Week 17 picks
LW 1-1 -1.3 Stars Season 30-24 +5.8 Stars
NE-8 (13-2, 12-2-1) vs. Buf (6-9, 6-7-2)
NE seems to do it every week on defense, esp. at home where they have given up but a lone TD since week five vs. Ten. Although the Bills have scored 24 and 26 pts. respectively vs. the NYG and Ten. in their last two road games, they were in single digits the four previous road efforts and it is difficult to see them putting up many vs. Bellichick’s crew in NE. Nevertheless, the Bills have a very decent defense in their own right and don’t seem to be the kind of team to mail one in at the end. This one could be a tougher cover than it looks for the Pats who won’t realize they need to win by eight and will be perfectly content with a FG victory. They do, however, have every reason to put forth a maximum effort here as home field throughout is the prize.
Two stars on NE
SF E (7-8, 7-6-2) vs. Sea (9-6, 7-7-1)
SF’s season is over after this game and Sea still has a reasonable chance for the playoffs with a win here. Given SF’s tradition and pride as an organization, that is good enough reason to take them. There are a few other reasons as well: SF is 6-1 at home and Sea is 1-6 on the road. SF has been almost impossible to run against at home. Only Arz. has even bothered to rush over 20 attempts (22) and the niners are giving up something on the order of 55 ypg on the ground. Meantime, SF is pounding the ground for 35+ attempts on avg. and have actually exceeded 200 yds. twice and have beeen over 140 in all but one other game. That stat is my favorite matchup up. T.O. is out so its only two stars on the niners
