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AP staff NFL preview and predictions for Week 17

The Chiefs play the Bengals on Sunday, but we’re picking all of this weekend’s games.

Miami Dolphins v New Orleans Saints Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images

In the NFL’s Week 17, the Kansas City Chiefs will be on the road to play the Cincinnati Bengals. Kickoff is scheduled for Noon Arrowhead Time on Sunday. According to DraftKings Sportsbook, the Chiefs are favored by 5 points.

As the Chiefs and Bengals play, the Miami Dolphins (8-7) will face the Tennessee Titans (10-5) in Nashville. With victories by both the Chiefs and Dolphins, Kansas City will clinch the AFC’s first seed in the playoffs — and its only postseason bye.

Elsewhere in the AFC West, the Indianapolis Colts (9-6) host the Las Vegas Raiders (8-7) during Sunday’s early games — while during the late-afternoon slate, the Denver Broncos (7-8) will be in California to take on the Los Angeles Chargers (8-7).

In other early games, the Buffalo Bills (9-6) are hosting Atlanta Falcons (7-8), the Philadelphia Eagles (8-7) will play the Washington Football Team (6-9) in our nation’s capital and the Arizona Cardinals (10-5) will be in Texas to face the Dallas Cowboys.

The late-afternoon games will also feature the Los Angeles Rams (11-4) on the road against the Baltimore Ravens (8-7).

There’s an NFC North battle on Sunday Night Football as the Minnesota Vikings (7-8) play the Green Bay Packers (12-3) at Lambeau Field — and on Monday Night Football, the Pittsburgh Steelers (7-7-1) host the Cleveland Browns (7-8) in an AFC North showdown.

Here are our picks for this weekend’s games. Be sure to cast your vote, too!


Arrowhead Pride readers pick

READER RECORD: 156-81-3

Poll

Which team wins Dolphins (8-7) at Titans (10-5)?

This poll is closed

  • 66%
    Dolphins
    (585 votes)
  • 33%
    Titans
    (291 votes)
876 votes total Vote Now

Poll

Which team wins Buccaneers (11-4) at Jets (4-11)?

This poll is closed

  • 94%
    Buccaneers
    (707 votes)
  • 5%
    Jets
    (45 votes)
752 votes total Vote Now

Poll

Which team wins Falcons (7-8) at Bills (9-6)?

This poll is closed

  • 6%
    Falcons
    (52 votes)
  • 93%
    Bills
    (698 votes)
750 votes total Vote Now

Poll

Which team wins Raiders (8-7) at Colts (9-6)?

This poll is closed

  • 18%
    Raiders
    (139 votes)
  • 81%
    Colts
    (631 votes)
770 votes total Vote Now

Poll

Which team wins Giants (4-11) at Bears (5-10)?

This poll is closed

  • 14%
    Giants
    (104 votes)
  • 85%
    Bears
    (614 votes)
718 votes total Vote Now

Poll

Which team wins Cardinals (10-5) at Cowboys (11-4)?

This poll is closed

  • 34%
    Cardinals
    (256 votes)
  • 65%
    Cowboys
    (479 votes)
735 votes total Vote Now

Poll

Which team wins Eagles (8-7) at Washington (6-9)?

This poll is closed

  • 81%
    Eagles
    (584 votes)
  • 18%
    Washington
    (130 votes)
714 votes total Vote Now

Poll

Which team wins Panthers (5-10) at Saints (7-8)?

This poll is closed

  • 13%
    Panthers
    (97 votes)
  • 86%
    Saints
    (614 votes)
711 votes total Vote Now

Poll

Which team wins Jaguars (2-13) at Patriots (9-6)?

This poll is closed

  • 4%
    Jaguars
    (32 votes)
  • 95%
    Patriots
    (673 votes)
705 votes total Vote Now

Poll

Which team wins Texans (4-11) at 49ers (8-7)?

This poll is closed

  • 12%
    Texans
    (90 votes)
  • 87%
    49ers
    (612 votes)
702 votes total Vote Now

Poll

Which team wins Broncos (7-8) at Chargers (8-7)?

This poll is closed

  • 20%
    Broncos
    (150 votes)
  • 79%
    Chargers
    (580 votes)
730 votes total Vote Now

Poll

Which team wins Lions (2-12-1) at Seahawks (5-10)?

This poll is closed

  • 31%
    Lions
    (218 votes)
  • 68%
    Seahawks
    (476 votes)
694 votes total Vote Now

Poll

Which team wins Rams (11-4) at Ravens (8-7)?

This poll is closed

  • 88%
    Rams
    (621 votes)
  • 11%
    Ravens
    (83 votes)
704 votes total Vote Now

Poll

Which team wins Vikings (7-8) at Packers (12-3)?

This poll is closed

  • 15%
    Vikings
    (112 votes)
  • 84%
    Packers
    (594 votes)
706 votes total Vote Now

Poll

Which team wins Browns (7-8) at Steelers (7-7-1)?

This poll is closed

  • 65%
    Browns
    (467 votes)
  • 34%
    Steelers
    (247 votes)
714 votes total Vote Now

Reader Record by Week

Predictions W-L-T
Week 1 picks 8-7-1
Week 2 picks 10-6-0
Week 3 picks 10-6-0
Week 4 picks 10-6-0
Week 5 picks 11-5-0
Week 6 picks 9-4-1
Week 7 picks 10-3-0
Week 8 picks 8-7-0
Week 9 picks 8-6-0
Week 10 picks 9-4-1
Week 11 picks 11-4-0
Week 12 picks 8-7-0
Week 13 picks 9-5-0
Week 14 picks 10-4-0
Week 15 picks 12-4-0
Week 16 picks 13-3-0
Total 156-81-3

AP Staff Record

TW LW Staffer W L T Pct
1 1 Kristian Gumminger 98 47 1 0.6747
2 2 Mark Gunnels 138 69 1 0.6659
3 3 Bryan Stewart 157 82 1 0.6563
4 4 Pete Sweeney 154 85 1 0.6438
5 6 Talon Graff 153 86 1 0.6396
6 10 Matt Stagner 144 81 1 0.6394
7 5 Ron Kopp Jr. 145 83 1 0.6354
8 8 Stephen Serda 151 87 1 0.6339
9 7 Kramer Sansone 146 86 1 0.6288
10 9 Jared Sapp 150 89 1 0.6271
11 11 Ethan Willinger 148 91 1 0.6188
12 12 Rocky Magaña 146 93 1 0.6104
13 13 John Dixon 141 98 1 0.5896

In Week 16, Matt Stagner’s 13-3-0 head-to-head record led the AP staff. Kristian Gumminger, Mark Gunnels and Ethan Willinger all went 12-4-0. Matt also went 13-3-0 against the spread, while Kristian, Mark, Kramer Sansone and Stephen Serda all went 10-4-0. In over/under, Talon Graff was 12-4-0 — with Pete Sweeney right behind at 11-5-0. Overall, Matt led the group with a 33-15-0 record, while Talon was second at 29-19-0.

Among 208 Tallysight experts in Week 16, Matt ranked fifth head-to-head and second against the spread — while in over/under, Talon and Pate ranked sixth and seventh. Matt placed fifth overall.

Over the whole season, Pete and Ron Kopp Jr. are ranked in the top 30 head-to-head, while Mark, Pete and Bryan Stewart rank first, fourth and 18th against the spread. Jared Sapp, Kristian and Talon rank fourth, sixth and 16th in over/under — and overall, Kristian, Pete and Mark stand third, fourth and 15th.

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