Playoff positions can be locked up and seedings determined in Week 17 of the NFL season with a couple of high-scoring games anticipated, while an in-form Cleveland Browns tight end can continue his scoring streak.
Recommended five-fold: David Njoku Anytime TD scorer, Over 53.5 Total points in the Cowboys vs Lions game, Over 46.5 Total points in the Ravens vs Dolphins game, Tampa Bay Buccaneers -2.5 and Cincinnati Bengals +7.5
- Back David Njoku Anytime TD scorer
- Back Over 53.5 Total points in the Cowboys vs Lions game
- Back Over 46.5 Total points in the Ravens vs Dolphins game
- Back Tampa Bay Buccaneers -2.5
- Back Cincinnati Bengals +7.5
Jets @ Browns
The Cleveland Browns can officially seal a postseason berth in Week 17 when they are visited by a New York Jets team already looking to the 2024 season.
Currently the No.5 seeds in the conference, the Browns are virtually certain to make it into the playoffs, but they can still overhaul the Baltimore Ravens and win the AFC North crown too.
Cleveland's prospects have been completely transformed by veteran QB Joe Flacco, who led the Jets to an epic fourth-quarter comeback win over them at FirstEnergy Stadium last season.
The Jets will regret not bringing the 38-year-old back when Aaron Rodgers went down with a long-term injury in Week 1 because Flacco's play the past four weeks has been phenomenal.
He has thrown for more yards (1,307) than any other quarterback over that span and tossed 10 touchdown passes, tied for the most in the NFL.
Wideout Amari Cooper grabbed the headlines last Sunday, as his 265 yards receiving set a new Browns single-game receiving record, but tight end David Njoku should be the one the Jets need to guard against.
He has been Flacco's favourite target, snagging four touchdown catches in the last three games, and will be hard to stop in the red zone by a New York defense that has given up eight TDs to tight ends already this year.
Njoku to score a TD
Lions @ Cowboys
A huge game looms for the Dallas Cowboys and Detroit Lions this weekend, with America's Team needing to snap a two-game losing skid and restate their Super Bowl credentials.
The Cowboys are 7-0 at AT&T Stadium this year and will hope to catch the Lions on an off day because they have had a few of those.
But back-to-back wins over the Denver Broncos and Minnesota Vikings have propelled Detroit into a three-way tie for the best record in the NFC at 11-4.
The Lions' much-maligned defense appears to have turned the corner over the past two games in allowing 20.5 points per game and completely shutting down their opponents' run games.
However, the form of these two playoff contenders over the medium term suggests there will be plenty of points to enjoy this weekend.
This week's Total has been surpassed in five of the past seven Lions games and four of the last five Cowboys home games.
Dolphins @ Ravens
The teams with the two best records in the AFC meet at M&T Bank Stadium on Sunday with the winner likely to secure an all-important bye week and home-field advantage in the playoffs.
The Ravens’ dominant display against the NFC's best team - the San Francisco 49ers - means they are favoured to get the job done.
A win for Baltimore would allow them to rest their starters in Week 18 as they could not be caught for the No.1 seed, while Miami would probably still need to beat the Buffalo Bills at home next Sunday to hold off the Ravens.
The Dolphins finally beat a team with a winning record with their 22-20 victory over the Cowboys on Sunday, but doubts persist over whether they can repeat that feat on the road against a team with as much all-around ability as the Ravens.
Tua Tagovailoa has been great this season and his receiving corps are the most frightening set of playmakers in the league, so Miami's best chance lies in turning this matchup into a shootout.
Mayfield rejuvinated
Saints @ Buccaneers
The NFC's closest division race will be impacted by the outcome of Sunday afternoon's clash between the New Orleans Saints and Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium.
The Saints are coming off a tough 30-22 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, but they should be well-rested after a 10-day break.
Running back Alvin Kamara had his worst game of the year, finishing with a season-low 35 yards from scrimmage, and the Saints will need to ensure either it doesn't happen again or they can execute a better Plan B.
Meanwhile, the Bucs are riding a four-game winning streak off the back of some exceptional play from a rejuvenated Baker Mayfield.
The NFL's 49th-highest-paid quarterback has succeeded with 76.3% of his passes for 664 yards and six touchdowns to zero interceptions over the past two weeks.
Meanwhile, the Bucs' defense held Trevor Lawrence and Travis Etienne in check last week and can play their part in securing a crucial win atop the NFC South this week.
Bengals @ Chiefs
The two teams who have contested the AFC Championship Game the past two seasons meet in a late-season clash that has plenty riding on it.
Both are coming off disappointing losses in Week 16, as the Cincinnati Bengals were whipped 34-11 by the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday, while the Kansas City Chiefs choked on their Christmas dinners against the Las Vegas Raiders on Monday.
The likely absence of Bengals wideout Ja'Marr Chase, who has torched Kansas City's secondary whenever these have met, ensures the Chiefs are favoured to get back to winning ways, but Tee Higgins has stepped his game up several notches in the past few weeks.
The Chiefs are only 4-4 at Arrowhead Stadium this year as an inconsistent offense has struggled to get it done for them.
Kansas City's offensive line has been beaten far too regularly, with Patrick Mahomes scrambling for his life most weeks.
His receivers can't get open and, as a by-product, the turnovers are piling up.
Trey Hendrickson, who has 16 sacks, 16 tackles for loss and 22 quarterback hits this season, can disrupt the Chiefs enough to keep this game close enough for the Bengals to cover the Spread.
