NFL Week 17 Preseason Preview: Christmas Games on Slate
League Playing Two Wednesday Games on Christmas Day

The NFL Week 17 preseason preview will run down all of the games on the schedule.
The NFL jumps into action a little bit early on Wednesday, with a pair of games on Christmas Day. They’re not bad ones, either, with Kansas City playing Pittsburgh and the Ravens and Texans squaring off.
The schedule gets back to normal with a Thursday night game and then the Sunday schedule. The league’s flexible Sunday schedule goes into effect, with five games listed as “TBA” for start time. The league will see which games are the most meaningful and perhaps move them to the late afternoon.
NFL Week 18 schedule
Chiefs vs Steelers 
📅Day/Time: Wednesday, Dec. 25, 1:00 p.m. ET
🏈Odds: Kansas City -4
📣Total: 42.5
Week 17 begins with a decent game between the Chiefs and the Steelers. You know Pittsburgh is going to be well-coached and play hard. They’ll be out-manned a bit, but Mike Tomlin gets the most out of his players consistently.
They were 3-2 straight-up and ATS as a home underdog last year. Pittsburgh is getting a quarterback upgrade, but the Chiefs have the best of the 2024 NFL QBs in Patrick Mahomes. Kansas City was 3-3-1 ATS as an away favorite last season. Playing on the road at Christmas could be a bit of a distraction for the Chiefs, so take the Steelers plus the points for one of this week’s NFL best bets.
Ravens vs Texans 
📅Day/Time: Wednesday, Dec. 25, 4:30 p.m. ET
🏈Odds: Baltimore -1.5
📣Total: 46.5
The late afternoon game is another strong contest, with the Ravens traveling to Houston. The Week 17 NFL spreads are conducive to a teaser play on the Texans, as you’ll be pushing the line past a touchdown. The Texans played well at home a year ago, going 7-3, counting the playoffs and 5-4-1 ATS.
Baltimore was 6-1 on the road and 5-2 ATS away from home, however, so it’s hard to go against the Ravens in this spot. It makes sense to play Houston in a teaser, but it’s certainly harder to pull the trigger against the point spread.
Seahawks vs Bears 
📅Day/Time: Thursday, Dec. 26, 8:15 p.m. ET
🏈Odds: Chicago -3.5
📣Total: 45.5
On paper, this may not be the most exciting of the NFL Week 17 matchups, although there’s a decent chance there will be some sort of playoff implications tied into the game. Either team is capable of challenging for a playoff spot, but it’s not going to be easy. The line in this one might be giving Chicago a little too much credit. Seattle wasn’t a horrible road team last season, going 5-4 ATS, and I believe the Seahawks can keep the game close.
Jets vs Bills 
📅Day/Time: Sunday, Dec. 29, 1:00 p.m. ET
🏈Odds: Buffalo -2.5
📣Total: 45.5
The NFL Week 17 preseason preview is showing a pretty strong game between AFC East foes New York and Buffalo. The odds could be a shade low, with the Bills favored by just 2.5 points. The Bills were just 4-4 ATS as a home favorite in the regular season last year and 2-1 when favored by 3 or less.
The Jets are counting on Aaron Rodgers and an improving defense to get them to the playoffs, so this could be a big game for New York. The NFL Week 17 Vegas odds will have the Jets attracting some money in teasers, but absolutely no interest in taking them +2.5 points on a straight wager here.
Panthers vs Buccaneers 
📅Day/Time: Sunday, Dec. 29, 1:00 p.m. ET
🏈Odds: Tampa Bay -5
📣Total: 43
Obviously, this game is a bit of a letdown after seeing some strong matchups elsewhere on the schedule. Tampa Bay could still have something to play for, as there’s no guarantee the Falcons will run away with the NFC South. The Bucs are the defending division champions until somebody knocks them off.
The Bucs were 3.5-point favorites over the Panthers last season and won 21-18 in a non-covering effort. Carolina was 0-3 ATS as an away underdog of at least five points last season. The NFL Week 17 confidence picks will see some Tampa Bay action, but would lean to the over 43.
Packers vs Vikings 
📅Day/Time: Sunday, Dec. 29, 1:00 p.m. ET
🏈Odds: Green Bay -2
📣Total: 45.5
The Packers visit the Vikings in an NFC Central matchup in yet another game where the NFL Week 17 odds are prime for a teaser wager. Taking the Vikings +8 is a pretty solid leg of a teaser. Green Bay was only favored on the road twice last season and failed to cover the spread either time.
The Packers won’t be sneaking up on anybody this season and are going to be road favorites roughly five times. Minnesota was 2-2 as a home underdog last year, upsetting the 49ers in the process. The Vikings are worth some consideration in your NFL picks and parlays for the week.
Titans vs Jaguars 
📅Day/Time: Sunday, Dec. 29, 1:00 p.m. ET
🏈Odds: Jacksonville -4
📣Total: 46
The Titans travel to Jacksonville to face the Jaguars in a game that could have some bearing on the AFC South. The Texans are favored to win the division, but Jacksonville shouldn’t be counted out. Tennessee was not a good road underdog last season, going 2-5 against the spread.
The Jaguars were 3-2 as a home favorite. Jacksonville looks to be one of the best NFL favorites this week. The only question here is the effort from Jacksonville if it’s been eliminated from postseason play. If the game has meaning, the Jaguars have to be the play.
Raiders vs Saints 
📅Day/Time: Sunday, Dec. 29, 1:00 p.m.
🏈Odds: New Orleans -2.5 (-120)
📣Total: 43
Las Vegas makes the trip to New Orleans to face the Saints in decent contest. Both teams are entering the season with playoff hopes, but that could be aiming a bit high. Neither team is that far off, and stranger things have happened.
The Raiders were 4-3 ATS as an away underdog last season, while going 2-5 straight-up. The NFL lines Week 17 have the Saints -2.5, which is about right. The sportsbooks have made the total a bit on the low side, depending on the quarterback play both teams are getting. This is one of those games where it’s easier to make a case for New Orleans than it is for Las Vegas.
Cowboys vs Eagles 
📅Day/Time: Sunday, Dec. 29, 4:25 p.m.
🏈Odds: Philadelphia -2.5 (-120)
📣Total: 47
This is one of the biggest games of the day, as the two NFC East rivals meet in Philadelphia in a rematch. The Cowboys were a much better home team than they were on the road last season. Dallas defeated the Eagles at home and lost on the road last season.
The NFL odds Week 17 2024 have Philadelphia as slight favorites. The current line will draw the Wong teaser bettors out of the woodwork to take Dallas, but it’s much different matter when dealing solely with the point spread. If the Cowboys won the first meeting of the season, can see the logic in taking the Eagles -2.5 in a revenge situation.
Colts vs Giants 
📅Day/Time: Sunday, Dec. 29, TBA
🏈Odds: Indianapolis -2
📣Total: 43.5
The Colts visit the Giants in another game that will draw the interest of teaser players. Indianapolis covered the spread both games last year as an away favorite, but the Giants were 5-2-1 ATS as a home underdog. It’s much more likely this game is meaningful to Indianapolis than it is New York, although the Colts are still longshots to make the playoffs.
Both teams had quarterback injuries last season, but the Colts were in much better shape with a solid backup in Gardner Minshew. The Colts will be counting heavily on Anthony Richardson this season and he has talent if he can stay healthy. The NFL Week 17 score predictions favor the Colts in this spot.
Broncos vs Bengals 
📅Day/Time: Sunday, Dec. 29, TBA
🏈Odds: Cincinnati – 8
📣Total: 45.5
This is the largest of all of the NFL football spreads for this week, and the Bengals will be a popular teaser play at -2. The Broncos should have Bo Nix under center at this point of the season and traveling to Cincinnati isn’t an easy task for a young quarterback.
The Bengals are tied for the fifth-lowest Super Bowl odds 2024 at +1400. Cincinnati wasn’t bad last season, but a healthy Joe Burrow makes them one of the top teams in the NFL. Denver was just 2-5 as an away underdog last year, and that included the 70-20 thumping at the hands of Miami. The Bengals get the early call in this game.
Falcons vs Commanders 
📅Day/Time: Sunday, Dec. 29, TBA
🏈Odds: Atlanta -2.5 (-115)
📣Total: 46
The NFL Week 17 odds have the Falcons -2.5 in a decent game that could be a big one for Atlanta. These are the types of games Atlanta needs to win in order to win the division. The Commanders weren’t very good as a home underdog last season, going 0-4-1 ATS.
Jayden Daniels is a quarterback upgrade, however, and will transform Washington into a more exciting team. This is another game that falls into the Wong teaser situation, so teaser players will have plenty of action this week.
Chargers vs Patriots 
📅Day/Time: Sunday, Dec. 29, TBA
🏈Odds: Los Angeles -2.5 (-120)
📣Total: 41
The NFL Week 17 preseason preview notes the line is this game looks a bit on the low side. The Chargers could be favored by 3 and nobody would have blinked an eye. If the Chargers are still alive in the playoff chase is the key to this game.
If Los Angeles is eliminated, they may have some different players on the field than if they’re still in the mix. New England was 1-3-1 ATS as a home underdog last season. The Chargers will most likely be a popular play in the NFL picks and parlays.
Cardinals vs Rams 
📅Day/Time: Sunday, Dec. 29, TBA
🏈Odds: Los Angeles -6
📣Total: 48
This one could be an entertaining game between the Rams and Cardinals. Arizona shouldn’t be all that bad offensively, although the defense is a bit of a different story. The Rams were 4-2 ATS as a home favorite and were playing tough at the end of the season. This one could be a decent NFL over under Week 17 play on the over as long as both quarterbacks are healthy and playing.
Dolphins vs Browns 
📅Day/Time: Sunday, Dec. 29, 8:20 p.m.
🏈Odds: Cleveland -2
📣Total: 44.5
The Sunday night game is a decent one and a contrast of styles. The Dolphins are going to try and outscore you, while Cleveland is going to try and hold teams to fewer points than they score. Miami’s offensive-minded formular didn’t always work when playing tough teams in 2023.
The Dolphins were 1-6 straight-up and against the spread as an underdog. Miami allowed 33.9 points per game in those situations. Cleveland was 6-3-1 ATS as a favorite and allowed 20.8 points per game and 12.8 points at home. Cleveland should be one of your NFL Week 17 picks against the spread 2024.
Lions vs 49ers 
📅Day/Time: Monday, Dec. 30, 8:15 p.m.
🏈Odds: San Francisco – 4.5
📣Total: 49.5
A rematch of the NFC Championship game sees the 49ers favored by 4.5 with a total of 49.5. San Francisco has the lowest Super Bowl odds 2024 of any team entering the season. The Lions are No. 4 in the odds, so Detroit is getting some respect from bettors.
While this is a revenge game for Detroit, it’s also a game San Francisco would like to win. It sends a message to Detroit and the rest of the league that getting by the 49ers isn’t going to be easy. The playoff game sailed over the total with 65 points scored. It could be more of the same here and have to give the early nod to the over and under NFL picks on the over.
For 2024 NFL schedule betting odds, analysis, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine