The NFL’s Christmas Day slate lacks sizzle but there are marquee matchups across the league over the weekend.
The Los Angeles Chargers will try to get revenge against the Houston Texans Dec. 27. The next day, the Philadelphia Eagles travel to Buffalo to take on the Bills in what could be a Super Bowl 60 preview. ‘Sunday Night Football’ features the upstart Chicago Bears taking on a battle-tested San Francisco 49ers team.
Week 17 ends with the Los Angeles Rams battling the Falcons in Atlanta during the final ‘Monday Night Football’ game of 2025.
The penultimate week of the regular season is here. USA TODAY Sports provides the early predictions for Week 17:
Odds courtesy of BetMGM.
NFL Week 17 predictions, picks
Dallas Cowboys vs. Washington Commanders
Date: Thursday, Dec. 25
Time: 1 p.m. ET
Location: Northwest Stadium, Landover, MD
TV: N/A
Streaming: Netflix
Spread: Cowboys (-6.5)
Tyler Dragon, USA TODAY: Cowboys 30, Commanders 21
A pride bowl in the nation’s capital. Both non-playoff teams are just playing for pride and bragging rights. The Cowboys, at least, have a healthy quarterback and one of the top offenses in the NFL.
Detroit Lions vs. Minnesota Vikings
Date: Thursday, Dec. 25
Time: 4:30 p.m. ET
Location: U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis
TV: N/A
Streaming: Netflix
Spread: Lions (-6)
Tyler Dragon, USA TODAY: Lions 27, Vikings 17
Last week’s loss gave the Lions an 8% chance to make the postseason. Detroit needs to win out and get a lot of help. Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy can’t stay healthy. The desperate Lions get a win with their playoff hopes hanging by a thread.
Denver Broncos vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Date: Thursday, Dec. 25
Time: 8:15 p.m. ET
Location: GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, MO
TV: N/A
Streaming: Prime Video
Spread: Broncos (-13)
Tyler Dragon, USA TODAY: Broncos 27, Chiefs 16
The Chiefs are limping toward the finish line. This could be Travis Kelce’s final game in Kansas City. Denver is vying for the No. 1 seed in the AFC. Denver completes the season sweep of the Chiefs.
Houston Texans vs. Los Angeles Chargers
Date: Saturday, Dec. 27
Time: 4:30 p.m. ET
Location: SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, CA
TV: NFL Network
Streaming: FUBO
Spread: Chargers (-2)
Tyler Dragon, USA TODAY: Chargers 23, Texans 22
A healthier and better Chargers O-line struggled against Houston last year. But an inspired Chargers team exacts revenge on the Texans after a postseason loss a year ago.
Baltimore Ravens vs. Green Bay Packers
Date: Saturday, Dec. 27
Time: 8 p.m. ET
Location: Lambeau Field, Green Bay, WI
TV: N/A
Streaming: Peacock
Spread: Packers (-2.5)
Tyler Dragon, USA TODAY: Packers 28, Ravens 24
The Packers bounce back after a tough loss in Chicago. The Ravens were my preseason Super Bowl pick. A loss here ends Baltimore’s playoff hopes in what’s been a disappointing season. Lamar Jackson hass battled injuries throughout the year and Baltimore’s pass defense is subpar.
Arizona Cardinals vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Date: Sunday, Dec. 28
Time: 1 p.m. ET
Location: Paycor Stadium, Cincinnati
TV: FOX
Streaming: FUBO
Spread: Bengals (-7)
Tyler Dragon, USA TODAY: Bengals 30, Cardinals 21
The Bengals offense caught fire last week. However, it’s too little, too late for Cincinnati. Joe Burrow and company can finish the year on a three-game winning streak with wins over two other non-playoff teams.
Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Cleveland Browns
Date: Sunday, Dec. 28
Time: 1 p.m. ET
Location: Huntington Bank Field, Cleveland
TV: CBS
Streaming: FUBO
Spread: Steelers (-4.5)
Tyler Dragon, USA TODAY: Steelers 24, Browns 21
The Steelers might have already clinched the AFC North by the time this game starts, which could impact who suits up. We are all on Myles Garrett sack-record watch.
New Orleans Saints vs. Tennessee Titans
Date: Sunday, Dec. 28
Time: 1 p.m. ET
Location: Nissan Stadium, Nashville, TN
TV: CBS
Streaming: FUBO
Spread: Saints (-2.5)
Tyler Dragon, USA TODAY: Saints 21, Titans 20
Tennessee’s coming off a win against a depleted Chiefs team. The Saints have quietly won three games in a row. New Orleans makes it four straight wins on Sunday.
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Indianapolis Colts
Date: Sunday, Dec. 28
Time: 1 p.m. ET
Location: Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis
TV: FOX
Streaming: FUBO
Spread: Jaguars (-6.5)
Tyler Dragon, USA TODAY: Jaguars 28, Colts 20
I have the Colts going on a seven-game losing streak to end the season despite 44-year-old Philip Rivers’ heroics. Jacksonville is one of the hottest teams in the NFL.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Miami Dolphins
Date: Sunday, Dec. 28
Time: 1 p.m. ET
Location: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, FL
TV: FOX
Streaming: FUBO
Spread: Bucs (-5.5)
Tyler Dragon, USA TODAY: Bucs 25, Dolphins 18
Can the Dolphins spoil Tampa Bay’s season? The Bucs have to win their next two games to win the NFC South title and earn a playoff berth.
New England Patriots vs. New York Jets
Date: Sunday, Dec. 28
Time: 1 p.m. ET
Location: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ
TV: FOX
Streaming: FUBO
Spread: Patriots (-12.5)
Tyler Dragon, USA TODAY: Patriots 30, Jets 16
The point spread seems high until you realize the Jets are one of the worst teams in the NFL. The Jets are keeping an eye on their draft position, while New England is trying to clinch the AFC’s top seed.
Seattle Seahawks vs. Carolina Panthers
Date: Sunday, Dec. 28
Time: 1 p.m. ET
Location: Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC
TV: CBS
Streaming: FUBO
Spread: Seahawks (-7)
Tyler Dragon, USA TODAY: Seahawks 26, Panthers 20
This is an interesting matchup between two division leaders. Both teams are coming off of perhaps their biggest victories of the year. Sam Darnold was resilient in Seattle’s comeback win last week. He gets revenge against his former team in Week 17.
New York Giants vs. Las Vegas Raiders
Date: Sunday, Dec. 28
Time: 4:05 p.m. ET
Location: Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas
TV: CBS
Streaming: FUBO
Spread: Raiders (-1.5)
Tyler Dragon, USA TODAY: Giants 20, Raiders 17
This game is all about 2026 NFL draft position. The loser of this contest will be in the driver seat for the No. 1 overall pick in next year’s draft. I think the Raiders are the worst team in the NFL.
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Buffalo Bills
Date: Sunday, Dec. 28
Time: 4:25 p.m. ET
Location: Highmark Stadium, Orchard Park, NY
TV: FOX
Streaming: FUBO
Spread: Bills (-2.5)
Tyler Dragon, USA TODAY: Eagles 28, Bills 24
A Super Bowl 60 preview in Week 17? DT Jalen Carter and RT Lane Johnson are expected to return this week, two of Philly’s most important players. The defending Super Bowl champs are beginning to play better football at the right time.
Chicago Bears vs. San Francisco 49ers
Date: Sunday, Dec. 28
Time: 8:20 p.m. ET
Location: Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, CA
TV: NBC
Streaming: Peacock
Spread: 49ers (-3)
Tyler Dragon, USA TODAY: Bears 25, 49ers 21
A really good matchup between two playoff teams. This game could go either way, but the Bears have found ways to win all season. Ben Johnson and Kyle Shanahan should be the two coach of the year favorites entering this week.
Los Angeles Rams vs. Atlanta Falcons
Date: Monday, Dec. 29
Time: 8:15 p.m. ET
Location: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA
TV: ESPN
Streaming: FUBO
Spread: Rams (-8.5)
Tyler Dragon, USA TODAY: Rams 30, Falcons 20
I still believe the Rams are the best team in the NFC despite a Week 16 loss to Seattle. Davante Adams’ absence does hurt the Rams, but they should get the victory against an inferior Atlanta club.
Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Tyler Dragon on X @TheTylerDragon.
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