BATTLE FOR OVERALL SEEDS

NFC – EAGLES, 49ERS, COWBOYS

AFC – CHIEFS, BILLS

TEAMS VYING FOR THE PLAYOFFS

NFC – PACKERS, SEAHAWKS, LIONS

AFC – TITANS, JAGUARS, PATRIOTS, DOLPHINS, STEELERS

CHIEFS AT RAIDERS – 1:30PM PT/4:30PM ET [SATURDAY]

This matchup is more about Kansas City solidifying the overall seed (oddly enough), and a win would do it. But their shaky performance could put them at risk of dropping below Buffalo and lose out on a bye. While Vegas was eliminated from playoff contention, they will compete no matter if it’s Derek Carr, Jarrett Stidham, or another quarterback. The fact that they played plenty of close games tells you Vegas has something in them. It’ll likely come down to one possession like the previous matchup. Kansas City should escape this matchup again and claim the overall seed.

MY PICK: CHIEFS

TITANS AT JAGUARS – 5PM PT/8PM ET [SATURDAY NIGHT]

If only I could make a line chart, you would see where the Titans and Jaguars stood after 16 games. Both went into one direction at the beginning of the season, and then went the other way in the past few games. The Jags benefitted on a four-game winning streak while beating up some competition in the latter stages of the regular season. The Titans haven’t found a solution to their six-game losing streak. Their offense is a shell of themselves and have yet to solve their quarterback issues. Despite losing to Dallas, Josh Dobbs may be the formula to potentially shocking the NFL world with a victory against the Jags. I just don’t see it happening when Trevor Lawrence is playing with house money. The Titans’ run at a playoff opportunity ends this weekend.

MY PICK: JAGUARS

BROWNS AT STEELERS – 10AM PT/1PM ET

Pittsburgh has plenty on the line this Sunday and needs to not only maintain Mike Tomlin’s flawless winning percentage per season, but they also need help from the Bills and Jets to defeat their AFC East foes that are battling for the 7th seed. TJ Watt and company look healthy and mean, and Kenny Pickett is becoming the quarterback that the Pittsburgh community expected from him. The Browns won’t take it lightly and their defense from the front to the back end of will be on that rookie. Cleveland’s offense needs Deshaun Watson, Nick Chubb, and Amari Cooper to lead this group to an upset and drag the Steelers out of a playoff opportunity with them. Somehow, someway, Pittsburgh pulls through for the sake of Mike Tomlin’s winning record streak.

MY PICK: STEELERS

GIANTS AT EAGLES – 1:25PM PT/4:25PM ET

Since Jalen Hurts is likely a go for Sunday, how will the Eagles fair against this gritty, pesky Giants? Will they come out swinging early, put up the big numbers, and coast the rest of the way with their backups, or will they struggle, be put in a one-score situation, and have to decide whether they retreat their starters and hope Washington can somehow pull off an upset to keep the Cowboys from stealing the division title? Yeah, it’s a lot to speculate. Both teams are pretty solid, but we must know what Philly looks like out of the gate in Jalen’s return. I think the game will be close and it’ll take every ounce of energy and opportunity for the Eagles to defeat the New York Football Giants to rightfully claim the overall seed.

MY PICK: EAGLES

LIONS AT PACKERS – 5:20PM PT/8:20PM ET [SUNDAY NIGHT]

Thank goodness Green Bay won a big game against Minnesota because this sets up a fitting end to the regular season on Sunday Night Football. Great job NFL! The new-look Detroit Lions square off with the re-vitalized Green Bay Packers for a winner-take-7th seed (if Seattle loses for the Lions’ sake). The last meeting was a nail-biter, and it took every defensive play by Detroit to stop Aaron Rodgers and the Packers to be in this position months later. Everyone is getting healthy and is locked in while Green Bay’s coming together and playing like their old selves. Also, Rodgers’ haircut may indicate that he’s returning to his old self and wants to win a god damn game! We could expect a close game, but Green Bay seems that much locked in that they potentially run Detroit out of their town and out of a playoff opportunity.

MY PICK: PACKERS

MY TOTAL: 43 POINTS OVER/UNDER

THE REST OF WEEK 18 NFL PICK’EMS

BUCCANEERS AT FALCONS

PATRIOTS AT BILLS

VIKINGS AT BEARS

RAVENS AT BENGALS

CHARGERS AT BRONCOS

TEXANS AT COLTS

JETS AT DOLPHINS

PANTHERS AT SAINTS

CARDINALS AT 49ERS

RAMS AT SEAHAWKS

COWBOYS AT COMMANDERS