Three more people were detained Sunday in connection with a reported threat of an attack on the Cologne Cathedral over the holidays, German authorities said.
The detentions came only days after a 30-year-old Tajik man was detained in relation to an alleged plot to attack the world-famous cathedral by Islamic extremists in the western German city.
The suspects were detained in the western cities of Duisburg, Herne and Dueren in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, and their apartments were also searched there. No details about their identities were released.
All of the detained suspects -- including the Tajik who was arrested last week -- allegedly belong to a larger network that included people across Germany and in other European countries, according to Cologne police chief Johannes Hermanns, German news agency dpa reported.
The attack was supposed to have been carried out with a car, dpa reported.
North Rhine-Westphalia's Interior Minister Herbert Reul called the detentions a "success, for which I would like to thank the investigators."
Islamic extremists have always been active, but they are currently more active than usual, Reul said, according to dpa. "The police always try to be a few steps ahead," he added.
Police had received information about a planned militant attack on Cologne Cathedral shortly before Christmas. The attack was to be carried out on New Year's Eve.
The city's world-famous cathedral has been under high protection for a week and the threat led to the closure of the house of worship for tourists since Christmas Eve.
Usually, more than 100,000 tourists visit the cathedral in the last week of the year. In recent days, only worshippers were allowed to enter the building for Mass, but they had to go through thorough security checks involving sniffer dogs.
On Sunday evening, around 1,000 police officers were on duty around the cathedral as revelers began celebrating the end of 2023.
He had spent his entire career attending to the horrors of terrorism and war, and now Chris George, 70, believed it was his responsibility to act again. He sat at his desk inside Connecticut’s largest refugee resettlement agency, trying to write a public statement about the violence in Israel and Gaza that had resurfaced traumas among his staff, and in his own personal history.
“We believe that all human life is precious and should be protected,” he wrote in mid-October. He read over the sentence, and it sounded obvious and weak. He set the draft aside for a few days and then tried again.
“We condemn, in the strongest terms, the killing of all innocent civilians,” he wrote, but that phrasing seemed almost clinical — so remote and impersonal compared with how he felt.
He had spent several months in the 1970s living and volunteering on Kibbutz Nirim, where dozens of Hamas terrorists broke through the wall on Oct. 7 to kidnap and murder civilians. He had also lived for many years as an American expatriate and a Quaker in Gaza, learning Arabic and working on behalf of oppressed Palestinian children, and now thousands were being killed by Israel’s bombings.
And then there were the Israeli hostages still being held captive at the center of the conflict. George understood at least a little about what that was like, too. He was the first American ever kidnapped in Gaza, in 1989, when three Palestinian refugees abducted him and demanded that Israel release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in exchange for his life. The extremists held George at gunpoint in a safe house for 29 hours before eventually releasing him unharmed, and then instead of retreating into fear or hatred, George returned to America and devoted his career to helping refugees start new lives and heal from conflict.
“One violation of human rights does not justify another,” he wrote, in another attempt at a statement on behalf of his nonprofit, Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services, in New Haven, Conn. “It doesn’t matter whether we call it a cease-fire or a humanitarian pause. Let’s not quibble over terminology. The killing must stop.”
Even at the risk of inviting controversy, he felt compelled to speak up on behalf of the people and places he loved. He sent a draft of the statement to his board of directors, but some of them thought it might be interpreted as too political and potentially divisive. A few blocks away, students at Yale University were disrupting the campus by holding concurrent demonstrations in support of either Jews or Palestinians. The head of the local Service Employees International Union had been forced to resign after publicly voicing support for “our comrades” in Gaza. Dozens of companies and nonprofits across the state were being torn apart by internal divisions over a conflict on the other side of the world, and George wanted to protect his nonprofit, IRIS.
He had led the organization as it grew from eight employees in the late 1990s to more than 150. Together they helped to house, clothe, feed, educate, protect and support more than 800 refugees who arrived each year in Connecticut. That work required an annual budget of $14 million, a third of which came from private donors with their own opinions and connections to the conflict in the Middle East.
George was the first American kidnapped in Gaza, in 1989.
Under George’s leadership, IRIS has experienced significant growth.
“Crafting a statement that satisfies everyone and does not create problems for IRIS will be impossible,” George eventually wrote to some of his colleagues.
He shelved his drafts of statements on his computer in late November and tried to focus on the problems of the upcoming month: a family of eight arriving in New Haven after fleeing starvation and sexual assault in South Sudan; a Christian couple from Afghanistan escaping Taliban rule; triplets from Syria arriving after a decade of war. But whenever he returned to his office, George went back on his phone to check the location of the latest bombings and send messages to his former colleagues in Gaza.
“My dear friend, are you OK?” he wrote, several times each day, and then he waited.
On his desk, there was a piece of shrapnel the size of a football that he had found in the Middle East, and a soldier’s helmet riddled with 14 bullet holes. There was a photo of him with his late wife, holding a sign demanding an end to war crimes outside a United Nations convention in the 1980s. Now he was nearing his retirement from IRIS, and sometimes he wondered whether his silence on behalf of the organization came from a place of pragmatic caution or cowardice. “Is it actually defensible to sit here and say nothing while innocent people die?” he wondered.
On the last day of November, an email arrived on his work computer. It was a statement of its own, written to George and the board of directors by 41 IRIS employees in response to a war that now threatened to create one more divide.
“IRIS’ response thus far to this conflict has been unacceptable. We have been silenced,” they wrote.
Omar Yacoub, the after-school education coordinator at IRIS, worries about family members living in Gaza.
Omar Yacoub walked through the IRIS office one morning on his way to help teach English to 11 refugee children who had just arrived in the United States. Yacoub, 34, had been hired in September as IRIS’s after-school education coordinator. It was his first job after immigrating to the United States, and he loved it. But, in the last few weeks, he had become increasingly confused about the organization that hired him.
He wondered: If IRIS’s role was to support refugees, why wasn’t it speaking up on behalf of the 1.6 million registered Palestinian refugees living in Gaza, including many of his own family members? Why was it controversial for a humanitarian organization to call for a cease-fire?
“Is your family doing OK?” a co-worker asked Yacoub, as he grabbed a stack of textbooks for his students.
“No, of course they’re not OK,” he said. “They’re losing homes, losing electricity, losing limbs, losing lives, losing everything.”
His grief had been hardening into frustration ever since Oct. 9, when George first spoke about the Hamas terrorist attacks at a staff meeting. George condemned the barbaric raids on civilians and also expressed his horror at Israel’s early retaliations against Palestinians, but then he moved on to the next topic without allowing anyone else on his staff to comment. A few employees decided to begin the next several staff meetings by playing nationalist Palestinian songs for the entire group; other co-workers complained that those songs made them feel uncomfortable. One employee emailed an article to the rest of the staff about the Palestinian liberation movement; other co-workers replied that the article was anti-Semitic, and eventually George shut down the reply-all function on the email thread.
The work at IRIS proceeded as normal, whereas Yacoub woke up each morning to a new emergency on his phone. His mother’s relatives were still trapped in Gaza, where the family had lived under Israeli occupation for several generations. Yacoub’s family had told him stories about his 16-year-old cousin, who they said had been shot in the head and killed by Israeli soldiers in the late 1980s for throwing a stone, his brain preserved in a jar of formaldehyde in the family home. Yacoub was born two months later and named in honor of that cousin, but by then his parents had fled to Jordan as refugees and Yacoub had a Jordanian passport. Now he was safely in Connecticut with his twin 1-year-olds, while his cousins were in Gaza caring for their own children. They had no food. They couldn’t find fresh water. Their own names were written on their arms, in case they needed to be identified for an emergency surgery or for burial.
Yacoub attended a fund-raiser in New Haven with other IRIS colleagues that raised $7,000 for Palestinian refugees. He traveled to a protest on the National Mall in Washington. And then he joined 41 of his co-workers by writing and signing a letter to George and the IRIS board demanding the organization issue a statement condemning Israel’s bombing campaign in Gaza and then leverage IRIS’s connections by writing advocacy letters to Connecticut’s congressional delegation. The 41 staff members used the kind of divisive language that IRIS had so far attempted to avoid: “occupation and brutalization of Palestinians”; “genocidal campaign in blatant violation of international humanitarian law”; “the United States is complicit”; “permanent cease-fire.”
The luggage of a father and daughter from Congo, who had just arrived in the country.
An IRIS staffer hugs a Sudanese client.
“Our silence does not represent the morals of our clients and staff,” the 41 employees wrote. They warned that if IRIS failed to respond to their letter within a week, they would act in defiance of the organization by taking “collective action” of their own.
The group was still waiting for a response five days later when Yacoub stopped by George’s office to discuss his plans for an after-school tutoring program for refugee children. He’d chosen to work at IRIS in part because he admired George, who spoke Arabic and had hired a diverse staff with dozens of Muslims, Jews and more than 60 people who spoke English as a second language. A sign on the wall of George’s office read: “Keep the immigrants. Deport the racists.” He had spoken out publicly on behalf of separated immigrant families at the U.S. border. Yacoub couldn’t understand why George had chosen to be silent now, but he was just two months into his first job in the United States, and he didn’t yet feel comfortable confronting his boss directly.
“How are you holding up?” George asked him.
“As you would expect. Not so good,” Yacoub said.
George nodded and looked at him for a moment, noticing the Palestinian kaffiyeh scarf that Yacoub wore around his shoulders in the office, at home and on his motorcycle rides through the city.
“I worry for you when you’re wearing that,” George said. A New Haven school district had recently sent out a warning about escalating incidents of both antisemitism and Islamophobia. Three college students had just been shot in Vermont while they were speaking in Arabic and wearing kaffiyehs in a suspected hate crime.
“I hate that we have to think that way, but I don’t want you to be a target,” George said.
“I worry about it, too,” Yacoub said. He fingered the cloth and looked back at George. “It’s who I am,” he said. “Why should I have to take it off?”
George pouring juice for a Congolese family waiting to speak with a case worker.
The day before George’s deadline to answer the staff letter, he called a meeting with his senior directors to determine IRIS’s response. George had prepared for the meeting by reading other official statements about the conflict in Israel, including many issued by American companies with little connection to the Middle East. They sold jeans or salads or tractors or coffee or discount car insurance. They were “saddened,” “enraged,” “unmoored,” “galled” and “genuinely horrified.” Some had donated money to Israel or to humanitarian aid organizations working in Gaza, and George was still trying to decide if the collective outcry was meaningful or mostly performative.
“Is it appropriate, fair, useful and strategically wise for us to engage publicly on this conflict?” George asked his colleagues.
“How can we say something now when we didn’t say anything after the Hamas attacks that incited so much of this?” one staff member asked.
“It’s 41 people on our staff,” another argued. “We can’t ignore them.”
“Forty-one and counting,” George said. He had learned that the group was still in the process of showing the letter to some colleagues for the first time, and that at least 10 more had already decided to sign it.
“Some of them are losing their loved ones,” one staff member said. “They’re hurting.”
“Same with all of our Jewish colleagues,” another responded. “Just think about everything they’ve been through. What happened on Oct. 7 was one of the worst atrocities we’ve ever seen.”
“That’s what makes this so hard,” George said. “For a lot of us, everything about this particular conflict is scary and deeply personal.”
A case worker handing a newly arrived client dinner.
Yacoub teaching at the after-school program.
He had been thinking lately about the echoes of his own scariest moment in the Middle East, in June 1989, when a Palestinian named Muhammed Abu Nasser barged into the Gaza office of George’s nonprofit, Save the Children, with three handguns and a machete and told George to follow him outside. George had worked with Abu Nasser a few months earlier, when Save the Children had given him a grant of $1,000 to build a playground for Palestinian children. He only managed to build an initial wall before Israeli troops rejected the project and knocked the wall down. In the ensuing months, Abu Nasser had become angrier and more erratic, and now he was pushing George into the back of a car with the help of two accomplices, blindfolding him and driving him to a safe house in the desert.
George tried to dissuade his kidnappers by reminding them that he also worked on behalf of Palestinian children. He tried appealing to their sense of humanity by telling stories about his wife and two young daughters back home in Ramallah, but, instead of releasing him, Abu Nasser handed George a pen and forced him to write a hostage letter in English on behalf of his kidnappers to the Israeli government and the American Embassy. They demanded the release of all Hamas prisoners and other Palestinians. “If you don’t comply, we will be forced to kill Chris George,” the letter read.
George sat alongside his kidnappers for the next uncertain hours, thought about his family, and imagined some of the ways he might die. What if Abu Nasser became impatient and made good on his threat? What if the Israel Defense Forces found the safe house, and their rescue mission turned into a shootout? Abu Nasser turned on a radio and waited for news about the kidnapping. He expected to be heralded as a hero by militant Palestinian leaders, but even the most radical groups immediately condemned his actions as rash and unproductive, and Israel rejected all of his demands.
“Your operation is starting to go rotten,” George remembered saying to him after more than a day together, and, eventually, Abu Nasser agreed. He hailed a donkey cart and sent George back to Gaza, with a handwritten apology note to his wife.
What was almost as disorienting as the kidnapping itself was the reaction that followed. The Israel Defense Forces continued to blame the incident on organized Palestinian terrorist groups in an attempt to discredit them. When George insisted that the plot was the work of a single, deranged man, some Israeli media outlets falsely accused George of participating in his own kidnapping. The disinformation continued for several days, with both Israelis and Palestinians using George’s kidnapping to escalate their own conflict in the press. Israeli forces found and killed Abu Nasser eight days later, and international reporters called George to ask for a statement. He decided his best course of action was to say nothing.
“No matter how careful we are and what language we use, some people are not going to like it,” George told his staff now, in the conference room. “Our words could be taken out of context. They could be twisted and distorted. That distortion could go viral.”
“It would be an incredible act of hubris for IRIS to write a statement demanding a cease-fire,” one staffer said. “That’s so far outside our scope.”
“Why would we go all in on one global conflict out of the dozens and dozens that impact our clients?” another asked. “Are we going to start commenting on every disaster and injustice that happens around the world? Is that the best use of our time?”
“We are not going to come to some kumbaya statement,” another staff member said. “We are here to serve our clients. Come to work. Get it done. I wouldn’t touch this.”
“OK, so we are mostly in agreement,” George concluded. They’d been debating for more than an hour, and he flipped through his notes to summarize the meeting. “IRIS is not going to issue a statement. That’s not our role. But is there anything else we can do?”
Preparing groceries for clients at a food pantry run by IRIS.
He went back to his office and checked for news on the latest bombings in Israel. He looked at the map and texted one of his friends in Gaza. “Are you OK?”
“We are still alive.”
He started to write the draft of a letter to the original 41 staff members, explaining that IRIS had decided not to issue a statement, but that he wanted to meet with the group to discuss other possibilities like writing letters to Connecticut’s senators, or helping to educate New Haven about the history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He finished a draft, checked for bombings again, and saw that the Al-Nuseirat neighborhood had been hit overnight. He sent a message to check on one of his former colleagues at Save the Children, Ali Mansour, whose family lived nearby.
“Are you OK?”
“May Allah rest her soul in peace, I lost my little daughter and granddaughter in a terrible massacre against her house,” Mansour wrote. “Pray for us.”
George stared at his phone and reread the message, trying to imagine what was happening at that moment in Al-Nuseirat. Israel Defense Forces believed some of the Hamas terrorists responsible for the Oct. 7 attacks were hiding among civilians in the residential neighborhood.
He did some research online and learned that the bombings had killed one of Hamas’s original founders, damaged a mosque and destroyed several concrete apartment buildings. He saw images of survivors searching through the rubble, wrapping victims in white sheets and finding leaflets allegedly dropped by Israeli planes. “To Hamas leaders,” the leaflets read, according to The Associated Press, and what came next was a partial quote from the Quran. “A life for a life, an eye for an eye and whoever started is to blame. If you punish, then punish with the like of that which you were afflicted.”
George recognized it as the same philosophy he had witnessed throughout his career: terror resulting in more terror, one conflict escalating into the next, persecution breeding hatred and war until more than 110 million people around the world had been displaced from their homes by violence and human rights violations, according to the latest data from the United Nations.
George wiped his eyes and replied to his friend’s message. Everything he wrote felt small and inadequate. “I’m so sorry,” he said.
A key to a home that was given to George when he lived and worked in Gaza.
IRIS employees gathering furniture for a refugee family’s new home.
He was still sitting in his office several hours later when he heard people beginning to clap and speak Pashto somewhere down the hall. He walked out to the IRIS lobby and saw a family of five that had just arrived from Afghanistan, where they had been threatened and persecuted by the Taliban for being Christian. The family had never been to the United States. They had never heard of Connecticut. They carried everything they owned in four duffel bags marked “fragile.”
IRIS employees emerged from every department to introduce themselves and to help. An interpreter translated on behalf of the family. A receptionist made coffee for the parents and hot chocolate for the children. A transportation team prepared to drive them to a hotel so they could recover from their flight. A case manager stocked their fridge with groceries and a hot meal from an Afghan restaurant. A housing team worked to furnish their new apartment. A legal team assembled to protect their rights. Yacoub and his education team prepared to tutor the children, because even if he remained unhappy with IRIS’s silence, he still believed in the righteousness of its work.
George handed out candy and granola bars and then greeted the family with the same statement he’d made thousands of times, and the one he believed in most.
“We welcome you,” he said. “I’m so sorry for what you’ve suffered. It’s our job to support you.”
IRIS staffers welcoming a family from Sudan who had just arrived to their offices directly from the airport.
Pierre Bergeron, a retired editor at Le Droit, holds a copy of the Ottawa-Gatineau newspaper. The French-language paper published its final print edition on Saturday and is now available exclusively online. (Emilien Juteau/Radio-Canada - image credit)
After more than 100 years in print, Le Droit, a prominent French-language newspaper serving the Ottawa-Gatineau region, has published its last physical edition.
The final paper rolled off the presses Saturday, marking the last step in Le Droit's gradual transition to a digital publication. The paper had already switched in 2020 from printing six times a week to once a week on Saturdays.
According to editor-in-chief Marie-Claude Lortie, the decision to go exclusively online has been a long time coming.
"When I joined Le Droit [in 2021], it was already decided. The question wasn't, 'Are we going to stop?' It was when," she told Radio-Canada's Les matins d'ici.
Though some readers will be disappointed, the transition is "a necessary change from an environmental [and] financial perspective," Lortie said in the French-language interview.
The Groupe Capitales Médias, which owns the the Le Droit newspapers, is getting $5 million from the Quebec government.
The once-daily paper had already gone mostly online, publishing print editions only on Saturdays since 2020. (Maxime Huard/Radio-Canada )
In 2019, Le Droit's future was left uncertain after newspaper chain Groupe Capitale Médias, which owned it and five other Quebec newspapers, filed for bankruptcy.
According to Lortie, Le Droit joins those papers, now employee co-operatives, in making the move online.
"Personally, I don't see it as a time to mourn. I see it more as an evolution," said Pierre Bergeron, a retired Le Droit editor, in a French-language interview with Radio-Canada.
"I may be a little light-hearted in that regard, but I tell myself that journalists will find a way to do their jobs."
Lortie called the final 88-page edition a special one, dedicated to remembering the paper's impact in the community and filled with stories by writers and readers alike.
The federal public service increased by 6.5 per cent between the beginning of April 2022 and the end of March 2023, on the strength of 71,200 external hires.
Stan Lee, interim president of the Public Service Commission, left, Fiona Spencer, commissioner, and Hélène Laurendeau, commissioner. The commission released its 2022-23 annual report earlier this month. Photographs courtesy of the government of Canada, X
A series of powerful storms in the Pacific Ocean are driving towering waves into the California coastline, triggering flooding and posing a significant risk to people and structures along the coast.
Monstrous, 20-foot-plus waves on Thursday crashed over seawalls and swept away and injured several people, forced rescues and sent a damaging surge of water through coastal California streets.
Dangerous waves continued to slam the coast on Friday, forcing beaches to close. All Ventura County beaches will be closed through New Year’s Eve because of the 15- to 20-foot waves expected along the central and Southern California coasts through Saturday evening.
A brief dip in wave heights may occur in some locations along the California coast during the daytime Friday as one storm pushes ashore, but the danger will quickly ramp back up later Friday and Saturday as another system develops behind it.
“Overall, this is expected to be an exceptional high-surf and coastal flooding event that has not occurred in many years,” the weather service in Los Angeles warned.
A Ventura County, California, fire helicopter patrols the coastline over heavy surf south of Ventura Pier on December 28.
Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times/Getty Images
Sea levels have risen along most of the California coastline over the past century, NOAA data shows, as global temperatures climb and melt glaciers and ice sheets. Higher sea levels are making coastal flooding events worse and will continue to do so in the future.
The first round of dangerous waves hit alongside high tide Thursday morning. Several people were injured by a huge wave that slammed into Pierpont in the Ventura Beach area.
The wave crashed over a barrier along the Southern California beach, tossing a wall of fast-moving water at a group of onlookers who rushed to escape the deluge, video taken by Colin Hoag shows.
“Before I knew it, it was coming over the wall,” Hoag told CNN.
Seawater quickly knocked some people off their feet and pummeled cars as drivers tried to speed away.
“It was terrifying and apocalyptic,” Hoag said. “People were yelling and screaming. I ran as fast as I could, mostly backwards because I was filming.”
Nearly 20 people were briefly swept away in the incident and eight people were taken to the hospital, Ventura officials said.
High water and dangerous rip currents will churn along some of California’s beaches through the weekend as much of the West coast – spanning from the US-Mexico border to southern Oregon – is under coastal flood and high-surf alerts, the National Weather Service said.
Pierpont, California, neighbors help shovel debris on Bath Lane to help water drain after a seawall and sand berm were breached by high surf on December 28.
Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times/Getty Images
The dangerous conditions pose an “exceptional risk” of ocean drowning and damage to structures like piers and jetties, the National Weather Service said.
The dangerous wave risk will lessen on Saturday for Northern California, but continue in southern Oregon and rival Thursday’s impact in Southern California. The Ventura County coast, along with Hermosa, Manhattan and Palos Verdes beaches face the most extreme surf and are at risk for significant coastal flooding.
One of the storms helping to drive the waves will also bring rain and wind to California through Saturday. High wind alerts are in effect for California’s central coast and the Bay Area on Friday as wind gusts of up to 50 mph are expected. These strong wind gusts will churn up waters even further.
The spectacular waters have enthralled some surfers and onlookers, but weather officials are cautioning that the waves and strong rip tides can be perilous for those nearby.
“Large breaking waves can cause injury, wash people off beaches and rocks, and capsize small boats near shore,” the National Weather Service warned.
Two beachgoers pulled a struggling lifeguard to safety Thursday after the same lifeguard rescued a person near the Ventura pier, Ventura County firefighter Andy VanSciver told CNN.
At least one fisherman fell overboard in a harbor off Oxnard Thursday and later came ashore uninjured, the Ventura County Fire Department said.
The conditions caused some road closures and evacuations in coastal California communities Thursday and prompted the rescue of five campers along the San Luis Obispo coast.
Crews in Ventura worked through the night to reinforce a mile-long sand barrier that was damaged by powerful waters on Thursday, the local fire department said. Standing about 7 feet tall, the raised wall helps protect beachside communities.
Hoping to discourage spectators, local officials closed a main access point to Ventura Pier, which saw a swell of about 20 feet on Thursday. Some coastal streets in the area have also been closed as a precaution.
In central California’s Santa Cruz, the sheriff’s office issued an evacuation warning for some areas on Thursday, which included areas of Rio Del Mar, where seawater filled beachside roadways and pushed against some homes, CNN affiliate KION reported. The warnings were lifted later in the day.
Storm debris fills the Rio Del Mar neighborhood of Aptos in Santa Cruz County.
Nic Coury/AP
Massive waves attract surfers to Mavericks
Despite safety warnings, the massive waves are a welcome sight to surfers hungry to tackle the legendary swells at Mavericks Beach, about 25 miles south of San Francisco.
Pro surfers and spectators flocked to the beach on Thursday for a competition at the site known for having some of the biggest waves in the world, CNN affiliate KGO reported.
Local resident Ion Banner told the affiliate that surfers from Brazil, Tahiti and Hawaii were out in the water. “It’s pretty gnarly, it’s super big,” he said.
“The waves looked absolutely massive and it was everything that we expected,” said Miguel Blanco, who told KGO he flew in from Portugal to surf the waves. “It was really big, I’d say 40-60 foot waves.”
A surfer catches some air off a wave at Mavericks Beach near Half Moon Bay, California, on December 28.
Nathan Frandino/Reuters
Mavericks’ jaw-dropping waves – caused by unique underwater rock formations – reach their biggest heights in the winter, when big wave surfers from all over the world make pilgrimages to face the swells.
The legendary waves and the surfers who brave them have been the subject of several films and documentaries, including the 2012 biopic “Chasing Mavericks” about American surfer Jay Moriarity’s journey to surf Mavericks as a teen.
On Thursday, the conditions were prime for surfers like Blanco.
“If it’s your turn, you just gotta go,” Blanco said. “When you see a big wave, you’re kinda scared but at the same time you’re feeling like you should go and you just go and enjoy the ride.”
CNN’s David Williams, Sharif Paget and Cheri Mossburg contributed to this report.
The Week 17 NFL schedule for the 2023 season is stacked with great matchups, and we got you covered with what you need to know heading into the weekend. Our NFL Nation reporters bring us the biggest keys to every game and a bold prediction for each matchup.
Additionally, ESPN Stats & Information provides a big stat to know and a betting nugget for each contest, and our Football Power Index (FPI) goes inside the numbers with a game projection and a look at the playoff picture. Analytics writer Seth Walder picks out each matchup's biggest X factor, and fantasy analyst Eric Moody hands out helpful fantasy football intel. Finally, Walder and Moody give us final score picks for every game. Everything you want to know is here in one spot to help you get ready for a loaded weekend of NFL football.
Let's get into the full Week 17 slate, which starts with a Saturday showdown between the Detroit Lions and the Dallas Cowboys on ABC, ESPN and ESPN+. On Sunday, there is a Tua Tagovailoa-Lamar Jackson showdown in Baltimore, another Bengals-Chiefs matchup and a battle for the NFC South. (Game times are Sunday unless otherwise noted -- there is no NFL game on Monday this week -- and all playoff chance percentages are via FPI and independent of other results.)
8:15 p.m. ET on Saturday | ESPN | Spread: DAL -5.5 (52.5)
Storyline to watch: The Cowboys need a win to keep their NFC East title hopes alive, but maybe more importantly need a victory to stop a two-game losing streak and to beat a quality team going into the postseason. The Lions still have home-field advantage dreams and a December triumph against a playoff-bound team. Both teams excel indoors -- the Cowboys are 7-0 at home (7-1 overall) and the Lions are 7-2. -- Todd Archer
Bold prediction: Lions quarterback Jared Goff will eclipse the 30,000-yard passing mark for his career with 200-plus yards at Dallas. He needs 162 yards to become the league's 53rd player to hit the mark. Goff has played his best football against nondivisional opponents, with an 8-2 record and 20 touchdowns to just four interceptions. -- Eric Woodyard
Stat to know: Goff has the third-most turnovers under pressure this season with 10. On Saturday, he'll face a Cowboys defense that leads the league in pressure percentage (36.9).
Matchup X factor: Lions defensive back Brian Branch. He mostly plays in the slot, which means he'll draw his fair share of covering receiver CeeDee Lamb. But Branch is up for the challenge -- he has allowed a better-than-average 1.0 yards per coverage snap allowed and leads all rookies with minus-19 EPA against when the nearest defender, per NFL Next Gen Stats. -- Walder
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Are the Cowboys on upset alert against the Lions?
Damien Woody and Harry Douglas explain why the Cowboys could lose to the Lions.
What's at stake: A loss to the Lions would severely limit the Cowboys' opportunity to capture the division, as their chances would fall from 23.9% with a win to 2.1% with a loss. The Cowboys' chances of home-field advantage and a first-round bye in the playoffs would be 1.2% with a win and nonexistent with a loss. As for the Lions, they have the NFC North wrapped up, but a win gives them a 29.5% chance of taking the conference's top seed. A loss prevents Detroit from getting the No. 1 seed. Read more.
What to know for fantasy: The Lions' defense has allowed the eighth-most receiving yards and the fourth-most touchdowns to wide receivers this season. Lamb is an immediate beneficiary, but don't overlook Brandin Cooks. At home, the Cowboys average 303 passing yards, the second most in the league. See Week 17 rankings. -- Moody
Betting nugget: Lions games are 10-5 to the over this season, tied for the highest over percentage in the NFL. Read more.
Moody's pick: Cowboys 30, Lions 27 Walder's pick: Cowboys 27, Lions 21 FPI prediction: DAL, 70.1% (by an average of 7.0 points)
Storyline to watch: The Patriots won the first meeting in October, but the Bills are 12-1 in home games against division opponents since 2020, including the playoffs, with the one loss coming against New England in 2021. The Bills have won three straight while the Patriots are coming off a win at the Broncos. Bills quarterback Josh Allen said, "Frankly, it's a game that we need to win. And they know that. We know that. If I'm in the New England Patriot locker room, I'm looking to ruin their season." -- Alaina Getzenberg
Bold prediction: The Patriots will hold the Bills' offense below its average in the red zone. Buffalo is the NFL's No. 1-rated red zone offense with 37 touchdowns in 55 trips (67.3% success rate), while New England's red zone defense ranks seventh in the NFL as opponents have scored 22 touchdowns in 45 trips (48.9% success rate). -- Mike Reiss
Stat to know: Patriots coach Bill Belichick has never lost 12 games in a season as a head coach -- the 2011 Patriots and 1995 Browns each went 5-11.
Matchup X factor: Patriots defensive tackle Christian Barmore. He ranks 10th out of all tackles in pass rush win rate (13.7%) and while the Bills have a good offensive line overall, no one in the interior is elite. Barmore has a chance to make an impact and disrupt Allen. -- Walder
What's at stake: There are five scenarios in which the Bills could clinch a playoff spot, all needing a win over the Patriots. If that happens, they need two of the Bengals, Steelers or Jaguars to lose or losses by the Texans, Colts and either the Bengals or Steelers to clinch. Buffalo's playoff percentage would be at 97.2 even if it doesn't clinch and the Bills would still have a chance at winning the AFC East (28.7%) next week in a head-to-head matchup with Miami if the Dolphins lose. A loss takes the Bills out of the division race and gives them a coin flip shot (50.2%) at the playoffs. There isn't much on the line for the Patriots, who only have a 0.1% chance at the No. 1 pick if they lose. Read more.
What to know for fantasy: Since joining the Bills, Stefon Diggs has averaged 10.1 targets and 21.5 fantasy points against the Patriots. Four of the past five games he's had eight or more targets. Since 2021, Diggs has averaged only 11.4 fantasy points during December. See Week 17 rankings. -- Moody
Betting nugget: The Bills are 0-7 against the spread (ATS) in their past seven games as a double-digit favorite including the playoffs (0-3 ATS this season). Read more.
Moody's pick: Bills 28, Patriots 13 Walder's pick: Bills 27, Patriots 12 FPI prediction: BUF, 87% (by an average of 14.9 points)
Storyline to watch: The Bears are looking for their fifth straight win at Soldier Field in what could be quarterback Justin Fields' final home game in Chicago. The Bears have a 95.7% chance to earn the No. 1 overall pick (via Carolina) and might be eyeing a quarterback in the draft. As for the Falcons, they are averaging 13.6 points per game on the road this season as opposed to 22.9 at home. -- Courtney Cronin
Bold prediction: Both the Falcons and Bears will have a 100-yard rusher Sunday -- RB Bijan Robinson for Atlanta and Fields for Chicago. It'll be Fields' first 100-yard rushing game since Nov. 19 against Detroit and Robinson's first since Oct. 1 against Jacksonville. But both players have found rhythms of late, leading to a run-heavy game between two teams that like to keep the ball on the ground. -- Michael Rothstein
Stat to know: Fields has a 4-3 record in his past seven starts. He had lost 12 straight starts prior.
Matchup X factor: Falcons linebacker Nate Landman. The Bears are a run-heavy team, but Landman is the counter to that as a run-stopping off-ball linebacker. He ranks seventh in run stop win rate (39.9%) among linebackers this season. -- Walder
What's at stake: Both of these teams are alive, but they need a win and help. It's a bit more straightforward for the Falcons, who have a 12.3% chance of making the playoffs with a win and 6.7% if they lose. Strangely, Atlanta's chances to win the NFC South won't change with the result, as they are completely dependent on the Bucs losing to the Saints. The Bears have very slim playoff hopes, as a win would give them a 0.3% chance at the postseason. Read more.
Eric Karabell explains why Justin Fields has significant upside in Week 17 due to his rushing ability.
What to know for fantasy: Robinson will appear in a lot of starting lineups, but don't overlook RB Tyler Allgeier. He has averaged 10.4 touches over the past five games. And the Bears' defense has given up the 12th-most fantasy points per game to running backs. See Week 17 rankings. -- Moody
Betting nugget: Six of the past eight Bears games have gone under the total. Read more.
Moody's pick: Bears 23, Falcons 21 Walder's pick: Falcons 20, Bears 17 FPI prediction: ATL, 51.1% (by an average of 0.4 points)
Storyline to watch: The Raiders under interim coach Antonio Pierce have held four of their seven opponents under 100 yards rushing. Meanwhile, the Colts have been suddenly inconsistent with their ground game, limited to fewer than 100 total rushing yards in three of their past four games after surpassing the 100-yard mark in seven of their first 11 contests. The Colts are hoping to have both top backs, Jonathan Taylor and Zack Moss, healthy for the first time since Nov. 26. -- Stephen Holder
Bold prediction: Raiders All-Pro receiver Davante Adams, coming off a 4-yard performance against the Chiefs, will have more than 100 yards receiving and a touchdown against the Colts. Adams, who needs just 28 receiving yards for his fourth straight 1,000-yard season, has a touchdown catch in each of his three career games against the Colts, with at least 100 receiving yards in the past two meetings. Indianapolis, which has the league's No. 14-ranked pass defense, has not given up 100 yards to a receiver since Week 8 (the Saints' Rashid Shaheed). -- Paul Gutierrez
Stat to know: The Raiders have had multiple defensive touchdowns in each of the past two weeks. If they do it again against the Colts, it will be an NFL record for consecutive games with multiple defensive touchdowns.
Matchup X factor: Colts right tackle Braden Smith. He's returning from injury and immediately has to protect quarterback Gardner Minshew from pass-rusher Maxx Crosby. Smith's 90% pass block win rate this season is a bit above average. -- Walder
What's at stake: This is a massive game for both teams. A win gives the Colts a 63.4% chance of making the playoffs and a 28.1% chance to win the AFC South; those percentages fall to 20.6% and 3.9%, respectively, with a loss. As for Vegas, the math is simple -- a win keeps the Raiders alive, a loss extinguishes their playoff hopes. The Raiders would have a 34.3% chance at the playoffs with a victory and would stay alive for the AFC West title (2.9%) if the Bengals beat the Chiefs. Read more.
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Has Antonio Pierce earned the Raiders' head-coaching job?
Marcus Spears and Domonique Foxworth discuss whether Antonio Pierce has done enough to prove he is the right coach for the Raiders.
What to know for fantasy: Colts RB Taylor has had a tumultuous season but has averaged 17.0 touches per game. Under Pierce, the Raiders have improved their defense, but Las Vegas still allows the 11th-most fantasy points per game to running backs. See Week 17 rankings. -- Moody
Betting nugget: The Raiders are 6-1 ATS in seven games since hiring Pierce and 4-1 ATS in their past five as underdogs. Read more.
Moody's pick: Colts 20, Raiders 16 Walder's pick: Colts 23, Raiders 19 FPI prediction: IND, 60.4% (by an average of 3.5 points)
Storyline to watch: The Rams are currently the sixth seed in the NFC with a 75.3% chance of reaching the playoffs, per ESPN Analytics. A massive part of that projection is that they are a fairly substantial favorite on the road against the Giants. An upset loss would put the Rams in a precarious position with a road game against the 49ers on deck. -- Jordan Raanan
Bold prediction: Rams WR Puka Nacua will have at least 147 receiving yards to pass Bill Groman (1,473) for the most by a rookie in NFL history. Nacua has four games with at least 147 receiving yards this season, and the Giants' defense ranks 20th in pass DVOA, allowing an average of 229.7 passing yards per game. -- Sarah Barshop
Stat to know: The Rams have scored 28-plus points in five straight games, the longest active streak in the NFL and the Rams' longest since the 2018 season (six games).
Matchup X factor: Giants quarterback Tyrod Taylor. While Tommy DeVito's run was fun, Taylor, who was named the starter this week, should be an upgrade. Since 2020, Taylor has a 41 QBR, well ahead of DeVito's 22 this year. -- Walder
What's at stake: The Rams could punch their postseason ticket this week with a win and a Seahawks loss or a win and a tie in the Packers-Vikings game. Either way, a win is crucial, as the Rams would go from 85.6% to make the playoffs with a win to 22.3% with a loss -- a spread of 63.3%. The Giants were eliminated in Week 16 but have a 74% chance of getting a top-five pick in the upcoming draft. Read more.
What to know for fantasy: Rams QB Matthew Stafford has surpassed 30 or more pass attempts and scored 18 or more fantasy points in five consecutive games. Over the past two weeks, the Giants' defense has given up superb performances to Derek Carr (20.3) and Jalen Hurts (23.4). Stafford is firmly on the QB1 radar. See Week 17 rankings. -- Moody
Betting nugget: The Rams have covered five straight games, the longest active streak in the NFL. Read more.
Moody's pick: Rams 31, Giants 17 Walder's pick: Rams 26, Giants 17 FPI prediction: LAR, 82.2% (by an average of 12.2 points)
Storyline to watch: Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon makes his return to Philly. The former Eagles defensive coordinator had a bumpy exit, with his defense yielding 17 fourth-quarter points in an excruciating 38-35 loss to the Chiefs in the Super Bowl. The Eagles' defense, ranked No. 2 overall under Gannon in 2022, has struggled for much of the season, prompting a switch from Sean Desai to Matt Patricia as defensive playcaller. Gannon and the Cardinals will try to play spoiler against an Eagles team that is tied with the 49ers and Lions for the best record in the conference and looking to secure a top seed in the NFC playoffs. -- Tim McManus
Bold prediction: Both offenses will gain 350 yards and score at least 21 points because neither defense can slow down opposing offenses. The Cardinals are giving up 363 total yards and 26.9 points per game, and the Eagles are allowing 346 total yards and 24.4 points per game. But here's the catch: The Cardinals haven't scored more than 30 points this season despite scoring 24 or more points six times. Philadelphia has reached 30 points six times and has exceeded 350 total yards eight times -- but just once in the past month. -- Josh Weinfuss
Stat to know: The Eagles are 12-1 when A.J. Brown has a receiving touchdown and 13-6 when he doesn't. Brown is seeking to avoid a fifth straight game without catching a TD pass.
Matchup X factor: Eagles cornerback James Bradberry. He has allowed 17 EPA as the nearest defender this season, per NFL Next Gen Stats, which is 13th worst among outside corners with at least 250 coverage snaps. It's a far cry from Bradberry's stellar play a year ago, and the Eagles need more from him. -- Walder
What's at stake: The Eagles are already in the playoffs and can clinch the NFC East with a win and a loss or tie by the Cowboys. But even if the Eagles don't clinch, their chances to win the division would be a robust 92.3% with a win, with a 30.2% chance of grabbing the NFC's top seed and home-field advantage. A loss drops the Eagles to 40.3% to win the division and only 1.3% at home-field advantage. The Cardinals can still get the No. 1 pick with a loss, as they'd have a 3.8% chance of picking first. They are in good shape to get the No. 2 pick, though. Read more.
What to know for fantasy: Cardinals QB Kyler Murray faces an Eagles defense that gives up the second-most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks. Philadelphia ranks sixth in pass rush win rate -- this could lead to Murray accumulating rushing yards. The Eagles' defense also gives up the most fantasy points per game to wide receivers. When Marquise Brown has seven or more targets with Murray under center, he averages 15.0 fantasy points per game. See Week 17 rankings. -- Moody
Betting nugget: The Eagles are 0-8 ATS in their past seven games in December or later. Read more.
Moody's pick: Eagles 38, Cardinals 17 Walder's pick: Eagles 28, Cardinals 17 FPI prediction: PHI, 80.9% (by an average of 11.6 points)
Storyline to watch: Dubbed the "Battle for the South," the Bucs can clinch the NFC South with a win over New Orleans on Sunday. This game comes at a good time for Tampa Bay, which is on a four-game winning streak and has won the past three meetings against the Saints. Quarterback Baker Mayfield is one touchdown pass away from tying his rookie season career-high of 27. -- Jenna Laine
Bold prediction: The Saints give up 100 yards to Bucs receiver Mike Evans. Evans hasn't had a 100-yard receiving game against the Saints since 2018, when he had seven catches for 147 yards. The Saints have contained Evans well when starting cornerback Marshon Lattimore was matched up against him, but Lattimore won't be coming off IR this week. The Saints struggled to contain the Rams' receivers last week, leading to the temporary benching of slot corner Alontae Taylor, and Evans has been a factor in almost every game he has played this season. -- Katherine Terrell
Stat to know: Mayfield and Evans have connected on 13 touchdown passes. That's tied for the sixth most by a duo in their first season together in NFL history.
Matchup X factor: Buccaneers cornerbacks Carlton Davis III and Jamel Dean. Together they've allowed 36 total EPA as the nearest defender, per NFL Next Gen Stats. That's not great! And Sunday they'll have to contend with WR Chris Olave. -- Walder
What's at stake: It's quite simple for the Buccaneers, as a win gives them their third consecutive NFC South title and fourth straight playoff berth. Tampa is still the odds-on favorite to win the division and make the playoffs even if it loses, though, as the Bucs are at 71.1% to accomplish both. The Saints need to win to stay alive, as they are eliminated with a loss. A win gives New Orleans a chance to make the playoffs (20.9%) and win the division (16%) in Week 18. Read more.
Yates: Baker Mayfield can be trusted in fantasy vs. the Saints
Field Yates breaks down why fantasy managers can trust Baker Mayfield in Week 17.
What to know for fantasy: Derek Carr has scored 20 or more fantasy points in two consecutive games. He faces a Buccaneers defense that gives up the eighth-most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks. See Week 17 rankings. -- Moody
Betting nugget: The Buccaneers are 1-6 outright against teams currently with winning records (4-3 ATS), winning last week against the Jaguars. Read more.
Moody's pick: Buccaneers 30, Saints 26 Walder's pick: Saints 26, Buccaneers 20 FPI prediction: NO, 51.8% (by an average of 0.7 points)
Storyline to watch: Former Washington defensive end Chase Young makes his return, two months after the team traded him to San Francisco. Young recorded five sacks in seven games with Washington and has 2.5 in seven games with San Francisco, though he has been a backup with the 49ers after starting for the Commanders. Of his 53 pass rush wins, according to ESPN Stats & Information, 38 came with Washington. He'll get a chance to sack Commanders quarterback Jacoby Brissett, who is slated to make his first start of the season. But Brissett was added to the injury report with a hamstring injury and is listed as questionable. In two relief appearances and 25 dropbacks, Brissett has not been sacked. -- John Keim
Bold prediction: RB Christian McCaffrey scores three touchdowns to become the Niners' single-season record holder. McCaffrey has 21 touchdowns (rushing and receiving combined) through 15 games, leaving him two short of Jerry Rice's franchise record of 23 (which Rice did in just 12 games in 1987). This is a favorable matchup for McCaffrey and the Niners' offense as Washington is 23rd in yards per rush allowed (4.5) and rushing yards allowed (1,840). The Commanders have also given up 597 receiving yards to running backs, which ranks 27th in the NFL. Look for McCaffrey to do damage through the air and on the ground on his way to a record-breaking day. -- Nick Wagoner
Stat to know: With a win, the 49ers would have 12-plus wins in consecutive seasons for the first time since 1996-98.
Matchup X factor: Brissett. Sam Howell's play deteriorated in recent weeks, with just a 36 QBR since Week 10. Brissett should be an upgrade, and, in fact, the betting line has shrunk since it opened and Ron Rivera announced Brissett as the starter. In other words: That's a strong sign the betting markets have more faith in Brissett. -- Walder
What's at stake: The 49ers can wrap up the No. 1 seed, a bye and home-field advantage with a win and losses by the Lions and Eagles. Even if they don't clinch, the Niners are at 79.2% to get the top seed with a win, but a loss would drop those odds all the way to 16.2%. The Commanders still have faint hopes of getting the No. 1 pick with a loss (0.7%). Read more.
Expect Brock Purdy to bounce back in fantasy vs. the Commanders
Matt Bowen breaks down why 49ers QB Brock Purdy should still be in fantasy lineups this week despite a lackluster outing in Week 16.
What to know for fantasy: The Commanders' defense has allowed the second-most receiving yards and second-most touchdowns per game to wide receivers. You'll want to have Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk in lineups. Also, the Commanders have given up the sixth-most receiving yards per game to running backs, which is good news for McCaffrey. See Week 17 rankings. -- Moody
Betting nugget: The 49ers have covered four straight on the road and four straight as road favorites. Read more.
Moody's pick: 49ers 40, Commanders 14 Walder's pick: 49ers 30, Commanders 13 FPI prediction: SF, 77.6% (by an average of 10.1 points)
Storyline to watch: Only the Commanders' Sam Howell (60) has been sacked more than Panthers rookie QB Bryce Young (53), which is a good sign for a struggling Jaguars pass rush. Jaguars LB Josh Allen has 13.5 sacks (he needs one more to tie the franchise's single-season record), but his team recorded just 32 total. On the flip side, the Panthers have the league's worst pass rush (21 sacks), and the Jaguars' offensive line ranks 30th in pass block win rate (49.4%), per ESPN Stats & Information. If Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence can't go because of an AC sprain in his throwing shoulder, backup C.J. Beathard will be in at quarterback. -- Mike DiRocco
Bold prediction: Young, who didn't have a 300-yard passing game until this past Sunday against Green Bay, will have his second against a Jaguars defense ranked 29th against the pass (257.1 passing yards allowed per game) and 27th in sacks. He'll also have a career-high four touchdown passes. -- David Newton
Stat to know: The Jaguars are 0-4 in December. Only three teams in the Super Bowl era have made the playoffs after going winless in December: the 2022 Dolphins, 2000 Vikings and 1969 Rams.
Matchup X factor: The Jaguars' defense. While both sides have been seriously lacking of late, the defense has been the biggest difference between the Jaguars in Weeks 1-12 and their current four-game losing streak in Weeks 13-16. Fortunately for Jacksonville, the Panthers represent an opportunity to get back on track. -- Walder
What's at stake: Despite their losing skid, the Jaguars can win the AFC South on Sunday with a win and losses by the Texans and Colts. Even if they don't clinch, Jacksonville is at 88.1% to make the playoffs and 79.7% to win the division with a victory. Those odds drop to 51.5% and 26.8%, respectively, with a loss. A Panthers loss would lock up the No. 1 pick for the Bears (who acquired the Panthers' 2024 No. 1 pick in the trade for the No. 1 pick in 2023), but Carolina's pick would still have an 82.7% chance of being No. 1 even if the Panthers pull an upset. Read more.
The Fantasy Focus crew talks about Evan Engram's high volume and where he ranks in a deceptively tough matchup against the Panthers.
What to know for fantasy: Young had his best fantasy performance (22.2) against the Packers in Week 16. Now, the rookie faces a Jaguars defense in Week 17 that gives up the third-most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks. That's good news for D.J. Chark Jr. The Jaguars have given up the eighth-most fantasy points per game to wide receivers. See Week 17 rankings. -- Moody
Betting nugget: Seven of the past nine Panthers games have gone under the total. Read more.
Moody's pick: Panthers 24, Jaguars 20 Walder's pick: Jaguars 23, Panthers 14 FPI prediction: JAX, 78.0% (by an average of 10.2 points)
Storyline to watch: This is a showdown between the NFL's highest-scoring offense in the Dolphins (29 offensive points per game) and the league's stingiest defense in the Ravens (16.3 points allowed per game). It's the fourth time that the No. 1 scoring offense has faced the No. 1 scoring defense in the final two weeks of the regular season since the 1970 merger. The team with the highest-scoring offense has won three of the four meetings. -- Jamison Hensley
Bold prediction: With Dolphins WR Jaylen Waddlenot expected to play, the Dolphins' passing game will take a hit -- but their run game will make up for it. Both Raheem Mostert and De'Von Achane surpass 80 rushing yards in a Miami upset victory. -- Marcel Louis-Jacques
Stat to know: The Dolphins have used motion on 82% of their offensive plays this season, the highest rate in the NFL. On Sunday, Miami will face a Ravens defense that has been excellent facing motion, allowing the second-fewest yards per attempt (6.0) and yards per rush (5.3).
Matchup X factor: Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson. Why? Because since Week 8, the Dolphins' defense ranks first in EPA per play. Miami is firing on all cylinders, and Jackson is going to have to orchestrate an offense around that dominant defense. While Jackson is largely considered an MVP candidate, he also ranks only eighth in QBR. -- Walder
What's at stake: The Ravens would be sitting pretty with a win, as a victory would clinch the No. 1 seed and home-field advantage in the AFC playoffs. After the Browns won Thursday night, the Ravens need a win to clinch the AFC North. A loss would drop the Ravens' chances at the No. 1 seed to 41.1%. The Dolphins can also clinch their division Sunday, as a win or a Bills loss locks up the AFC East. A win would also give the Dolphins a solid shot at locking up the No. 1 seed (55.7%), with a loss eliminating that possibility. A loss and a Buffalo win set up a Week 18 matchup for the division crown, with a 55.5% chance of the Dolphins winning the AFC East title. Read more.
Adam Schefter reports that Jaylen Waddle is unlikely to suit up vs. the Ravens with an ankle injury.
What to know for fantasy: Tagovailoa hasn't scored 20 fantasy points since Week 8 against the Patriots. The Ravens' defense gives up the third-fewest fantasy points per game to quarterbacks. Baltimore defense has also given up the sixth-fewest fantasy points per game to running backs. Achane has been phenomenal this season but has averaged only 10.6 touches over the past three games. In that time frame, Mostert has averaged 17.0 touches. See Week 17 rankings. -- Moody
Betting nugget: The Dolphins have failed to cover three straight as an underdog, as well as three straight as a road underdog. Read more.
Moody's pick: Ravens 24, Dolphins 21 Walder's pick: Dolphins 23, Ravens 20 FPI prediction: BAL, 55.6% (by an average of 1.9 points)
Storyline to watch: The Texans control their destiny. If they win, they'll be in the postseason. The Titans face a different version of the Texans, as rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud has cleared concussion protocol. Before Stroud suffered a concussion, he led the league in passing yards (3,631) and threw 20 touchdowns to five interceptions. The Texans' offense with Stroud ranked 10th in scoring (23.8 per game) and was sixth in total offense (373.1). Without him, the offense averaged 295 yards and 17 points. Stroud will face the league's second-best red zone defense, which allows touchdowns on just 38.2% of red zone drives. -- DJ Bien-Aime
Bold prediction: Titans receiver DeAndre Hopkins will have 100 receiving yards and surpass 1,000 yards on the season. Hopkins has posted three 100-yard receiving games this season. Houston's defense is allowing 247.8 passing yards per game, so it will be a prime opportunity for Hopkins to have a good game against his former team. -- Turron Davenport
Stat to know: With a loss, the Titans would lose 11 games in a season for first time since 2015 (3-13).
Matchup X factor: Texans wide receiver Noah Brown and tight end Dalton Schultz. Even with Stroud back, this Texans offense still is missing WR Tank Dell. At times, Brown and Schultz have showed up in major ways. Houston needs one of them to come through to get the offense back on track. -- Walder
What's at stake: A win for the Texans gives them basically a 50/50 shot to qualify for the playoffs next week (50.5%) and a puncher's chance at taking the AFC South (20.1%). A loss would not be kind to Houston, reducing its playoff odds to 23.4% and its AFC South hopes to only 1.7%. The Titans are eliminated from the playoffs, but a loss would increase their chances at a top-five pick. Read more.
What to know for fantasy: This season, Texans WR Nico Collins has averaged 34.1 fantasy points when he has been targeted nine times or more. The Titans' defense has given up the fifth-most receiving yards per game to wide receivers. See Week 17 rankings. -- Moody
Betting nugget: The Titans are 1-8 ATS in their past nine against teams with winning records. Read more.
Moody's pick: Texans 27, Titans 21 Walder's pick: Texans 23, Titans 13 FPI prediction: HOU, 51.5% (by an average of 0.6 points)
Storyline to watch: While the Seahawks' run defense has faltered of late, their pass defense has been much better. After allowing roughly 3.6 pass plays per game of at least 20 yards over the first 14 weeks, Seattle is the only team that has not allowed one such completion over the past two weeks. Pittsburgh, meanwhile, got touchdown catches from George Pickens of 86 and 66 yards as well as another 44-yard reception last week. If Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon returns from the hip pointer that has sidelined him most of the past three games, the Witherspoon-Pickens matchup will be a must-watch. -- Brady Henderson
Bold prediction: The Steelers will have their first 100-yard rusher since Week 11. The Seahawks have given up 171 rushing yards per game in their past three outings, the second worst mark in the NFL. After struggling for the better part of the past month, the Steelers committed to the run game against the Bengals and ran the ball 30 times for 113 yards, with Najee Harris accounting for 78 of those. With QB Mason Rudolph stretching the field and opening up the offense with deep, vertical passes, expect the Steelers to keep finding room to run against the Seahawks. -- Brooke Pryor
Stat to know: Seahawks' receiver DK Metcalf has five receiving touchdowns in the past four games after scoring three in his first 10 games.
Matchup X factor: Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. We've highlighted him a few times, but his role against Seattle's strong receiver group is paramount. Porter ranks second in yards per coverage snap allowed and eighth in EPA allowed among outside corners with at least 250 coverage snaps. -- Walder
What's at stake: A third straight win would lock the Seahawks into the playoffs if the Packers-Vikings game ends in a tie. Even if that doesn't happen, the Seahawks are in good shape with a win, as their chances to make the playoffs would grow to 87.7%. A loss doesn't end Seattle's postseason chances, but it would reduce them to 41.7%. The Steelers also aren't out with a loss, but their playoff hopes would fall to 5.5%. A win gives Pittsburgh a bit more hope, increasing its playoff percentage to 23.2%. Read more.
Where does Geno Smith rank ahead of matchup with Steelers?
Liz Loza believes that Geno Smith could be a serviceable option for fantasy managers at the QB position in Week 17.
What to know for fantasy: The Seahawks' defense has allowed the sixth-most fantasy points per game to running backs. This season, Harris has averaged 15.1 touches per game, while Jaylen Warren has averaged 12. There is a place for both in fantasy lineups, especially for managers in deeper formats. See Week 17 rankings. -- Moody
Betting nugget: Five of the past six Seahawks games against AFC teams have gone under the total. Read more.
Moody's pick: Seahawks 24, Steelers 21 Walder's pick: Seahawks 22, Steelers 19 FPI prediction: SEA, 67.1% (by an average of 5.9 points)
Storyline to watch: Broncos coach Sean Payton benched quarterback Russell Wilson this week after Payton had publicly -- again -- expressed his frustration over the offense's performance in the loss to the New England Patriots on Sunday. Wilson's replacement, Jarrett Stidham, will face a Chargers defense ranked 29th overall, allowing 372.6 yards per game. Stidham has a chance over the next two games to stake a claim to compete for the starting job next season. The Broncos also waived a defensive captain Monday in Kareem Jackson, so how this team looks on the field will bear watching given the two players' standing in the locker room. -- Jeff Legwold
Bold prediction: The Chargers have the feel of a team reenergized under interim coach Giff Smith, whom players have lauded for his old-school, tough-love approach that is uniform from stars to reserves. In their first game under Smith, the Chargers nearly beat the Buffalo Bills -- a team that had blown out the soaring Cowboys a week before -- without top target Keenan Allen and with a third-string center and a backup quarterback. With the Broncos fresh off a week of turmoil, the Chargers could spoil Denver's slim playoff hopes on New Year's Eve. -- Kris Rhim
Stat to know: The Broncos' defense has registered 15 sacks in the past four games, and opposing quarterbacks have been held to a 34.9 Total QBR since Week 13, nearly 25 points better than in the Broncos' first 12 games.
Matchup X factor: Stidham. He's basically a total wild card having not thrown a single pass as a Bronco. He should have an easy first assignment against the Chargers, but Denver's chances will depend a lot on what kind of quarterback they have Sunday. -- Walder
What's at stake: The playoffs and the AFC West are still in play for the Broncos with a win, as they'd have a 7.7% chance to make the postseason and a 2.6% to win the division (would need the Chiefs to lose, too). A loss would eliminate Denver and be the eighth straight season out of the playoffs. The Chargers can't get the No. 1 pick, but they currently have an 18.2% at a top-five selection in the 2024 draft. Read more.
Adam Schefter breaks down the Broncos' decision to bench Russell Wilson and what this means moving forward.
What to know for fantasy: Chargers RB Austin Ekeler has averaged 18.4 touches and 19.2 fantasy points per game against the Broncos since 2021. Denver's defense has steadily improved, but the Broncos still give up the second-most fantasy points per game to running backs. See Week 17 rankings. -- Moody
Betting nugget: The Chargers are 2-5 ATS in their past seven games. They have gone under their total in 10 of their past 13 (going over last week). Read more.
Moody's pick: Broncos 17, Chargers 14 Walder's pick: Broncos 16, Chargers 13 FPI prediction: DEN, 53.1% (by an average of 1.1 points)
Storyline to watch: If this game is anything like Chiefs-Bengals meetings from recent seasons, it will come down to the end. Their four games from the past two years -- two in the regular season, two in the AFC Championship Game -- have been decided by exactly three points. If it's a similar scenario this time, it has to favor the Bengals. The Chiefs have been unable to rally for a win in the fourth quarter this season. -- Adam Teicher
Bold prediction: Chiefs rookie Rashee Rice goes for 125 receiving yards. Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo will make it a point to keep Travis Kelce from doing significant damage against Cincinnati. This should leave a lot of favorable matchups for Rice, who has a team-high 41 targets for Kansas City in the previous four games. -- Ben Baby
Stat to know: Mahomes needs 329 passing yards to pass Len Dawson (28,507) for most in Chiefs' franchise history.
Matchup X factor: Bengals wide receiver Tyler Boyd. If Ja'Marr Chase is out again, just so much falls on the shoulders of Tee Higgins. Jake Browning and the Bengals need a second weapon, and Boyd, if he plays at his best, can be that. -- Walder
What's at stake: The Chiefs can lock up their eighth consecutive AFC West crown with a win or losses by the Raiders and Broncos. Even if the Chiefs don't clinch the division, a win guarantees a playoff spot. Kansas City is still in a strong position to make the playoffs (92.8%) and win the division (90.8%) even if it loses. There's more volatility for the Bengals, as a win gives Cincinnati a 50.5% of making the playoffs, while a loss drops those odds to 7.4%. Read more.
Harry Douglas: Travis Kelce needs to step up as a leader
Harry Douglas argues that Travis Kelce needs to lead by example to help get the Chiefs' offense back on track.
What to know for fantasy: Rice faces a Bengals defense that gives up the ninth-most fantasy points per game to wide receivers. Over the past five games, he has averaged 10.0 targets and 18.6 fantasy points. See Week 17 rankings. -- Moody
Betting nugget: The Chiefs are 10-18 ATS in their past 28 games when laying at least a touchdown. Read more.
Moody's pick: Chiefs 34, Bengals 20 Walder's pick: Chiefs 27, Bengals 23 FPI prediction: KC, 72.8% (by an average of 8.1 points)
Storyline to watch: The Vikings are once again turning to rookie QB Jaren Hall, largely because they are out of options after Nick Mullens threw six interceptions in two starts and Joshua Dobbs was unable to move the offense at the end of his stint as a starter. Ordinarily, Hall's grand total of 22 previous offensive snaps at the NFL level would be a concern in a game with such obvious playoff implications. But the Vikings are fortunate that he will be playing against a Packers pass defense that has allowed a 62.3 QBR to opposing quarterbacks since the start of Week 11, the fourth-worst defensive mark in the league over that period. -- Kevin Seifert
Bold prediction: The Packers will have their first 100-yard receiver of the season. This after Aaron Jones gave them their first 100-yard rusher of the season in Sunday's win at Carolina. It's not that the Vikings are giving up gobs of yards through the air -- they rank 17th in the league, allowing 225.5 passing yards per game -- but it's bound to happen for Green Bay. Christian Watson has twice had games in the 90-yard range. Dontayvion Wicks has a 97-yard outing, Romeo Doubs has a 95-yard game and Jayden Reed has two in the 80s. -- Rob Demovsky
Stat to know: The Vikings are 1-8 when losing the turnover battle this season -- the most such defeats in the NFL. They are 6-0 when they don't lose the turnover differential. The Vikings' 30 turnovers are tied with the Jets for second most in NFL this season (Browns, 32) and are the Vikings' most since 2013 (32).
What's at stake: This is pretty much a must-win game for both teams. There's more of a range for the Packers, who would have a better than 50-50 shot at the playoffs with a win (52.2%) but would be on the brink of elimination with a loss (0.4%). It's not as extreme a spread for the Vikings, but they need to win; their playoff hopes go from 39.3% with a win to 2.2% with a loss. Read more.
What to know for fantasy: WR K.J. Osborn has averaged 20.5 fantasy points per game over his career when he has seen seven or more targets. After losing T.J. Hockenson for the season, Osborn is expected to play a larger role in the Vikings' passing game. See Week 17 rankings. -- Moody
Betting nugget: Prime-time unders are 33-17 this season and 156-102-4 (.605) over the past five seasons. Read more.
Moody's pick: Packers 21, Vikings 20 Walder's pick: Vikings 23, Packers 20 FPI prediction: GB, 52.7% (by an average of 1.0 points)
