Welcome to your ultimate guide for NFL Week 17! The excitement is palpable as teams jostle for position in the playoff race. Last night’s Thursday night game between the Seahawks and the Bears was an eyebrow-raiser, ending in a dull 6-3 victory for Seattle. In fact, it marked the lowest-scoring game of the season with the teams combining for a stunning 13 punts—more than the total points scored!

Seahawks' Victory and Grades

Seattle's win keeps their playoff dreams alive, albeit in a tight situation. Their defense was phenomenal, featuring an incredible performance from Leonard Williams, who led the charge with two of the team's seven sacks. Unfortunately for fans, this win was not a showcase of offensive prowess—rather, it gave them just enough to secure the W and hope for favorable outcomes in the coming games.

Seahawks Grade: C Offense faltered, but the defense held the Bears to a mere 179 yards. Geno Smith finally clinched a win in a Thursday game, breaking his previous 0-6 streak. This win not only clinched a winning season for the Seahawks but also marked their lowest-ever scoring total in a victory.

Bears Grade: C- Chicago's struggles continued, culminating in their tenth successive loss—tying their franchise record. Quarterback Caleb Williams was sacked seven times and looks lost on the field. The team’s coaching decisions came under scrutiny, particularly during crucial moments.

Playoff Scenarios for Bengals, Colts, and Dolphins

Moving to the playoff picture, three teams—Bengals, Colts, and Dolphins—are hanging by a thread for a chance at the postseason. The Bengals are on a roll with a three-game winning streak but still face a tall order to secure their playoff berth.

Bengals need to: - Win against the Broncos and Steelers - Hope for losses from Colts (Giants, Jaguars) and Dolphins (Browns, Jets) If all goes well, they can remain in contention to sneak into the playoffs, but they’ll need significant support from other games.

For the Colts, they must: - Win against the Giants and Jaguars - Rely on losses from the Dolphins and Broncos

On the other hand, the Dolphins require: - Wins in their final two games - Two losses from the Colts and the Broncos.

If any of these teams falter this weekend, the playoff picture could drastically shift, with the Chargers and Broncos potentially clinching their spots.

Eric Dickerson Weighs In on Saquon Barkley's Record Chase

In more NFL drama, Eric Dickerson, who held the single-season rushing record for an impressive 30 years, expressed concerns about the possibility of Saquon Barkley breaking his 2,105-yard milestone. With only two games left in the season, Barkley needs just 268 yards to steal the spotlight and potentially break this long-held record. Dickerson’s sentiments reflect a mix of admiration and disdain; after all, records are meant to be challenged, but the stakes are high.

NFL Week 17 Picks: Predicting Outcomes

As we move into Week 17, analysts have made their predictions for pivotal matchups. Pete Prisco believes the Bengals will narrowly beat the Broncos, while others like Tyler Sullivan predict the Chargers will overcome the Patriots. Keep your eyes peeled as these games unfold!

BOLD Predictions: Jets Shock, Cowboys Contain Barkley

In surprising bold predictions for the week, the Jets are poised to stun the favored Bills, while the Cowboys' solid defense gears up to contain Barkley's running game, betting against him surpassing 100 yards.

Extra Points: Injury Updates and More

Finally, keep an ear out for updates surrounding player injuries, with Jalen Hurts likely sidelined this week, and star receiver CeeDee Lamb out for the season due to a shoulder injury.

NFL fans should buckle up as we glide through Week 17—anything can happen in the race for the playoffs!