AFC South Predictions: Week 17

AFC South Prediction Record: 43-17

New England Patriots (10-5) @ Houston Texans (8-7)

Week 17 in the NFL is always a guessing game of who will play and who will rest for playoff bound teams, and this will be a dominate theme for AFC South teams on Sunday. The Texans are still fighting for a playoff berth, the first in franchise history, and may catch a break as they are playing a New England team who has already locked up their division. However, a New England win and a Bengals loss would lock the Patriots into the 4th seed in the AFC playoff picture. So while the Texans certainly have more to play for, it is unclear how the Patriots will approach this game. Regardless I like the Texans in this one, for the simple fact that they are playing good football right now and will be going against a pass defense that has struggled this year. I expect Matt Schaub and Andre Johnson to have a big game today, and keep themselves in the thick of the playoff hunt.

Texans 24     Patriots 17

Jacksonville Jaguars (7-8) @ Cleveland Browns (4-11)

The Jacksonville Jaguars let a playoff spot slip right out of their claws, and now sit all but eliminated from a postseason berth. However, with a sliver off hope alive I expect this team to come out with the intentions of taking care of business. Last week they looked absolutely awful against the Patriots, they came out flat and simply uninterested in the game at hand. On the flip side the Browns have known for quite some time that they have no chance to make the playoffs, but are still managing to play inspired football. Led by running back Jerome Harrison, the Browns have reeled off three wins in a row and look to make it four on Sunday. This game should come down to who can run the ball more effectively, as both teams are led by their running attack. In the end I think the Jaguars will pull this one out, for the simple fact that they have something to play for. 

Jaguars 20     Browns 13

Indianapolis Colts (14-1) @ Buffalo Bills (5-10)

After a tough defeat last weekend, the Indianapolis Colts will look to rebound against the Buffalo Bills. Like last week I do not expect the starters to play the whole game today, and I have to say I am getting a little nauseous just thinking about Curtis Painter behind center again. Another negative for the Colts will be the fact that the Bills are still playing for pride. Unlike the Colts the Bills will be trying to win this game at full-go. Granted I’m sure several players on the Bills have already packed up mentally and are ready for the season to be over, but at the end of the day it still comes down to pride. All this being said I am more interested in seeing how the backups perform, specifically Painter, opposed to whether or not the Colts actually win this game. However, I believe that the starters may just be able to give the backups a large enough lead against this bad Buffalo team to secure a victory.

Colts 23     Bills 16

Tennessee Titans (7-8) @ Seattle Seahawks (5-10)

Although the Tennessee Titans are out of the playoff picture, Chris Johnson and this Titans offense still have some unfinished business to take car of. Johnson currently sits 128 rushing yards away from joining the elite 2,000 yard club, and is only 75 total yards away from breaking Marshall Faulk’s NFL record of total yards from scrimmage. So even without a playoff spot on the line this game still has a lot of meaning for this Titans team, especially for Johnson and the offensive line. However, the Seahawks are coming off an embarrassing loss to the Green Bay Packers, a loss that ended with Matt Hasselback throwing a total of four interceptions. The Seahawks look to have closed up shop for the season and most of their players are probably packed and ready to get out of town. Thus, I expect the Titans to win this game handily and I expect them to do so with a big dose of Chris Johnson.

Titans 30     Seahawks 14