Greg Cote's Christmas Day and Thursday night NFL picks

Greg Cote, Miami Herald on Dec 24, 2024

Published in Football

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

GREG COTE’S NFL WEEK 17 CHRISTMAS & THURSDAY PICKS

CHIEFS (14-1) at STEELERS (10-5)

Line: KC by 2 1/12.

Cote’s pick: KC, 24-18.

TV: 1 p.m. Wednesday, Netflix.

[Playoff impact: KC has clinched division but not yet No. 1 seed. PIT has clinched playoffs but not yet division.] Chiefs sew up top AFC seed with a win in Wednesday’s early game or a loss by Buffalo on Sunday. Both teams are playing on three days’ rest, so will quality of play suffer? Weather shouldn’t be a factor; expected in the 30s, like a K.C. summer for this timer of year. Patrick Mahomes is 14-1 on TDs/INTs in three career games against Pittsburgh and Chiefs are 4-0 winning and covering when favored by three or less this year. If you’re still doubting K-City, that’s on you.

RAVENS (10-5) at TEXANS (9-6)

Line: BAL by 5 1/2.

Cote’s pick: BAL, 27-20.

TV: 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Netflix.

[Playoff impact: BAL has clinched playoffs but not yet division. HOU has clinched division.] Wednesday’s late game is another three days’ rest affair for both, so anything goes. A possible playoff preview based on seeding, but BAL has chance to take lead in AFC North with a win. Ravens WR Zay Flowers is iffy, but C.J. Stroud will be missing top target Tank Dell — a huge loss. Lamar Jackson has been good all season, and better lately. HOU getting this many points at home tempts, but I’ll unwrap L-Jack on Christmas and call it a gift.

SEAHAWKS (8-7) at BEARS (4-11)

Line: SEA by 3 1/2.

Cote’s pick: SEA, 23-16.

TV: 8:15 p.m. Thursday, Prime Video.

[Playoff impact: SEA is alive but has not yet clinched. CHI is eliminated.] Let’s not pretend Thursday prime time is delivering a great matcup, although Seattle still has a shot at NFC West title with a win. Seahawks are better on road (5-1) than Chitown is at home. Bears offense has stalled and the coaching change hasn’t helped. Seattle needs to get its run game working, but Geno Smith with playoff stakes in play should be enough to outscore the toothless Bears.

(Betting lines courtesy ESPNBet as of Tuesday afternoon.)