Chris Lessner (11-5) edged out Marc Calnan (10-6) to take Week 17 of our Eastern Maine Sports NFL picks. Lessner pulled into a three-way tie with Fred Yeo (7-9) and Larry Campbell (8-8) for the season lead overall, as the group finished .500 vs the consensus at 8-8. Still plenty to be decided in Week 18 as far as division championships and seeding in both conferences. The Panthers are at the Buccaneers on Saturday in battle for the NFC South. Carolina needs a win or an Atlanta win vs New Orleans to make the playoffs, while Tampa needs a win and a loss by Atlanta. The Seahawks travel to Santa Clara on Saturday night to take on the 49ers for the NFC West Title and the #1 seed. The Patriots clinched their first AFC East Championship since 2019 with a win over the Jets and a Bill loss to the Eagles this past Sunday, and now just seeding is to be decided. New England can still get the AFC top seed with a win over the Dolphins and a Broncos loss to the Chargers. The Ravens and Steelers finish up the week on Sunday night when they tangle in Pittsburgh in a win and you’re in contest, as the victor takes the AFC North Title. Below is the full schedule, the consensus picks, and the standings/last weeks results/season records followed by the Week 18 projections-
Saturday, January 3
Panthers at Buccaneers
Seahawks at 49ers
Sunday, January 4
Colts at Texans
Browns at Bengals
Saints at Falcons
Packers at Vikings
Titans at Jaguars
Cardinals at Rams
Cowboys at Giants
Chiefs at Raiders
Commanders at Eagles
Dolphins at Patriots
Lions at Bears
Chargers at Broncos
Jets at Bills
Ravens at Steelers
Consensus 8-8/165-90- Panthers (6-5), 49ers (9-2), Texans (11-0), Bengals (11-0), Falcons (9-2), Vikings (7-4), Jaguars (11-0), Rams (10-1), Cowboys (10-1), Chiefs (8-3), Eagles (11-0), Patriots (11-0), Bears (9-2), Broncos (9-2), Bills (11-0), Steelers (6-5)
T-1st Fred 7-9/169-86- Panthers, 49ers, Texans, Bengals, Saints, Vikings, Jaguars, Rams, Cowboys, Chiefs, Eagles, Patriots, Lions, Chargers, Bills, Steelers
T-1st Larry 8-8/169-86- Buccaneers, 49ers, Texans, Bengals, Falcons, Vikings, Jaguars, Rams, Cowboys, Chiefs, Eagles, Patriots, Bears, Broncos, Bills, Steelers
T-1st Chris 11-5/169-86- Buccaneers, 49ers, Texans, Bengals, Falcons, Vikings, Jaguars, Rams, Cowboys, Chiefs, Eagles, Patriots, Bears, Broncos, Bills, Ravens
4th Marc 10-6/165-90- Panthers, 49ers, Texans, Bengals, Falcons, Vikings, Jaguars, Cardinals, Cowboys, Chiefs, Eagles, Patriots, Bears, Broncos, Bills, Ravens
5th Rich 9-7/164-91- Panthers, Seahawks, Texans, Bengals, Falcons, Vikings, Jaguars, Rams, Cowboys, Chiefs, Eagles, Patriots, Bears, Broncos, Bills, Ravens
6th Bill 6-10/161-94- Panthers, Seahawks, Texans, Bengals, Falcons, Packers, Jaguars, Rams, Cowboys, Raiders, Eagles, Patriots, Bears, Broncos, Bills, Steelers
7th Jeff 9-7/160-95- Panthers, 49ers, Texans, Bengals, Saints, Vikings, Jaguars, Rams, Giants, Chiefs, Eagles, Patriots, Lions, Broncos, Bills, Steelers
T-8th Jon 7-9/157-98- Buccaneers, 49ers, Texans, Bengals, Falcons, Packers, Jaguars, Rams, Cowboys, Raiders, Eagles, Patriots, Bears, Broncos, Bills, Ravens
T-8th Mike 9-7/157-98- Buccaneers, 49ers, Texans, Bengals, Falcons, Vikings, Jaguars, Rams, Cowboys, Chiefs, Eagles, Patriots, Bears, Broncos, Bills, Ravens
10th Tony 7-9/154-101- Panthers, 49ers, Texans, Bengals, Falcons, Packers, Jaguars, Rams, Cowboys, Chiefs, Eagles, Patriots, Bears, Broncos, Bills, Steelers
11th Brian 9-7/153-102- Buccaneers, 49ers, Texans, Bengals, Falcons, Packers, Jaguars, Rams, Cowboys, Raiders, Eagles, Patriots, Bears, Chargers, Jets, Steelers
