IMPORTANT NOTE: MOST GAMES THIS WEEK ARE ON SATURDAY! There are only TWO on Sunday, and one on Monday. GET YOUR PICKS IN BY SATURDAY AT 1 PM EASTERN TIME!
Here we are. Week 16. So much at stake, and just two games left to go. Some thrilling football to be had this week, including a pair of Christmas Day matchups that have the potential to decide divisional races. Get ready!!
GAME OF THE WEEK - Baltimore Ravens (8-6) at Pittsburgh Steelers (9-5), PIT by 5 - The biggest game of the week in a week filled with big games. Pittsburgh clinches the north with a win, while Baltimore takes control of its destiny in the north with a win of its own. Pittsburgh has the homefield advantage, but Baltimore has picked up a fair number of scrappy road wins this year already. I expect the Steelers to win, but I also expect this to be a close, hard-fought contest like many that have come between these teams before. Steelers 20, Ravens 17
THURSDAY NIGHT - New York Giants (10-4) at Philadelphia Eagles (5-9), NYG by 2.5 - The bottom really fell out quickly for the Eagles after such a promising start to the season. Still, the Eagles have had the Giants' number over the last few years, and anything can happen in divisional football. Part of me wants to predict an Eagles upset, but I think this Giants defense has just become too good to let that happen. Giants 23, Eagles 17
Washington Redskins (7-6-1) at Chicago Bears (3-11), WAS by 3 - The Redskins' playoff hopes were dealt a significant blow on Monday night against the Panthers, and now they essentially must win their last two games for a shot at a wild card. But these Bears are playing tough football right now, despite their record. They just took a hot Packers team to their limit, and are more than capable of doing the same to the Redskins. UPSET! - Bears 24, Redskins 23
MIami Dolphins (9-5) at Buffalo Bills (7-7), BUF by 3.5 - No Tannehill? No problem. Matt Moore is one of the league's best backups, and shredded the Jets for four touchdowns. The test is a bit tougher in Buffalo, but the Dolphins are playing with a playoff berth in mind, after having earned their first winning record since 2008. I don't think they'll be stopped yet. UPSET! - Dolphins 27, Bills 20
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-6) at New Orleans Saints (6-8), NO by 3 - These two teams just met a couple weeks ago, with Tampa coming out on the winning end. But playing at home, the Saints are a much different team. It's a must-have game for Tampa, but the Saints would love nothing more than to play spoiler. Saints 30, Bucs 20
Atlanta Falcons (9-5) at Carolina Panthers (6-8), ATL by 3.5 - If the Panthers had played like they did on Monday night for the entire year, they'd be controlling the NFC South right now. But it's the Falcons' division to lose, and I don't see them letting the Panthers put an early end to their party. Falcons 35, Panthers 24
Minnesota Vikings (7-7) at Green Bay Packers (8-6), GB by 6.5 - When I bought tickets to this game a few weeks ago (YES I'M GOING TO THIS GAME!!!!!
) I did so expecting the Packers would be out of the running. But now, it's suddenly an extremely meaningful game. With a win, the Packers continue to control their own destiny. Let's face it, these two teams are heading in opposite directions. It's destiny that the game in Detroit next weekend is for the NFC North title. It'll be a great Christmas Eve gift to me to see the Pack get the win in person! Packers 30, Vikings 17New York Jets (3-11) at New England Patriots (12-2), NE by 16.5 - LMAO at this point spread. Jets gon get got. Patriots 31, Jets 13
Tennessee Titans (8-6) at Jacksonville Jaguars (2-12), TEN by 5 - It's about time Gus Bradley lost his job. The Titans will win this game and head into the final week for a showdown for the AFC South title. Titans 23, Jags 14
San Diego Chargers (5-9) at Cleveland Browns (0-14), SD by 6 - Just two more to history, Cleveland. you can do it! Chargers 33, Browns 10
Indianapolis Colts (7-7) at Oakland Raiders (11-3), OAK by 3.5 - The Colts have been alternating between wins and losses for the last two and a half months. This week, they're due for another loss, putting the Raiders just one more win away from a division title and first round bye. Raiders 34, Colts 21
San Francisco 49ers (1-13) at Los Angeles Rams (4-10), LA by 3.5 - A few weeks ago there's no way I'd have picked the 49ers in this game. But the Rams have become so utterly incompetent that, yes, even a team with Jeremy Kerley as its first receiving option is capable of defeating them. UPSET! - 49ers 27, Rams 13
Arizona Cardinals (5-8-1) at Seattle Seahawks (9-4-1), SEA by 8.5 - Neither of these teams is looking particularly impressive of late, but Seattle is the one going to the playoffs. It should take care of business at home and avoid another tie situation. Seahawks 20, Cardinals 10
Cincinnati Bengals (4-9-1) at Houston Texans (8-6), HOU by 2 - The Bengals are done for the year. But the Houstons are making the interesting and bold decision of benching Osweiler for little-known Tom Savage. That certainly adds an element of unpredictability to this game. Given taht Savage seemed far more capable of throwing forward passes than Brock did in his action last week, I'm going to give the Texans the nod. Texans 27, Bengals 24
Denver Broncos (8-6) at Kansas City Chiefs (10-4), KC by 4 - After a stumble against Tennessee last week, the Chiefs need this victory to keep up with the Raiders. A loss, plus a Raiders victory, gives Oakland the division title. The Broncos, however, are basically playing without an offense at this point, and are on their way to being the first defending Super Bowl champion to miss the playoffs since the Giants in 2012. Chiefs 26, Broncos 20
Detroit Lions (9-5) at Dallas Cowboys (12-2), DAL by 7 - The Lions have put themselves into a situation where this game really doesn't matter for their divisional title hopes, but definitely does for their Wild Card hopes. A loss this week and next week could end their season. But unfortunately for them, the Cowboys are still playing for a divisional title and first seed in the NFC. If the Giants beat Philadelphia, the pressure remains on them for one more week. This means the Cowboys are coming out ready to play, and should be able to control the Lions at home. The Lions will be left with a short week to prepare for a divisional title faceoff against the Packers, who will have an extra day of rest thanks to their Saturday game. Cowboys 28, Lions 17
