Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
Only two weeks left to the regular season, which means only two more chances to snag that $50 Gift Certificate to Bogie's Pub and Grill at Bay Meadows! Chris Bacon of Fort Edward was our Week 16 winner after the San Francisco 49'ers beat the Indianapolis Colts, with Chris being the closest to the final score to snag the prize.
We have a triple-header on the Christmas Day docket, plus two games Saturday before the Sunday slate begins, so you will want to make sure you get your picks in early on the Classic Hits Q101.7 app to be eligible for the weekly prize.
Dallas Cowboys at Washington Commanders - Christmas Day, 1:00pm on Netflix
With Jayden Daniels shut down, Washington hopes Marcus Mariota will play as he has shown up Questionable on the mid-week injury reports. Josh Johnson is the next in line as the Commanders hope to figure out what they have for next year. Dallas is in the same boat, and could really use George Pickens to go back to the level he was at in the mid-season when Dallas was getting close to the playoff chase. Both teams are out, and being a divisional match, there will be nothing held back by either of these teams.
Rick's Pick: DALLAS
Detroit Lions at Minnesota Vikings - Christmas Day, 4:30pm on Netflix
Detroit is on thin ice, and a loss eliminates the Lions from playoff contention. A win keeps them alive for 48 hours, until Green Bay has the chance to clinch when they host the Baltimore Ravens. J.J. McCarthy is already ruled out for this game by the Minnesota Vikings as he deals with a hairline fracture. With the Vikings already out of the running for the playoffs, might be best to weigh your 2026 options now. On paper, this match belongs to Detroit, but you never know with divisional matches -- especially those with unknowns like the person starting under center.
Rick's Pick: DETROIT
Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs - Christmas Night, 8:00pm on Prime Video
Well, this game had the potential to be much more when the NFL was sorting out the 2025 schedule back in May. Little did they... or even we for that matter... know that this was going to be a forgettable season for Kansas City. Denver can clinch the AFC West with help, and the #1 seed with a lot of help (unlikely). Kansas City ... well, they're sending Chris Oladokun out after Gardner Minshew was injured last week in sub for the also injured Patrick Mahomes.
Kansas City needs the offseason to come.
Rick's Pick: DENVER
Houston Texans at Los Angeles Chargers - Saturday, 4:30pm on NFL Network
Houston can become the 6th team in the AFC Playoffs with a win on Saturday, and despite the scare last week against the Las Vegas Raiders, come in on a 7 game win streak and boasting one of the best defenses in the NFL. The Chargers have won 4 straight coming off their bye week and wants to keep pressure on Denver as those two teams battle next week in a game that could be for the AFC West. I like how the Chargers looked against the Denver defense back in Week 3, before we knew what the Broncos would be capable of this season. With the Broncos defense as potent as Houston's is, I like the home team's chances.
Rick's Pick: LA CHARGERS
Baltimore Ravens at Green Bay Packers - Saturday, 8:00pm on Peacock
So Lamar Jackson has a back injury and is questionable for now. Both of Green Bay's quarterbacks are on the injury report as questionable and Josh Jacobs is also banged up. Two of Green Bay's tight ends are on injured reserve and a third is questionable. Green Bay comes in having lost two while Baltimore has lost 3 of their last 4 to put their playoff hopes on thin ice. Both teams need this game, but Green Bay has more wiggle room in the event they falter.
The question, I suppose -- who will play? This pick is made with the idea that Jackson doesn't play for Baltimore but a better decision on this game will be made when we get to Saturday -- remember, you have until 15 minutes before kick to change your pick before it locks.
Rick's Pick: GREEN BAY
SUNDAY + MONDAY games to be posted FRIDAY. Merry Christmas!
