NFL Picks Week 17: Playoffs is the Prize

Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

*This write-up was produced by experienced bettor and sharp eye, Daniel Laxen*

Talk about getting blown up — an unpleasant 0-4 last week on the tally. The Dolphins and I never saw that coming. Losing 19-0 describes exactly how I felt after last week’s selection, but like a pro CB, I have to have a short memory. The show does indeed go on!

Packers @ Bears +3 — O/U 51

It’s all on the line for each of these teams from the NFC North. Questions abound: can Aaron Rodgers come back in week 17 to save the Packers season? Did the Bears and Marc Trestman screw the pooch by bringing back Jay Cutler, instead of staying the course with McCown? But the real question is — do either of those questions even matter? The defenses on both sides leave plenty to be desired.

These two teams have a shot at the Super Bowl tournament, but I don’t see either making any waves in the playoffs. The NFL is currently QB starved! There are perhaps five ELITE quarterbacks, and one of them plays in this game, Aaron Rodgers.

The line is three points in favor of the road team. If you like the game to be close, then don’t you have to side with the home team? Aaron Rodgers’ record in contests decided by a game winning drive in the fourth quarter is a paltry 9-26, and 5-24 when trailing in the fourth quarter with a chance to take the lead. That Rodgers steps in after seven weeks on the sidelines for a team that is vastly flawed. I expect the Bears to get an lead early and make Rodgers have to come beat them. I’ll play the Bears +3 at home.