It's the final Sunday of the regular season and Paul Higham has his best bets and predictions for the all the games that count as teams scramble to make the play-offs.
Indianapolis Colts (9-6) @ Tennessee Titans (9-6) (0120 GMT)
The final game of the regular season is a winner-takes-all clash in Nashville after Andrew Luck led the Colts to tremendous comeback win over the Giants last week. He’s 10-0 against the Titans, who could be without their starting QB Marcus Mariota and will miss their best defensive player Jarell Casey.
Running back Derrick Henry will have the bulk of the ball for Tennessee against the Colts’ eighth-ranked rush defence, but unless
Verdict: Colts to win at 4/7
Best Bet: Eric Ebron to score a touchdown at 7/4
Philadelphia Eagles (8-7) @ Washington Redskins (7-8)
The defending champions are hanging by a thread and need a win on the road and a Vikings loss to get into the play-offs. Nick Foles has kick-started this Eagles offence with 30 points in their last two, while the Skins have lost five of their last six and are beset by injuries. Philly will uphold their part of the bargain.
Verdict: Eagles to win (-7pts) at Evens
Chicago Bears (11-4) @ Minnesota Vikings (8-6-1)
Minnesota needs a home win to, ironically, most likely set up a play-off return in Chicago next week. The Bears are still fighting for a play-off bye but their incentive may wane if the Rams get a big lead in their game.
Both sides have great defences - Chicago are the best in the league at takeaways and scoring off those turnovers, while Minnesota are fearsome at home and the Bears have not been the best side on the road this season. It could be a defensive arm wrestle but the Vikings need is greater.
Verdict: Vikings win (-3.5pts) at 8/13
Best bet: Under 41 match points at Evens
Cincinnati Bengals (6-9) @ Pittsburgh Steelers (8-6-1)
Pittsburgh have beaten New England and pushed the Saints all the way in New Orleans the last two weeks but find themselves on the brink of elimination after having a 98 percent chance of making it earlier in the campaign. They’ll take care of business against the Bengals but all eyes will be on the Ravens, who have to lose for Pittsburgh to get in unless an unlikely tie occurs in the Tennessee v Indianapolis game.
Verdict: Steelers (-14) at 10/11
Cleveland Browns (7-7-1) @ Baltimore Ravens (9-6)
These aren’t the browns of old and after five wins out of six they represent a serious threat to Baltimore, who just need a win to clinch the AFC North. Baker Mayfield will be bang up for facing the league’s best defence, and he and his team should provide a stern test.
Lamar Jackson looks the perfect QB for this Ravens side who run the ball ruggedly behind a defence that’s scored a touchdown themselves in three of the last five games. Point should be low but tension high in this one.
Verdict: Ravens win (-3) at 8/13
New York Jets (4-11) @ New England Patriots (10-5)
New England are the only team yet to lose at home this season and need a win to secure a first round bye in the play-offs, something they’ve done for the last nine years. They could still pinch top spot and will be in no mood to lose to their bitter divisional rivals.
Tom Brady and company know a win means they can put their feet up next week and Bill Belichick will be desperate to avoid playing on wildcard weekend so rookie Jets QB Sam Darnold is in for a tough time.
Verdict: Patriots (-10.5) at Evens
Oakland Raiders (4-11) @ Kansas City Chiefs (11-4)
The Chiefs should really be able to rest players this week, but they still require a win to lock-up top seeding in the AFC, a week off, and home advantage throughout the play-offs. A defeat could see a huge drop-off to a wild card and a road trip, possibly to Baltimore!
The Chiefs are 9-0 against non-play-off teams and the Raiders don’t look anywhere near capable of containing Patrick Mahomes and company – notably Travis Kelce who recorded 168 yards and two TDs in their first meeting and Oakland have a weak point defending tight ends.
Verdict: Chiefs win (-10) at Evens
Best bet: Chiefs win first half (-7.5pts) at Evens
LA Chargers (11-4) at Denver Broncos (6-9)
It’s a tricky one for the Chargers, who have to go for it and hope the Chiefs slip-up against the Raiders, but if that upset doesn’t look like happening they might start looking ahead to a tough road trip as the fifth seed in the AFC.
Verdict: Chargers to win (-7) at 10/11
NFL Week 17 fixtures
Sunday December 30
18:00 Chicago Bears @ Minnesota Vikings
18:00 Cincinnati Bengals @ Pittsburgh Steelers
18:00 Atlanta Falcons @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
18:00 Cleveland Browns @ Baltimore Ravens
18:00 Miami Dolphins @ Buffalo Bills
18:00 Philadelphia Eagles @ Washington Redskins
18:00 NY Jets @ New England Patriots
18:00 Carolina Panthers @ New Orleans Saints
18:00 Dallas Cowboys @ NY Giants
18:00 Detroit Lions @ Green Bay Packers
18:00 Jacksonville Jaguars @ Houston Texans
18:00 Oakland Raiders @ Kansas City Chiefs
21:25 Los Angeles Chargers @ Denver Broncos
21:25 Arizona Cardinals @ Seattle Seahawks
21:25 San Francisco 49ers @ Los Angeles Rams
01:20 Indianapolis Colts @ Tennessee Titans
NFL Touchdown treble
