Week Seventeen NFL Predictions: Jets, Ravens Survive

NFL predictions for Week 17:

One: After the Browns finish the season on a four-game roll, Eric Mangini will last exactly one more season in Cleveland before being replaced by Jon Gruden. Holmgren wants a West Coast Offense guy coaching the Browns-he knows how to look for talent in that system. But if Mangini finishes strong, he’ll have a tough time justifying replacing Mangenius with a small-time WC coach. Gruden is committed to ESPN for another year, but after that he’ll likely want back in-and Holmgren will be more than ready to give him Mangini’s job.

Two: The Ravens will make the playoffs. The Ravens gave the Steelers that game in so many ways. Good news-it probably doesn’t matter. The Ravens haven’t lost to an inferior team this year; all of their losses have been to good clubs (Pats, Bengals (2), Vikings, Colts, Packers, Steelers). They won’t fall into the Black Hole like so many other good teams have, but they’ll have a tough time winning in Foxboro in round one.

Three: The Bengals will let the Jets win in week 17, if they’re smart. The Bengals don’t want the three seed. The three seed means a rematch with Baltimore; if they lose to the Jets, they’ll welcome Cali Boy Mark Sanchez to the frozen tundra of Cincy. By staying healthy and playing vanilla, they’ll get a huge game-planning advantage of the Jets, too.

Four: NBC will regret flexing Jets-Bengals. NBC flexed Jets-Bengals to Sunday Night Football in Week 17 for one reason: to get the whole Broncos fan base to tune-in (if they beat the Chiefs Sunday, the Broncos will qualify for the playoffs with a Jets loss). However, it’ll be boring watching the Jets beat up the Bengals backups-they’d get better ratings with an Eagles-Cowboys showdown. Even though the Eagles and Cowboys have clinched playoff spots that should be the choice.

Five: Why? Because the NFC East crown will be on the line-and so will a first-round bye. The Vikings are going to lose in Chicago or vs. the Giants. You can feel it. And a Vikings loss would open up a shot at the two-seed for the Eagles with a win. But even if the Vikings do win, this will be a great NFC East battle-winning the division means a lot to these guys, even though all it will determine is who plays at home in their wild-card round rematch. But even the three-seed holds power-it means skipping a Divisional Round date in New Orleans and going to dysfunctional Minnesota instead.

Six: And the Eagles are taking that two-seed. Expect a mini-shootout in Dallas. A Roy Williams drop kills the Cowboys in the end.

Seven: But I still like the Saints to win the NFC. Every analyst has abandoned their studio desk and jumped onto that Eagles bandwagon. I’ve championed the Eagles for weeks, but I still like the Saints in the NFC Championship Game over the Birds. Sean Payton is too good of an offensive mind to fail to get the Saints back on track. They absolutely demolished the Eagles back in September. And with a chance to go to the Super Bowl on the line, the Super Dome will be the loudest stadium you’ve ever heard.

Eight: Shanahan will be the next Redskin’s coach. I guarantee the man is signing a contract around this time next Tuesday. Interestingly, Jason Campbell isn’t a bad fit for Shanahan’s offense-he’s mobile and throws a really nice deep ball. He could get a one-year tryout if they focus on other issues first (offensive line, secondary, receivers).

Nine: Even though they lost, the Colts are still winning the Super Bowl. Peyton Manning looked like he was watching Eli give his topless wife a back massage during the 4^th quarter of Jets-Colts; I guess that’s the effect backup QB Curtis Painter has on people. I just don’t think there’s a lot to make from their loss. I think momentum’s very important, but Peyton is just so good this year. It’s difficult to pick anyone else to win the Super Bowl.

Ten: If you’re a Jags or Dolphins fan, you’ll get a headache rooting for that eight-way 8-8 tiebreaker. But just to highlight how open this whole thing is: the Jags are still in play for the 5 seed, and the Phins still have a glimmer of a chance. That means ten games next Sunday still have seeding or playoff implications. Honestly? For most fans, it’s kind of a weak week, but the playoffs will make up for that. Three games are must-watch: the Ravens’ elimination game in the black hole, the Jets’ battle against the Bengals, and the Eagles trip to Dallas. That last one will be a real treat, so sit back and enjoy shedding that New Year’s hangover.

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