NFL Week 16 Predictions: Playing for Keeps and to Get to the Exit Sign

With just three weeks remaining in the season, for some NFL teams their seasons have essentially been declared over with no chance at a playoff game. For those teams that have been eliminated from post season play they are simply playing for pride, positional spots for 2025, and the exit sign that says, “season over.”

On the other hand, some teams have already clinched their respective divisions, some divisional titles are still up for grabs, and other teams have inched closer to a wild card spot. There are other teams still alive and said to be on the “bubble” for a playoff spot.

With the non-playoff teams taking the field with nothing to gain, some picks become more difficult and thus last week I was only able to pick 50% of the winners correctly. But being a trooper, I’ve tucked away the mediocre week and I am ready to take another shot at the 16 games being played.

Denver at Los Angeles Chargers: What a way to start week 16 with a crucial AFC West game on Thursday. This should be the Chargers’ last gasp. They are one game behind Denver with an 8-6 record and if they have any hope of a wild card entry to the post season, this is a must win. Denver has continually surprised, and Bo Nix has proven he is the real deal. However, after getting slapped around by the Bucs a week earlier, the Chargers will not be embarrassed again. Chargers 31 / Broncos 21

Houston at Kansas City: The first of two Saturday games pose the question, will he, or won’t he? That question centers around Patrick Mahomes and his banged-up ankle. Will he play? If he doesn’t, the Texans win. Right now, he is listed as questionable. The Chiefs have already won the division and are two games ahead of the Bills for the top seed in the AFC. A loss here won’t hurt them but then they must be careful not to lose again if they do because the Bills could catch them, and Buffalo does have the tiebreaker. I have to go with two predictions on this one. WITH Mahomes, Chiefs 28 / Texans 17 and WITHOUT Mahomes, Texans 24 / Chiefs 17

Pittsburgh at Baltimore: Round two of the AFC North rivalry concludes the Saturday doubleheader and if the Steelers are to win this one, a dramatic improvement on offense is needed. George Pickens may not go again, but T.J. Watt very well could. Pittsburgh has had Baltimore’s number and is capable of beating the Ravens in their house and while my gut says the Steelers win, my thinking is cloudy. Typically, the Steelers don’t play two bad games in a row and with a win here they clinch the North. I’ll go with my gut. Steelers 23 / Ravens 21

New York Giants at Atlanta: With a win over the Raiders, any Falcons fan that thinks their ship has righted think again. Kirk Cousins and the rest of the Dirty Birds didn’t exactly overwhelm Las Vegas, and the Black and Silver have only won two games all season. Heading into this game, it is Kirk Cousins no more. Michael Penix Jr. gets his first NFL start and Cousins is relegated to the bench. Up next are the 2-12 Giants and Rahim Morris has given his rookie QB a cupcake for his first NFL start. Expect Penix to make some mistakes but we will find out if he is the real deal. Even with a rookie calling the signals, the Falcons at home can’t lose this game. Falcons 23 / Giants 13

Detroit at Chicago: Oh, those Bears. Like their long-suffering baseball counterparts, it took years for the Cubs to reach the top and now year after year is going by for the Bears without competing as one of the NFC’s best teams. The Lions are banged up with perhaps the NFL’s most injured team but still they are better than the Bears. Detroit needs to keep Minnesota off its tail and a win here aids in that desire. The two teams now have identical records, and the Vikes are bound to slip a little, especially in Seattle in week 16. Lions 37 / Bears 20

Cleveland at Cincinnati: Last week we had the battle for Pennsylvania with the Eagles taking the crown, now it’s the battle of Ohio round two. Cincinnati won round one and now are back home for the rematch. Right now, the men in stripes are the better team. Bengals 33 / Browns 23

Tennessee at Indianapolis: The Colts’ Jonathan Taylor pulled off the biggest blunder of the season a week ago letting the ball come out of his hands as he was bounding for the end zone and a touchdown. It cost him a score and possibly Indianapolis the game. It also may have cost Indy a playoff spot as they now sit at 6-8. Mason Rudolph took over for the benched Will Levis last week and played well. Colts 17 / Titans 14

Los Angeles Rams at New York Jets: All the sudden Jets fans are excited about Aaron Rodgers because he had a solid game the week before. Don’t be fooled. Rodgers’ best days are behind him. The Rams are coming on strong down the stretch with three consecutive wins to take the lead in the NFC West. They continue to roll here. Rams 28 / Jets 17

Philadelphia at Washington: Will the Eagles lose again this season? The 10-game winning streak will be in jeopardy this day as the Commanders fight for a wild card spot. The Eagles are only vying for the top seed in the NFC so they will not lay down here. Eagles 27 / Commanders 14

Arizona at Carolina: The Cardinals still have a shot at one of the wild card spots for the playoffs but despite only having three wins, the Panthers can be a dangerous team. With nothing to lose, I like their chances here. Panthers 28 / Cardinals 24

Minnesota at Seattle: Incredibly the Vikings have a shot at the #1 seed in the NFC. First, they must keep winning and while the Seahawks aren’t as tough to beat at home like they used to be, they’re still not an easy out. Tied for first place in the NFC South, the ‘Hawks are trying to keep pace with the Rams. Seahawks 31 / Vikings 28

New England at Buffalo: The Bills are eying the top seed in the AFC and Josh Allen is on a mission. Good luck New England. Bills 45 / Patriots 13

Jacksonville at Las Vegas: After choking at home to the Jets, the Jags take to the road with three wins under their belt and 11 losses. The Raiders are no better at 2-12 but they’ll match Jacksonville’s win total after this one. Raiders 20 / Jaguars 13

San Francisco at Miami: At this point it is win their remaining three games and say a prayer for the Dolphins to reach the post season. San Francisco’s season has been a nightmare as well. The Dolphins should come out on top in this one. Dolphins 27 / 49ers 24

Tampa Bay at Dallas: The Bucs can inch closer to clinching their division with a victory here and the Cowboys are simply trying to upset apple carts at this point. Tampa has just been consistently playing outstanding this season and Baker Mayfield is making it two straight solid seasons. Bucs 30 / Cowboys 17

New Orleans at Green Bay: The NFL week ends with this interesting Monday night game. The Saints won’t be in the playoffs, but the Packers will. They will now suffer a letdown or taking New Orleans lightly here. Packers 35 / Saints 13

Running Pick Record from Week to Week

Week 1: 12/15

Week 2: 8/16

Week 3: 8/16

Week 4: 11/16

Week 5: 7/14

Week 6: 9/14

Week 7: 9/15

Week 8: 11/16

Week 9: 10/15

Week 10: 5/14

Week 11: 11/14

Week 12: 7/13

Week 13: 13/16

Week 14: 8/12

Week 15: 8/16

Week 16: TBD