NFL Week 17 Picks: Early Predictions for All Season Finales

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were a surging team just a couple of weeks ago. 

However, they have lost back-to-back games to the Dallas Cowboys and the New Orleans Saints, and that has put their playoff hopes on the shakiest of ground.

The Bucs are still alive, but they need a victory over the Carolina Panthers and multiple games to go their way (h/t ESPN Power Index), including the San Francisco 49ers (2-13) beating the Seattle Seahawks (9-5-1).

Nevertheless, expect Dirk Koetter’s team to be fully prepared to play a strong game against last year’s NFC champions. Quarterback Jameis Winston has shown steady improvement throughout his first two years in the league, and coming through with a victory here is not out of his reach.

Winston has an excellent working relationship with wide receiver Mike Evans, and the 6’5″ pass-catcher is capable of beating opponents for 50-50 balls on a regular basis.

The Panthers have had a disastrous year, considering they were favorites going into last year’s Super Bowl against the Denver Broncos. Inconsistency and injuries have prevented head coach Ron Rivera’s team from even coming close to the kind of season they had a year ago.

Cam Newton is certainly capable of carrying his team to a big win, but it’s unlikely to happen here. Newton is the Panthers’ meal ticket, and there’s no reason to put him at risk in Week 17.

Expect the Panthers to play a conservative game, and it would not be a shock if backup quarterback Derek Anderson saw quite a bit of action.

The Bucs are four-point home favorites over the Panthers, according to OddsShark. We expect a full 60-minute effort from the Bucs …

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