This article was originally published on www.si.com/onsi/fantasy as NFL Week 17 Survival Pool Strategy: Patriots, Lions and 3 More Winning Picks . An NFL survival pool is one of the most popular contests for fans looking to add extra drama to the season.

Look for the Panthers and Seahawks to win major NFC battles against division leaders, and for the Niners to get their 11th win.

Overall picks to win: 8-8 in Week 17 (173-82-1 for the season) Picks to win with 1-5 confidence: 4-7 (103-64-1) Picks to win with 6-10 confidence: 4-1 (70-18) Overall to cover the spread: 9-6-1 (130-117-9) Cover-the-spread picks with 1-5 confidence: 8-4-1 (107-93-8) Cover-the-spread picks with 6-10 confidence: 1-2 (23-23-1)

In Sporting News' Week 18 picks, find out which teams clinch a playoff spot and who gets sent home in a pivotal final weekend.

The final week of the 2025 NFL regular season is here, and only two playoff spots remain. Week 18 will feature a pair of matchups that will determine the AFC North and NFC South. The AFC North battle between the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers is a simple win-and-in situation,