It’s the last weekend in the NFL’s regular season and the last chance for teams to make the postseason, tuneup for the playoffs or gain momentum for next season. Here’s a look at this week’s games. All times are Pacific.
Last week: 10-5*
Season record: 152-87*
(*Does not include Monday night’s game.)
Saturday, Dec. 29
New England 15-0
at N.Y. Giants 10-5, 5 p.m.
Last meeting: Patriots won 17-6 at home in 2003.
Stats & stuff: At 15-0, Patriots are off to best start in NFL history. Giants have clinched third straight playoff berth.
Game day: New England attempts to complete unbeaten season, but Giants won’t make it easy.
Pick: Patriots 24, Giants 20
Sunday, Dec. 30
Seattle 10-5
at Atlanta 3-12, 10 a.m.
Last meeting: Seahawks won 21-18 at home in 2005.
Stats & stuff: After averaging 42 rushing yards per game in the last eight, Seahawks running back Shaun Alexander ran for 73 yards in Week 16. Atlanta is 2-5 at home.
Game day: Last chance for Falcons to gain some respect after miserable season, but Seattle is getting tuned up for the playoffs.
Pick: Seahawks 30, Falcons 20
New Orleans 7-8
at Chicago 6-9, 10 a.m.
Last meeting: Bears won NFC championship 39-14 at home in 2006 season.
Stats & stuff: Saints rank fifth in total offense at 357.8 yards per game. Chicago’s Brian Urlacher returned an interception for a TD on Sunday for the first time in his career.
Game Day: New Orleans needs a win and help to reach postseason, but the Bears want to finish a bad year on an up note.
Pick: Bears 28, Saints 25
San Francisco 5-10
at Cleveland 9-6, 10 a.m.
Last meeting: Browns won 13-12 at San Francisco in 2003.
Stats & stuff: 49ers QB Shaun Hill has won his first two NFL games as a starter. Cleveland QB Derek Anderson threw four INTs in Week 16 loss.
Game day: A win would be good, but the Browns definitely need a Tennessee loss to make playoffs.
Pick: Browns 31, 49ers 19
Detroit 7-8
at Green Bay 12-3, 10 a.m.
Last meeting: Packers won 37-26 at Detroit on Nov. 22.
Stats & stuff: Lions snapped six-game losing streak on Sunday. Green Bay’s streak of 12 years, 929 punts without a block, ended when Chicago blocked two punts.
Game day: After losing bid for home field in playoffs, the Packers hope to rebound and gain some momentum for the postseason.
Pick: Packers 35, Lions 20
Jacksonville 11-4
at Houston 7-8, 10 a.m.
Last meeting: Jaguars won 37-17 at home on Oct. 14.
Stats & stuff: Jacksonville is 6-1 in its last seven games. Texans are 5-2 at home.
Game day: Houston has beaten Saints, Bucs and Broncos in its last three home games, so an upset isn’t out of the question. But Jaguars have been on a roll.
Pick: Jaguars 24, Texans 21
Cincinnati 6-9
at Miami 1-14, 10 a.m.
Last meeting: Bengals won 16-13 at home in 2004.
Stats & stuff: Kenny Watson ran for 130 yards, TD in Bengals’ Week 16 win. Miami is ranked 28th in NFL offense, 21st on defense.
Game day: Cincinnati has a chance to win two straight for the first time all season.
Pick: Bengals 27, Dolphins 23
Buffalo 7-8
at Philadelphia 7-8, 10 a.m.
Last meeting: Eagles won 23-13 at Buffalo in 2003.
Stats & stuff: RB Marshawn Lynch is first Bills rookie to top 1,000 yards rushing since Greg Bell in 1984. Philadelphia QB Donovan McNabb has 5 TD passes, 0 INTs in last three games since return from injury.
Game day: McNabb has been impressive lately, and should lead Philadelphia to a .500 record.
Pick: Eagles 30, Bills 24
Carolina 6-9
at Tampa Bay 9-6, 10 a.m.
Last meeting: Buccaneers won 20-7 at Carolina on Sept. 30.
Stats & stuff: Carolina is 4-3 on the road. Buccaneers are 6-1 at home.
Game day: Tampa Bay doesn’t want to go into the playoffs with two straight losses.
Pick: Buccaneers 23, Panthers 17
St. Louis 3-12
at Arizona 7-8, 1:15 p.m.
Last meeting: Cardinals won 34-31 at St. Louis on Oct. 7.
Stats & stuff: St. Louis QB Marc Bulger has 10 TD passes, 13 INTs this season. Cardinals QB Kurt Warner has 24 TDs, 15 INTs.
Game day: Arizona goes for first .500 or better season since 9-7 in 1998.
Pick: Cardinals 21, Rams 20
Pittsburgh 10-5
at Baltimore 4-11, 1:15 p.m.
Last meeting: Steelers won 38-7 at home on Nov. 5.
Stats & stuff: Steelers RB Najeh Davenport had 123 yards rushing with TD in relief of injured Willie Parker in Week 16 win. Baltimore QB Troy Smith went 16 of 33 for 199 yards and 79-yard TD pass in his first NFL start.
Game day: Ravens are on their way to 10th straight defeat.
Pick: Steelers 30, Ravens 23
Minnesota 8-7
at Denver 6-8*, 1:15 p.m.
Last meeting: Vikings won 28-20 at home in 2003.
Stats & stuff: Vikings’ RB Adrian Peterson has averaged only 36 yards per game in last three. Denver’s run defense ranks 30th in league, allowing 140.2 yards per game.
Game day: All of the pressure is on Minnesota, which needs a win and Redskins loss to reach postseason. Success on the ground is key for Vikings, but Broncos want to finish home season with a winning record.
Pick: Broncos 24, Vikings 21
Kansas City 4-11
at N.Y. Jets 3-12, 1:15 p.m.
Last meeting: Chiefs won 27-7 at home in 2005.
Stats & stuff: Chiefs TE Tony Gonzalez has 23 career 100-yard receiving games, one short of NFL record for a tight end. Jets’ Jerricho Cotchery has achieved first 1,000-yard receiving season of his career.
Game day: Both teams looking for something positive at end of a down year.
Pick: Jets 14, Chiefs 10
San Diego 9-5*
at Oakland 4-11, 1:15 p.m.
Last meeting: Chargers won 28-14 at home on Oct. 14.
Stats & stuff: Chargers ranked 20th in offense, 16th defense in NFL through Week 15. Oakland ranks 26th in both offense and defense.
Game day: Chargers might rest a few starters in second half, but a win would give them a lift heading into the playoffs.
Pick: Chargers 31, Raiders 27
Dallas 13-2
at Washington 8-7, 1:15 p.m.
Last meeting: Cowboys won 28-23 at home on Nov. 18.
Stats & stuff: Cowboys have clinched home-field for the NFC playoffs. Washington QB Todd Collins has 4 TD passes, 0 INTs since taking over for injured Jason Campbell in Week 14.
Game day: Redskins need a victory to make the postseason.
Pick: Cowboys 23, Redskins 20
Tennessee 9-6
at Indianapolis 13-2, 5:15 p.m.
Last meeting: Colts won 22-20 at Tennessee on Sept. 16.
Stats & stuff: Titans have achieved their first winning season since 2003. Indianapolis had a season-high 458 yards on offense in Week 16.
Game day: Tennessee can reach playoffs with a win.
Pick: Colts 28, Titans 20