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Entering the second-to-last week of the regular season, the Detroit Lions have already won the NFC North. However, with several playoff spots still up for grabs and the No. 1 seed in the conference not yet clinched, there’s still plenty to play for.
Here are our predictions for Week 17 in the NFC North:
Detroit Lions (11-4) at Dallas Cowboys (10-5): Less than a week after clinching the franchise’s first division title since 1993, the Lions must avoid a let-down on the road against the Cowboys with both teams battling for playoff positioning in the NFC. However, it won’t be easy as the matchup presents challenges on both sides of the ball.
Ahead of Saturday’s contest, cornerback Chase Lucas told Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press that he was “ready to go whip on the Cowboys,” which is precisely the attitude they’ll need to play with to walk out of Arlington with a win. Dallas’ offense, mainly the passing game, has struggled recently, dropping back-to-back games entering Week 17. Nevertheless, after taking on two top-10 passing defenses in the Miami Dolphins and Buffalo Bills, quarterback Dak Prescott and the Cowboys will undoubtedly look to attack the Lions, who rank 23rd against the pass (234.9 YPG).
Meanwhile, the Lions’ fifth-ranked scoring offense (27.5 PPG) goes up against a Cowboys defense that held the league’s No. 1 unit, the Dolphins (30.9 PPG), to only 22 points a week ago. While QB Jared Goff has led the way most of the year, the Lions may want to lean on running backs David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs against Dallas. The duo combined for three scores and 135 yards in Week 16, and a heavy dose of the two might be Detroit’s best shot at winning, as the Cowboys are 19th (115.7 YPG) in stopping opposing rushers.
The battle between two top teams in the NFC could go either way, but a desperate Cowboys team will stay undefeated at home in a close one.
PREDICTION: Cowboys, 27-24
Green Bay Packers (7-8) at Minnesota Vikings (7-8): Sunday is a must-win game for both the Packers and Vikings. While a win doesn’t guarantee a postseason berth, a loss for either all but ends any hope. The Vikings handled the Packers in Week 8, winning 24-10 at Lambeau Field, but a lot has changed since then, mainly the season-ending injury to QB Kirk Cousins.
Since losing Cousins, the Vikings have started three different QBs with mixed results. Following losses in four of the last five games, the Vikings are giving rookie fifth-rounder Jaren Hall the nod in place of Nick Mullens, who turned the football over four times last week despite throwing for more than 400 yards. Meanwhile, the Packers allowed 2023 No. 1 pick Bryce Young to go wild in Week 16 (312 passing yards, two TDs) and have allowed 30 points or more in consecutive weeks. Hall will have electric wideout Justin Jefferson to lean on, but even the Packers’ 23rd-ranked defense (352.9 YPG) should be able to slow down a first-year player with only 10 career passing attempts.
Conversely, QB Jordan Love has improved dramatically after a mediocre performance (24-of-41, 229 yards, one TD, one INT) in the Packers’ first meeting with the Vikings. In the eight games since, he’s completed 66 percent of his passes, averaging 262 passing yards a game with 16 TDs to only three interceptions. Furthermore, the Vikings defense has been leaky as of late, allowing 27 points or more in two straight after pitching a Week 14 shutout over the Las Vegas Raiders.
Division rivalry games with playoff implications aren’t always easy to call. However, going up against an inexperienced QB, the Packers should be able to take care of business.
PREDICTION: Packers, 29-24
Atlanta Falcons (7-8) at Chicago Bears (6-9): While mathematically still in playoff contention, the odds are heavily stacked against the Bears, making Sunday’s contest against the Falcons more of a tryout for many. At the top of that list are quarterback Justin Fields and head coach Matt Eberflus. A win would go a long way in securing at least another season in Chicago for both, while a loss adds to the argument for change.
In a Week 16 win over the Arizona Cardinals, Fields showed what he was capable of, posting serviceable passing numbers (15-of-27, 170 yards, one TD, one INT) while exploding for 97 yards (nine carries) and a score on the ground. Repeating that feat this week may prove difficult as the Falcons defense has been a strength this season. The unit has allowed 10 points or fewer in three of four winning games and will likely stack the box against the Bears, daring the duel-threat QB to beat them with his capable but inconsistent arm.
Defensively, the Bears have flashed a ton of potential under Eberflus’ lead, entering Week 17 having held opponents to 20 points or fewer in five of the last six games. However, it’s unclear which Falcons offense they’ll face. Two weeks after scoring only seven points 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. At the same time, the Falcons also leaned on rookie running back Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier, who combined for 141 rushing yards, 69 receiving yards and a touchdown.
The Falcons, still alive in the AFC South title picture, have much more to play for than the Bears. However, the game will likely come down to who performs better, Fields or Heinicke, and that’s where Chicago will have the slight edge.
PREDICTION: Bears, 23-20
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