Week 16 Predictions for the 2025-2026 NFL Season: And Then There was Three

It’s hard to believe the NFL is down to its final three weeks. But here we are and unlike past seasons the race to the Super Bowl is wide open where any of the teams heading to the post season could probably win the Super Bowl if the cards fall the right way and teams play their best ball.

Now is the time of the season to get hot and several teams are on long winning streaks. After another week of posting a winning record, I have three weeks left of weeks and it begins with week 16’s predictions. But first as always instant reactions from last week’s action.

Week 15 Knee Jerks

Falcons 29 Buccaneers 28 (Harv’s score: Bucs 41-12). The NFC South had two teams blow chances in week 15. Tampa was one. With a win they would maintain their first-place lead in the division depending on the outcome of the Saints/Panthers game. The Bucs lose a second straight game to drop to 7-7 and with the Panthers also laying an egg, these two teams now share the first-place lead. Falcons with five wins could actually catch up if the two teams in front of them keep losing.

Texans 40 Cardinals 20 (Harv’s score: Texans 35-6). Some are saying Houston is the scariest team in the AFC right now. They are trying desperately to keep up with the Jacksonville Jaguars who have won five in a row and the Texans now have won six in a row. One game separates the two teams with the Jags in first place. The Cardinals have three games to get their nightmare season over.

Bears 31 Browns 3 (Harv’s score: Bears 24-17). Did anyone think Chicago would be in first place with only three weeks left in the season? Well, there they are. One win ahead of Green Bay and two in front of the Lions. A very surprising turnaround from a season ago. The Browns remain stuck with just three victories and Myles Garrett didn’t expect that when he signed his big contract before the season began.

Los Angeles Chargers 16 Chiefs 13 (Harv’s score: Chiefs 30-27). It has finally ended. Kansas City’s reign of terror on the NFL has been shut down by the Chargers, and the Chiefs fail to make the playoffs after a Super Bowl run a season ago.

Ravens 24 Bengals 0 (Harv’s score: Bengals 34-30). I thought for sure Joe Burrow would lead his team to victory but instead Baltimore holds him to a goose egg. Baltimore was hoping for a Miami victory on Monday night but no such luck. The question for the now playoff eliminated Bengals surrounds what does Burrow’s future hold?

Bills 35 Patriots 31 (Harv’s score: Bills 27-16). New England was up 21-0 and then scored only 10 points the rest of the way while Buffalo stampeded them for 35 of their own to climb closer to the top of the AFC East division.

Commanders 29 New York Giants 21 (Harv’s score: Giants 18-17). Two teams going to nowheresville.
Eagles 31 Raiders 0 (Harv’s score: Eagles 48-9). So, they beat the lowly Raiders? What does that prove? Al Davis must be turning topsy turvy in his grave with the state of his team.

Jaguars 48 New York Jets 20 (Harv’s score: Jaguars 39-13). Wow to the Jags. How good are they? We will find out in playoff time. The Jets? Will they ever have a solid season again? By the way…where is Justin Fields?

49ers 37 Titans 24 (Harv’s score: 49ers 37-12). Tennessee tried to make a game of it, but they will be front and center at next year’s NFL draft in my hometown, the ‘Burgh.

Seahawks 18 Colts 16 (Harv’s score: Seahawks 28-1). 44-year-old Philip Rivers survived the game as I had thought he would surely get injured and better yet, he nearly won this game for the Colts. Seattle was just a little better on this day.

Los Angeles Rams 41 Lions 34 (Harv’s score: Rams 31-24). Matthew Stafford and the Rams are surely lighting up scoreboards. Detroit is a shadow of themselves from the past couple of seasons.

Broncos 34 Packers 26 (Harv’s score: Broncos 20-17). Micah Parsons is out for the year with a torn ACL. There goes the Super Bowl for Green Bay. Denver is much like Jacksonville above. Wait for the postseason. 
Saints 20 Panthers 17 (Harv’s score: Panthers 32-16). Talk about a trap game and a blown opportunity. Way to go Carolina. Tyler Shough may be the real deal after all.

Vikings 34 Cowboys 26 (Harv’s score: Cowboys 28-24.) All the sudden Dallas is a loser of two straight and went from 6-6 to having eight losses. After George Pickens took a few plays off a few games ago, now he is not being targeted as much, just three receptions here for 33 yards.

Steelers 28 Dolphins 15 (Harv’s score: Steelers 34-12). Aaron Rodgers has looked sharp in two straight games. Does that mean he’s figured out the Pittsburgh offense. Don’t scoff at the possibility Pittsburgh might just win a playoff game…finally. Miami is not as good as their six wins.

Week 16 Picks