Ah yes, the free week 17 NFL picks, the last week of the regular season. Time is running out for some of your favorite teams out there, but there's still a lot riding on the final week of the 2008 season. Playoff spots are still up for grabs! I got all the tough one's right last week with my expert NFL picks; I told you the Falcons would beat the Vikings, the Giants would beat the Panthers, the Ravens would beat the Cowboys and the Titans would beat the Steelers. And a lot of you didn't agree with any of them! Well maybe this week you'll pay closer attention to the free week 17 NFL picks, hmm?

Free Week 17 NFL Picks

Carolina Panthers @ New Orleans Saints - Panthers favored by 3

This NFL season has really taught me only one thing. NFC South teams win at home! They just always do. Add to that the fact that the Panthers have the second seed no matter what, and they're more likely to take a bit of a rest than step on the throttle 100%, although they won't like a two game losing streak to start the playoffs. Either way, Saints with an upset win at home, because NFC South teams win at home!

Chicago Bears @ Houston Texans - Texans favored by 3

The Bears still have a chance to get into the playoffs, and I think they are going to play some of their best football to give themselves a chance. It's not entirely up to them, but if they lose, then they're out. The Texans have had a few solid wins mixed into this season, but they won't have enough to win their last one here. Bears on the road in an upset week 17 pick.

Miami Dolphins @ New York Jets - Jets favored by 2.5

Wow, now this is a juicy game! Favre to the Jets, Pennington and Parcells to the Dolphins, and here we are, last week of the 2008 NFL regular season, and they play each other with a playoff spot on the line! This is why you turn to my free NFL picks folks, so I can make the calls on these tough ones. The Jets really stunk it out and effectively ended their playoff chances in an ugly loss to Seattle. Chad Pennington is going to be motivated to play the mistake free, 17-23, 212 yard, 1 TD, no INT, game that he is renown for, and that the Jets wish they had. Dolphins win the game on the road in another upset week 17 pick.

Denver Broncos @ San Diego Chargers - Chargers favored by 9

The Broncos are having a classic collapse right in front of our eyes. The pathetic AFC West was all but theirs, but they can't win a game. And when you look at total point difference for this time, the Broncos are a dismal -47 and the Chargers are a surprising +61. The Chargers had their hearts broken and their season shattered in Denver in the beginning of the season, and now they will return the favor and somehow make the playoffs at 8-8 and riding a 4 game winning streak. Chargers win at home, BUT the Broncos beat the spread.

Dallas Cowboys @ Philadelphia Eagles - Eagles favored by 1.5

Another divisional game between hated rivals with playoff implications, me likey! If I got paid to make my expert week 17 NFL picks, this is what they would pay me for, these tough decisions! But since I don't, and these are free NFL picks, I'll give you my choice anyway. The Eagles are not going to let the Cowboys come into Philadelphia and win a playoff spot on their turf, just as the Redskins wouldn't let the Eagles do the same this past weekend. Eagles win the game at home, cya next year Dallas!

Bonus Expert NFL Picks

The Who Cares Bowl? Kansas City Chiefs @ Cincinnati Bengals - Bengals favored by 3

The Chiefs will win this one on the road... but who cares?

Will the Lions go winless? Detroit Lions @ Green Bay Packers - Packers favored by 10.5

Ladies and gentlemen, I hereby proclaim, with my expert week 17 NFL picks, that the Detroit Lions will go into Lambeau field and win their last game of the season!The Lions will not go winless!

There you go, all of expert NFL picks for week 17 of the 2008 NFL season, the final week before the playoffs! I'll be back next week taking a special look at the playoff games and helping you navigate your way through the postseason with more expert NFL picks, cheers.