NFL Week 17 Rapid Fire: Analysis, Picks and Playoff Predictions

At last, the final week of the 2014 NFL season has arrived. Week 17 of the NFL season comes as a bitter sweet moment to most because we know football is nearing its end, but the excitement of another NFL playoff run being just a week away brings joy to fans nationwide.

As we enter the final week of the regular season there is still a lot left to be decided in terms of divisional winners and wild card winners. After 16 weeks of the season we still have multiple teams fighting for playoff seeding, which makes for a very entertaining final week of the regular season.

One of the most notable games of week 17 is a contest between the Packers and Lions. The battle between the Lions and Packers will be a winner takes all game for the crown of the NFC North division.

The home field advantage for the Packers is one of the best in all of football and it certainly will play a role this week for a Lions team that plays their home games in a dome. Aaron Rodgers, quarterback of the Packers, has had an MVP like season and Sunday will be one of the biggest regular season games of his career.

We also have a winner takes all game for the NFC South division between the Panthers and Falcons. The winner of this division will be under .500, but despite that will earn themselves a home playoff game.

We will take a look at all of the week 17 games and predict who we see coming out on top in each contest. It has been a great season and we could be in store for a magical 2014 NFL playoffs beginning next week. Without further delay, here is the slate for week 17 in the NFL.

Cleveland Browns @ Baltimore Ravens- Baltimore Ravens win 28-13

Dallas Cowboys @ Washington Redskins- Dallas Cowboys win 27-17

Indianapolis Colts @ Tennessee Titans- Indianapolis Colts win 34-21

Jacksonville Jaguars @ Houston Texans- Houston Texans win 24-12

San Diego Chargers @ Kansas City Chiefs- San Diego Chargers win 28-24

New York Jets @ Miami Dolphins- Miami Dolphins win 31-17

Chicago Bears @ Minnesota Vikings- Minnesota Vikings win 27-19

Buffalo Bills @ New England Patriots- New England Patriots win 34-16

Philadelphia Eagles @ New York Giants- New York Giants win 27-23

New Orleans Saints @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers- New Orleans Saints win 34-24

Carolina Panthers @ Atlanta Falcons- Atlanta Falcons win 31-24

Detroit Lions @ Green Bay Packers- Green Bay Packers win 31-23

Oakland Raiders @ Denver Broncos- Denver Broncos win 37-23

Arizona Cardinals @ San Francisco 49ers- San Francisco 49ers win 27-24

St. Louis Rams @ Seattle Seahawks- Seattle Seahawks win 30-16

Cincinnati Bengals @ Pittsburgh Steelers- Pittsburgh Steelers win 31-20

So, as a final recap we have the Falcons, Packers and Steelers winning the three most crucial games in week 17. I feel the home field advantage will be the difference in all three games and the Falcons, Packers and Steelers will enter the playoffs on an emotional high.

It has been a great 2014 season and we can only hope we are in store for another classic NFL playoff run. For over half the league their focus will now turn towards the 2015 NFL Draft, but for the lucky 12 teams that make the playoffs the Super Bowl 49 Championship is all that they have on their mind.