Getting into the second-to-last week of the common season, the Detroit Lions have already gained the NFC North. Nevertheless, with a number of playoff spots nonetheless up for grabs and the No. 1 seed within the convention not but clinched, there’s nonetheless a lot to play for.
Listed below are our predictions for Week 17 within the NFC North:
Detroit Lions (11-4) at Dallas Cowboys (10-5): Lower than every week after clinching the franchise’s first division title since 1993, the Lions should keep away from a let-down on the street towards the Cowboys with each groups battling for playoff positioning within the NFC. Nevertheless, it will not be straightforward because the matchup presents challenges on each side of the ball.
Forward of Saturday’s contest, cornerback Chase Lucas instructed Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press that he was “able to go whip on the Cowboys,” which is exactly the perspective they will have to play with to stroll out of Arlington with a win. Dallas’ offense, primarily the passing recreation, has struggled just lately, dropping back-to-back video games getting into Week 17. Nonetheless, after taking over two top-10 passing defenses within the Miami Dolphins and Buffalo Payments, quarterback Dak Prescott and the Cowboys will undoubtedly look to assault the Lions, who rank Twenty third towards the move (234.9 YPG).
In the meantime, the Lions’ fifth-ranked scoring offense (27.5 PPG) goes up towards a Cowboys protection that held the league’s No. 1 unit, the Dolphins (30.9 PPG), to solely 22 factors every week in the past. Whereas QB Jared Goff has led the best way a lot of the yr, the Lions might wish to lean on working backs David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs towards Dallas. The duo mixed for 3 scores and 135 yards in Week 16, and a heavy dose of the 2 is perhaps Detroit’s finest shot at profitable, because the Cowboys are nineteenth (115.7 YPG) in stopping opposing rushers.
The battle between two prime groups within the NFC might go both approach, however a determined Cowboys workforce will keep undefeated at dwelling in an in depth one.
PREDICTION: Cowboys, 27-24
Inexperienced Bay Packers (7-8) at Minnesota Vikings (7-8): Sunday is a must-win recreation for each the Packers and Vikings. Whereas a win would not assure a postseason berth, a loss for both all however ends any hope. The Vikings dealt with the Packers in Week 8, profitable 24-10 at Lambeau Subject, however so much has modified since then, primarily the season-ending damage to QB Kirk Cousins.
Since dropping Cousins, the Vikings have began three totally different QBs with combined outcomes. Following losses in 4 of the final 5 video games, the Vikings are giving rookie fifth-rounder Jaren Corridor the nod rather than Nick Mullens, who turned the soccer over 4 instances final week regardless of throwing for greater than 400 yards. In the meantime, the Packers allowed 2023 No. 1 choose Bryce Younger to go wild in Week 16 (312 passing yards, two TDs) and have allowed 30 factors or extra in consecutive weeks. Corridor could have electrical wideout Justin Jefferson to lean on, however even the Packers’ Twenty third-ranked protection (352.9 YPG) ought to be capable to decelerate a first-year participant with solely 10 profession passing makes an attempt.
Conversely, QB Jordan Love has improved dramatically after a mediocre efficiency (24-of-41, 229 yards, one TD, one INT) within the Packers’ first assembly with the Vikings. Within the eight video games since, he is accomplished 66 % of his passes, averaging 262 passing yards a recreation with 16 TDs to solely three interceptions. Moreover, the Vikings protection has been leaky as of late, permitting 27 factors or extra in two straight after pitching a Week 14 shutout over the Las Vegas Raiders.
Division rivalry video games with playoff implications aren’t at all times straightforward to name. Nevertheless, going up towards an inexperienced QB, the Packers ought to be capable to deal with enterprise.
PREDICTION: Packers, 29-24
Atlanta Falcons (7-8) at Chicago Bears (6-9): Whereas mathematically nonetheless in playoff rivalry, the chances are closely stacked towards the Bears, making Sunday’s contest towards the Falcons extra of a tryout for a lot of. On the prime of that listing are quarterback Justin Fields and head coach Matt Eberflus. A win would go a great distance in securing no less than one other season in Chicago for each, whereas a loss provides to the argument for change.
In a Week 16 win over the Arizona Cardinals, Fields confirmed what he was able to, posting serviceable passing numbers (15-of-27, 170 yards, one TD, one INT) whereas exploding for 97 yards (9 carries) and a rating on the bottom. Repeating that feat this week might show tough because the Falcons protection has been a energy this season. The unit has allowed 10 factors or fewer in three of 4 profitable video games and can probably stack the field towards the Bears, daring the duel-threat QB to beat them together with his succesful however inconsistent arm.
Defensively, the Bears have flashed a ton of potential beneath Eberflus’ lead, getting into Week 17 having held opponents to twenty factors or fewer in 5 of the final six video games. Nevertheless, it is unclear which Falcons offense they will face. Two weeks after scoring solely seven factors in a loss to the lowly Carolina Panthers, backup QB Taylor Heinicke (23-of-33, 229 yards, one TD) steadied the ship in a win over the Indianapolis Colts. On the similar time, the Falcons additionally leaned on rookie working again Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier, who mixed for 141 speeding yards, 69 receiving yards and a landing.
The Falcons, nonetheless alive within the AFC South title image, have rather more to play for than the Bears. Nevertheless, the sport will probably come all the way down to who performs higher, Fields or Heinicke, and that is the place Chicago could have the slight edge.
PREDICTION: Bears, 23-20
