Cleveland Browns at Baltimore Ravens:
The 3-13 Browns are huge underdogs with nothing to play for. A loss here, and they guarantee themselves a top 3 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. The 11-5 Ravens have clinched a playoff spot but need a win here to clinch the AFC South. A team led by QB Lamar Jackson is not going to lose at home to the browns as 17.5-point favorites.
Score Prediction: Ravens 34 – Browns 6
Cincinnati Bengals at Pittsburgh Steelers
The 8-8 Bengals, led by QB Joe Burrow, have won four games in a row to give themselves a slim chance at making the playoffs. They would need to beat Pittsburgh and have the Dever Broncos lose to the Kansas City Chiefs and for the Miami Dolphins to lose to the New York Jets to grab the final AFC Wild Card spot. Meanwhile, the 10-6 Steelers can win the AFC North with the win and an improbable loss by the Baltimore Ravens. Even if the Ravens do win, they will need to win to hang onto the 5th seed to play at Houston to open the playoffs. This is a tough game to predict, but I will go with the more desperate team.
Score Prediction: Bengals 27 – Steelers 23
Kansas City Chiefs at Denver Broncos
The 15-1 Chiefs have wrapped up home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. They rested starters in this same situation a season ago. So, I do not expect a full effort here. The 9-7 Broncos need to win, and they are in as the final AFC Wild Card spot. As mentioned, I think the Chiefs rest most of their star players making it much easier for the Broncos.
Score Prediction: Broncos 20 – Chiefs 16
Miami Dolphins at New York Jets
The 8-8 Dolphins can clinch the AFC final Wild Card spot with a win and a Bronco’s loss. The status of QB Tua Tagovailoa is still up in the air, and if he can’t go, then QB Tyler Huntley will get his second straight start. The 4-12 Jets seem to be getting worse, as they looked completely abysmal vs. the Bills. The offense commits costly turnovers and penalties while the defense can’t get off the field on third down.
Score Prediction: Dolphins 23 – Jets 16
