Everything you need to know as kickoff approaches...
Key game-time decisions
All players questionable unless noted
Harrison: Week 17 Game Picks
With playoff implications in games across the NFL, Elliot Harrison provides his forecast for the entire Week 17 slate. **READ**
Julio Jones (hip) WR; Steven Jackson (quadriceps) RB, Atlanta Falcons
Jones returned limited on Friday and the game-changing wideout will play, according to NFL Media's Albert Breer, per Falcons sources. The Falcons feel so good about Jones that they won't test him in pregame. SJax, on the other hand, didn't practice all week and he won't play, per Breer.
DeAngelo Williams (hand) RB -- PROBABLE -- Carolina Panthers
The running back practiced in full all week and should be good to go in the battle for NFC South supremacy -- we still expect Jonathan Stewart to get the bulk of the snaps.
Jamaal Charles (hamstring, ankle) RB; Dwayne Bowe (shoulder) WR -- BOTH ACTIVE -- Kansas City Chiefs
The running back was limited all week. His health is important with the Chiefs starting Chase Daniel. Bowe was back limited on Friday after two DNPs. UPDATE: Each playmaker is active.
A.J. Green (biceps) WR -- PROBABLE -- Cincinnati Bengals
The wideout was full-go on Friday and should be set to play Sunday night vs. the Steelers.
Joe Haden (shoulder) CB; Andrew Hawkins (thumb) WR -- BOTH ACTIVE -- Cleveland Browns
Haden was limited all week, while Hawkins returned limited Friday. The Browns need all the help they can get with Josh Gordon suspended and rookie Connor Shaw starting at quarterback. UPDATE:Shaw will have another weapon in Hawkins at his disposal, as Hawkins is active, while Haden will try to limit Steve Smith.
Terrell Suggs (back, thigh) LB -- ACTIVE -- Baltimore Ravens
Suggs earned DNPs all week, but he'll be in pads.
T.Y. Hilton (hamstring) WR -- ACTIVE -- Indianapolis Colts
Hilton was limited all week. With little to play for, we'll see how much Hilton plays.
Kyle Rudolph (ankle) TE; Jarius Wright (back) WR -- BOTH ACTIVE -- Minnesota Vikings
Both were back on a limited basis Friday. UPDATE:Teddy Bridgewater won't be sharthanded, as both pass-catchers are active.
Percy Harvin (ankle, ribs) WR -- INACTIVE -- New York Jets
Khalil Mack (hamstring) LB, Oakland Raiders
The rookie was limited all week. He has started the previous 15 games.
Emmanuel Sanders (hip) WR; T.J. Ward (neck) S, Denver Broncos
Sanders and Ward were both limited all week.
LeGarrette Blount (shoulder) RB -- ACTIVES -- Shane Vereen (ankle) RB -- ACTIVE -- Julian Edelman (thigh, concussion) WR -- INACTIVE -- New England Patriots
All three offensive players were limited this week. With Jonas Gray already ruled out, how Bill Belichick manages his backfield in a meaningless game will be something to watch. UPDATE: Joining Edelman as inactive is tight end Rob Gronkowski.
Andre Williams (shoulder) RB -- ACTIVE -- New York Giants
The running back was limited all week but will give it a go against the Eagles.
Troy Polamalu (knee) S; Ike Taylor CB, Pittsburgh Steelers
Both defenders were limited all week.
Weather Tracking*
December rains.
Browns at Ravens -- 54 degrees / Rain (89 percent)
Cowboys at Redskins - 54 degrees / Rain (88 percent)
Colts at Titans - 43 degrees / Rain (87 percent)
Bills at Patriots -- 45 degrees / Chance of rain (60 percent)
Eagles at Giants -- 52 degrees / Chance of rain (41 percent)
Rams at Seahawks - 45 degrees / Slight chance of rain (22 percent)
Bengals at Steelers (SNF) -- 27 degrees / Rains preceding matchup (90 percent prior; 10 percent at kickoff)
*Forecasts courtesy of Accuweather.com
Three matchups to watch
Matthew Stafford has won exactly three games against teams that finished an NFL season with a winning record. The quarterback has a chance to rewrite the current chapter of his career with a win to secure Detroit's first division title since 1993 and the Lions' first win at Lambeau since '91 (when the quarterback was three years old). Stafford hasn't played well for most of this season and he'll have to make quick reads and get the ball out of his hands quickly against Julius Peppers, who rocked the quarterback's world in their first meeting of the season. Green Bay is allowing 228.1 passing yards per game (10th in NFL). If the Packers' defensive line is in Stafford's face consistently, it will mitigate any advantage Calvin Johnson possesses on the backside.
Falcons run defense vs. Jonathan Stewart
Sure, DeAngelo Williams is probable to play, but if Ron Rivera has been watching the same game film as us the past four weeks, he'll stick with Stewart. Since the team's Week 12 bye, J-Stew has 78 rushes for 437 yards (NFL leader), averaged 5.6 yards per scamper with one TD run. Over the past four games, Stewart has at least 75-plus rushing yards and 100-plus yards in two of the past three. In the contest prior to Stewart's outburst, the Falcons held Carolina running backs to 76 combined yards on 20 carries. Stewart had just seven carries for 24 yards that game. The Falcons give up an average of 113.3 yards per game on the ground. If they contain Stewart, it will take a huge arrow out of Cam Newton's quiver.
Ben Roethlisberger, Le'Veon Bell and Antonio Brown already surpassed single-season franchise marks in points per game (27.3), yards per game (415.4) and passing yards per game (300.5). In Week 14 the Bengals allowed the Steelers to gobble up 543 total yards (the third most under Marvin Lewis). The key will be slowing down Le'Veon Bell, who ran for 185 yards on 26 carries in the previous meeting. The Bengals are giving up 122.1 yards per game on the ground (23rd in the NFL). If the Cincy front can slow Bell, it will put Big Ben in third-and-long situations often Sunday night on what could be a wet field.
Did You Know?
Isaiah Crowell (601 rushing yards, eight touchdowns) needs one rushing touchdown to tie Jim Brown (nine in 1957) for the second most rushing touchdowns by a Browns rookie (Trent Richardson 11 in 2012).
Factory of Sadness update:
Joe Flacco has played in three previous Week 17 games that required a win (and sometimes help) to get into the playoffs. Flacco is 2-1 in those games, with one passing touchdown, three interceptions and a passer rating of only 71.4.
Watt leads all defensive linemen in sacks (17.5), tackles for loss (25), QB hits (47), passes defensed (10), and total touchdowns (five). Relative to the player(s) ranking second in each category, Watt's A) 17.5 sacks are four more than Mario Williams, B) 25 tackles for loss are five more than Ndamukong Suh, C) 47 QB hits are 19 more than Carlos Dunlap, D) 10 passes defensed are three more than Haloti Ngata and E) five total TD are four more than any other defensive lineman.
Case Keenum in Week 16 win over Baltimore: 20-42, 185 yards, zero scores, one interception and a 50.2 passer rating. It was the signal-caller's second-lowest passer rating in career as starter, the second most pass attempts in his career, and his first career win (1-8 as starter).
With Alex Smith out due to a lacerated spleen, backup QB Chase Daniel is expected to start for the Chiefs.
It will be the second straight season that Daniel factors into the AFC playoff picture. His only career NFL start came in Week 17 of last season -- also against the Chargers. Daniel went 21 of 30 for 200 yards, one touchdown pass and no picks in the game. In overtime, he moved the Chiefs down to the Chargers 36 yard-line, but a rush for negative yardage and three straight incompletions ended the contest.
Ryan Tannehill needs 214 yards to be the only Dolphins quarterback not named Dan Marino to throw for 4,000 yards in a season. Marino accomplished the feat six times in his Hall of Fame career.
Jarvis Landry has hauled in 79 receptions this season, which leads the Dolphins. It is also the most in team history for a rookie, passing the mark set by Terry Kirby (75) in 1993.
Jay Cutler leads the NFL with 24 giveaways, which includes a league-leading 18 interceptions and league-tying six fumbles lost (with Andrew Luck). Cutler has seven games this season with multiple interceptions; the Bears are 1-6 in those contests.
With 94 catches in 2014, Matt Forte needs seven receptions Sunday to tie Larry Centers (Arizona, 1995) for the most by a RB in a season in the NFL history.
Jay Cutler had 330 passing yards in his last meeting vs. Minnesota. The Vikings allowed 300 passing yards twice this season (last week and against the Bears).
Alshon Jeffery has four touchdowns in four career meetings with Minnesota. The Vikings allowed a season-high four passing touchdowns in Week 16 vs. Miami.
Teddy Bridgewater has a 100-plus passer rating in three of last four games. Chicago allowed 109.8 passer rating in its last four games.
Tom Brady and his No. 1 scoring offense will host the Bills, who boast the No. 4 total defense and No. 5 scoring defense. The Patriots have faced three teams currently ranked in the top five in total defense this season (DET, DEN and BUF). In those games, the Patriots have scored no fewer than 34 points and won each game by at least 15 points.
The Patriots are 25-2 against the Bills in the Brady-Belichick era and have outscored Buffalo 796-415. It is the highest winning percentage by any team that has faced a single opponent 10 times since 2001 (includes 2008, when Matt Cassel went 2-0 vs. Buffalo after Brady got hurt).
Philly beat New York 27-0 in Week 6, when Big Blue had just 253 yards of total offense and Eli Manning was sacked six times. Odell Beckham Jr. also recorded just two receptions for 28 yards (fewest receptions and receiving yards of the season).
Philly's defense has allowed 75 plays of 20-plus yards this season (most in the NFL). It has also compiled 30 sacks in the last eight games and 49 total this season, second most in the NFL behind BUF (50). The Eagles are on pace for 52 sacks, which would be the most by Philly since 2002 (56 sacks).
The Giants have also earned 43 sacks this season (fourth most in the NFL). They have 26 sacks over last five games. Big Blue has allowed 72 plays of 20-plus yards (tied for third most in the NFL).
The Saints have won each of the last six games against the Buccaneers. If the streak is extended to seven games, the Buccaneers are ensured of the No. 1 pick in the 2015 NFL Draft.
The Saints' offense ranks No. 1 in total yards per game, 416.3; earns the third-most yards per play, 6.1; and has most total first downs, 375.
New Orleans has scored two rushing touchdowns in their last seven games. They had 12 rushing scores in first eight games this season.
The Bucs' offense has scored over 17 points in only three games this season. It owns the NFL's 31st-ranked total offense (292.8 yards per game) and has gained less than 300 yards in seven of 15 games this season (0-7 in those games).
Buccaneers QBs have been sacked 49 times this season (fourth most in the NFL), and the offensive line has allowed five or more sacks in five games this season (T-second most in the NFL).
The Colts' offense is averaging only 16.3 points per game in last three games. It averaged 31.8 PPG in first 12 games.
Indy has multiple giveaways in each of last five games -- the most turnovers in the NFL since Week 12 (15).
The Titans' offense is second worst in the NFL at converting third downs, 30.6 percent. Their 14 drives of 10-plus plays this season are the fewest in the NFL.
With a win at Washington, the Cowboys would be the first team since the 16-0 Patriots in 2007 to go undefeated on the road. Four of the last five teams to go undefeated on the road reached the Super Bowl, with the 1984 and 1989 San Francisco 49ers hoisting the Lombardi Trophy.
Dallas' offense has scored 35-plus points in three straight games -- the third such streak in team history within a season. The 'Boys boast the NFL's highest scoring offense since Week 14, averaging 40.3 PPG in that span.
Behind DeMarco Murray, Dallas has the NFL's second-best rushing offense, averaging 145.3 YPG.
Washington's offense is 27th in scoring, 18.9 points per game and has scored 13 points or fewer in four of the last six games.
Robert Griffin III has produced the fewest total yards per game among Redskins QBs.
The Redskins have allowed five-plus sacks in six of their last seven games -- allowed 55 sacks this season (second most in the NFL).
The Redskins have converted just four of 62 (6.5 percent) third-and-10-plus plays (fewest in the NFL).
The Panthers have 100-plus rushing yards in 10 straight games.
Jonathan Stewart has 100-plus yards in two of the last three games after just two 100-yard games in his previous 54 games. He has 75-plus rushing yards in each of the last four games, leading the NFL in that span.
Matt Ryan: 66.4 completion percent, 4,434 yards, 28 passing touchdowns, 12 interceptions, 96.7 passer rating. He needs 286 yards to set single season franchise record.
The Falcons' defense is dead last in yards per game (404.4), yards per play (6.2), passing yards per game (291.1) and third-down conversion allowed (47.2).
Khalil Mack has started all 15 games this season. The last Raiders rookie linebacker to start all 16 games in a season is their current general manager Reggie McKenzie (1985). Mack is questionable with a hamstring injury, so reaching McKenzie-status is at risk.Â
Derek Carr's 563 pass attempts this season rank sixth overall in the NFL and ranks fourth all-time among rookies (Luck, Sam Bradford, Peyton Manning). His 11 INTs are fewest of any rookie in NFL history with 500 or more pass attempts. His six games with 30-plus pass attempts and zero picks are tied with Andy Dalton for fewest among rookies since 1960. Carr ranks first among rookies since 1960 with four games of at least 40 attempts and 25 completions.
However, Carr's 5.53 yards per attempt this season ranks 32nd in the NFL.
Peyton Manning's 311 passing yards last week snapped four-game streak with fewer than 260 passing yards. Over the last four games, Manning has thrown for 224.0 yards per game, a 61.9 completion percentage, five-to-six TD-to-INT ratio, 78.2 passer rating.
Matthew Stafford has played 31 games in his career against teams that finished the season with a winning record (includes 2014 teams with nine-plus wins) -- he has won three of those games. Aaron Rodgers has played 42 career games against teams that finished the season with a winning record -- he has won 20 of those games. Rodgers' passer rating of 98.8 in such games is over 20 points better than Stafford's 78.2.
Stafford is 4-3 on the road this season with six passing touchdowns, six interceptions and a 72.8 passer rating. He's compiled zero scores, four picks in his last three road games (NE, ARI, and CHI).
Detroit's defense is No. 1 in rushing, 63.8 yards per game; No. 2 in points allowed, 16.8; and No. 2 in total defense, 295.9 yards per game. The Lions have not finished with a top-10 Defense since 1993, the longest active streak.
Green Bay's offense is No. 2 in scoring, 30.4 points per game. Since Week 4, the Packers are averaging 33.5 PPG.
Rodgers has not thrown a single interception at home this season (23 TD, zero INT). Rodgers has 34 TD since his last interception at home, which came in Week 13, 2012 vs. the Vikings. He Has gone 13 consecutive games and 396 pass attempts at home without an interception, both longest streaks since 1960.
San Francisco had 355 rushing yards last week. Arizona has 346 rushing yards in Weeks 8-13 combined.
The 49ers' defense allowed 38 points last week to SD (second most in the NFL). Arizona's offense has scored 35 points in the last three games combined (second fewest in the NFL).
The Cardinals' last 66 drives have ended with only two TDs.
Arizona's defense has allowed 500-plus total yards four different times this season, going 1-3 in those games. The Cardinals are the only NFL team to allow 500-plus yards on four occasions this season.
The Niners are in the midst of the first four-game losing streak under Jim Harbaugh. The last San Francisco four-game losing streak was in 2010. The 49ers have compiled as many losses this season (eight) as in last two seasons combined under Harbaugh (12-4, 11-4-1).
The Niners' offense has scored fewer than 20 points in seven of the last nine games (16.1 PPG) after doing so just once in the first six games (23.5 PPG).
St. Louis has lost nine straight games in Seattle. The last time the Rams beat the Seahawks in Seattle was Week 5, 2004, when Marc Bulger was the Rams QB and Matt Hasselbeck was the Seahawks QB. Russell Wilson was 15 years old at the time.
Russell Wilson has three 100-yard rushing games this year, tied for most in a season by a quarterback. Of Wilson's 112 rushing attempts, 62.5 percent of them have been for 4 or more yards (highest percent in the NFL among players with at least 35 rush attempts).
After missing five games due to injury (Weeks 7-11), Bobby Wagner returned to the Seahawks lineup in Week 12. The Seahawks are 5-0 since Week 12 and have allowed the fewest points in the NFL.
In his coaching career, Pete Carroll is 6-4 in the playoffs. Carroll is 4-0 in home playoff games but just 1-4 on the road. Carroll won the Super Bowl following last season at a neutral site. A win Sunday would give the Seahawks home-field advantage.
Jeremy Hill rushed for 147 yards in Week 16, giving him his fourth game this season with 140-plus rushing yards. Hill is only the third rookie in NFL history to rush for 140 yards in four different games, joining Hall of Famers Eric Dickerson (five times) and Curtis Martin.
With two receptions against the Bengals, Antonio Brown will have the second-most catches in a single season in NFL history behind only Marvin Harrison (143 in 2002). Brown currently has 122 receptions.
Both Le'Veon Bell (235) and A.J. Green (224) had 200-plus scrimmage yards in the Week 14 matchup. It marked the first game this season in which a player on each team did so. The last time it happened was Week 13, 2013 when Alshon Jeffery (249) and Adrian Peterson (211) did so in the Vikings 23-20.
The latest Around The NFL Podcast previews the biggest matchups in Week 17 and makes its picks for the last week of the season. Find more Around The NFL content on NFL NOW.
