NFL survivor guide: Top 3 picks to play in Week 17

There are two weeks remaining in the NFL regular season schedule with several divisions still up for grabs. Last weekend, the Philadelphia Eagles became the first team to clinch a division by wrapping up the NFC East. This weekend should bring some more clarity to some extremely tight division races with teams like the Chicago Bears and Denver Broncos needing a win over the next two weeks to celebrate a division title.

With two wins in the bag for Week 16, the overall record for this series improves to 30 wins and 18 losses. The Bears completed an overtime comeback against the Green Bay Packers to basically wrap up the NFC North, while the Carolina Panthers dispatched the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to seize control of the NFC South. The Jacksonville Jaguars stunned the Denver Broncos to ruin a perfectly good week of winning football.

In Week 17, there are two Saturday afternoon contests that should have an impact on the developing playoff picture which includes a three-way race in the NFC West extending into the traditional day of football on Sunday. Here are three plays for an exciting NFL weekend as the 2025 campaign begins to draw to a close.

Houston Texans (at Los Angeles Chargers)

A pair of squads with extended winning streak clash in the first contest of the weekend as the Houston Texans visit the Los Angeles Chargers on Saturday afternoon. Houston enters with a seven-game win streak, while Los Angeles has claimed four consecutive victories. The Texans need a win to keep hopes alive in the AFC South race, while a Chargers win would improve their playoff seeding.

Houston’s defensive unit has allowed a league-best 272.3 yards per game (YDS/G), but Los Angeles isn’t far behind in fourth place at 283.1 YDS/G. The Texans have done a good job of securing extra possession this season (+15 takeaways to giveaways), while the Chargers haven’t played as cleanly (+3). If Houston can find a way to create havoc on the defensive end, they could secure an important win in Week 17.

According to ESPN Analytics, the Chargers are slight home favorites with a 52% chance of victory on Saturday.

Jacksonville Jaguars (at Indianapolis Colts)

Jacksonville has the chance to wrap up the NFC South division against a free-falling Indianapolis Colts squad who have lost five straight games. Meanwhile, it is quite sunny at the enclosure for a Jaguars group who have claimed six consecutive contests.

Dec 14, 2025; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) scores a touchdown during the first quarter against the New York Jets at EverBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Morgan Tencza-Imagn Images

While Philip Rivers may provide a glimmer of hope in Indy, it shouldn’t be enough to stop a Jaguars squad that rolled into Denver, Colorado and secured a massive win in Week 16. Trevor Lawrence has the Jaguars on the cusp of a fifth division championship, so expect a big performance from the fifth-year QB as he sends the Colts to a .500 record at 8-8.

Jacksonville is a significant favorite with a 59% chance to win this AFC South battle, according to ESPN.

Chicago Bears (at San Francisco 49ers)

Bears QB Caleb Williams is playing an inspired brand of football over the last two months of the NFL season. When all hope seemed lost at home against Green Bay, the Bears signal-caller managed to keep his team in the game long enough to create one of the most memorable moments of the season.

San Francisco has won five straight games, but that seems less impressive when you realize the 49ers have defeated the collapsing Colts, the two-win Tennessee Titans, and the three-win Cleveland Browns over the last three weekends. Watch for the Bears to continue their winning way and secure their first NFC North division crown since 2018.

Per ESPN, San Francisco is heavily favored in this contest with a 61% chance of victory on Sunday night.

Avoid: New York Giants (at Oakland Raiders)

A pair of clubs with a combined four wins on the 2025 campaign go cleat-to-cleat in the desert on Sunday afternoon. The staff for both teams have turned their attention towards the 2026 season as evidenced by the Raiders shutting down a star defender for the rest of the season.

The Giants are winless on the road in eight attempts and this road trip to Sin City represents the last opportunity to avoid going winless on the road for the first time since 1976. New York has lost a franchise record 13 straight road games. Without Maxx Crosby in the lineup for Las Vegas, the Giants offense might have enough time to move the football and secure that elusive road win on Sunday afternoon.

For more on the Giants and the NFL, visit AMNY.com .

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