2017 NFL Picks, score predictions for Week 17

Arizona Cardinals (7-8) at Seattle Seahawks (9-6)

Wouldn’t the Arizona Cardinals just relish the opportunity to play spoiler to the Seahawks, who must win in Week 17 to stay alive? They would, but that doesn’t mean they’ll pull it off. I just don’t see it happening, no matter how much they’d like it to.

Don’t get me wrong — the Cardinals have been solid throughout the 2017 campaign. However, all of their losses except one have come against teams with at least seven wins. Although they’ve also managed a couple of upsets against the Jaguars and Titans, I don’t see them packing enough of a punch to take down the Seahawks.

Seattle already won their first matchup with their NFC West foes. It wasn’t a pretty game by most standards, but the Seahawks defense did its job and Russell Wilson made the big plays when they were needed. Even with an injury-riddled defense, I believe Seattle has enough drive left in it to get the win and give itself a real shot at the playoffs.

Assuming the Seahawks get the win, they’ll need the Atlanta Falcons to fall to the Carolina Panthers. If that happens, they will sneak into the postseason as the NFC’s No. 6 seed. If that’s the way the cards fall, it would be purely luck based on the way this season has gone for Seattle.

Prediction: Seahawks win 25-21