Week 17 NFL picks, odds and best bets
No coal in my stocking this week after a 2-0 Week 16. The Las Vegas Raiders and Kansas City Chiefs did their part on Christmas Day, scoring only 34 points combined, well under the total of 41.5 points. The Raiders avoided playoff elimination and spoiled the Chiefs’ chance to clinch the AFC West title thanks to back-to-back defensive touchdowns in a seven-second span, one a fumble return by Bilal Nichols and the other an interception return by Jack Jones. But as predicted, the Las Vegas offense struggled against Kansas City’s defense, managing just two field goals in a 20-14 win.
Elsewhere, we needed a quarterback controversy to cash the Washington Commanders +3 pick against the New York Jets. Washington backup Jacoby Brissett replaced the benched Sam Howell in the third quarter and led Washington to three straight touchdown drives and a 28-27 lead with less than five minutes remaining. The Commanders ultimately succumbed to Greg Zuerlein’s 54-yard field goal with five seconds left, which gave the Jets the win, but that wasn’t enough to keep us from cashing our ticket.
Picks were made against the consensus point spreads as of Wednesday morning; odds that have since changed have been updated in bold type, but picks are locked in at the earlier odds. Check back later in the week for a possible player prop.
