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NFL Picks Week 17: Chiefs Expected To Beat Raiders, Despite Possibly Resting Starters

The Kansas City Chiefs are 3.5 point favorites over the Oakland Raiders. If they had something more to play for, perhaps the line would be bigger. The Chiefs have clinched the AFC West division and are locked into the third or fourth playoff seed. 

The Chiefs continue to control their own playoff destiny. If they win on Sunday against the Raiders, they get the third seed and possibly the New York Jets coming to Kansas City. If they lose, they get the fourth seed and possibly the Baltimore Ravens coming to Kansas City.

The Chiefs are the better team, I think, even if the Raiders are 5-0 in the division.  The Chiefs do have more distractions though. First, Charlie Weis is leaving the Chiefs to go to Florida which is distraction enough. That's expected to be announced Monday and news of it becoming official hit Saturday night. Second, the Chiefs have a bigger game on the horizon. They already know they're going to be hosting a home playoff game yet they still have to get through Week 17 first.

I'm on the fence about this game but I'm leaning to the Chiefs winning by three points or less. There are a lot of factors at play here that can change the momentum in this game. Nervously, I'll take the Chiefs.