MIKE KAYE

Season: 149-78 (66%) / Last Week: 9-6 (60%) /  Scott’s Pick: 5-8-1 (1-0)

It has finally arrived, Week 17. This has been quite the year, full of surprises, success stories, and failed hopes (I’m looking at you Philly and San Diego). The Texans and Lions join the playoffs for the first time in 12 years and a perennial playoff team, Indianapolis, is sitting at home. Week 17 has more on the line then in years past, so the stage is set for a ton of memorable contests. There is a lot to talk about, so let’s Take it to the Bank.

Lions @ Packers

Pick: Lions. The Lions have much more to play for than the Packers who have already locked up the top spot in the NFC. Detroit is essentially playing to decide whether they play the NFC East winner (NYG, DAL) or the South or West winner (49ers, Saints). The Lions best matchup is obviously the former. If the Lions win they play the East, if they lose they play one of the top 5 teams in the league. Green Bay is likely to play most of their starters for just the first half and you have to believe the Lions would love to continue to build momentum heading to their first playoffs of the 21^st century.

Titans @ Texans

Pick: Texans. Tennessee needs a lot to happen to get into the dance, but Titans fans should be excited about this unit next year. With a rookie coach, an old, past his prime QB, and CJ2K playing like JT from Step by Step (Wikipedia it readers born after 1991), the Titans got within of a win of clinching a playoff spot. That is pretty encouraging. With that said, the Texans need to build something heading into their franchises first playoffs after two horrid loses to subpar competition. T.J. Yates needs to return to form for Houston to win anything this post-season.

Colts @ Jaguars

Pick: Colts. The 2011 Colts are riding a two-game winning streak (who thought they would ever read that?) and are playing inspired football. While their number one pick in the draft is almost as good as gone if they win this game, the players are auditioning for jobs next year and don’t give a damn about the young man coming out of a certain West Coast school (take a guess). Jacksonville has had their problems offensively and going up against Houston’s premiere defense could exploit a lot of the Jags’ weaknesses. Dan Orlovsky is looking to secure a pretty hefty backup QB contract and riding out a three-game winning streak with easily the least-talented team in the league, would pay dividends.

Jets @ Dolphins

Pick: Dolphins. Miami wants to play spoiler in this one. The Jets’ offense looked like a pop warner team last weekend and Mark Sanchez has been absolutely awful this season. The Fins are looking like the better team in the second half of the season and this game is likely their chance to prove that their early season struggles are a thing of the past. Jason Taylor plans to retire after this home game, so getting a win would make the game that much more special.

Bears @ Vikings

Pick: Bears. The Bears have caught a lot of tough breaks (literally) this season and it has showed on the field. Chicago went from elite to flaccid after the injuries to Jay Culter (should be at least consider for MVP) and Matt Forte (pay this man). The Vikings come in to this game after a win against Washington but I have a feeling this divisional contest will put Minnesota back in their place. As a team that struggles on both offense and defense the way the Vikes do, it will be hard for them to build a lead on Chicago. Folks watching this game will be seeing a ton of Khalif Bell.

Bills @ Patriots

Pick: Patriots. The Patriots are playing to secure first place in the AFC and while the Bills beat them earlier this year, they have not had the joy (sarcasm) of playing against them in Foxborough. The home crowd and a poised Tom Brady make a whole lot of difference, especially when Brady has something on the line. Good luck next season Buffalo.

Panthers @ Saints

Pick: Saints. Give the Panthers credit; they completely exceeded everyone’s expectations this season. That said, they are walking to the labyrinth that is the Saints in New Orleans, where the home team never loses (literally, they are 7-0 at home this season) and looking to jump San Fran’s spot at second place in the conference. If the Niners lose and the Saints win, New Orleans gets a first-round bye, so the Saints need to win to have a shot. Cam Newton will keep this game close, but Carolina’s defense will struggle against Drew Brees and his plethora of wide receivers.

Redskins @ Eagles

Pick: Scott Pick: Eagles. Mike Shanahan makes $7 million a year and he’s done a putrid job in two years on the job.  Andy Reid brought the Eagles back to relevance, led them to 5 NFC Title game appearances, and a Super Bowl they nearly won.  A win here could salvage his job, considering that Shanahan is dead certain he’s safe. Reid’s done too much for the organization and his team is boiling lava hot, even if it is too little late.  I’ll take the Eagles to close off a disappointing season with a W.  Maybe the Eagles that showed up to end this year, will be the ones that show up consistently in 2012.  The rest of the NFL better hope not.

49ers @ Rams

Pick: 49ers. The Rams need to lose to have shot at the first pick in the draft and Niners need to win to get a first-round bye. Think about it.

Seahawks @ Cardinals

Pick: Seahawks. This is a meaningless game between two teams that started winning a little too late. Fans of both franchises have something to look forward to next year but Seattle is the better team. Marshawn Lynch has been the best running back in the league during the second half of the season and he can finish off strong against the Cardinals.

Buccaneers @ Falcons

Pick: Falcons. Much like the Lions, the Falcons are playing for positioning in the playoffs. While they don’t control the positioning battle, if the Lions lose to Green Bay and the Falcons win, they avoid going back to New Orleans where they were manhandled last week. Basically, the Falcons really need this one and the Bucs haven’t won a game since mid-October.

Ravens @ Bengals

Pick: Bengals. This is perhaps the second-most important game of the week, with a first-round bye and a playoff berth on the line. The Raven need a win to get the bye and the Bengals need to win to get into the tournament. The Ravens are a very good team and the Bengals haven’t done well against superior competition, but I believe in the home team. The Bengals want to validate their season, especially when they have an already bright future (two early picks from the Raiders over the next two seasons). The Ravens have already made the playoffs so losing this one isn’t crippling; the Bengals are hungry so they get the win.

Steelers @ Browns

Pick: Steelers. The Steelers are one of the many (as previously listed) who are playing for a first-round bye this week. They play a Browns team, who has looked uninspired throughout most of the season. Cleveland could play spoiler but that is highly unlikely. Pittsburgh wins in a route.

Chiefs @ Broncos

Pick: Chiefs. If the Broncos win, they are in the playoffs. The trouble is that they play a feisty Chiefs team with a starting quarterback that was once a member of the Broncos not-so-long ago.  Kyle Orton will look to spoil Tim Tebow’s shot at awesomeness and there is a very good chance that happens. The Broncos have faltered a lot in recent weeks and it will be tough for Denver to handle Tamba Hali. The Chiefs win in a game so close that you’ll get a score: 16-14.

Chargers @ Raiders

Pick: Raiders. This game means so much more to the Raiders (and the Bengals) than the Chargers. If the Raiders win and the Broncos lose, two things happen: 1) Cincinnati gets Oakland’s next two first-round picks and 2) Oakland makes the playoffs. The Chargers will not save Norv Turner’s job but could play spoiler to their hated division rival. Oakland wins in another close AFC West contest.

Cowboys @ NY Giants

Pick: NY Giants. The NFC East has been such a joke this season that this game is hard to get amped about. The whole “win and you’re in” hype is lost on a lot of fans because how terrible both of these teams are. That said it looks like the makings of a pretty close contest. The Giants suck at home and the Cowboys struggle on the road. Something has to give and the more likely scenario is the Giants getting the win at home.

Photo: Getty

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