NFL 2024 Week 16 Prequel
This is when the big dogs come out!
Thursday, December 19, 2024, 8pm
Denver Broncos at Los Angeles Chargers (-3) — The 9-5 Broncos and 8-6 Chargers are both in position for a wildcard slot but have not clinched anything. There is no home field advantage in Los Angeles. After getting blown out last week at home by Tampa Bay, it is tough to trust the Chargers. The Broncos have a very good defense. Upset special, Broncos win outright
Saturday, December 21, 1pm
Houston Texans (-1 1/2) at Kansas City Chiefs ‚ The only reason the Texans are favored is because Patrick Mahomes has a mild high ankle sprain. Nobody knows if he is playing. He was a full participant in practice. The Texans have a good defense but the Chiefs are just resilient. The 9-5 Texans have already locked up the AFC South and are trying to move higher the conference. The 13-1 Chiefs have locked up the AFC West and have a two game lead in the conference with three games left. Walrus Andy Reid will have his guys focused, regardless of who starts. Upset special, Chiefs win outright
4:30pm
Pittsburgh Steelers at Baltimore Ravens (-6) — The 10-4 Steelers have a one game lead over the 9-5 Ravens. The Steelers have beaten Lamar Jackson four straight times. There is no home field advantage in this series. This is going to be a brutal game, as these AFC North street fights usually are. With the division on the line, everything will be left on the field. This could come down to the last play. Both Chris Boswell and Justin Tucker are great, although Tucker has struggled this year. This could go either way. Ravens win but fail to cover
Sunday, December 22, 1pm
Los Angeles Rams (-3 1/2) at New York Jets — The 8-6 Rams are tied atop the NFC West and they hold the tie-breaker. The Jets are done for the year. With everything to play for, expect Sean McVay to pull out all the stops. Rams cover
Philadelphia Eagles (-3 1/2) at Washington Commanders — The 12-2 Eagles are one win from clinching the NFC East. They are tied atop the conference but do not hold the tie-breaker. The Commanders survived a scare last week. At 9-5, they are in position to make the playoffs. Expect Dan Quinn to throw in some new defensive wrinkles and unleash Jayden Daniels so he can go blow for blow with Jalen Hurts. Go with the desperate team with the good defense at home. Upset special, Commanders win outright
New York Giants at Atlanta Falcons (-9 1/2) — After barely surviving on the road against one of the worst teams in the league, now the Falcons are at home against perhaps the worst team. The Giants are bad at everything. The spread is too high given that Kirk Cousins has been struggling in recent weeks. Falcons win but fail to cover
Arizona Cardinals (-4 1/2) at Carolina Panthers — The 7-7 Cardinals are uneven but one game back in their division. The Panthers have been awful but have improved in recent weeks. Last week at home against Dallas, they regressed. The spread is too high for a road team that is as inconsistent as the Cardinals. Cardinals win but fail to cover
Cleveland Browns at Cincinnati Bengals (-7) – Both teams are bad, but Joe Burrow has been lighting up the league. At home against the lifeless Browns, Burrow can go wild early and often. Bengals cover
Tennessee Titans at Indianapolis Colts (-4) — The 6-8 Colts collapsed last week due to a premature celebration at the one yard line. Expect them to be angry at home against an inferior Tennessee team. The Titans lack the talent to make this a game. Colts cover
Detroit Lions (-7) at Chicago Bears — After one of the worst clock management cases in NFL history, Matt Eberflus was Eberflustered and uber=fired after the game. The Bears have lost eight straight. The 12-2 Lions saw their 11 game win streak snapped last week. They remain tied atop their division and the conference and they hod the tie-breakers. The spread is too high for a road team that can score at will but has so many injuries, especially on defense. Lions win but fail to cover
4pm
Minnesota Vikings (-3) at Seattle Seahawks — The 12-2 Vikings are tied atop their division and the conference but do not hold the tie-breaker. The 8-6 Seahawks are tied atop their division and do not hold the tie-breaker either. The Seahawks are desperate, but with Geno Smith battling injury, expect Minnesota to tee off. Both teams have talent but the Vikings are just playing on another level right now. Vikings cover
New England Patriots at Buffalo Bills (-14) — 11-3 Bills have locked up the AFC East but are still two games back in the conference. The Patriots are awful. The Bills offense put up 90 points in the last two games. This game could be over by halftime. Bills cover
Jacksonville Jaguars (-1 1/2) at Las Vegas Raiders — Last week the 3-10 Jaguars dropped to 3-11 by losing at home to the now 4-10 New York Jets. Now the Jaguars take on the 2-12 Raiders, losers of 10 straight. This is a game of backup quarterbacks Mac Jones and Desmond Ridder. The Raiders are also without Maxx Crosby. There is no home field advantage in Las Vegas. The Raiders have been fighting to the last breath. This might be one game they can actually win. Upset special, Raiders win outright
San Francisco 49ers at Miami Dolphins (-1) — 40 years ago, this game mattered. This year these teams are both underachievers who have suffered key injuries. It is doubtful that either one is going to the playoffs, but the Dolphins still have an outside shot. With Christian McCaffrey out, give Tua Tagovailoa the slightest of edges over Brock Purdy. Dolphins cover
8pm
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-4) at Dallas Cowboys — The 8-6 Buccaneers have a one game lead in their division after blasting the Chargers to pieces in Los Angeles. The 6-8 Cowboys are a shocking 1-6 at home with most of those losses being blowouts. The Cowboys won big at Carolina but the Buccaneers have more talent on offense. Baker Mayfield is playing well. Cooper Rush i not getting the help he needs as a placeholder. Yet the Buccaneers could have a letdown and Brandon Aubrey in a close game is a sensational kicker. Buccaneers win but fail to cover
Monday, December 23, 8pm
New Orleans Saints at Green Bay Packers (-13 1/2) — This was once a an NFC Title Game preview as Drew Brees and Aaron Rodgers slung it. The Saints lost a heartbreaker last week when interim coach Darren Rizzi went for a two point conversion try that failed. Yet the 10-4 Packers went into Seattle and dominated the Seahawks. With Derek Carr doubtful, this game could get ugly early. Yet Spencer Rattler showed some progress. The Saints defense is not terrible. Packers win but fail to cover