NFL Saturday Week 17 preview & top picks | December 28, 2024

Week 17 of the NFL Season continues this Saturday with a three-game slate, headlined by a clash between AFC playoff contenders the Broncos and Bengals in the afternoon. Here are our betting previews and tips for every game across the day.

LA Chargers vs New England Patriots

Saturday, December 28 – 1:00pm EST – Gillette Stadium, Foxborough

In a matchup between the playoff-contending Chargers and the 3-12 Patriots, this game should be a one-sided affair.

Los Angeles are sitting at 9-6 with a chance to lock up their playoff spot with a win in this game. They have the best defensive record in the NFL and are coming off an inspiring 34-27 comeback win over the Broncos last Thursday. However, note that the Chargers have a horrific record against the Patriots, winning just one of their last nine meetings, which is probably why the line is set at just 4.5 points in LA’s favor.

New England have the second-worst odds in the NFL and are currently holding the second pick in the NFL Draft. A win would do more harm than good right now, but they have put up a fight in some of their recent games, such as last week’s 24-21 loss to the Bills. Rookie quarterback Drake Maye has slowly been adjusting to the NFL, but concerningly, he has thrown an interception in each of his last seven games.

The Chargers should be too strong here as favorites despite playing on the road. With a playoff spot on the line, back them to win by more than a score at +120 with top online sportsbooks.

Denver Broncos @ Cincinnati Bengals

Saturday, December 28 – 4:30pm EST – Paycor Stadium, Cincinnati

Fighting for just one playoff spot, this clash between the Denver Broncos and Cincinnati Bengals could have plenty of implications for the postseason.

Denver’s playoff hopes took a massive hit last Thursday as they lost to the Chargers, dropping themselves down to the seventh seed in the AFC. With rookie quarterback Bo Nix under center, the Broncos have defied many expectations this season. However, it has been their defense that has consistently shown up, ranking third in the NFL for points conceded and in the top five for turnovers, something they will need against this blockbuster Bengals offense.

It has been a story of two sides for the Bengals this season, as the Bengals rank sixth in the NFL for points scored but inside the bottom five for points conceded. Quarterback Joe Burrow and wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase lead the league in passing and receiving yards, respectively, but the Bengals have found ways to consistently lose games despite putting up massive scorelines. However, they are on a three-game winning streak and enter this clash as favorites at -181.82 with top online casinos.

With the game held in Cincinnati, this game leans slightly towards the Bengals, but the safer bet is points. The Bengals are known for their explosive offense, but the Broncos have also averaged over 33 points per game in the last five weeks. Despite the high line, take this game to go over 50 points at -109.89 with leading sports betting sites.

Arizona Cardinals @ Los Angeles Rams

Saturday, December 28 – 8:00pm EST – SoFi Stadium, Inglewood

With a chance to clinch the NFC West, the Rams welcome the Arizona Cardinals to Los Angeles.

In the second half of the season, the Rams have been one of the top teams in the NFL, winning eight of their last 10, including each of their last four. With veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford leading the way, LA has consistently found a way to win despite not having a remarkable offensive or defensive record. At home, the Rams are comfortable favorites at $1.32 with Bovada.

On the other hand, the Cardinals have fallen apart recently, winning just one of their last five games. Despite having a top-10 defense, the offense hasn’t been able to keep up, with quarterback Kyler Murray throwing six picks in these five weeks. At 7-8, their playoff hopes are done, but they can play a key role in deciding the division.

It’s hard to look past the Rams in this game, as they are playing much better football than the Cardinals. They have the added home ground advantage, and with a playoff spot on the line, they should cover the line of -6.5 points at -105.26 with Bovada.

Sports betting picks