Listed probabilities come from ESPN. Source: https://www.espn.com/espn/betting/story/_/id/47387542/2025-nfl-week-17-schedule-betting-odds-lines-point-spreads-preview

The ranking based on priority is my opinion. You may disagree.

  1. Seattle Seahawks (68%) at Carolina Panthers (32%)
    1. I’m shockingly putting this above the actual Tampa Bay game. This is because I believe 99.9% of Tampa Bay Buccaneers fans will be rooting for the Seahawks in this game. However, due to factors I’ll list below, I think the percentage of Bucs fans actually rooting for the team this week is less than 99.9%.
    2. Besides the fact that the Panthers losing helps the Bucs in NFC South scenarios and divisional pride, the Seahawks winning also helps prevent their Week 18 game against San Francisco from being for the No. 1 seed.
  2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (69%) at Miami Dolphins (31%)
    1. This should be the easy number one, but there is that subset of fans who have given up on this year and just want to lose to get a better draft pick, better chance at changes to the coaching staff (mainly, a new head coach) and to prevent what they believe would be a guaranteed embarrassing blowout loss in the playoffs.
  3. Chicago Bears (39%) at San Francisco 49ers (61%) 
    1. Stops SF-SEA game in Week 18 being for 1 seed and division.
    2. This is the most important game outside of the actual TB and CAR games, since San Francisco winning in Week 17 means that their game against the Seahawks in Week 18 is for NFC's No. 1 seed and would certainly be the SNF game. Also would give SF two straight SNF games and their third of the year.
  4. Houston Texans (53%) at Los Angeles Chargers (47%)
    1. Prevents LAC-DEN game in Week 18 mattering much. 
  5. Baltimore Ravens (43%) at Green Bay Packers (57%)
    1. Would clinch AFC North to Steelers instead of Ravens-Steelers being for AFC North in Week 18.
    2. One note: I’m pretty sure these probabilities were made after the announcements that both Jordan Love and Lamar Jackson are likely not playing.
  6. Los Angeles Rams (72%) at Atlanta Falcons (28%)
    1. Doesn’t matter unless both CAR and TB lose.
    2. If ATL, CAR and TB tie at 8-9 CAR gets the tiebreaker over TB. All other same-record scenarios between CAR & TB go to Buccaneers.
    3. One note here though: if these scenarios all play out, the Rams would be the No. 5 seed and the 49ers would be the No. 6 seed. If you are a Buccaneers fan rooting for us to make the playoffs, then you probably also have a preference of who they face at home in the wildcard round. In the scenario I’ve laid out here for Week 17 of LAR & SEA winning and SF losing, then in Week 18, if you want us to host the Rams in the wildcard, then they just need to beat the Cardinals. However, if you want us to host the 49ers, then they’d have to beat the Seahawks and the Rams would have to lose to the Cardinals.
    4. At the end of the day here, Falcons are an NFC South rival. But, if you are okay with rooting for a division rival and both the Bucs and Panthers didn't lose, then for seeding purposes it may be better for the Rams to win.
  7. Pittsburgh Steelers (72%) at Cleveland Browns (28%)
    1. This game will not matter if the Packers beat the Ravens, but if Ravens beat Packers then the Steelers would need to win to clinch the AFC North.
    2. Steelers reportedly could choose to rest starters. They play on Sunday and will already know if they’ve clinched the division since the GB-BAL game is Saturday night.
  8. New England Patriots (71%) at New York Jets (29%)
    1. Doesn’t matter if Texans beat Chargers.
    2. If Chargers win, this prevents the Chargers-Broncos game in Week 18 from being for the AFC No. 1 seed.
  9. Jacksonville Jaguars (59%) at Indianapolis Colts (41%)
    1. Formally eliminates the Colts, preventing IND-HOU from mattering in Week 18.
  10. New Orleans Saints (55%) at Tennessee Titans (45%): This game has zero implications, but the Saints are an NFC South rival.

  11. Philadelphia Eagles (50%) at Buffalo Bills (50%): It doesn’t actually matter, but I think the average Bucs fan likes the Bills much more than the Eagles.

  12. New York Giants (54%) at Las Vegas Raiders (46%): Doesn’t matter for TB, but this game could be for No. 1 pick in the draft. For Buccaneers fans, it would also make more sense to root for Giants since they’re in the NFC and the Raiders are in the AFC. Plus, Buccaneers and Raiders fans are pirate buddies.

  13. Arizona Cardinals (34%) at Cincinnati Bengals (66%): Does not matter at all unless you are like me and Joe Burrow is rostered for a team in a fantasy football championship you’re participating in.

Edits: Fixing formatting.

3 comments

  3. I think you mean for what to root against… a Prime Time game is a death sentence to this team!!

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