Abe’s (74-43) Predictions:

Panthers vs. Buccaneers:

The Bucs are 1-7 in their last eight games and have become the biggest frauds of the 2025 season. At the beginning of the year, QB Baker Mayfield and rookie phenom Emeka Egbuka looked like Joe Montana and Jerry Rice, but over the last two months, their regression has been one of a kind. Specifically, Mayfield, who looks like he is not playing with the edge he once had. Before last week, if the Bucs won this game, they would be in the playoffs, but now if they win and the Falcons win, they will take the Bucs’ spot. 

The Panthers are coming off a disaster of a loss to the Seahawks, a game where they looked completely outgunned and like they could not hang. The Panthers have been hot and cold all season, alternating between wins and losses all season long. Playoff implications are simple: if the Panthers win, they are in. They need to get their run game going with Rico Dowdle and Chuba Hubbard in order to take advantage of this game. 

Prediction: Panthers 20-17

Actual Score: Buccaneers 16-14 

Seahawks vs. 49ers:

The Seahawks have been the most consistent team all season long; in their three losses this season, they were outscored by nine points. In all three games, it took miraculous plays. Against the 49ers in Week 1, star corner Tariq Woolen got mossed twice by pedestrian football players. Against the Bucs, they lost by three with their top four corners getting hurt. In Week 11, against the Rams, they lost by two and would have won if not for an amazing punt from the Rams that bounced out at the 1-yard line. 

For the Seahawks to win this game, they will need to establish the run and get Jaxon Smith-Njigba activated early. The Seahawks’ offense has struggled when JSN does not get involved early. With the mediocre play of the 49er defense, they have a chance to exploit them early and often. 

For the 49ers, this game will be on the shoulders of Brock Purdy. In Week 1, the Seahawks’ defense held Christian McCaffrey to three yards per carry. In order for them to win, they need Purdy to be hitting his timely throws down the field. George Kittle had a monster first half before he got injured. He will need to bring that same production to give them a chance. 

Prediction: Seahawks 34-17 (Abe)

Actual score: Seahawks 13-3

Conner’s Prediction:

The 49ers’ offense has been on fire recently, with Purdy having five-touchdown performances in back-to-back weeks. However, he was going up against the Colts’ defense, which did not have Sauce Gardner or Charvarius Ward, and the Bears’ defense, which is only good for causing turnovers. The Seahawks’ defense, on the other hand, is top-two in the league. They are allowing the second-fewest points per game (18.1) and are getting to the quarterback often, having recorded 44 sacks on the year so far. This means Purdy will likely have to make plays outside the pocket, which could possibly lead to turning the ball over.

Additionally, the Seahawks’ defense is allowing the fewest yards per carry in the NFL, at 3.7. This means McCaffrey will likely be limited in running the ball, despite averaging 5.8 yards per rush the last two weeks combined.

The 49ers’ defense has also been a question mark this season, and especially lately, allowing 24 or more points in the last three games. The Seahawks’ offense is not the best, but they are averaging nearly 30 points a game, and I do not expect them to struggle reaching that mark against this banged-up Niners’ defense.

The Niners are also 7-1 in the last eight matchups against the Seahawks, so I feel as if they are also just due for a loss. The main hope for the Niners is that Darnold sees ghosts again. Even if he does play poorly, I still think the Seahawks can get the job done, mainly because of their defense and offensive weapons outside of Darnold.

Prediction: Seahawks 30-24

Actual score: Seahawks 13-3 

Colts vs. Texans:

After starting the season 7-1 and trading two first-round picks for Gardner, the Colts’ season has done a complete 180. Going 1-8 since their amazing start, the future is worrisome for the Colts, with no QB and an aging roster. It will be interesting to see how they address the QB position this offseason. With draft positioning not mattering and their season being over, the Colts may start Riley Leonard instead of Phillip Rivers. If they do that, they owe Rivers an apology for wasting his Hall of Fame eligibility and making him wait another five years. 

The Texans are as hot as any team in the NFL. Their defense has been dominant all season, but their offense has been slowly getting its groove back together and piecing wins along. Sitting at 11-5, they are a team nobody wants to play in the playoffs, especially in the wild-card round. 

Prediction: Texans 17-13

Actual score: Texans 38-30 

Browns vs. Bengals:

The Browns are coming off a surprising win against the Steelers. Whether they won due to their play or the Steelers not wanting to let star pass rusher Myles Garret break the sack record on them, is still up for discussion. The Browns may have found their franchise QB. Sheduer Sanders may not be as generational as some made him seem in pre-draft news but he has looked like a serviceable QB. Similar to Jared Goff for the Lions, if they can get some weapons on the outside next year, they could have a chance for a wild-card spot. 

The Bengals have been a disappointment since 2022. After their insane run to the Super Bowl in 2021, they have not been able to win games consistently or stay healthy. Plaguing their seasons thus far, the problem with having so many dominant skill players is that you lose depth and quality in the trenches and secondary. 

Prediction: Browns 17-13

Actual score: Browns 20-18 

Saints vs. Falcons:

The Falcons stunned all of America after their win on Monday Night Football against the Rams. Superstar RB Bijan Robinson had over 200+ scrimmage yards, including a 93-yard rush that broke open the Falcons’ lead. If they can continue to get Robinson going, they may find a way to wind up in the playoffs with a little help from other teams. 

The Saints and Kellen Moore have been rolling, and building momentum on losing teams to end the season is important. You do not simply create a winning culture without winning, and the Saints have been winning after their abysmal start to the season. With no Chris Olave playing, the run game will be twice as important as it normally would be for the Saints offense. 

Prediction: Falcons 27-17
Actual score: Falcons 19-17 

Packers vs. Vikings:

The Packers will be without both Jordan Love and Malik Willis it looks like. With playoff seeding not mattering much for the Packers this game is not a must win. The Packers defense has been one step slow since losing Micah Parsons but this week they were given Trevon Diggs off waivers. In 2021 this would mean something but in 2026 he is a shell of his interception leading self. However this game can easily be won for the Packers if they run the ball with Josh Jacobs 30+ times and can force turnovers from the Viking offense. 

The Vikings have wasted this season and a year of elite defensive play and a year of Justin Jefferson’s prime. The only thing they should care about this week is getting Jefferson to the 1,000 receiving yards mark. With JJ McCarthy slated to come back he needs to prove that the Vikings should invest in him this offseason and not look elsewhere. 

Prediction: Vikings 17-6

Actual score: Vikings 16-3 

Titans vs. Jaguars:

The Titans are trying to build some momentum going into next season. Unlike a lot of tanking teams, the Titans are not that desirable for free agents. Their rebuild will be difficult, and they will need a coach who can build a winning culture. In this game, Cam Ward will need to use his legs to make off-scripted plays and extend drives for the Titans. 

The Jags have been on fire, and Liam Coen, in his rookie year as head coach, has been impressive. Trevor Lawrence has been beating the “bust” rumors, and Coen has become a sort of QB whisperer and seems to have been working his magic on Lawrence. Sitting at 12-4, the Jags are in the playoffs, and they do not have much to prove. I’d be surprised if they played their starters the entire game. 

Prediction: Jags 31-13

Actual score: Jags 41-7

Cowboys vs. Giants:

The Cowboys’ explosive offense has cooled off as of late, but their defense is to blame for them not being in playoff contention. Trading Parsons has done more bad than good for them. This offseason, they need to fix up their defense on all levels and find an o-lineman or two, and the playoffs could be within reach. 

The Giants have no reason to win this game, but for some reason, they will play as they do. Jaxson Dart has been proving he is the guy for the Giants since he became the starter. If they can bring in weapons for him this offseason and they hit on their head coach, things could be on the up and up for the G-Men. 

Prediction: Cowboys 37-24

Actual score: Giants 34-17

Conner’s (76-44) Predictions:

Cardinals vs. Rams:

The Cardinals (3-13) have now lost eight in a row after losing 37-14 to the Bengals (6-10). Their defense continues to struggle every week. They have allowed 26 or more points in each of their last four games. Offensively, Jacoby Brissett played well, while their run game continued to struggle. Brissett threw for 212 yards and two touchdowns, but the Cardinals had just 42 on the ground. They are currently ranked fourth-worst for rushing yards per game at 94.

The Rams (11-5) had an implosion last week against the Falcons. Matthew Stafford threw three interceptions, and they were down 21-0 at halftime. They almost managed a second-half comeback, but came up short after K Zane Gonzalez hit the eventual game-winning field goal. Their defense could not stop Robinson, who had 229 total yards and two touchdowns. The Rams also struggled offensively, with Blake Corum sustaining an ankle injury and Puka Nacua being held to just 47 receiving yards.

The last time these teams met, the Rams won by 28. I see a similar result for the Rams this week. The Rams were torn up by Robinson last week, but the Cardinals do not have a running back anywhere near as good as he is. Additionally, the Rams have a decent pass defense, allowing 215.4 yards a game (No. 17 in the NFL), which is good enough to stop Brissett. Then, I do not see the Cardinals’ defense stopping this Rams’ offense. The Rams are also playing for seeding. If they win and the 49ers lose, they will play the winner of the NFC South in the wild-card round.

Prediction: Rams 37-20

Chiefs vs. Raiders:

The Chiefs (6-10) surprisingly gave the Broncos (13-3) a run for their money last week. They only lost 20-13, and the last touchdown for the Broncos came with under two minutes remaining. Chris Oladokun was pretty awful, completing 59.1% of his passes for 66 yards. However, their defense and special teams balled out, which is why they had a chance to win. They held Bo Nix to 182 yards and picked him off once, which eventually led to a Chiefs touchdown. They also held the Broncos to 13 points through 58 minutes of football. If DT Chris Jones did not jump offside on the Broncos’ final drive of the game, there is a good chance the Chiefs would have forced overtime.

The Raiders (2-14) are the worst team in the NFL. Last week, they put up just 17 points against a team allowing the 26th-most points per game this year (26.4). Geno Smith threw two interceptions and sustained an ankle injury. Defensively, the Raiders allowed 34 points to a team that has not scored over 27 since Oct. 19. They were awful and made the Giants’ offense look amazing, especially in the ground game, allowing 155 rushing yards.

There is a good chance that the Raiders will play without Smith due to his injury. This means either Kenny Pickett or Aidan O’Connell would play. I do not see any of them playing well, especially since they have not received much playing time this year. The Chiefs’ defense is also solid, holding teams to under 20 points per game. Offensively, I do not think Oladokun will find much success, but I think he will do enough going up against the Raiders’ defense. Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt should be successful enough since the Raiders allow 118.9 yards per game (No. 18 in the NFL). The Raiders also need to lose to get the No. 1 overall draft pick, and there is a lot of tension in their locker room regarding Maxx Crosby. I see these impacting their performance negatively.

Prediction: Chiefs 20-17

Commanders vs. Eagles:

The Commanders (4-12), led by Josh Johnson, almost pulled off an upset win over the Cowboys (7-8-1) last week. They lost 30-23, but “Bill” Croskey-Merritt went off. He had two touchdowns and averaged 9.5 yards a carry on 11 attempts. Johnson was solid, throwing for 198 yards and completing 65.2% of his passes. However, their defense folded, especially in the first half. Dak Prescott threw for two touchdowns and over 300 yards, and they allowed 211 rushing yards.

The Eagles (11-5) defeated the Bills (11-5) 13-12 last week in a defensive battle. The only problem was that the Eagles’ offense disappeared in the second half. They had just 17 yards in the second half and almost allowed Josh Allen and the Bills to come back in the fourth quarter. If it were not for Allen missing a wide-open two-point conversion that he likely converts 99 out of 100 times, they would have lost. At least their defense proved how legitimate they are. 

It is likely that Johnson will get his second consecutive start for the Commanders this week. This is bad because the Eagles have a really strong defense, especially in the air. On the ground, they are allowing 123.3 yards per game (21st-most in the NFL), but I do not see Croskey-Merritt going off again. He has never had back-to-back games of rushing for over 61 yards. Then, the Commanders are allowing 27.1 points per game, ranked No. 17 in the NFL, so I do not see the Eagles struggling offensively. The Eagles are also fighting for the No. 2 seed in the NFC, while the Commanders have nothing to play for.

Prediction: Eagles 27-14

Dolphins vs. Patriots:

The Dolphins (7-9) are not as bad of a team as they started the season as. They started out 1-6, but have turned it around in the second half of the season. Last week against the Bucs (7-9), they picked off Mayfield twice, and Quinn Ewers threw two touchdowns and no turnovers. Mayfield did have two touchdowns, but he was unable to lead his team to victory in a game that they were expected to win. Their defense also held the Bucs to just 53 rushing yards.

The Patriots (13-3) completely dismantled the Jets (3-13) 42-10 last week. They only scored seven points in the second half, but it does not really matter when you score 35 in the first. Drake Maye was unstoppable, throwing five touchdowns while completing 90% of his passes. They also had 155 rushing yards. Defensively, they allowed 307 total yards, but that also does not matter when you only allow 10 points.

The Patriots have been beating subpar teams all season, and I see them doing it again this week. The Dolphins have not beaten a good team since beating the Bills on Nov. 9 and have squeaked by (and also lost to) bad teams since then. The Dolphins’ only chance is to rely on their ground attack, but even then, the Patriots are only allowing 104.1 rushing yards per game (tied for seventh-least in the NFL). The Dolphins are also allowing 24.1 points per game and allowed 28 points to the Steelers. As a result, I think Maye can dice them up. The Patriots also still have a chance to win the No. 1 seed in the AFC, which should be enough to motivate them to get the job done. Even though they have been dealing with issues off the field, they do not need all their playmakers to defeat the Dolphins. 

Prediction: Patriots 28-20

Lions vs. Bears:

The Lions (8-8) were eliminated from the playoffs last week after losing to the Vikings (8-8) on Christmas. Their offense was abysmal, having six turnovers and scoring just 10 points in a must-win game. Their defense did its part. They held Max Brosmer to a net total of just three passing yards and only allowed one big play. The sad thing is that they had a real chance to sneak into the playoffs with all of the Packers’ injuries. 

The Bears (11-5) are coming off a close 42-28 loss to the Niners (12-4). The thing is that they did not really lose; they just ran out of time. If they had spiked the ball with maybe 15 seconds left instead of four, they probably would have won the game. Caleb Williams had his way with the Niners’ defense, throwing for 330 yards and two touchdowns. Their defense was good for essentially one play, which happened to be the first play. After that, they allowed six touchdowns and cost themselves a chance at the No. 1 overall seed in the NFC.

The Lions won 52-21 the last time these two faced off in Week 2. However, I think Ben Johnson gets his revenge this time. The Bears are 6-1 at home, while the Lions are 3-5 on the road. The Lions have also struggled offensively the last couple of weeks and have not been the same defensively since Brian Branch was injured. They typically allow around 30 points to teams with good offenses. They allowed 41 to the Rams and 30 to the Cowboys recently. Offensively, although the Lions’ offense is much better than the Bears’ defense, the Bears’ defense is not typically as bad as they was on Sunday night. On average, they give up 24.8 points a game. The Bears also need this win to clinch the No. 2 seed in the NFC, which would be a huge advantage considering how poorly the Packers have played recently.

Prediction: Bears 34-28

Chargers vs. Broncos:

The Chargers (11-5) struggled mightily last week against the Texans (11-5). They allowed five sacks and really had nothing going offensively, especially with Cameron Dicker missing a field goal and an extra point. After allowing two long touchdowns to C.J. Stroud, their defense showed up, intercepting him twice and allowing just six more points. However, going down big early and not having an offensive line ultimately killed any chance the Chargers had at winning the game. This loss sealed the Broncos as AFC West champions.

The Broncos (13-3) won 20-13 against the Chiefs (10-6) last week. It was another last-minute win for a team that should be blowing out these bad teams. Nix had another just solid game, throwing for 182 yards and one touchdown. However, he also threw an interception that led to a Chiefs’ touchdown. The Broncos’ defense played well, holding the Chris Oladokun-led Chiefs to 13 points. They also forced the game-winning turnover on downs. They were not going to lose that game unless Nix excessively turned the ball over or if their special teams lost them the game. Neither of those happened, and they got the job done.

This game, since Justin Herbert is not playing, should be a win for the Broncos. The Chargers have the sixth-best pass defense in yards allowed and the seventh-best in points allowed, so Nix and this Broncos’ offense may struggle. However, Trey Lance against this Broncos’ defense I do not see going too well. The one advantage that Lance has over Herbert is that he is a better scrambler, which is important behind their terrible offensive line. Even then, the Broncos’ defense is ranked in the top four for rushing yards (89.7) and points allowed per game (19.3). This means the game will rely on Lance’s arm, and his accuracy has been a struggle for him throughout his career. Nix and the Broncos’ offense will likely struggle, but I think they will do just enough to clinch the No. 1 seed, especially as they should be getting the ball often since I see the Chargers’ offense struggling.

Prediction: Broncos 24-14

Jets vs. Bills:

The Jets (3-13) were destroyed 42-10 last week by the Patriots (13-3). Brady Cook was okay, throwing for 152 yards, a touchdown and an interception. Their run game was sensational, as they ran for 164 yards. Breece Hall averaged 7.9 yards per carry on 11 attempts and had a touchdown. However, their defense was awful, allowing 35 points in the first half. Hall was hurt in the game, but will likely still play Saturday.

The Bills (11-5) are coming off a rough 13-12 loss last week to the Eagles (11-5). Their offense essentially went non-existent through three quarters of the game. However, they almost mounted a fourth-quarter comeback. They would have won if Allen had completed that two-point conversion pass to Khalil Shakir. At least their defense showed up, particularly in the second half when they held the Eagles to 17 total yards of offense. They also held the Eagles to 82 total rushing yards, which is an impressive feat considering it was raining, Saquon Barkley was coming off a big game, and the Bills have one of the worst rush defenses in the league.

This game should be an easy win for the Bills. At this point in time, they are just playing for seeding, but that is more than the Jets are playing for. Cook has been abysmal for the Jets, throwing just one touchdown to seven interceptions in the four games he has played, and he has led them to an average of 11.5 points per game. With this in mind, I anticipate the Bills to gameplan around the Jets’ rushing attack, which is the seventh-best in yards per game this season. Then, I do not see the Jets stopping Allen and the Bills’ offense. The Jets are allowing 29.3 points a game (ranked No. 29 in the league). The Jets also have not won a game at Highmark Stadium since 2019.

Prediction: Bills 30-13

Ravens vs. Steelers:

The Ravens (8-8) are coming off a big-time 41-24 win over the Packers (9-6-1). Derrick Henry went off, rushing for 216 yards and four touchdowns. Tyler Huntley did his part as well, throwing a touchdown and logging 167 total yards. He completed 80% of his passes as well. Baltimore’s defense also showed up and held the Packers well enough to get the job done. Malik Willis threw for 288 yards and a touchdown, and completed 85.7% of his passes. He also had two rushing touchdowns. Outside of his performance, however, the Packers did nothing, and that was on full display when Willis got hurt, and Clayton Tune entered the game.

The Steelers (8-8) fell completely flat against the Browns (4-12) and lost 13-6. It was a putrid offensive performance that saw Aaron Rodgers throw three-straight passes to WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling at the seven-yard line to lose the game. Rodgers also threw a deep ball to WR Scotty Miller on a fourth-and-one late in the first half. Defensively, Pittsburgh did its job, holding the Shedeur Sanders-led Browns to 13 points and picking off Sanders twice. Had the Steelers won, they would have clinched the AFC North; however, now they have to play a playoff-adjacent game just to make the playoffs.

Luckily for the Ravens, Lamar Jackson will play. However, he has struggled since Week 11, having thrown three touchdowns to five interceptions since then. He also missed last week due to a back injury. Jackson has also struggled mightily against the Ravens in his career. He is 3-6 against them and has thrown nine touchdowns to 10 interceptions in those games. I am also assuming that T.J. Watt will be back this week, after missing the past three games, which will be helpful for the Steelers since he has returned to practice. 

The Steelers will need to contain Henry, who has averaged 5.2 yards per carry against the Steelers’ defense since joining the Ravens. However, last game, they held him to just 3.8 yards per carry. For the Ravens’ defense, they will need to just hold Aaron Rodgers in check and make sure he does not have any big plays. When they lose to the Steelers, it is typically because the Steelers have a big game from one of their receivers. This should not be too difficult for the Ravens because the Steelers will be without DK Metcalf again.

Overall, I am taking the Ravens. Without Metcalf, I see this Pittsburgh offense struggling. They scored just six points last week against the Browns’ defense, which had allowed 26 or more points in five out of their last eight games going into the matchup. I also do not trust the Steelers’ rushing attack, which averages 103.5 yards a game (ranked No. 26 in the league). The Ravens’ defense has also turned it around in the second half of the season. In their last 11 games, they have allowed just 17.7 points a game. 

Although Jackson has struggled recently, I think he can do enough, especially with Henry next to him, to lead the Ravens to at least 21 points, which is all they should need. If the Ravens can put up 41 points and dominate with Huntley, they should be just fine with Jackson.

The Ravens also have all the momentum they need going into this game, considering they just won by 17 with a backup quarterback and have defied odds by even having a chance to make the postseason after starting 1-5. On the other hand, the Steelers seem to have almost no momentum since they just lost to the lowly Browns, which is allowing the Ravens to have a chance to steal the division. A 9-8 finish for the Mike Tomlin-led Steelers would be a fitting end-of-season record as well.

Prediction: Ravens 23-18