Bussin’ With The Boys – NFL Week 17 Picks:

Christmas Games + Bills Over Eagles & Delanie Walker Looks To Go Undefeated AGAIN

Release Date: December 24, 2025
Podcast Hosts: Will Compton (absent), Taylor Lewan, Joined by Clay Matthews & Delanie Walker

Episode Overview

This lively holiday episode is all about Week 17 of the NFL season, with the Boys making picks for the Christmas Day games and breaking down broader matchups. Delanie Walker takes center stage after an undefeated week, the group compares betting strategies, and everyone aims to ride a hot streak going into the playoffs. Expect fast banter, football stories, and classic Bussin’ With The Boys energy, wrapped in a holiday vibe.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Delanie Walker’s Hot Streak & Christmas Energy

• Delanie went 6-0 last week, bringing his record to 34-13 since Week 10, making him the biggest story of the year among “the boys.”
• “The glory to it all is I never gave up. I canceled out the noise. I put my head down and I grind.” – Delanie Walker [07:08]
• Walker gifts the crew signed Delanie action figures ("kung-fu grip and all") as inspiration:
  “When they look to this, they'll know what greatness look like.” – Delanie [07:53]
• The boys celebrate their betting success and riff on the importance of grinding, staying the course, and not letting outside noise impact performance.
• Running inside jokes about everyone’s betting standings–Compton is in last, supposedly because “his whole family is sick,” which they joke is just an excuse for bad picks.

2. “Pass the Leg” Christmas Parlay (FanDuel) [04:00]

• The boys build a collaborative parlay with each picking a leg:
  • Taylor: R.J. Harvey (Broncos RB) vs. Chiefs
  • Will (in absentia): CeeDee Lamb vs. Commanders
  • Delanie: Jameer Gibbs (Lions) vs. Vikings
  • Clay: Justin Jefferson anytime TD vs. Lions
• Parlay returns odds of +1440.
• “That feels like something Clay tells you at a Thursday night stream... that sucker can hit, can it?” – Taylor [05:23]

3. Rapid Fire: Christmas Games Picks [12:16]

a) Cowboys @ Commanders

• Line: Cowboys -7, O/U 50.5
  • Taylor: Commanders +7
  • Clay: Cowboys Moneyline
  • Delanie: Cowboys -5.5
  • Will: Commanders +7

b) Lions @ Vikings

• Line: Lions -5.5, O/U 44.5
  • Taylor: Lions -2.5
  • Delanie: Lions -5.5
  • Clay: Vikings Moneyline
  • Will: Lions -5.5

c) Broncos @ Chiefs

• Line: Broncos -12.5, O/U 36.5
  • Taylor: Broncos -12.5
  • Clay: Broncos Moneyline ("crazy!")
  • Delanie: Under 36.5
  • Will: Under 36.5
• “Sometimes you just gotta take a chance in life.” – Clay [14:39]
  • Leads to motivational riff on fear and greatness.

4. Full Game Breakdown & Reasoning

Packers vs. Ravens [18:03]

• Delanie & Taylor both side with Packers -2.5, especially trusting Malik Willis if he needs to start.
• Clay recounts Packers-Bears history, ties it into 2010 NFC Championship glory.
• Clay: “Those who fail to study history are doomed to repeat it.” [19:59]
• Good discussion of Derrick Henry’s late-career impact and Malik Willis’s maturation.

Texans vs. Chargers [24:25]

• Both teams are streaking (Texans 7 wins, Chargers 4).
• Delanie picks Chargers -1.5, citing confidence in Jim Harbaugh and DC Jesse Minter.
• Taylor predicts a low-scoring game: “Both these teams, I think offenses get absolutely deleted. So I’m going to take the under of 39.5.” [27:53]
• Will takes Texans Moneyline due to their defensive potential.

Seahawks vs. Panthers [30:32]

• Delanie: Seahawks -5.5 (moves line for safety).
• Clay: Seahawks Moneyline, highlights “different” Seahawks D.
• Taylor: Panthers +7.5, thinks Carolina will play up for the challenge.
• Will: Over 42.5.

Jaguars vs. Colts [35:40], [38:19]

• Jaguars are the “hottest team in the AFC,” only team to beat the Broncos at Denver.
• Delanie: Jaguars -5.5
• Clay: Jags -9.5 if Riley Leonard starts for Colts, ML if Rivers returns.
• Taylor: Jags -6.5, “Only cause for concern is the Jags are now the top dog...”
• Will: Jags -6.5

Bears vs. 49ers [44:03]

• Delanie: If Kittle plays, 49ers ML; if not, Bears +7.5
  • “He the only red zone threat.” [45:43]
• Clay: 49ers -3 “Not a team hotter on offense right now...”
• Taylor: 49ers -3, discusses Purdy/Mac Jones narrative and trusting the Niners as season wears on.
• Will: Over 51.5

Rams vs. Falcons [50:01]

• Delanie: Rams -5.5 (moves line down, expects LA not to play their best).
• Clay: Rams Moneyline, too risky with spreads.
• Taylor: Over 49.5
  • “Matthew Stafford... is the front runner right now [for MVP].”
  • “Bijan Robinson... 40% of the Falcons offense.” [53:59]
• Will: Falcons +8.5

Game of the Week: Eagles @ Bills [59:43]

• All boys take Bills -2.5, citing home weather (80% chance of snow), hotter team, Allen’s play.
• Delanie: “The weather, the date and time of that game is going to make a difference, and I just don’t see the Eagles showing up for it... Bills minus two and a half.” [61:07]
• Taylor: “If he [Allen] can keep doing it for this year, this is the clearest path Josh Allen can have to the Super Bowl…” [64:05]
• Clay: “Bills are just. They’re rolling right now.” [62:28]
• They joke about the Bussin’ curse when all hosts pick the same team (record: 8-11).

5. Notable Quotes & Moments

• Delanie on resurgence: “People sitting on the side of me. You’re too slow, you’re too fat... I ain’t let the noise get to me. I put my head down and I grind.” [06:25]
• Clay on Packers-Bears: “Those who fail to study history are doomed to repeat it.” [19:59]
• Taylor on betting: “Your unit is your unit. No judgment on your unit, no judges.” [67:48]
• Clay's honesty: "Spreads are for chumps... we gotta get back to the Moneyline way." [11:15]
• Delanie's holiday spirit: “If you are a Mule or Jenny or a Mulet, you will know moving that line makes more sense.” [52:16]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:00] Opening, holiday greetings, Delanie’s hot streak intro
• [04:00] Pass the Leg FanDuel Parlay picks (Harvey, Lamb, Gibbs, Jefferson)
• [06:25] Delanie’s deer hunter motivational speech/action figure gift moment
• [12:16] Christmas Rapid Fire picks (Cowboys/Commanders, Lions/Vikings, Broncos/Chiefs)
• [18:03] Packers vs. Ravens analysis (history, home field debate)
• [24:25] Texans vs. Chargers picks & line debate
• [30:32] Seahawks vs. Panthers breakdown
• [35:40] Jaguars vs. Colts plus rivalry news
• [44:03] Bears vs. 49ers strategy (Kittle variable)
• [50:01] Rams vs. Falcons, distractions and over/under logic
• [59:43] Game of the Week: Eagles at Bills, snow game implications & unanimous Bills pick
• [67:20] Parlay talk, betting stories, show wraps up for the holidays

Tone, Flow, & Takeaways

• Classic “Bussin’ With The Boys” banter: irreverent, honest, competitive, and supportive.
• Episode blends real football insight with jokes, pop culture riffs, and deep locker room energy.
• The hosts build their bets with a blend of stats, intuition, and a self-aware nod that "the boys" are as likely to fail as to go undefeated.
• Multiple off-the-cuff moments (action figure gifts, deer hunting metaphors, the “MLK – Moneyline King” joke) keep the show light but grounded in real football and betting talk.

Summary Table: Main Game Picks

| Game | Taylor | Delanie | Clay | Will (absent) | |------------------------|------------------|-------------------|------------------|-------------------| | Cowboys @ Commanders | Commanders +7 | Cowboys -5.5 | Cowboys ML | Commanders +7 | | Lions @ Vikings | Lions -2.5 | Lions -5.5 | Vikings ML | Lions -5.5 | | Broncos @ Chiefs | Broncos -12.5 | Under 36.5 | Broncos ML | Under 36.5 | | Packers vs. Ravens | Packers -2.5 | Packers -2.5 | Packers -2.5 | Packers -2.5 | | Texans vs. Chargers | Under 39.5 | Chargers -1.5 | Chargers -1.5 | Texans ML | | Seahawks vs. Panthers | Panthers +7.5 | Seahawks -5.5 | Seahawks ML | Over 42.5 | | Jaguars vs. Colts | Jags -6.5 | Jags -5.5 | Jags-9.5/ML | Jags -6.5 | | Bears vs. 49ers | 49ers -3 | 49ers/Bears+7.5** | 49ers -3 | Over 51.5 | | Rams vs. Falcons | Over 49.5 | Rams -5.5 | Rams ML | Falcons +8.5 | | Eagles @ Bills | Bills -2.5 | Bills -2.5 | Bills -2.5 | Bills -2.5 |

(If Kittle out, Delanie takes Bears +7.5. If in, 49ers ML)

For Listeners Who Missed It

If you love NFL analysis mixed with barstool humor, betting debates, and athlete insights, this is a classic holiday edition. Delanie Walker is riding a hot streak and inspiring the crew; Taylor, Clay, and Will (in absentia) trade picks, stats, and barbs all episode long. Key theme: trust your gut, but don’t be afraid to “move the line” for better odds—and Merry Christmas from the Bussin’ boys!

“Merry Christmas, Big hugs, tiny kisses!” – Taylor & the crew [68:51]