NFL 2022 Week 16 Prequel
Thursday, December 22, 2022, 8pm
Jacksonville Jaguars at New York Jets (-1) — The 6-8 Jaguars and 7-7 Jets are both fighting for their playoff lives. The Jaguars have the better offense with Trevor Lawrence and Travis Etienne. The Jets have the better defense, the home field, and the cold weather. Go with the home field and Robert Saleh’s defense, especially in the wake of the bomb cyclone weather. Jets cover
Saturday, December 24, Christmas Eve, 1pm
Atlanta Falcons at Baltimore Ravens (-7 1/2) — The 9-5 Ravens fell one game back in the AFC North after losing last week. Just like last year, they lose games when Tyler Huntley fills in for an injured Lamar Jackson. The Falcons at 5-9 are only one game back in the awful NFC South. The spread is too high for a Ravens team that struggles without Jackson. Ravens win but fail to cover
Detroit Lions (-3) at Carolina Panthers — The Lions started 1-6 but have gone 6-1 since to get to 7-7. The Lions score a lot on offense but have a sieve defense. The Panthers at 5-9 are only one game back in the woeful NFC South. Jared Goff is playing better than Sam Darnold. It’s hard to go with the Lions fast track offense in cold and bad weather, but give them the benefit of the doubt due to their red hot streak. Lions cover
Buffalo Bills (-8 1/2) at Chicago Bears — The 11-3 Bills are looking to lock up the AFC East and stay on track for home field throughout the AFC. The Bears are done for the year. The Bills are far superior, and cold and bad weather will not affect them. They are used to it. The spread is too high for a road team given that Justin Fields is an exciting playmaker. A garbage touchdown by the Bears is realistic. Bills win but fail to cover
New Orleans Saints at Cleveland Browns (-3) — The 5-9 Saints are one of three teams only one game back in the horrid NFC South. The 6-8 Browns are fighting for their playoff lives. Their defense earned a huge emotional win last week over Baltimore. If Deshaun Watson can remember how to throw a football, the Browns will be vastly improved. The home field favors the Browns less than the bad and cold weather does. Go with the bomb cyclone and the Dawg Pound to deliver. Browns cover
Seattle Seahawks at Kansas City Chiefs (-9 1/2) — The Seahawks overachieved for much of the year but have lost 4 of 5 to fall to 7-7. They are alive for a playoff spot. The 11-3 Chiefs have already clinched their seventh straight AFC West Title. They are tied atop the AFC but do not hold the tie-breaker. The Chiefs pinball offense is in playoff form already. The spread is high, but the Seahawks defense will not be able to slow Walrus Andy Reid and his Patrick Mahomes Express. Chiefs cover
New York Giants at Minnesota Vikings (-3 1/2) — The Giants got a huge road win over Washington while the Vikings last week engineered the greatest comeback in NFL history. Down 33-0 in the third quarter, the Vikings won 39-26 in overtime. The Giants are 8-51 and the Vikings are 11-3 and NFC North champions. The Giants have a quality defense. The Vikings have an explosive offense. The Giants have a ton of heart. They punch above their weight, making for a close game. Vikings win but fail to cover
Cincinnati Bengals (-3 1/2) at New England Patriots — The Bengals overcame a 17-point deficit to win a rout over Tom Brady’s new team. Now they face his old team. The Patriots lost last week to the Raiders in one of the craziest finishes in NFL history. The Patriots literally gave the game away. As Bill Belichcik would say, “We’re on to Cincinnati.” The 7-7 Patriots are desperate, but the 10-4 Bengals are playing with swagger. It starts with Joe Burrow. He is better than Mac Jones. Betting against a desperate and angry Patriots team at home may be unwise, but the Bengals are the defending AFC champions. Bengals win but fail to cover
Houston Texans at Tennessee Titans (-5) — The Texans have won only one game all year and are the worst team in the league. Yet the Titans after a 7-3 start have been reeling with four straight losses. The Titans still have a one game lead in the bad AFC South. The Texans have put a scare into some of the best teams in the league but did not finish. Derrick Henry should run the Titans to a win, but not in a cakewalk. Titans win but fail to cover
4pm
Washington Commanders at San Francisco 49ers (-7 1/2) — The Commanders lost a tough home game last week to the Giants to fall to 7-6-1. They are alive for a playoff spot, but the 10-4 49ers have a stingy defense. The 49ers have already clinched the NFC West. Brock Purdy has gone from Mr. Irrelevant to Mr. Sensation in a couple weeks. Both teams tend to win ugly, rendering a blowout unlikely. Taylor Heinecke is competent enough to keep the game close for a bit. 49ers win but fail to cover
Philadelphia Eagles at Dallas Cowboys (-6) — The 13-1 Eagles have not clinched the NFC East yet. The 10-4 Cowboys need to win out and have the Eagles lose out for the Cowboys to win the division. While that is unlikely, the Cowboys will be angry after their meltdown last week at Jacksonville. The Cowboys blew a 17 point lead. Jalen Hurts may be more hurt than letting on. These teams may meet again in the playoffs in Philadelphia, at which point the Eagles would be favored. In Dallas, expect the Cowboys to send a message that the NFC champion has yet to be decided. Cowboys cover
8pm
Las Vegas Raiders at Pittsburgh Steelers (-3) — Both teams made the playoffs last year and collapsed this year. The Raiders started 2-7 and the Steelers started 3-7. The Raiders then won 4 of 5 and the Steelers 3 of 4 as both teams come in 6-8 and clinging to playoff life. On paper, the Raiders are the better team. Derek Carr and Josh Jacobs are better than Kenny Pickett and the committee of Pittsburgh backs. Under normal circumstances, the Raiders would win this game. Yet this week is anything but normal. The day before the game is the 50th anniversary of the Immaculate Reception. Last week the Raiders won a Hanukkah miracle in crazy fashion. They got a tiny measure of revenge for the Tuck Rule, but this week all the emotion will be with the Steelers due to the untimely death of Franco Harris this past Tuesday. Steelers cover
Sunday, December 25 Christmas Day, 1pm
Green Bay Packers at Miami Dolphins (-4 1/2) — The 6-8 Packers cling to playoff life while the 8-6 Dolphins lost a brutal game at Buffalo last week. The AFC East is most likely out of reach unless Miami runs the table and Buffalo losses their remaining three games. A wildcard is very much in reach for the Dolphins. Tua Tagovailoa is actually playing better than Aaron Rodgers. The Packers have been so good for so long and the Dolphins so underwhelming for so long. Yet the Dolphins have a serious defense. Dolphins win but fail to cover
4:30pm
Denver Broncos (-2) at Los Angeles Rams — Two of the worst teams in the league play. The Broncos broke their seven game losing streak against equally lowly Arizona, while the Rams two weeks ago snapped a six game losing streak. The Broncos have the better defense. Russell Wilson is back from concussion, but he has had an awful year. The Rams are injury depleted everywhere. Broncos cover
8pm
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-6 1/2) at Arizona Cardinals — The Cardinals are done for the year. The Buccaneers looked terrible in blowing a 17 point lead at home last week, but at 6-8 they still lead the wretched NFC South by one game. Tom Brady has lost 8 games in a season for the very first time. One more loss means his first ever losing season. The Buccaneers are uninspiring but the Cardinals are awful. Buccaneers win but fail to cover
Monday, December 26, 8pm
Los Angeles Chargers (-4) at Indianapolis Colts — The 8-6 Chargers won a gutty victory over Tennessee last week. Now they play a Colts team that is done for the year. Last week the Colts had a 33-0 third quarter lead and ended up on the losing end of the greatest comeback in NFL history. Justin Herbert has plenty of weapons and the Chargers have plenty to play for. The Colts lack the firepower to keep up. The Chargers win ugly because Brandon Staley keeps passing up easy field goals in favor of fourth down gambles that work only some of the time. Chargers win but fail to cover
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