Hello readers! Another week of National Football League action has come upon us yet again.
Playoff Picture: Week 16
Let's start with the AFC...
Seedings:
1st seed: Kansas City Chiefs (13-1) (Clinched AFC West)
2nd seed: Buffalo Bills (11-3) (Clinched AFC East)
3rd seed: Pittsburgh Steelers (11-3) (Clinched playoff spot)
4th seed: Tennessee Titans (10-4)
5th seed: Cleveland Browns (10-4)
6th seed: Indianapolis Colts (10-4)
7th seed: Miami Dolphins (9-5)
Wild card matchups:
Miami @ Buffalo
Indianapolis @ Pittsburgh
Cleveland @ Tennessee
A few scenarios in this week for the AFC. Kansas City can clinch a first round bye with a win or tie or a Pittsburgh, Buffalo loss. Pittsburgh can clinch the AFC North with a win and a Browns loss. Tennessee can clinch the AFC South with a win and Colts loss. Cleveland can clinch a playoff berth with a win plus either a Ravens, Dolphins, or Colts loss or tie.
Now to the NFC...
Seedings:
1st seed: Green Bay Packers (11-3) (Clinched NFC North)
2nd seed: New Orleans Saints (10-4) (Clinched playoff berth)
3rd seed: Seattle Seahawks (10-4) (Clinched playoff berth)
4th seed: Washington Football Team (6-8)
5th seed: Los Angeles Rams (9-5)
6th seed: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-5)
7th seed: Arizona Cardinals (8-6)
Wild card matchups:
Arizona @ New Orleans
Tampa Bay @ Seattle
LA Rams @ Washington
Green Bay can clinch first round bye with a win and Seahawks loss or Packers tie with a Saints loss or tie and Seahawks loss or tie. New Orleans can clinch NFC South with a win or Buccaneers loss. Seattle just needs to win to clinch NFC West. Washington needs to win and Giants loss to clinch NFC East.
Week 16 Picks
Week 16 of the National Football League's regular season starts in New Orleans, Louisiana and finishes up in Foxboro, Massachusetts. The week features a 16-game slate. It features a Friday night game, three Saturday games, six early games, four late games, a Sunday night game, and a Monday night game. CBS will have the single, regional game and FOX will have the doubleheader. No teams are on a bye this week. Let's get to the picks!
Note: TW is me and CV is Cardinal Viking, my former roommate.
Minnesota (6-8) @ New Orleans (10-4) (FOX/NFL Network): TW: Saints; CV: Vikings
Both teams lost last week as the Vikings lost to the Bears and the Saints lost to the Chiefs. Minnesota has had the Saints number lately but I feel the shift could be happening back into New Orleans. Could be a fun game to watch as you're wining and dining with your family on Christmas Day.
Tampa Bay (9-5) @ Detroit (5-9) (NFL Network): TW: Buccaneers; CV: Buccaneers
The Buccaneers beat the Falcons and the Lions lost to the Titans last week. If you're looking for a team that can make a late push into the playoffs and get hot at the right time, this team I feel has the right stuff to do it. Detroit could play spoiler but their running game hasn't been that impressive to me lately.
San Francisco (5-9) @ Arizona (8-6) (Amazon Prime): TW: Cardinals; CV: Cardinals
The 49ers lost to the Cowboys and the Cardinals beat the Eagles last week. Another team that looks to get hot right at the moment of possibly playing January football. Still like the 49ers running game and offense to put up numbers but I tend to think with the Cardinals defense getting hot at the right time and a versatile running game, I think the Cards got what it takes to win.
Miami (9-5) @ Las Vegas (7-7) (NFL Network): TW: Dolphins; CV: Dolphins
The Dolphins beat the Patriots and the Raiders lost to the Chargers last week. Had a glimpse of what Marcus Mariota could be in Raiderland as he played fairly well enough to almost get the dub. Derek Carr won't likely play in this one due to groin injury. I do like the Dolphins in that they seem to play a team game as most of their players aren't studs outside of Tua Tagovailoa. I'll take Miami.
Cleveland (10-4) @ NY Jets (1-13) (CBS): TW: Browns; CV: Browns
Both teams got wins last week as the Browns beat the Giants and the Jets beat the Rams. New York finally got the winless label off their back. Unfortunately they're facing off against one of the better teams in the AFC. Not sure if the Browns will stoop down to their usual play down to competition mentality but I think the the Browns will get a win.
Indianapolis (10-4) @ Pittsburgh (11-3) (CBS): TW: Colts; CV: Colts
The Colts beat the Texans and the Steelers lost to the Bengals last week. Wheels are falling off fast in Pittsburgh. At one point this team was still undefeated not that long ago. Indianapolis typically doesn't do well at Pittsburgh but it could change in this one. I like the Colts defense and running game to grind down the Steelers defense in this one. I can't keep picking the Steelers and having them lose.
NY Giants (5-9) @ Baltimore (9-5) (FOX): TW: Ravens; CV: Ravens
The Giants lost to the Browns and the Ravens beat the Jaguars last week. Definitely a mismatch on both sides of the ball. Definitely leans toward Baltimore. I like the Ravens offense to take advantage of the Giants poor defense. Lamar Jackson does Lamar Jackson things in this one.
Cincinnati (3-10-1) @ Houston (4-10) (FOX): TW: Texans; CV: Texans
The Bengals beat the Steelers and the Texans lost to the Colts last week. Cincinnati got a big win last week against rival Pittsburgh. What they face next is Houston. The Texans are in a terrible season but they have some hope with the possibility of building around DeShaun Watson in the offseason with a new head coach and general manager. Joe Mixon could be back for the Bengals but they won't be without Joe Burrow. I think the Texans offense vs Bengals defense is a bit of a mismatch. I'll take Houston.
Chicago (7-7) @ Jacksonville (1-13) (CBS): TW: Bears; CV: Bears
The Bears beat the Vikings and the Jaguars lost to the Ravens last week. The comeback of Mitchell Trubisky has been some what of a sight to see. Fortunately for Chicago, they're playing a terrible Jaguars team that has 13 straight losses. I'll take Chicago.
Carolina (4-10) @ Washington (6-8) (CBS): TW: Football Team; CV: Panthers
The Panthers lost to the Packers and the Football Team lost to the Seahawks last week. In spite of Dwayne Haskins losing his captaincy due to him being out at a nightclub this week, I like the Football Team in this one. Christian McCaffrey won't likely play until possibly next week as he is doubtful. Could be a low scoring affair.
Atlanta (4-10) @ Kansas City (13-1) (FOX): TW: Chiefs; CV: Chiefs
The Falcons lost to the Buccaneers and the Chiefs beat the Saints last week. Blowing leads should be well in the Falcons DNA by now. Fortunately, I don't think they won't need to have a lead in this game because Patrick Mahomes and company will likely put numbers on the Falcons defense. I'll take the defending champs.
Denver (5-9) @ LA Chargers (5-9) (CBS): TW: Chargers; CV: Chargers
The Broncos lost to the Bills and the Chargers beat the Raiders last week. It's the battle for dead last in the AFC West! Drew Lock has been hit or miss this season and his offense at times has been the same. Justin Herbert has been a pleasant sight to see for the Chargers. Sure the defense isn't the greatest but who needs it when you have a potential great quarterback in Herbert. I'll take the Chargers.
LA Rams (9-5) @ Seattle (10-4) (FOX): TW: Rams; CV: Seahawks
The Rams lost to the Jets and the Seahawks beat the Football Team last week. Could be a huge game to determine who wins the vaunted NFC West. Seattle just needs to win this game and they will be division winners. What they face is the Rams who got embarassed in losing to the Jets last week. Sean McVay will get them ready. Should be a tight contest.
Philadelphia (4-9-1) @ Dallas (5-9) (FOX): TW: Eagles; CV: Eagles
The Eagles lost to the Cardinals and the Cowboys beat the 49ers last week. Both teams aren't really that spectacular but the Eagles have been playing better as of late with the benching of Carson Wentz. Jalen Hurts has been a catalyst and the Eagles will need him to beat their rival Dallas.
Tennessee (10-4) @ Green Bay (11-3) (NBC): TW: Titans; CV: Titans
Both teams won last week as the Titans beat the Lions and the Packers beat the Panthers. The Titans rush offense has been god-like this year with Derrick Henry doing Derrick Henry things. As much as I think Aaron Rodgers will keep this a close one, his rush defense is atrocious. I don't know how they can stop Derrick Henry and the rest of the Titans offense.
Buffalo (11-3) @ New England (6-8) (ESPN): TW: Bills; CV: Bills
The Bills beat the Broncos and the Patriots lost to the Dolphins last week. New England won't have a plus .500 season for the first time in nearly two decades. They could have a losing season for the first time since 2000. Buffalo would like nothing more than to stick it to their bullies in the Patriots on the road. Cam Newton hasn't played out well to expectations for the Patriots and I don't see him being a factor in this one. I'll take the Bills.
Local TV Schedule (courtesy of 506sports):
CBS Single:
Chicago @ Jacksonville
Greg Gumbel, Rich Gannon
FOX Early:
Atlanta @ Kansas City
Kevin Burkhardt, Daryl Johnston
FOX Late:
LA Rams @ Seattle
Joe Buck, Troy Aikman
For more information on which game is being shown in your area, check out: NFL Maps: Week 16
2020 Week by Week Record:
TW's record:
Week 1: 8-8
Week 2: 15-1
Week 3: 9-6-1
Week 4: 11-4
Week 5: 9-5
Week 6: 7-7
Week 7: 12-2
Week 8: 7-7
Week 9: 10-4
Week 10: 10-4
Week 11: 7-7
Week 12: 11-5
Week 13: 10-5
Week 14: 7-9
Week 15: 12-4
Total: 145-78-1
Cardinal Viking's record:
Week 1: 10-6
Week 2: 11-5
Week 3: 8-7-1
Week 4: 7-8
Week 5: 8-6
Week 6: 9-5
Week 7: 11-3
Week 8: 7-7
Week 9: 9-5
Week 10: 11-3
Week 11: 8-6
Week 12: 9-7
Week 13: 11-4
Week 14: 11-5
Week 15: 13-3
Total: 143-80-1
Previous Picking Records:
2017: 167-89
2018: 156-98-2
2019: 151-104-1
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