks and Rams earlier in the day would make it an playoff elimination game.
December 31, 2023 at 4:57AM
Four games feature two teams with winning records, including the AFC's top two teams —Dolphins (11-4) and Ravens (12-3) — in Baltimore. Meanwhile, the Lions (11-4) visit Dallas, where the Cowboys (10-5) are undefeated heading into Saturday night's game; Pittsburgh travels to Seattle, and the Bengals visit the most vulnerable Chiefs team of the Patrick Mahomes era.
As for the Vikings and Packers, they'll meet in a battle of 7-8 teams in prime time Sunday. Wins by the Seahawks and Rams earlier in the day would make the contest at U.S. Bank Stadium a playoff elimination game.
Here are six games to watch this weekend:
WHAT WILL THE VIKINGS DO?
Packers (+1½) at Vikings: Not picking the Vikings again until their QB du jour stops throwing to the wrong-colored jerseys. Packers 24, Vikings 20
AROUND THE NFC NORTH
Lions (-5 ½) at Cowboys: The Cowboys won 20-19 after they stopped a Lions two-point attempt in the final minute.
Falcons (+2 ½) at Bears: A fifth straight home win could pull Chicago even with the Vikings in the NFC North basement. Bears 19, Falcons 16
LOCK OF THE WEEK
Patriots (+13½) at Bills: Buffalo is back with three straight wins and is itching to even the score with Bill Belichick after that Week 7 loss. Bills 31, Patriots 20
UPSET OF THE WEEK
Steelers (+3 ½) at Seahawks: No one gets more out of less than Mike Tomlin when he's dodging his first losing season in 17 years as a head coach. Steelers 23, Seahawks 20
GAME OF THE WEEK
Dolphins (+3½) at Ravens: Baltimore has been anointed as this week's best team in the NFL. And you know what that means, right? A loss, naturally. Dolphins 41, Ravens 38
SEASON RESULTS
Season record straight up/against the spread: 51-48; 42-57.
Upset special: 4-12.
Lock of the week: 13-3.
Vikings: 9-6.
Mike Conley was in Minneapolis, where he sounded the Gjallarhorn at the Vikings game, on Sunday during the robbery.
