NFL Week 17 Overview

The final week of the 2011 National Football League season was a thriller for those fans that wanted close games. Of the final 16 games that were played, the majority of the contests involved playoff spots and or seedings. While some teams did secure their playoff spots, others needed wins and help. Two games that were the late games saw the losers back into a spot in the post-season party (Cincinnati and Denver) with Denver winning the AFC West, thanks to help from San Diego, who beat Oakland. In case you're wondering who will pick first in the upcoming 2012 Draft, that honor goes to (no suprise here) the Peyton-less ones (Indy).

12 of 16 games from Sunday covered their spreads, with nine of 16 home teams taking wins. The largest over/under of the day was 54 1/2 (Carolina-New Orleans) and the smallest was 35 (Pittsburgh-Cleveland). The winner of the point spread battle was a tie between Tampa Bay-Atlanta and Buffalo-New England at 11 1/2. The smallest? Minnesota (+1) against Da Bears. With coaches and GM's being given their pink slips and lockers being cleared out, 12 teams will move on toward the Lombardi Trophy. Unless you've been in a cave with ruler-carrying nuns in France, that trophy currently resides in Wisconsin. Here's what the final week in the regular season looked like.

Week 17 (Byes: None)
Sunday, January 1                       Pts.    Diff.    Favorite               O/U      Cover?
ATLANTA 45, Tampa Bay 24                69      - 21     ATLANTA + 11 1/2       46         Y
PHILADELPHIA 34, Washington 10          44      - 24     PHILADELPHIA + 8       46 1/2     Y
Pittsburgh 13, CLEVELAND 9              22      -  4     Pittsburgh + 7         35         N
Baltimore 24, CINCINNATI 16             40      -  8     Baltimore + 2          38         Y
MIAMI 19, New York Jets 17              36      -  2     MIAMI + 2 1/2          41         N
NEW ORLEANS 45, Carolina 17             62      - 28     NEW ORLEANS + 9        54 1/2     Y
GREEN BAY 45, Detroit 41                86      -  4     Detroit + 4            45 1/2     Y
San Francisco 34, ST. LOUIS 27          61      -  7     San Francisco + 10 1/2 35 1/2     N
JACKSONVILLE 19, Indianapolis 13        32      -  6     JACKSONVILLE + 4       37         Y
NEW ENGLAND 49, Buffalo 21              70      - 28     NEW ENGLAND + 11 1/2   51         Y
Tennessee 23, HOUSTON 22                45      -  1     Tennessee + 2 1/2      40 1/2     N
Chicago 17, MINNESOTA 13                30      -  4     MINNESOTA + 1          40 1/2     Y
Kansas City 7, DENVER 3                 10      -  4     DENVER + 3             37         Y
San Diego 38, OAKLAND 26                64      - 12     OAKLAND + 3            48 1/2     Y
ARIZONA 23, Seattle 20 (OT)             43      -  3     ARIZONA + 3            40 1/2     Y
NEW YORK GIANTS 31, Dallas 14           45      - 17     NEW YORK GIANTS + 3    45 1/2     Y