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Peter's Week 17 Picks

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December 28, 1:00PM ET

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St. Louis Rams (2-14) at Atlanta Falcons (11-5)

Repeat this piece of 2008 NFL incredulity after me: The Atlanta Falcons are playing for a first-round playoff bye. They need help from the Saints, which just might be forthcoming.

Prediction: Atlanta Falcons 40, St. Louis Rams 9

St. Louis Rams

Atlanta Falcons

Fans Say: The Fans are Split

Injury Report

St. Louis
G	Jacob Bell (questionable)	hamstring
CB	Fakhir Brown (Doubtful)	ankle
TE	Daniel Fells (Probable)	knee
DT	La'Roi Glover (Probable)	knee
CB	Eric Bassey (Probable)	hamstring
RB	Steven Jackson (Probable)	hamstring
C	Richie Incognito (questionable)	illness
RB	Antonio Pittman (Probable)	ankle

Atlanta
T	Todd Weiner (questionable)	knee
S	Coy Wire (questionable)	knee
DE	John Abraham (questionable)	thigh, shoulder
DE	Jamaal Anderson (questionable)	ankle
T	Sam Baker (questionable)	hip, back
WR	Harry Douglas (questionable)	toe, shoulder
WR	Brian Finneran (questionable)	calf
DT	Grady Jackson (questionable)	knee
WR	Michael Jenkins (questionable)	shoulder
S	Lawyer Milloy (questionable)	back

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December 28, 1:00PM ET

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New England Patriots (11-5) at Buffalo Bills (7-9)

Tempted to pick the Bills. Very tempted, because the winds-will-be-strong-Sunday forecast from weather.com, on my PC, comes up in bright red letters "HIGH WINDS'' for gameday -- and my new underrated combo-platter at running back is Marshawn Lynch and Fred "Drag 'Em Into The End Zone'' Jackson. Last six games: 120 rushing yards per game, 5.0 yards per carry. But this game is too important for the Patriots' D to not bring the big-boy pads.

Prediction: New England Patriots 28, Buffalo Bills 20

New England Patriots

Buffalo Bills

Fans Say: The Fans are Split

Injury Report

New England
LB	Tedy Bruschi (out)	knee
KR	Ellis Hobbs (Probable)	shoulder
T	Mark LeVoir (questionable)	ankle
T	Matt Light (Probable)	shoulder
CB	Deltha O'Neal (questionable)	ankle
S	James Sanders (questionable)	abdomen
CB	Lewis Sanders (questionable)	shoulder
DE	Richard Seymour (questionable)	back
S	Raymond Ventrone (out)	jaw
DE	Ty Warren (questionable)	groin

Buffalo
CB	Jabari Greer (out)	knee
WR	James Hardy (out)	knee
LB	Teddy Lehman (Doubtful)	groin
RB	Marshawn Lynch (questionable)	shoulder
LB	Kawika Mitchell (questionable)	knee
PR	Roscoe Parrish (Doubtful)	knee
T	Jason Peters (Doubtful)	knee

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December 28, 1:00PM ET

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Kansas City Chiefs (2-14) at Cincinnati Bengals (4-11)

Stupid Chiefs. They can't even lose right. They solidify third place instead of fighting for second in the Matthew Stafford Draft Derby.

Prediction: Kansas City Chiefs 20, Cincinnati Bengals 13

Kansas City Chiefs

Cincinnati Bengals

Fans Say: The Fans are Split

Injury Report

Kansas City
DT	Alfonso Boone (Probable)	thigh

Cincinnati
WR	Chad Johnson (questionable)	hamstring
RB	Cedric Benson (Probable)	ankle
WR	T.J. Houshmandzadeh (Probable)	back
CB	Jamar Fletcher (Probable)	back
KR	Chris Perry (Probable)	ankle
KR	Kenny Watson (Probable)	hamstring
DT	Pat Sims (Probable)	upper arm
G	Stacy Andrews (out)	knee
QB	Carson Palmer (out)	right elbow
T	Levi Jones (Doubtful)	hamstring

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December 28, 1:00PM ET

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Detroit Lions (0-16) at Green Bay Packers (6-10)

History, sweet history. Sports Quiz: Name the last quarterback of a winless NFL team. I'll give you a second. Need more time? Answer below, in Arizona-Seattle game.

Prediction: Green Bay Packers 31, Detroit Lions 13

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

Fans Say: The Fans are Split

Injury Report

Detroit
QB	Daunte Culpepper (Doubtful)	shoulder
DT	Chartric Darby (Probable)	calf
DT	Chuck Darby (Probable)	calf
CB	Travis Fisher (questionable)	concussion
WR	Calvin Johnson (Probable)	knee
LB	Ernie Sims (questionable)	knee
DE	Corey Smith (questionable)	hamstring
RB	Kevin Smith (questionable)	ankle
DE	Dewayne White (questionable)	calf

Green Bay
T	Chad Clifton (Probable)	knees
T	Breno Giacomini (out)	ankle
RB	Korey Hall (questionable)	knee
DT	Justin Harrell (out)	hip
LB	Spencer Havner (Probable)	ankle
RB	Brandon Jackson (Doubtful)	wrist
CB	Joe Porter (Probable)	concussion
G	Jason Spitz (Probable)	knee
CB	Charles Woodson (Probable)	toe

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December 28, 1:00PM ET

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Tennessee Titans (13-3) at Indianapolis Colts (12-4)

Vince Young lives! Imagine on Draft Day 2006 if I told you Young would be reduced to the Jim Sorgi role by the end of Year 3 in the NFL. You'd have told me I was crazy. Well, you'd be right there, but not because of the Vince Young answer.

Prediction: Tennessee Titans 28, Indianapolis Colts 13

Tennessee Titans

Indianapolis Colts

Fans Say: The Fans are Split

Injury Report

Tennessee
C	Kevin Mawae (out)	elbow
DE	Dave Ball (Doubtful)	back
CB	Nick Harper (Doubtful)	groin
RB	LenDale White (questionable)	illness
DT	Tony Brown (questionable)	ankle
DT	Albert Haynesworth (out)	knee
DE	Kyle Vanden Bosch (out)	groin
LB	David Thornton (Probable)	hip
CB	Chris Carr (Probable)	illness
DE	Jevon Kearse (Probable)	groin

Indianapolis
LB	Gary Brackett (out)	fibula
S	Melvin Bullitt (questionable)	shoulder
DE	Keyunta Dawson (questionable)	hip
LB	Freddy Keiaho (questionable)	hamstring
RB	Dominic Rhodes (out)	chest
S	Bob Sanders (questionable)	knee

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December 28, 1:00PM ET

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New York Giants (12-4) at Minnesota Vikings (10-6)

Desperate team wins. Plus, I can't see Tom Coughlin using knee-plagued Brandon Jacobs much, if at all, on the fake turf of the Metrodome. Smart thing here would be to make sure Jacobs has three weeks of real rehab before the Jints' playoff opener on Jan. 10 or 11.

Prediction: Minnesota Vikings 19, New York Giants 12

New York Giants

Minnesota Vikings

Fans Say: The Fans are Split

Injury Report

New York
CB	Aaron Ross (out)	concussion
LB	Gerris Wilkinson (out)	knee
TE	Kevin Boss (Doubtful)	ankle, concussion
DT	Barry Cofield Jr. (questionable)	knee
RB	Brandon Jacobs (questionable)	knee
T	Kareem McKenzie (questionable)	back
DT	Fred Robbins (Probable)	shoulder
DE	Justin Tuck (Probable)	lower leg

Minnesota
DT	Pat Williams (out)	shoulder
WR	Bernard Berrian (questionable)	ankle
G	Artis Hicks (questionable)	elbow
DE	Jared Allen (Probable)	knee
QB	Gus Frerotte (Probable)	back
KR	Maurice Hicks (Probable)	back
S	Darren Sharper (Probable)	knee
CB	Cedric Griffin (Probable)	illness

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December 28, 1:00PM ET

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Carolina Panthers (12-4) at New Orleans Saints (8-8)

This defies logic, because John Fox is not going to be keen on his team finishing the season in a slump, nor is he going to be pleased that the Panthers have gone all the way from a 2 seed to 5 in the span of eight days. But Sean Payton's team has been explosive in home games this year -- scoring 24, 31, 30, 34, 37, 51 and 29 points at home -- and Drew Brees has an outside shot to make history, needing 402 passing yards to break Dan Marino's all-time single-season record. It doesn't make a lot of sense, but neither did Buffalo winning in Denver and the Jets losing in Seattle. It's football.

Prediction: New Orleans Saints 38, Carolina Panthers 35

Carolina Panthers

New Orleans Saints

Fans Say: The Fans are Split

Injury Report

Carolina
WR	Kenneth Moore (out)	hamstring
DT	Damione Lewis (Doubtful)	shoulder
DT	Maake Kemoeatu (questionable)	ankle
TE	Jeff King (Probable)	knee
WR	Muhsin Muhammad (Probable)	foot
TE	Dante Rosario (Probable)	illness
LB	Hilee Taylor (Probable)	calf

New Orleans
TE	Jeremy Shockey (out)	ankle
DT	Kendrick Clancy (questionable)	hamstring
RB	Pierre Thomas (questionable)	wrist, back
T	Jammal Brown (Probable)	ankle
CB	Usama Young (Probable)	ankle

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December 28, 4:15PM ET

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Miami Dolphins (11-5) at New York Jets (9-7)

Don't ask why. I don't know. I do know that Brett Favre, Alan Faneca, Nick Mangold, Thomas Jones, Tony Richardson and Kerry Rhodes are going to play every play like it's their last. Corny. Also true. I also think there's a chance Chad Pennington might be a little too geeked up for this seminal event in his life. And I think the crowd will go from angry at the start to euphoric once it sees the Jets in control of the game -- if not their destiny -- midway through the second half.

Prediction: New York Jets 26, Miami Dolphins 24

Miami Dolphins

New York Jets

Fans Say: The Fans are Split

Injury Report

Miami
CB	Will Allen (questionable)	groin
LB	Channing Crowder (questionable)	knee

New York
WR	Laveranues Coles (questionable)	thigh
T	Wayne Hunter (questionable)	shoulder
DE	Bryan Thomas (questionable)	shoulder
LB	Eric Barton (Probable)	knee
WR	Jerricho Cotchery (Probable)	shoulder
LB	David Harris (Probable)	groin
DT	Kris Jenkins (Probable)	hip

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December 28, 4:15PM ET

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Dallas Cowboys (9-7) at Philadelphia Eagles (9-6)

Not sure what's louder by game's end -- boos for Terrell Owens or chants to fire Andy Reid. Dallas has won one road game in the past 13 weeks, by the way. I'm picking the Cowboys because I don't like the Philly offense -- at all -- and because I think Tony Romo's tired of hearing what a useless player he is when the games get very big.

Prediction: Dallas Cowboys 24, Philadelphia Eagles 20

Dallas Cowboys

Philadelphia Eagles

Fans Say: The Fans are Split

Injury Report

Dallas
RB	Marion Barber (questionable)	toe
CB	Alan Ball (Probable)	ankle
LB	Bobby Carpenter (Probable)	knee, calf
S	Keith Davis (Probable)	knee, neck
H	Tony Romo (Probable)	illness
TE	Jason Witten (Probable)	ankle
WR	Roy Williams (Probable)	foot
S	Ken Hamlin (Probable)	foot
G	Montrae Holland (out)	ankle
WR	Isaiah Stanback (out)	shoulder

Philadelphia
WR	Hank Baskett (questionable)	knee
LB	Stewart Bradley (questionable)	rib, groin
S	Brian Dawkins (questionable)	illness
KR	Kevin Curtis (Probable)	calf
S	Quintin Demps (Probable)	quadricep
G	Todd Herremans (Probable)	shoulder, ankle
WR	Greg Lewis (Probable)	knee
T	Jon Runyan (Probable)	knee, ankle
RB	Brian Westbrook (Probable)	knee, ankle
DE	Victor Abiamiri (out)	foot

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December 28, 4:15PM ET

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Seattle Seahawks (4-12) at Arizona Cardinals (9-7)

Solving nothing. No one trusts the Cardinals to do anything but show up at the stadium for the Wild Card game.

Prediction: Arizona Cardinals 20, Seattle Seahawks 16

Seattle Seahawks

Arizona Cardinals

Fans Say: The Fans are Split

Injury Report

Seattle
K	Brandon Coutu (out)	groin
LB	LeRoy Hill (Doubtful)	neck
QB	Matt Hasselbeck (Doubtful)	back
LB	D.D. Lewis (questionable)	shin
KR	Koren Robinson (questionable)	knee
S	Jordan Babineaux (Probable)	concussion

Arizona
CB	Matt Ware (Doubtful)	calf
TE	Stephen Spach (questionable)	ankle
WR	Anquan Boldin (questionable)	shoulder
KR	J.J. Arrington (questionable)	knee
S	Adrian Wilson (questionable)	toe
CB	Roderick Hood (Probable)	knee
KR	Sean Morey (Probable)	shoulder
CB	Ralph Brown (Probable)	ribs
DE	Kenny Iwebema (questionable)	concussion
ST	Aaron Francisco (questionable)	ribs

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December 28, 1:00PM ET

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Cleveland Browns (4-12) at Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4)

Game ends at 4:01. At 4:01.01, Randy Lerner is dialing Bill Cowher's cell number.

Prediction: Pittsburgh Steelers 38, Cleveland Browns 11

Cleveland Browns

Pittsburgh Steelers

Fans Say: The Fans are Split

Injury Report

Cleveland
TE	Kellen Winslow (Doubtful)	ankle
TE	Darnell Dinkins (questionable)	ribs
LB	Leon Williams (questionable)	knee
H	Dave Zastudil (questionable)	right knee
KR	Joshua Cribbs (Probable)	ankle
DT	Shaun Rogers (Probable)	ankle
WR	Donte' Stallworth (Probable)	neck
WR	Donte' Stallworth (Probable)	neck
G	Eric Steinbach (Probable)	back
FB	Lawrence Vickers (Probable)	back

Pittsburgh
S	Ryan Clark (out)	shoulder
LB	James Harrison (questionable)	hip
QB	Ben Roethlisberger (Probable)	ankle

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December 28, 8:15PM ET

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Denver Broncos (8-7) at San Diego Chargers (7-8)

Midway through the fourth quarter, a muscular man with sunglasses and Padres cap on sneaks into the stadium, stands in the end zone, and watches the final minute or so tick off the scoreboard, with Philip Rivers completing a two-point conversion pass to win the game. The man smiles knowingly, and sneaks out of Qualcomm while the fans blow the roof off the place. Strange. No one notices Ed Hochuli leaving.

Prediction: Denver Broncos 39, San Diego Chargers 38

Denver Broncos

San Diego Chargers

Fans Say: The Fans are Split

Injury Report

Denver
CB	Champ Bailey (Probable)	groin
T	Ryan Harris (Probable)	back
WR	Brandon Marshall (Probable)	hip
WR	Eddie Royal (Probable)	thumb
CB	Karl Paymah (Probable)	groin
S	Marlon McCree (Probable)	ankle
LB	D.J. Williams (Probable)	knee, shoulder
T	Ryan Clady (Probable)	ankle
TE	Daniel Graham (Probable)	ankle
LB	Niko Koutouvides (Probable)	back

San Diego
LB	Brandon Siler (Doubtful)	foot
WR	Malcom Floyd (Doubtful)	lung
LB	Anthony Waters (Probable)	hamstring
DT	Jamal Williams (Probable)	foot

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December 28, 4:15PM ET

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Washington Redskins (8-8) at San Francisco 49ers (7-9)

Job haiku for the Redskin coach:
Memo to Jim Zorn:
Don't trust an owner till the
Calendar says "JAN"'

Prediction: San Francisco 49ers 23, Washington Redskins 17

Washington Redskins

San Francisco 49ers

Fans Say: The Fans are Split

Injury Report

Washington
LB	London Fletcher (questionable)	foot
DT	Kedric Golston (questionable)	ankle
T	Jon Jansen (questionable)	knee
G	Pete Kendall (Probable)	knee

San Francisco
LB	Ahmad Brooks (Probable)	back
RB	Frank Gore (Probable)	ankle
C	Eric Heitmann (Probable)	abdomen
S	Michael Lewis (Probable)	abdomen
S	Mark Roman (Probable)	knee
T	Adam Snyder (Probable)	ankle

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December 28, 1:00PM ET

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Oakland Raiders (5-11) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-7)

Ronde Barber is mad. Derrick Brooks is mad. Monte Kiffin, who doesn't have a mad bone in his body, is mad. The last game in the proud pro coaching history of Kiffin will not go like the past three.

Prediction: Tampa Bay Buccaneers 30, Oakland Raiders 0

Oakland Raiders

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Fans Say: The Fans are Split

Injury Report

Oakland
DE	Kalimba Edwards (out)	wrist
WR	Ronald Curry (Doubtful)	toe
CB	Nnamdi Asomugha (questionable)	neck
RB	Darren McFadden (questionable)	ankle
CB	Stanford Routt (questionable)	groin
RB	Justin Fargas (Probable)	neck

Tampa Bay
DE	Gaines Adams (questionable)	ankle
LB	Derrick Brooks (questionable)	hamstring
DT	Jovan Haye (questionable)	knee
H	Jeff Garcia (Probable)	calf
DT	Chris Hovan (Probable)	knee

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December 28, 4:15PM ET

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Jacksonville Jaguars (5-11) at Baltimore Ravens (11-5)

In the past 10 games, Baltimore's lost to the full-strength Giants and replay-fortunate Steelers. That's it. The Ravens have won five road games, toyed with Philly and Washington at home, and built up the confidence of Joe Flacco for his first playoff start ever -- at either the Dolphins, Jets or Pats, most likely. Flacco played only one of them this year, Miami. At Miami. And he had his highest-rated game of the year (120.2), a 27-13 win over the Fish.

Prediction: Baltimore Ravens 27, Jacksonville Jaguars 9

Jacksonville Jaguars

Baltimore Ravens

Fans Say: The Fans are Split

Injury Report

Jacksonville
KR	Maurice Drew (Probable)	knee
RB	Maurice Jones-Drew (Probable)	knee

Baltimore
LB	Jarret Johnson (questionable)	calf
WR	Derrick Mason (questionable)	shoulder, neck
RB	Ray Rice (questionable)	calf
S	Ed Reed (questionable)	thigh
CB	Samari Rolle (questionable)	ankle
CB	Fabian Washington (questionable)	toe
DE	Trevor Pryce (Probable)	illness
WR	Yamon Figurs (Probable)	head
T	Adam Terry (questionable)	knee
LB	Antwan Barnes (out)	chest

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December 28, 1:00PM ET

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Chicago Bears (9-7) at Houston Texans (8-8)

Tough one to pick, because you don't know the Houston motivation, and the Bears obviously have hopes for a division title. It comes down to not trusting the Bears' offense to win a biggie.

Prediction: Houston Texans 24, Chicago Bears 20

Chicago Bears

Houston Texans

Fans Say: The Fans are Split

The Hyundai Tie Breaker Results

Prediction: Broncos Score: 0 Chargers Score: 0 Total Combined First Downs: 0
Actual: Broncos Score: 21 Chargers Score: 52

Peter King > WEEKEND PICKOFF

Peter's Week 17 Picks

Make Your Picks

St. Louis Rams (2-14) at Atlanta Falcons (11-5)

New England Patriots (11-5) at Buffalo Bills (7-9)

Kansas City Chiefs (2-14) at Cincinnati Bengals (4-11)

Detroit Lions (0-16) at Green Bay Packers (6-10)

Tennessee Titans (13-3) at Indianapolis Colts (12-4)

New York Giants (12-4) at Minnesota Vikings (10-6)

Carolina Panthers (12-4) at New Orleans Saints (8-8)

Miami Dolphins (11-5) at New York Jets (9-7)

Dallas Cowboys (9-7) at Philadelphia Eagles (9-6)

Seattle Seahawks (4-12) at Arizona Cardinals (9-7)

Cleveland Browns (4-12) at Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4)

Denver Broncos (8-7) at San Diego Chargers (7-8)

Washington Redskins (8-8) at San Francisco 49ers (7-9)

Oakland Raiders (5-11) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-7)

Jacksonville Jaguars (5-11) at Baltimore Ravens (11-5)

Chicago Bears (9-7) at Houston Texans (8-8)

The Hyundai Tie Breaker Results

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