Week 17 NFL Preview: Saturday Spotlight, Playoff Jostling, and Electric Quarterback Battles”
Most of Week 17 games will fall on Sunday, New Year’s Eve. Monday Night Football will be absent in the final two weeks of the regular season, returning for a wild card game in the postseason. Week 17 will still have three primetime games thanks to a Saturday night battle.
The Cleveland Browns play host to the New York Jets on Thursday Night Football. This could be a key battle for both squads as they jostle for playoff positioning. Aaron Rodgers against Deshaun Watson could also be an electric quarterback battle.
The AFC will be in the spotlight in the upcoming weeks. This conference is loaded with potential contenders, including New York. There could also be a tight race for the wild-card spots with two weeks in the regular season remaining. Another matchup to watch is Cleveland’s cornerback Denzel Ward against the Jets’ wideout Garrett Wilson.
Saturday’s game will be between the Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys. This is a potential playoff preview. Heading into the 2023 season, NFL odds had Detroit as the fourth choice to win the NFC and Dallas as the third. The Lions’ offense against the Cowboy’s defense will be an exciting matchup. Detroit features one of the league’s highest-scoring units, while Dallas has a stingy defense led by edge rusher Micah Parsons.
NFL Week 17 Preview: Rivalries, Playoff Implications, and Exciting Matchups
Many NFL fans get Cowboys fatigue late in the season. This will be its sixth primetime game, not counting all of Dallas’ late afternoon games thrust into the spotlight. Don’t skip out on this game, though. The Lions-Cowboys should be an exceptional game.
The Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings collide on Sunday Night Football, ringing in the new year. Both squads are probably not thrilled with spending their New Year’s Eve with a bitter rival. Both teams will be going all out as this will likely impact the NFC North title race.
The passing attacks could be on display. Green Bay has a promising young receiving corps that draws a favorable matchup against Minnesota’s weak secondary. The Vikings’ superstar receiver Justin Jefferson always seems to find success, even against some of the best covermen in the league. Will the Packers’ cornerback Jaire Alexander slow Jefferson? NFL odds for Week 17 are offering several props for this one-on-one matchup.
The Patriots-Bills, Falcons-Bears, Panthers-Jaguars and Dolphins-Ravens could be the top 1 p.m. ET games. New England against Buffalo is typically an entertaining rivalry. The Pats’ defense against the Bills’ offense will draw attention. New England’s rookie cornerback Christian Gonzalez has a tall task of slowing wide receiver Stefon Diggs.
NFL Week 17 Preview: Rivalries, Playoff Implications, and Exciting Matchups
Atlanta’s meeting with Chicago is another battle that could impact the playoff race. The Falcons and Bears entered the season as dark horses to win their division. Some of the league’s upcoming offensive players will be on show, including Atlanta’s wide receiver Drake London and running back Bijan Robinson and Chicago’s quarterback Justin Fields.
Miami visiting Baltimore should be one of the top games of the week. These teams could also meet again in the playoffs. Both offenses are some of the most entertaining in the NFL. The Dolphins have speed all over the field, including wideouts Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. The Ravens have an electric run game led by Lamar “Action” Jackson.
The NFL has three games scheduled for the late afternoon, but this slate will feature the top matchup of Week 17. The Cincinnati Bengals and Kansas City Chiefs will meet yet again. This has turned into perhaps the best rivalry in the AFC. This will be the fifth meeting dating back to the 2021-22 season. Two of the clashes took place in the AFC Championship. Kansas City finally got its revenge in last season’s AFC title game after losing three straight games against Cincinnati. Now, the Bengals will be looking to enact revenge.
This game will also have a big impact on postseason AFC seeding. NFL lines will likely peg Cincy as the underdog as it visits one of the most daunting atmospheres in the league. This will likely be the best game of Week 17 and possibly one of the top matchups of the regular season.
Stay tuned as the NFL season reaches its thrilling conclusion in NFL Week 18 Odds, where every snap, every touchdown, and every decision on the field will have significant ramifications for the playoff race.
