***SWAMPY SUNDAY FINALE - MUCK 5 - WEEK 17***

***NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS @ MIAMI DOLPHINS***

Well folks, another NFL season wraps up today and the Swamp is hoping to start 2017 with some fireworks to finish here! Week 17 is always a tough one because we have some teams with nothing to play for and others resting starters, so it is difficult to gauge who is going to come to play. I think I got some goodies here though. First up we have the playoff bound Dolphins hosting their divisional big brother out of the AFC East in the New England Patriots, who currently sit at the top of the AFC with the number 1 seed. The Pats will look to keep things that way with a road win in Miami since if they were to lose this game, the Raiders could leapfrog them later today in their game with a win in Denver. Needless to say Head Coach Bill Belichik and the Pats should be focused to try and get in and out of Miami with a win and no injuries. The problem is that the Pats are already banged up pretty good, and for some reason QB Tom Brady tends to struggle in Miami, losing outright on the last three trips, including last season in week 17 in the same spot. The loss cost them the number 1 seed, and they later lost to the eventual Super Bowl Champion Broncos in Denver. This is something I am sure they haven't forgotten and will do their best to avoid the same fate this time around. However, Miami's first year Head Coach Adam Gase has his Dolphins surging at the moment, winning 9 of their last 10 games. What is more impressive is that they have done this while overcoming many key injuries from week to week, especially to their starting QB Ryan Tannehill. Veteran backup QB Matt Moore has stepped in and is currently 2-0 in relief for Tannehill, and it is clear the old gunslinger still has some juice in that arm and can get the job done. I was honestly never a huge fan of Tannehill and have always thought he was more of just a superior athlete trying to force playing QB rather than a pure born and raised QB if that makes any sense. My point is that the Fish may actually be better off with Moore at the helm. With the weapons they have at WR and the running game that RB Jay Ajayi brings, these guys can be seriously dangerous. At home today and up against big brother, I think they will look to make a statement. They can possibly improve their seeding position one spot in the Wild Card as well with a win today. I believe they will try and set the tone, especially since they could possibly end up seeing the Pats again later on in the Playoffs, it is important to set that mental message that they can hang and are a threat. It has been quite some time since the Phins were in the playoffs and I think Miami will be buzzing today as if it is a playoff game already and that the Pats will get smacked in the mouth here, I could even see a possible upset, but feel safe with the generous spread in this one as I think it should be a close hard fought game. DOLPHINS+8

***CAROLINA PANTHERS @ TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS***

It has been a very solid year for the young Bucs and they showed major improvements behind first year head coach Dirk Koetter with a late season push for a playoff spot. Technically the Bucs are still alive today and can possibly squeak in the post-season backdoor with a win and some help. After losing in the Super Bowl last year, the Panthers have definitely had one of the most disappointing seasons this time around but I believe they will look to finish strong here with a road upset. Earlier this season, QB Cam Newton was out with an injury and the Bucs stole a road win in Carolina on Prime Time. Basically I think that the Bucs are banged up and that the air has been taken out of their sails so to speak. They will once again be without RB Doug Martin and their defense will have some missing key players as well. I look at Cam as somewhat of a big brother to the young Bucs QB Jameis Winston since I see a lot of similarities in their style of play, and I think Cam sends a message of the "you ain't there yet" type to little bro today and knocks Tampa down a couple pegs to plant the seed for next season. We all saw how the Panthers came to play two MNF's ago in Washington when they looked like the team we knew last year so we know they are still capable of playing well despite laying a stinker at home against Atlanta last week. What I am trying to say here is, I think the Panthers will be more motivated here to play spoiler and be the official reason that Tampa's season comes to an end. PANTHERS+3

***HOUSTON TEXANS @ TENNESSEE TITANS***

Not going to go into too much depth here for the sake of time my friends. This one is real simple in my eyes. The Titans season basically came to an end last week when they were upset by the lowly Jacksonville Jaguars and they lost QB Marcus Mariota on top of it to an injury. Needless to say today they will be led by the veteran backup QB Matt Cassel, who in my eyes is absolutely terrible. I know the Texans have their playoff position locked up and essentially have nothing to play for, but I think that with their current mini QB controversy and a huge home playoff game looming next week, that they would like to get a little more comfortable with their backup QB Tom Savage starting. After benching the starter Brock Osweiler, Savage followed up a good performance in relief with a very uninspiring start against Cincinnati on Xmas Eve last weekend. That game was hard to watch, I mean really I found more interest in the Yule Log channel. The offense was so limited on both ends it was a true yawner. Savage looked anything but sharp, and I think he will have a quick hook today if it is more of the same. That being said, the Titans season is over and they are banged up. I am sure they will try to focus on running the ball but I like the Texans to focus on stopping the run and forcing Cassel to beat them. I see Cassel struggling to have any chemistry with his guys and turning the ball over. I know the Texans will be without some players on both sides of the ball but I like them to play loose with nothing to lose and open up the offense and air the ball out downfield a bit to experiment and I can see WRs DeAndre Hopkins and Will Fuller having big games and creating some positive momentum for this Houston team as they head into the playoffs next week. TEXANS+3

***OAKLAND RAIDERS @ DENVER BRONCOS***

Man I really hate that Oakland QB Derek Carr got hurt like he did last week and will be unable to play in the playoffs. It really puts a damper on things and I had high hopes to see what that young talented squad could do. Backup QB Matt McGloin gets the nod in relief for Carr and he could be stepping into a stampede of Broncos a Lion's Den when the Raiders head into Denver to take on a pissed off Broncos team who's season also was a HUGE disappointment with missing the playoffs after winning the Super Bowl. Word also got out this morning that Head Coach Gary Kubiak will be stepping down from his position due to health concerns and I got to believe the Broncos will rally here to send their guy out on top with a upset win at home against a Raiders team who can still overtake the Pats for the number one seed with a win and risk losing the AFC West with a loss all together if Kansas City beats San Diego. Not sure if that made sense but I am rushing here and basically the Raiders need to win. I think the Bronco defense will hunker down today to end the season on a good note and that QB Trevor Semian will play a better game against an average Raider secondary after a couple inept stinkers. I like LB Von Miller to get to McGloin in his first start with all the pressure riding on his shoulders and rattle the man's cage a bit, forcing a likely turnover or two. BRONCOS-1

***ARIZONA CARINALS @ LOS ANGELES RAMS***

Rookie QB Jared Goff has not won a game for the Rams since taking over in week 11 despite having some late game leads. The Rookie has come out and declared to Rams fans that they will fix their issues after blowing another lead against the lowly 49ers last week at home and losing a game they by all means should've won. Today they host the Arizona Cardinals team who is clearly better but has nothing to play for and are essentially coming off of their mini Super Bowl, beating their rival the Seattle Seahawks on the road last week and most likely knocking them out of their second seed position with the coveted bye week. In their minds I am sure that was extremely satisfying after a disappointing year. Now they travel to LA and I am sure are mentally checked out and will face a feisty Rams team who is hungry to end their season on a positive note. It has been a crazy year for the Rams with it being their first season as a new organization back in LA, firing their head coach Jeff Fisher, and a Rookie QB who was the number one draft pick overall but seems to be the one who is the least NFL ready so far. Today I like RB Todd Gurley and Goff to have themselves a game and the Rams defense to get a mean pass rush going against the aging Cardinals QB Carson Palmer. I like the Rams to outmatch the Cardinals in energy and effort in this one and sense a close game with possible upset potential and granting interim Head Coach John Fassel with a win for looks during his short tenure since the Coaching change. RAMS+7