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Showing posts with label Week 16 Picks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Week 16 Picks. Show all posts

Thursday, 18 December 2025

NFL Week 16 Picks 2025 (Thursday 18th December-Monday 22nd December)

Three regular season weeks of the 2025 year remain for NFL teams and that means the margin for error has all but disappeared.

Last week we saw the Kansas City Chiefs eliminated from the post-season for the first time since Patrick Mahomes took over as starting Quarter Back, although the bigger concern for the team is the ACL injury picked up by the star player. All season he has battled through adversity and pain to make sure he can lead the Chiefs, but the late injury suffered in Week 15 of the 2025 season could potentially impact how the Kansas City Chiefs approach the off-season and perhaps even the entire 2026 year.

Patrick Mahomes was not the only big name player suffering an injury in Week 15 after Micah Parsons went down for the Green Bay Packers and he is another likely to miss the remainder of the season.

It has been one of those seasons- so many important names have been sidelined for huge lengths of time and the top of the NFL has been impacted by that.

Some teams have played up to the level of expectation- the Philadelphia Eagles and Los Angeles Rams looked to be the top teams in the NFC and both are expected to be playing beyond Week 18.

The Buffalo Bills earned a big win last week and may feel this is the most open route into the Super Bowl than thye have encountered in the Josh Allen era- big threats like the Chiefs and Cincinnati Bengals are out, while the Bills look built to compete in January as long as they can find a way to just get the Defensive unit up another level or two.

You have to expect the New England Patriots, Denver Broncos and perhaps the Baltimore Ravens will have something to say about that, but this really does feel like a season in which you can take a handful of teams and still fail to identify the Super Bowl Winner.


Uncertainty on the field has also seeped into the NFL Picks and it is going to take some effort to turn this season around and end another year with a positive return.

Week 15 produced a small victory, but much more is needed with the selections beginning on Thursday Night Football again.

Further Picks will be added to this thread in the days ahead.


Los Angeles Rams @ Seattle Seahawks Pick: The NFC West looks very likely to send three teams into the Playoffs, but the Division is still up for grabs and the top three will all still believe they can finish as Champions. The likelihood is that the NFC West winner will also finish with the Number 1 Seed in the NFC, meaning the run towards the Super Bowl will have to go through them, and this Thursday Night Football game is a very important one.

The Los Angeles Rams (11-3) are leading the NFC West having already earned one win over the Seattle Seahawks (11-3) and having a 3-1 Divisional record compared with a 2-2 mark for the Seahawks.

It makes this an important game for both teams, who are a game ahead of the 10-4 San Francisco 49ers, and the winner of this game in Week 16 will have the momentum to take home the Divisional crown.

Both teams were victorious in Week 15, although the Seattle Seahawks made much tougher work of the Indianapolis Colts than most would have expected.

Some of that could have been down to this upcoming game and not taking the Colts as seriously as they might, but Seattle did win and that makes it four victories in a row.

They will need to make sure they are putting together a more consistent Offensive plan if they are going to win this game, but Seattle should be confident that they can do that. Of course that will only work if they can avoid the turnovers that cost them the game when they visited Los Angeles last month.

Sam Darnold had four Interceptions in that game and the Quarter Back still has plenty to prove when it comes to showing up when the pressure is at its most intense. He has experience, which will help, and Sam Darnold is playing in front of a very loud home crowd and there are holes in this Los Angeles Secondary that can be exploited.

Running the ball is going to be difficult against this Rams Defensive Line, but Seattle will feel they can execute better than they did in the road loss in Los Angeles. As long as they remain balanced, Seattle should have success moving the chains and making sure they give the Defensive unit the best chance to win the battle of the field position.

It is going to be the battle at the Line of Scrimmage on the other side of the ball that really could determine the outcome of this game.

In recent games, the Los Angeles Rams have been very good at establishing the run with the tandem at Running Back operating behind this strong Offensive Line. However, the Seattle Defensive Line have been able to clamp down on the run and they will want to make sure they are stronger than the first meeting when the Seahawks did allow Los Angeles to pound out some big gains on the ground.

Matthew Stafford has been well protected and he has been playing as well as any Quarter Back in the NFL and through a much longer period- his numbers continue to impress, but Davante Adams may be missing and this Seattle Secondary have impressed.

When the teams met earlier this season, the Rams saw Matthew Stafford throw two Touchdown passes, but he was restricted to 130 passing yards and it is going to be a test for the Seahawks to match that kind of output again.

Even in recent weeks, the Seahawks have continued to play the pass really well and this is where they may be able to turn the tables on the Los Angeles Rams and level up the season series.

Los Angeles have won four of the last five Divisional games between these NFC West rivals, but the Seahawks played well enough to beat the Rams last month and they may just do enough to edge this important game.


Philadelphia Eagles @ Washington Commanders Pick: Last year these two NFC East teams ended up meeting in the Conference Championship game, but things have not gone to plan in 2025, at least as far as the Washington Commanders (4-10) are concerned.

Injuries have been a big issue for the Commanders all season and they have struggled to find any momentum.

The Philadelphia Eagles (9-5) went on and won the Super Bowl after crushing the Commanders in the NFC Championship Game, but they have not been as good as they looked last season. This has not prevented them from dominating the NFC East and the Eagles are one win away from becoming the first repeat Champion of the Division in twenty years.

Injuries on the Offensive Line have been a problem for the Eagles and this is a team that have not always been on the same page on this side of the ball. They did at least snap a three game losing run last week and Philadelphia will be hoping that they can round out the regular season with the kind of form and momentum that can carry them through January and February.

Encouragement for this game can be taken from the fact that the Commanders are plenty banged up and the Eagles Offensive Line have been able to help establish the run pretty effectively in recent games. That should bode well for Philadelphia, who know the importance for the whole team to have the Offensive unit playing in front of the chains, and they should be able to pound the rock against this Washington Defensive Line.

This should mean things are opened up for Jalen Hurts at Quarter Back who still has some big time Receivers to target down the field- playing in third and manageable means Hurts remains dangerous with his legs and he can use play-action to expose the holes in the Washington Secondary by getting the ball down the field.

There would be more concerns that they may need to be involved in a shoot out if Jayden Daniels was playing at Quarter Back for Washington, but the young player is not going to be risked the rest of the way so he can fully recover from the injuries he has played through this season.

Instead it will be Marcus Mariota back behind Center and he can at least hand the ball to the Running Backs in this one against an Eagles Defensive Line that is missing Jalen Carter. In recent games, Philadelphia have struggled to stop the run with any consistency and so this is an area that Washington can target, although Marcus Mariota will have to remind the Eagles of his threat with his arm.

We have not seen too much of that of late and this Philadelphia Secondary has really been operating at a high level and look to be the key in any prolonged Playoff run.

It could allow Philadelphia to play closer to the Line of Scrimmage and dare Mariota to beat them with his arm, which is something he has struggled to do with any consistency since coming in for Jayden Daniels. Throwing against this Secondary is dangerous for a player struggling with turnovers and this looks a good chance for the Philadelphia Eagles to come through with a road win.

Almost exactly twelve months ago, Washington did beat Philadelphia at home, but the injury hit Commanders have to face this team twice in the next three games and they look unlikely to be competitive all the way through.

Taking some of the juice away and backing the Eagles to cover a number just below a converted Touchdown mark looks the way to go as they clinch a Playoff spot and remain interested in finished as high as the Number 2 Seed in the NFC.


Green Bay Packers @ Chicago Bears Pick: The NFC North looks like a Division that will be sending at least two teams to the Playoffs, but it is still uncertain as to which two teams that will be.

With that in mind, a second meeting between the Chicago Bears (10-4) and Green Bay Packers (9-4-1) in three weeks looks vitally important.

The Green Bay Packers beat the Chicago Bears at home in Week 14 when Caleb Williams was Intercepted in the End Zone as he looked to put the Bears in a position to tie the game. Both teams have picked up some serious injuries in the time since, which changes the mood around the game, but it is the case of 'next man up' with the Playoffs fast approaching and both teams targeting a spot in the final Bracket.

Micah Parsons is the big name that suffered a serious injury for the Green Bay Packers, but Josh Jacobs and Christian Watson are banged up on the other side of the ball. The latter two look like they will suit up, which is big news for the Packers as they look to retake the Divisional lead, but the injury to Parsons adds up to others on the Defensive side of the ball and that has to give the Chicago Bears huge encouragement.

In recent games, the Bears have been running the ball really well behind a strong looking Offensive Line and they will feel they did run well enough in the road loss at the Packers. Now they are facing a Green Bay team that have lost key personnel up front and that could see the Bears have perhaps a bit more success compared with the first meeting, which was still amongst the better performances against the Packers Defensive Line.

Putting Caleb Williams in third and manageable spots is very important considering the Bears are without a couple of key Receivers this week.

This will allow the Quarter Back to make moves with his legs when the pocket does break down, while DJ Moore and Colston Loveland can still find spaces to exploit down the field.

As injuries have cleared up on the Defensive side of the ball, the Chicago Bears have shown improvement here and that will be something that they will be looking to show in this rematch. If Josh Jacobs was going to miss out, the Bears might have felt more comfortable, especially as they allowed the Running Back to almost reach 100 yards on the ground in the game two weeks ago.

This is still an area that the Green Bay Packers will be looking to exploit considering the Bears Defensive Line have continued to show some weakness to the run.

Making life comfortable for Jordan Love could give the Quarter Back the opportunities that the Bears feel they can offer Caleb Williams, and Christian Watson being available would certainly help. Key players have returned to the Chicago Secondary, which will make the passing game that much tougher to execute, but Jordan Love had over 200 yards through the air in the first game between these NFC North rivals and that meant the Packers were extremely balanced in the Offensive output.

Interceptions could be a key part of the game as it was in the first meeting.

This Bears Secondary have been very dangerous and they did pick off Jordan Love in the first game, while the Week 15 win over the Cleveland Browns underlined the ability of this Chicago team to win the turnover battle.

Losing two key Receivers hurts though and that is where the Green Bay Packers have to feel they still have enough Offensive firepower to come through.

It will be wise to keep an eye on the injury report with both Josh Jacobs and Christian Watson needed and pushing to be included, even if the Coaching staff are less sure.

Conditions will not be easy at Soldier Field in a night kick off in December, but the Green Bay Packers may just have enough to maintain the mental edge in this rivalry by earning a narrow road victory.


Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Carolina Panthers Pick: The top of the NFC South will be decided in the last three weeks of the regular season as the two leaders meet twice in the remaining schedule.

Both the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-7) and Carolina Panthers (7-7) have been struggling for consistency, while both are 2-2 in the Division- make no mistake, the team that wins both of the regular season games between these teams is going to be making it through to the post-season, although the pressure on the losing team will be having to win next week to make sure the winner has not been able to pull clear ahead of the Week 18 rematch.

Neither will be thinking ahead though and this Week 16 game is hugely important.

The Buccaneers lost on Thursday Night Football in Week 15 on a late Field Goal, but Mike Evans was back in action and the mini-Bye has to do the team the world of good. Key players have either missed significant time or they have been playing through the pain and that has hindered the long-time dominant NFC South team.

Carolina were not able to take advantage of the Buccaneers slip after losing to the New Orleans Saints for a second time, but they have been much better in 2025 compared with 2024 and there is still so much for them to play for.

They may be without an important Offensive Lineman for this game, but the Panthers have to feel they can still establish the run against what has been a surprisingly vulnerable Tampa Bay Defensive Line. That is an area where big players have been playing through injury and that has meant the Buccaneers have struggled to stop the run with any consistency, which is an area Carolina have to exploit.

It is important just to take the pressure from Quarter Back Bryce Young, who has continued to be a little up and down.

Bryce Young will be facing a Tampa Bay Secondary that has been struggling to stop plays, but he is hoping that Tetaiora McMillan is able to suit up to give him more options.

Running the ball should be something the Buccaneers are able to do in this game too and they have Bucky Irving back in the lineup, which is a boost. They will be looking to keep the pressure away from Baker Mayfield, who is clearly playing despite not being at 100% healthy, although the return of Mike Evans is a massive boost for the veteran under Center.

He has been faced with some pressure as the Offensive Line have struggled to offer time, but Baker Mayfield can step back and target Evans in any jump ball situation knowing his Wide Receiver will likely win.

That should help and the experience of the Buccaneers should mean they have not panicked too much about some tight losses.

Having a bit of extra time to prepare for this game should also be an important factor in favour of the road team, while Tampa Bay will not have forgotten the dominance they have had over this Divisional rival in recent years. This could all be at play with the Buccaneers capable of finding enough big plays, and perhaps a turnover or two, to turn this game in their own favour.


Cincinnati Bengals @ Miami Dolphins Pick: The defeat on Monday Night Football might have spelled the end of the Tua Tagovailoa era as Quarter Back of the Miami Dolphins (6-8). The underwhelming 2025 season has officially ended with elimination with the defeat at the Pittsburgh Steelers, but Tagovailoa's performance was heavily criticised and he has been replaced at Quarter Back by rookie Quinn Ewers.

The Dolphins are hosting a Cincinnati Bengals (4-10) team who have had another really poor season where Quarter Back Joe Burrow has missed a number of games again.

Joe Burrow has even hinted at the potential of leaving the Bengals, although that looks unlikely in the very near future- the focus instead is to bounce back from a miserable day in the office for the Bengals when blown out by the Baltimore Ravens and failing to score a point.

There is expected to be a reaction to that, even if Joe Burrow's comments have raised plenty of eyebrows this past week.

He is fortunate to be going up against a Miami Defensive unit that may struggle to pick up the intensity after elimination was confirmed and with a rookie Quarter Back coming into the lineup on the other side of the ball. It may feel Miami are already thinking ahead to next season, which could cloud the thinking of those on the field, and this Dolphins Defensive unit have been inconsistent all season anyway.

To give them some credit, Miami have played pretty well on this side of the ball in recent games, but could not do much to slow the Pittsburgh Steelers and are now playing on a short week.

The Bengals may be without Tee Higgins, but Ja'Marr Chase and Joe Burrow can make connections to keep the ball moving and Chase Brown has been running the ball with real competitive spirit. He has also proven to be capable of catching the ball when leaking out of the backfield and Cincinnati have to feel they can move the chains.

It is easy to say the same for the Miami Dolphins as they look to lean on De'Von Achane, who had a tough night in Pittsburgh, but who has been a huge figure in the Offense with the way he has been running the ball behind this Miami Offensive Line.

Coming up against the struggling Bengals Defensive Line should be a huge advantage, but it may depend on how much respect there is for a rookie Quarter Back- there is every reason to believe the Bengals play closer to the Line of Scrimmage and dare Quinn Ewers to beat them with his arm, rather than allow Achane to run all over them.

Things will feel a lot different if Quinn Ewers is able to make some plays with his arm, although it should be noted that the Miami Offensive Line have been struggling with their pass protection. Instead the focus may be to get Ewers going with quick passes closer to the Line of Scrimmage, and that may just benefit Cincinnati to come up and make sure they are keeping the Miami Offensive unit in third and long spots where they can.

Being at home has to give Miami motivation, even on a short week, and Head Coach Mike McDaniel is convinced Quinn Ewers gives his team a shot in the arm from the Quarter Back position.

As long as he can make some throws to give the Bengals something to think about, it should keep things clear up front for De'Von Achane to have a bounce back game and having more than a Field Goal worth of points with the home team looks too good to pass up here.


Minnesota Vikings @ New York Giants Pick: Both of these teams may be eliminated, but the end of the regular season is an opportunity to assess how they can turn things around in 2026. Both have young, inexperienced Quarter Backs starting in this game, and those players need to impress upper management ahead of the Draft where both teams will potentially have high Picks.

The New York Giants (2-12) are one of three teams with just two wins secured this season and there will be some in the fanbase hoping they lose out.

They have a tough test this week against an improving Minnesota Vikings (6-8), although that improvement has come too late. In Week 15 they effectively ended the Dallas Cowboys season with a win on Sunday Night Football and it is going to be a test for the Vikings to back that up after winning in front of a national audience.

JJ McCarthy has not been quite as good as hoped, but he had a big game against the Cowboys and has some big Receivers who can help him continue that trend. It certainly helps that he is throwing against a New York Secondary that has been struggling in recent games and the young Quarter Back can have another solid performance.

He is throwing outdoors this time, which is going to bring its own challenges, but it will help that McCarthy should be well backed by the running game and that should keep him in third and manageable spots around the field.

This should give the Vikings every chance of keeping the chains moving, while the Brian Flores led Defensive unit have to be confident of giving Minnesota a chance to pull clear for a road win.

Jaxson Dart had given the Giants a boost when being brought in as the starting Quarter Back, but he has not looked fully healthy and it really does not help that key Offensive skill players have gone down with injury around him. With a potential high Draft Pick coming up, the Quarter Back will be looking to show the management what he can bring to the field, although a new Head Coach is going to arrive and that may spell Dart being pushed backwards in any pecking order.

He will need the Giants Offensive Line to help establish the run, although Jaxson Dart has not looked as comfortable running the ball himself to steer clear of pressure.

The Vikings Defensive Line may be extra ready to stop the run in order to bamboozle Jaxson Dart by asking him to make plays from third and long spots on the field. That would be the plan so they can perhaps create some turnovers, while the Minnesota Secondary have been playing well and will believe they have the talent needed to shut down this Giants passing attack.

It is a tough spot for the Vikings with this game being after a big win on national television and moving from indoors to outdoors.

However, they look stronger than a Giants team that have to be counting down the days until the end of the regular season and Minnesota can do enough to win and cover on the road.


Atlanta Falcons @ Arizona Cardinals Pick: The top of the NFC South and NFC West are being fought out pretty hard as we close on the end of the regular season, but both of these teams are not involved. There will be real disappointment around the Atlanta Falcons (5-9) and Arizona Cardinals (3-11) for the seasons that have been put together and that does make it hard to know what kind of motivation that both will be playing with.

At least the Falcons can point to a couple of wins in the last four games played, but the Arizona Cardinals have lost six in a row and look like they really have lost their way.

Jacoby Brissett has not been to blame for the poor season put together by the Cardinals and he has shown enough to have the team thinking they need to move on from Kyler Murray. That means the veteran will conclude the season at Quarter Back for the Cardinals and he could have a strong outing in this game against a vulnerable Atlanta Defensive unit.

Injuries have not helped the Cardinals, but there have been players willing to step up and make big plays for the team and they will feel there are opportunities against the Falcons.

Just being able to run the ball well enough to put Jacoby Brissett and third and manageable spots is the key and it should allow the veteran to make some plays into this Secondary. Marvin Harrison Jr looks set to miss out again, but Michael Wilson has shown his qualities while Harrison Jr has been on the sidelines and Arizona should have successes.

However, you can say the same for the Atlanta Falcons, even if Kirk Cousins continues to guide the team instead of Michael Penix Jr- the veteran was an important figure in the Falcons Week 15 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and there is talent on this side of the ball.

Bijan Robinson was not the star of the show, but he had another big outing in the win over the Buccaneers and there is every chance he picks up from where he left off against this banged up and vulnerable Arizona Defensive Line. Having Robinson rip off some big gains on the ground would be a huge edge for the entire Offensive unit and it should mean Kirk Cousins and the passing game can take advantage by finding plenty of balance on this side of the ball.

There is a hope that Drake London could be ready to suit up, while Kyle Pitts Sr had a dominant game at Tight End- this should make Kirk Cousins' life very easy and the Atlanta Falcons should be comfortable playing indoors in this one.

Time should be given to Kirk Cousins by the Offensive Line and the road team may have a bit too much firepower for the home team.

Both teams should score plenty of points, but the Falcons may find a bit more Offensive balance and that can be key to a road win.


Pittsburgh Steelers @ Detroit Lions Pick: Both of these teams are in a position to push their way into the Playoffs, although there is a feeling that the Pittsburgh Steelers (8-6) pathway is much clearer than the one faced by the Detroit Lions (8-6), despite both holding the same record in different Conferences.

The record has proven to be good enough for the Steelers to lead the AFC North and they remain a game ahead of the Baltimore Ravens, while Pittsburgh would also be in touch with those teams chasing Wild Card spots. Winning out is important for Aaron Rodgers, who is incredibly familiar with the Lions from his time with the Green Bay Packers, and the Steelers in their bid to return to the Playoff.

For the Detroit Lions, 8-6 means being third in the tough NFC North and the team are needing to win out and hope for results to land their way in order to finish in a Wild Card spot. The likelihood of winning the Division again look very, very slim after the latest loss and Head Coach Dan Campbell will be disappointed by some recent inconsistency as injuries continue to take a toll on the team.

One important factor to note is that the Lions have bounced back from losses and they are looking to do that again this weekend. Under Dan Campbell, not only do the Detroit Lions regularly avoid back to back losses, but they tend to come out with something to prove and that will be the case in this Week 16 game.

There has to be some real excitement amongst the group after seeing the way the Pittsburgh Steelers have struggled to stop the run in recent weeks and they are going to have to deal with 'Sonic and Knuckles' this time.

Both David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs should get back on track in this one, especially with the Steelers set to be without TJ Watt again, and the Detroit Lions should keep Jared Goff in third and manageable spots throughout the game.

Jared Goff should have a touch more time in the pocket with Watt out of the game, but he also should not have to hold onto the ball for too long as he looks to attack this Pittsburgh Secondary. Credit has to be given to the Steelers for the performance in the win over the Miami Dolphins, but playing in Detroit against this Lions Offensive unit is a different challenge and the pressure will be on Quarter Back Aaron Rodgers to keep up on the scoreboard.

The injuries have piled up on the Defensive side of the ball as far as Detroit are concerned and that should offer Pittsburgh real encouragement.

However, the Steelers have not always been the most consistent Offensive team, although Aaron Rodgers has led his team to consecutive wins to hold onto the Divisional lead.

Aaron Rodgers has found some chemistry with his Receivers and Kenneth Gainwell has given the team a real spark running the ball and so you do have to expect the Steelers to at least move the chains and have some Offensive successes. They should find some balance, but the Steelers Offensive Line can be a little hit or miss and this Detroit Lions team may have the anger and motivation to wear down a team playing on a short week.

As mentioned before, Detroit have bounced back from straight up losses very well under Head Coach Dan Campbell and this game feels more important to them than the Pittsburgh Steelers.

It means plenty to the Steelers, but the Lions would be on the brink of elimination with a defeat and that motivation is going to keep them focused and ready to grind down this opponent at home.

Covering will not be easy, but find any layer that takes the juice out of the price by dropping the line below a key number 7.


New England Patriots @ Baltimore Ravens Pick: The collapse in the Week 15 loss to the Buffalo Bills have raised the volume of the doubters around the New England Patriots (11-3), but this is a team that remains in charge of the AFC East. Bouncing back with a victory will be a tough test for the Patriots who will be travelling to face the Baltimore Ravens (7-7) who host this Sunday Night Football game knowing they have very little margin for error in their bid to return to the post-season.

Not many teams in the AFC would like to see the Ravens in January, but Baltimore have had to battle through adversity this season.

In Week 15 they secured an important win over the Cincinnati Bengals to snap a two game losing run and the Ravens can still win the AFC North by making sure they sweep the remainder of the regular season scheduled and hope the Pittsburgh Steelers lose twice.

Focus has to be on winning this game and the Baltimore Ravens are going to be really confident that they can establish the run against this Patriots Defensive Line. Lamar Jackson will have to make sure he is using his legs when the pocket breaks down, but the Ravens being in third and manageable spots will give them every chance of making sure they are keeping the chains moving.

Lamar Jackson will know that his Offensive Line has had some issues in pass protection, but the team being in third and manageable should mean the Quarter Back does not need a lot of time. There are Ravens Receivers who can make some big plays, although Jackson will respect this Patriot Secondary and the performances produced this season.

New England are going to try to bounce back from the home loss to the Buffalo Bills, but they are up against an improving Baltimore Defensive unit.

In particular, the Baltimore Defensive Line have really been clamping down on the run in recent games and they will be very keen to make sure they put Drake Maye in a position to beat them where he needs to hold onto the ball a little longer than usual. The Patriots are a strong Offensive Line and TreVeyon Henderson has been in fine form, but they struggled to maintain the run in the loss to the Buffalo Bills and that did ultimately cost them the chance of closing out the win.

Drake Maye does have some solid Receivers around him, much like Lamar Jackson, but it is always going to be more challenging if asked to make plays from third and long spots.

The Quarter Back will know that there are some holes in this Baltimore Secondary that can be exploited, but a desperate Ravens team may still have the edge in this big prime time game.

There have been some doubts about this New England team seeing as they have yet to beat anyone of note outside of Buffalo in the first game, but the Bills earned revenge in Week 15 and the Ravens will feel they are still a genuine Super Bowl contender.

It is a game that matters more to the home team and Lamar Jackson can play well enough to help build on the big win over the Cincinnati Bengals.

The Patriots are unlikely to roll over under Head Coach Mike Vrabel, but they have a tough task to bounce back from a really disappointing defeat. It also helps that the Patriots can still win the Division even if they lose this game and they will maintain control of their own destiny and the Baltimore Ravens have the clarity to secure an important win and they can cover too.

MY PICKS: Seattle Seahawks - 1 Point @ 1.83 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)
Philadelphia Eagles - 6.5 Points @ 1.86 Bet365 (1 Unit)
Green Bay Packers + 1.5 Points @ 1.95 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers - 3 Points @ 1.95 Bet365 (1 Unit)
Miami Dolphins + 4 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)
Minnesota Vikings - 2.5 Points @ 1.86 Bet365 (1 Unit)
Atlanta Falcons - 3 Points @ 2.00 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)
Detroit Lions - 6.5 Points @ 1.80 William Hill (1 Unit)
Baltimore Ravens - 3 Points @ 1.86 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Week 15: 3-2, + 0.73 Units (5 Units Staked, + 14.60% Yield)
Week 14: 0-1, - 1 Unit (1 Unit Staked, - 100% Yield)
Week 13: 3-4, - 1.50 Units (7 Units Staked, - 21.43% Yield)
Week 12: 1-5, - 4.17 Units (6 Units Staked, - 69.50% Yield)
Week 11: 2-4, - 2.23 Units (6 Units Staked, - 37.17% Yield)
Week 10: 3-3, - 0.34 Units (6 Units Staked, - 5.67% Yield)
Week 9: 2-2, - 0.18 Units (4 Units Staked, - 4.50% Yield)
Week 8: 4-3, + 0.52 Units (7 Units Staked, + 7.43% Yield)
Week 7: 3-2, + 0.69 Units (5 Units Staked, + 13.80% Yield)
Week 6: 3-4, - 1.09 Units (7 Units Staked, - 15.57% Yield)
Week 5: 3-3, - 0.33 Units (6 Units Staked, - 5.50% Yield)
Week 4: 2-3, - 1.14 Units (5 Units Staked, - 22.80% Yield)
Week 3: 5-3, + 1.56 Units (8 Units Staked, + 19.50% Yield)
Week 2: 3-2, + 0.67 Units (5 Units Staked, + 13.40% Yield)
Week 1: 0-2, - 2 Units (2 Units Staked, - 100% Yield)

2025 Season: 37-43, - 9.81 Units (80 Units Staked, - 12.26% Yield)

Saturday, 21 December 2024

NFL Week 16 PIcks 2024 (Thursday 19th December-Monday 23rd December)

Three weeks of the NFL regular season remain and the threads over this Christmas period will not be featuring much more than the selections.

We are at that time of the season when teams will begin to think ahead about what is to come and that could see players rested or focus lost if motivation is not as high as it could be.

It is something to consider when making your selections ahead of another very busy and crucial week of games.


Houston Texans @ Kansas City Chiefs Pick: Teams are securing their places in the post-season as we move into the final three weeks of the regular season and both the Houston Texans (9-5) and Kansas City Chiefs (13-1) are secured as Division Champions.

That means a top four Seeding is in the bag, but that does not mean that all ambitions for the regular season have been met.

For the Chiefs it is all about holding off the Buffalo Bills for the Number 1 Seed in the AFC, which could be huge as Kansas City look to win yet another Super Bowl. Earning the Bye through the Wild Card Round is a huge boost, as is having home field advantage right through to the Super Bowl, and Kansas City need two more wins to secure the top Seed.

Winning out is perhaps not so meaningful for the Houston Texans, although there is still an opportunity to move into the Number 3 Seed that should give the team something to play for. The Texans have won three of their last four games and they are looking for some momentum after an inconsistent season that has perhaps not lived up to the expectations that Houston were managing heading into the season.

Injuries have played a part in that, but the Texans do have an opportunity to produce a couple of big wins to give the team real belief entering the Playoffs.

This is going to be a test for CJ Stroud and the Houston Offensive unit, but there have been some signs that the Kansas City Chiefs are not playing as well on the Defensive side of the ball as they had been. A team that does want to establish the run, Houston have an opportunity to do that against this Chiefs Defensive Line which has just struggled a little bit in recent games.

With a player like Joe Mixon, the Texans can put CJ Stroud and the Offensive unit in a position to use their Wide Receivers to stretch the field. It will also be important to just offer the Quarter Back enough time to make those plays down the field and slow down this Kansas City pass rush and Houston can keep their hopes of finishing as the Number 3 Seed alive.

The Houston Texans know all about how a season can change thanks to injuries, and the Kansas City Chiefs must be extremely grateful that Patrick Mahomes has avoided a significant injury of his own. Things did not look that good in Week 15 when Mahomes was forced out of the game and he did not walk with his full weight on his ankle at the end of the win over the Cleveland Browns, but has been in practice this week.

Andy Reid will not take any chances with the health of his Quarter Back, but Mahomes is set to start and try and help Kansas City secure that top Seed. They do have a capable backup in Carson Wentz, but Patrick Mahomes is a different level of Quarter Back and the Chiefs will go as far as he can take them.

They will need Patrick Mahomes to be at his best with the Chiefs unlikely to have a lot of success running the ball against this Houston Defensive Line. And it is also very important for Mahomes to have his wits about him when dealing with the Houston pass rush, one that is likely to be very effective if they can keep the Chiefs behind the chains.

Throwing out of that pressure will be difficult, although Patrick Mahomes is set to have Marquise Brown available for the first time and that just gives the Chiefs another serious weapon.

Early chemistry issues may be expected, but the Chiefs will be able to have some success throwing into the Secondary, although it is perhaps going to lead to yet another close game involving Kansas City.

The Chiefs have dominated the recent head to head, but this game is expected to be close and competitive and Houston might just be getting enough points on the spread to make them the right team to back. For much of the season Kansas City have been playing close games, even if they win more often than not, and the slight concern about the full health of Patrick Mahomes makes it tough to believe that this one will not play out in a similar way.

Houston look to have turned a corner in recent weeks and have closed out the AFC South and they will be looking to just show what might be to come in January in the Playoff.


Cleveland Browns @ Cincinnati Bengals Pick: Two of the AFC North teams are heading to the Playoffs and it will be a big disappointment for fans of Cincinnati Bengals (6-8) and Cleveland Browns (3-11) that they have fallen way below the expectations of the teams back in September.

Injury has not helped, but the Browns are officially eliminated and the Cincinnati Bengals Playoff hopes are now on life support. With three games left, even winning out may not be enough for the Bengals with the maximum number of wins being nine and the three teams occupying the Wild Card spots already at that mark.

However, you have to credit the Bengals for still playing with focus and they are looking for a third win in a row. It is important for Head Coach Zac Taylor, whose own position has to be questioned, and winning out to finish with a winning record will at least give him something to counter with when the decision about his future is made.

The Bengals still have special talents on the Offensive side of the ball and Tee Higgins is still showing out to win a new contract, either here or with another team. Joe Burrow at Quarter Back has been well supported by Ja'Marr Chase, while Chase Brown has given the Bengals a real threat out of the backfield and it may be tough for the Cleveland Browns to find the motivation here.

Cleveland have lost three in a row and have struggled to contain the Offensive firepower that the likes of the Los Angeles Chargers, Pittsburgh Steelers and Kansas City Chiefs have brought onto the field. It makes it even tougher to believe in them when thinking the Chiefs played with Carson Wentz for plenty of snaps last week and Joe Burrow and company could put the Browns in a tough spot.

To make it tougher for the road team, another Quarter Back change has been made with Jameis Winston replaced by Dorian Thompson-Robinson.

It is the kind of decision that may say to many inside and outside of the building that the Browns are perhaps positioning themselves for a top NFL Draft Pick next year. Dorian Thompson-Robinson will have something to say about that and the Quarter Back is facing a Cincinnati Defensive unit that have been destroyed by injury and with issues struggling any opponent that has faced them.

Teams have found a really good balance against Cincinnati and Thompson-Robinson is a dual-threat from the Quarter Back position and will not hesitate to tuck the ball and run down the field. He should have support from the Offensive Line against this Bengals team that have not played the run or pass very well and Dorian Thompson-Robinson can have success by operating in front of the chains.

However, the Bengals are a team that will bring some pressure up front if the Browns are ever behind the chains and needing to throw down the field. This is where things could potentially get away from Cleveland considering the turnovers that the Cincinnati Secondary have been able to create in recent games.

It has been a long time since the Bengals have beaten Cleveland twice in the same season, but the Offensive unit gives them a chance to do that. If they can move a couple of scores ahead and just force Cleveland to have to take to the air to keep up on the scoreboard, things could spiral out of control for the Browns and it could lead to a big enough win to cover this spread.


Philadelphia Eagles @ Washington Commanders Pick: Sweeping a Divisional rival is never easy in the NFL, but that is what the Philadelphia Eagles (12-2) will be aiming to do when visiting the Washington Commanders (9-5).

We know the Philadelphia Eagles will be returning to the Playoffs in a season where Head Coach Nick Sirianni has been seemingly under pressure throughout. Last season was a disappointment for the Eagles when beaten early in the post-season, but we are not that far removed from Philadelphia making the Super Bowl and Sirianni has deserved his chance.

His team have had some tough moments, but are motoring now and look like they have the confidence to make a real impact in the post-season. The first ambition is to look after the NFC East with a win on Sunday, but the Detroit Lions were beaten by the Buffalo Bills last week which means the Number 1 Seed in the Conference is now in play for the Eagles.

The Eagles are finishing up with three Divisional games, but winning out will put them in a very strong position to secure the top Seed and that is going to be focus.

For the home team, you would think nine wins would put Washington in a really good place when it comes to earning a Wild Card spot, but that is not the case. The NFC North has been really strong and the Commanders are only 1 game ahead of the Seattle Seahawks and 2 games ahead of the Atlanta Falcons and Arizona Cardinals as far as the final Wild Card place goes.

Back to back wins have just calmed things down for Washington after previously losing three in a row, but there is work to do and this is a tough match up for them against a motivated rival.

Jayden Daniels has to be given respect for the level produced in his rookie season, but wins over Tennessee and New Orleans will not have prepared him fully for this rematch. There was not a lot happening for Washington in the defeat in Philadelphia and finding spaces to exploit against this Eagles Defensive unit is going to be tough.

The Commanders will hope to use the Offensive Line to get things going and they have been able to establish the run effectively in recent games, while the Quarter Back is capable of moving the chains with his legs. However, this is an Eagles Defensive Line that have clamped down on teams up front and they will certainly feel they can do enough to force Jayden Daniels to have to step back and throw into perhaps the best Secondary in the League.

Pressure can be generated up front to aid the Defensive Backs, while Daniels is just going to have to be careful with where he throws the ball having been guilty of a couple of turnovers of late. The Commanders will be well aware that they need to play a clean game if they are going to earn the upset, but it will be tough to move the ball with a lot of consistency when they have the ball in their hands.

A healthier looking Philadelphia team will certainly believe they can have another efficient showing against this Commanders team having piled up 434 yards in the first game and with an almost perfect split between passing and rushing.

Recent games have been better as far as the Washington Defensive Line are concerned, but they have not really gone up against an Offensive Line like the one that the Eagles have thrived behind. Saquon Barkley and Jalen Hurts can both combine for big yards on the ground, while the latter has shown off his ability when dropping back to throw as he helped Philadelphia keep their winning run going last week.

Despite their strong run, there were reports that Jalen Hurts and Wide Receiver AJ Brown were not on the same page, although that was anything but the case in their Week 15 win. They can combine to get Washington problems in the Secondary and the balance that Philadelphia have with their play-calling will make it tough for the Commanders to keep this much closer than when the teams met earlier in the season.

The money has piled in on the Eagles which has moved the spread past a key number, which has to be a disappointment, but they still look the right side to back in this NFC East Divisional contest. You have to expect Washington to have learned plenty from the first game against the Eagles, but they are not quite at that level and Philadelphia's momentum can take them to a win by around a Touchdown in Week 16.


Arizona Cardinals @ Carolina Panthers Pick: Time is getting very close to the end for the Arizona Cardinals (7-7) as they look to force their way into the NFC Playoffs and they need to build on their big Week 15 win over the New England Patriots. This is a chance to put some momentum behind themselves ahead of two Divisional games to conclude the season and the Cardinals cannot afford any more slips as they head into the Eastern Time Zone for this game.

Next up is the Carolina Panthers (3-11) who have lost four in a row after showing some positive signs in the middle of the season.

Bryce Young has shown enough to believe he deserves another year growing in the system with the Panthers and this is a Defensive unit that he can test.

It would be a positive if the Panthers Offensive Line can find a way to establish the run- the problem is not being able to do that against this Cardinals Defensive Line, but the season has been a long one and Carolina have struggled to really get things going on the ground in their recent outings.

The Quarter Back can use his legs to help, and keeping the team in front of the chains is going to be key. If that happens, Bryce Young should be able to have some success throwing against an Arizona Secondary, although being behind the chains would mean having to deal with pass rush pressure.

This is the pressure that can lead to mistakes, which have been an issue for Bryce Young, and the Carolina Panthers have to show there is still some fight left and they are not distracted by games coming up against Divisional rivals to close out the season.

We are seeing the final Carolina home game of the season so you have to believe that is a factor when it comes to motivation, but playing spoiler for Tampa Bay or Atlanta may bring more more than anything else.

The early kick off time is a concern, but the Cardinals should be pretty happy with what they need to do in this one- they are facing a Carolina Defensive Line that has been worn down and been allowing huge yards on the ground, so it is expected to be a game in which James Connor and Kyler Murray can have big numbers.

Arizona's Offensive Line have really powered the run game and they should be able to do the same here, and that is going to put the Cardinals in a strong position to win and cover.

Kyler Murray has been well protected when he has stepped back to throw, and there are some decent Receivers around him to make the plays down the field. With his ability to scramble and just create some panic, Murray should be able to put the Arizona Cardinals in a position to keep their Playoff hopes alive and they have the capabilities of covering this number.


Detroit Lions @ Chicago Bears Pick: They kept fighting, but it was a damaging loss for the Detroit Lions (12-2) against the Buffalo Bills having lost some key players to injury. The last month has seen a number of players go down, which has just dented some of the enthusiasm of the Lions fans in booking trips to the Super Bowl, and there is work for Detroit to do if they are going to earn a Bye through to the Divisional Round.

They hold a narrow edge over the Philadelphia Eagles for the top Seed in the NFC, but the Lions are still not in control of the NFC North, which is a testament to the level being produced by the Minnesota Vikings.

Motivation is not going to be hard to find when facing a Divisional rival, and especially not after losing in Week 15. Great teams have shown a resiliency to overcome losses and bounce back immediately and this Detroit Lions team are still deserving a lot of respect, even with some important members of the team on the sidelines on both sides of the ball.

David Montgomery has been ruled out, although Jahmyr Gibbs is more than a capable replacement and the Lions should still enjoy plenty of success on the Offensive side of the ball. Things have been tough Defensively for the Chicago Bears over the last few weeks and Gibbs has shown the kind of burst to really rip out some big gains on the ground to put the Lions in a strong position.

It will all be good for Jared Goff at Quarter Back who is playing a Bears Secondary that has struggled to make the plays needed to stall drives in recent games. There are plenty of talented playmakers for Goff to target and the Lions should be able to keep things moving, even if they are not as strong outdoors as they are inside of a Dome.

Since pushing Detroit on Thanksgiving Day, Chicago have struggled Offensively and there were one or two concerns about Caleb Williams at the end of the latest loss to the Minnesota Vikings. It is a short week, but the rookie Quarter Back is expected to suit up and may enjoy a bit more success against an injury hit Detroit Defensive unit.

He might be aided by a stronger running game than has been evident in recent games and that will give the Chicago Bears a chance to control the clock and allow the Lions Offense to stay cooling off on the sidelines. Being in front of the chains is important for Caleb Williams so he is not being pressurised into forcing throws into tight spots, while it will just ease any pressure around him thanks to this banged up Offensive Line.

Any mistakes and being behind the down and distance will put Caleb Williams under pressure, but there are holes to exploit in this Detroit Secondary. It is a long season for any player coming out of College Football and that has perhaps contributed to Williams' recent performances with the physical wear and tear building up, but he should be able to make some plays much as he did on the road against the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving Day.

Being on the short week is going to be tough and it should be noted that Detroit had over 100 yards more than Chicago in the first meeting and just lost their focus.

That is unlikely to happen again and especially not after losing in Week 15, and the Lions can take advantage of the fact that the Bears are playing on a short week by coming through with a win that sees them cover this mark too.

MY PICKS: Houston Texans + 3.5 Points @ 1.86 Bet Fred (1 Unit)
Cincinnati Bengals - 8.5 Points @ 1.91 Paddy Power (1 Unit)
Philadelphia Eagles - 3.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet Victor (1 Unit)
Arizona Cardinals - 4.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet Fred (1 Unit)
Detroit Lions - 6.5 Points @ 1.91 Paddy Power (1 Unit)

Week 15: 6-2, + 3.37 Units (8 Units Staked, + 42.13% Yield)
Week 14: 2-4, - 2.23 Units (6 Units Staked, - 37.17% Yield)
Week 13: 1-3, - 2.17 Units (4 Units Staked, - 54.25% Yield)
Week 12: 2-4, - 2.17 Units (6 Units Staked, - 36.17% Yield)
Week 11: 2-3, - 1.23 Units (5 Units Staked, - 24.60% Yield)
Week 10: 1-6, - 5.05 Units (7 Units Staked, - 72.14% Yield)
Week 9: 3-2, + 0.73 Units (5 Units Staked, + 14.60% Yield)
Week 8: 4-2, + 1.72 Units (6 Units Staked, + 28.67% Yield)
Week 7: 4-3, + 0.73 Units (7 Units Staked, + 10.43% Yield)
Week 6: 4-2, + 1.67 Units (6 Units Staked, + 27.83% Yield)
Week 5: 4-2, + 1.64 Units (6 Units Staked, + 27.33% Yield)
Week 4: 6-2, + 3.45 Units (8 Units Staked, + 43.13% Yield)
Week 3: 3-3, - 0.23 Units (6 Units Staked, - 3.83% Yield)
Week 2: 4-2, + 1.62 Units (6 Units Staked, + 27% Yield)
Week 1: 5-2, + 2.67 Units (7 Units Staked, + 38.14% Yield)

Thursday, 21 December 2023

NFL Week 16 Picks 2023 (December 21-25)

The NFL is all about parity and the standings in both Conferences underlines the mantra with so many still in contention to force their way into the post-season.

There are some stand out teams, but also a lot of teams that may just need to get hot between now and the end of the regular season to build PlayOff momentum.

It says so much that only one team in the AFC has officially earned a PlayOff spot and that is the Baltimore Ravens after winning on Sunday Night Football in Week 16. The AFC East and AFC South Division races are heating up, while teams as low as Number 11 in the Conference standings will still believe they are in a position to secure a PlayOff spot with three weeks remaining.

Things are beginning to clear up in the NFC after two more teams joined the San Francisco 49ers- both of those are from the NFC East with the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys still hoping they can finish with the Number 1 Seed and the Divisional crown, thus avoiding having to travel on Wild Card Weekend.

The Detroit Lions should soon become the fourth NFC team that will be in PlayOff action, but, like the AFC, we then have a host of teams hoping they can push into the post-season.

The only difference in my opinion is that the AFC looks to have some potentially dangerous Wild Card teams, whereas the NFC will have the team that finishes in second place in the East Division as a potential threat, but two others that will likely be big underdogs to reach the Divisional Round.


Week 16 is coming up fast and the games are going to be played across the Christmas weekend, including two on Christmas Day, much to the chagrin of the NBA.

As we get down to the end of the regular season, these games are going to have a big impact on the final standings and teams have to be thinking about building momentum with the Super Bowl lights beginning to pierce the horizon.


Once again, the top five teams in the Rankings that have been placed here in the last few weeks can be seen below:

1) San Francisco 49ers (11-3): a blowout win on the road keeps them on track for the Number 1 Seed in the NFC and the 49ers may be the favourites to win it all from here.

2) Baltimore Ravens (11-3): a solid road win over the Jacksonville Jaguars means the Ravens are still control of the Number 1 Seed in the AFC. They play the 49ers on Monday, a potential Super Bowl preview, but also have to face the Miami Dolphins and Pittsburgh Steelers so there is work for Baltimore to secure the top Seed.

3) Detroit Lions (10-4): they are likely going to win the NFC North, and the Lions deserve to move up after the NFC East teams both had disappointing outings.

4) Dallas Cowboys (10-4): falling just one position might be a little kind to the Cowboys after a terrible performance in Week 15, but they edge out the likes of the Miami Dolphins and Philadelphia Eagles.

5) Philadelphia Eagles (10-4): the Number 1 Seed looks like it is gone, but the bigger concern for the Eagles is that they are going to have to be the Number 5 Seed if they cannot win out and hope the Cowboys drop a game. A poor loss to Drew Lock-led Seattle Seahawks really did hurt.


You can make a case for the Miami Dolphins to have pushed into the top five after the defeats suffered by the two NFC East teams, but I have stated that they have to beat a good team before they are really to be trusted.

Over the next three weeks the Dolphins will get to prove themselves, but there has to be a concern about the momentum picked up by the Buffalo Bills who might be favourites to win the Division right now, despite being two games behind Miami.

These teams meet in Week 18, but Miami could easily lose to the Dallas Cowboys and Baltimore Ravens over the next two weeks, which could make that game between the Dolphins and the Bills an AFC East decider to wrap up the regular season.

Twists and turns are to be expected over the next three weeks, and we have seen many in the last couple of weeks, as the PlayOff picture continues to shape up.


New Orleans Saints @ Los Angeles Rams Pick: We are down to the final three weeks of the regular season and both the New Orleans Saints (7-7) and Los Angeles Rams (7-7) are right in the middle of a push to reach the PlayOffs. The expectations were perhaps greater on the Saints to do that this season, especially for Head Coach Dennis Allen, but it has been forgotten that the Rams are only a couple of years on from winning the Super Bowl.

Transition was the buzzword around the Los Angeles Rams, but Matthew Stafford has proven that he remains one of the top Quarter Backs in the NFL and the team have some momentum.

It has come too late to chase down the San Francisco 49ers within the NFC West, but they are one of four teams at 7-7 and the Rams would make the PlayOffs if the season ended today.

A Division title is still being chased by the New Orleans Saints who have the same record as NFC South leaders Tampa Bay Buccaneers. That makes the Week 17 game between the two teams feel that much more important and the Saints are in a tough position playing on a short week and crossing a couple of time zones to do that.

They will also be facing a Los Angeles Offensive unit that has found a really good rhythm on this side of the ball thanks to the presence of a veteran Quarter Back and a strong Offensive Line.

The Rams Offensive Line have opened up some big running lanes for Kyren Williams in recent games and Los Angeles are expected to have the Running Back established. Some may feel the Saints could clamp down on Williams much as they did to Saquon Barkley in Week 15, but this time they will have Matthew Stafford looking to exploit spaces rather than Tommy DeVito.

New Orleans have excelled in the passing game of late, but they have been helped by the poor Quarter Backs they have faced outside of Jared Goff. Desmond Ridder, Bryce Young and DeVito are the others, and the Saints will be given a lot more to think about with Matthew Stafford and the quality passing game produced by the Rams.

The lean has to be with Los Angeles to win this game, but covering may be tougher if they perform as they did when trying to protect a big lead against the Washington Commanders.

Derek Carr might not be playing as well as the New Orleans Saints would have hoped, while has been dealing with injuries through the year. However, he has Chris Olave back in the line up and the Saints have players that can have success when operating around and through this Rams Secondary as long as Derek Carr can avoid turnovers.

Alvin Kamara may be a threat as a pass catching Running Back coming out of the backfield, although he may not be as effective establishing the run. The Rams have struggled to really control the run as they would have hoped, but the New Orleans Offensive Line have been better at pass protection rather than run blocking.

A backdoor cover could be produced by the Saints, but this is not an ideal spot for them with little time to prepare.

The game in Week 17 is arguably more important for the Saints who may just need to beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Atlanta Falcons to win the Division. It could be something that distracts the team in this tough spot and the Los Angeles Rams can back up their important win over the Commanders.

Los Angeles are 5-2 against the spread as the favourite this season and they can use their strong Offensive unit to put enough scoring together to get past this number too.


Cincinnati Bengals @ Pittsburgh Steelers Pick: The AFC North is still on course to have all four teams produce winning records, although life comes at you very fast in the NFL.

Just ask the Pittsburgh Steelers (7-7) and Cincinnati Bengals (8-6) who meet in a pivotal Divisional clash in Week 16 of the season. Neither team is going to chase down the Baltimore Ravens for the AFC North crown, but this is a huge game in terms of the AFC Wild Card shake up and so much has changed since these teams met in Week 12 on Thanksgiving Weekend.

After losing Joe Burrow to a season ending injury, the Bengals were beaten at home by the Steelers in Jake Browning's first start at Quarter Back. That dropped Cincinnati to 5-6, while the win for the Pittsburgh Steelers moved them to 7-4 and the two teams faced very differing schedules before they were due to meet again with the Bengals facing some tough, PlayOff chasing opponents and the Steelers heading into games against two of the weaker NFL teams.

So much to the surprise of many, it is the Bengals who have a three game winning run and look like they might just return to the post-season, while the Steelers have lost three in a row and Mike Tomlin's proud record of never suffering a losing season as the Pittsburgh Head Coach is under threar.

Offensive Co-Ordinator Matt Canada has gone and the initial 'big' Offensive performance has not been replicated in subsequent games. Instead, the Steelers look to have regressed again and a decision has been made to give Mason Rudolph the start at Quarter Back rather than Mitchell Trubisky in place of the injured Kenny Pickett.

Mitchell Trubisky has struggled and looks like he is going to struggle to earn a backup role going forward, while Mason Rudolph has had a mixed time at Quarter Back. However, it says so much about Trubisky and the Offensive problems that the fans have been calling for Rudolph to come in and they will be hoping Christmas magic inspires him to lead the Steelers into the post-season.

The Offensive Line has been having some issues of late and the Steelers have a pedestrian game plan, but they will be going back to the well in Week 16. It means giving Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren plenty of carries against a Cincinnati Defensive Line that suffered a big injury to DJ Reader last week.

Recent improvements at clamping down on the run may not be as evident in this one and that should give the Steelers a chance to have a better Offensive outing with the run so key to everything they do. Trusting Mason Rudolph to exploit the obvious holes in the Bengals Secondary is difficult, but there are a couple of quality Receivers he can target and it is so much easier to do that from third and manageable rather than third and long.

Anything other than manageable down and distance will likely mean Mason Rudolph is dealing with the Bengals pass rush, while this Bengals Secondary have made some big plays at Intercepting the ball when it is thrown against them. Turnovers have been a killer for the Steelers in recent games and really put their own Defensive unit under significant pressure, so it is imperative that they play as clean a game on this side of the ball.

Establishing the run and using Jaylen Warren as a safety blanket should help and Pittsburgh may have a bit more Offensive success than we have become used to seeing in recent games.

The banged up Steelers Defense is also going to have to step up for the team to keep their post-season hopes alive as they look to rattle Jake Browning for a second time in five weeks. The Quarter Back has been a little inconsistent as expected, but Browning has made some big plays in this three game winning run, which has included two Overtime wins, and there has been a nice balance to the play-calling.

Cincinnati will want to give Joe Mixon and Chase Brown an opportunity to establish the run, although that is still going to be a challenge early on in this game. Pittsburgh may not be trotting out the Steel Curtain of old, but they have restricted teams early and only been worn down within games and begun to allow Running Backs to break open some big gains on the ground.

A stronger control of the clock Offensively will help Pittsburgh and they will believe they can contain Mixon/Brown and at least force Jake Browning to have to take to the air to beat them.

Jake Browning was Sacked four times and threw an Interception in the 16-10 home loss to the Steelers, but he has looked much more comfortable during this three game winning run. Injuries at all levels of the Steelers Defensive unit should mean Browning has a stronger day in this one, although Cincinnati are going to be without Ja'Marr Chase, which is a massive blow.

The Quarter Back will not want to hold onto the ball too long with the Steelers still generating a decent pass rush and the feeling is that Pittsburgh are being under-rated as the home underdog.

Make no mistake, it is not easy to trust a team that has found a way to lose here against the New England Patriots, and who have been blown out by Arizona and Indianapolis. However, the Steelers do match up pretty well with the Bengals on the Defensive side of the ball and Mason Rudolph could give the home fans a lift at Quarter Back.

Most important is the fact that it feels the Steelers will be able to establish the run and that is so important to them on both sides of the ball. Mike Tomlin has a 17-6-2 record against the spread when set as the home underdog and the Steelers could just shake things up again in the AFC Wild Card Race.

The Bengals are playing with confidence and it would have been really good to have gotten the full Field Goal worth of points with the underdog, but Pittsburgh still look the right side in this one as long as Mason Rudolph does not come out slinging turnovers like he is helping Santa deliver presents.


Buffalo Bills @ Los Angeles Chargers Pick: There are some good looking teams at the top of the current AFC Seedings, but make no mistake, not one of them will be hoping the Buffalo Bills (8-6) will be able to surge into the PlayOffs. There is still a chance the Bills will win the AFC East, but they would be missing the post-season if the PlayOffs started today and need to win out.

At the start of the season this game might have felt like being a pivotal one in terms of the PlayOff Seedings, but the Los Angeles Chargers (5-9) have made too many mistakes early in the season. Those have put them behind the black ball, but the injuries picked up across the board have really made it impossible for Los Angeles and they are unsurprisingly a big underdog in Week 16.

Despite the extra time to prepare, it is very difficult to ignore the manner in which the Chargers were crushed by Divisional rivals Las Vegas Raiders in Week 15. Losing Justin Herbert for the season at Quarter Back was never going to be easy to overcome, but Easton Stick is not ready to play at this level and it does not help that he is with little support around him.

Keenan Allen has been ruled out so asking the Quarter Back to make consistent plays through the air is perhaps asking too much. Add in the fact that the Chargers Offensive Line have not looked capable of establishing the run all season and it becomes difficult to imagine Los Angeles being good enough to exploit some of the problems the Bills have had when it comes to defending the run.

If this game gets out of hand early, as it did in Week 15, it will be very difficult to ask Easton Stick to keep the Chargers competitive through the air.

Most will be expecting the Chargers to struggle to contain Buffalo, but the blow out in Week 15 has led to the firing of Brandon Staley as Head Coach and sweeping away the General Manager means the team could be one in transition. However, it should be noted that teams who fire Head Coaches in-season have tended to produce a big effort the following week and the extra time afforded to the Chargers to put together a game plan could mean they are potentially more dangerous than they would have been.

Focus might be the biggest opponent even then and Buffalo will need to focus having played Philadelphia, Kansas City and Dallas in their last three games. Back to back wins have just gotten the Bills back on track as far as the PlayOffs are concerned, but they cannot afford a slip and they are playing on a short week.

James Cook may not have been given a game ball in front of the cameras last week, but he was the star of the show for the Bills and they may want to lean on him again. The Offensive Line have been powering forward to establish the run and Cook and Josh Allen should be able to keep the chains moving with their legs, while they can hook up through the air too as seen in the big win over the Cowboys.

Josh Allen was not asked to do a lot in the win over the Cowboys as Buffalo trampled them on the ground, but he should be able to make a few big throws in an indoor Stadium on Saturday evening. The Bills will be facing a Chargers Secondary that could be without Deane Leonard and Allen does have a Receiving corps that will want to be more involved in a winning performance.

Staying in front of the chains should afford the Quarter Back enough time to expose some of the match ups in the Secondary and the feeling is that Buffalo can keep the momentum going.

They are facing the New England Patriots next week so should not be thinking ahead and the Los Angeles Chargers could be more interested in playing spoiler for Divisional rivals Denver and Kansas City. A new Coaching team should inspire a reaction after being crushed by the Raiders, but the Chargers still look really short on the Offensive side of the ball and that may reduce some of the spirit they enter the game with.

If Buffalo get on top early, they should be able to clear this big spread on the road and have the public just get the better of the sharp action that has reduced the spread by a point.


Indianapolis Colts @ Atlanta Falcons Pick: Three regular season weeks remain and that means the margin for error is reduced drastically for teams chasing PlayOff spots.

Both the Indianapolis Colts (8-6) and Atlanta Falcons (6-8) are surprising post-season contenders, although the momentum is with the former. The two teams have struggled at the Quarter Back position, but Gardner Minshew has shown his experience and the Falcons are turning back to Taylor Heinicke in the hope the veteran can just right the ship.

Desmond Ridder might have played his last snaps as a starting Quarter Back for Atlanta after an absolutely scandalous Interception thrown in the Red Zone last week. Without a doubt it was the moment where the Falcons threw away the opportunity to beat the lowly Carolina Panthers and they are now behind the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New Orleans Saints within the NFC South.

The Saints were beaten on Thursday Night Football, but the Falcons will know they likely need to win out if they are going to make their way into the PlayOffs. This will perhaps save Head Coach Arthur Smith from what looks like a firing if the Falcons fail to reach the post-season so there is plenty of pressure all around having made the change at Quarter Back to spark something.

It looks a tough match up for Taylor Heinicke.

Despite having a player like Bijan Robinson at Running Back, the Falcons have inexplicably either not made him the lead Back or the Offensive Line is massively underperforming. No matter the shake up, the Falcons could have a tough time establishing the run against this Colts Defensive Line bolstered by Grover Stewart and that means it will be up to Heinicke to make the plays to keep the chains moving.

Taylor Heinicke could have some success throwing the ball considering the big time Receivers that have be hugely under-appreciated by the Falcons. However, playing out of third and long will mean dealing with a positive Indianapolis pass rush and Heinicke will need to be aware that this Colts Secondary is capable of stepping in front of the passing lanes and turning the ball over.

This may mean the Falcons need to lean on the Defensive unit that has continued to play at a good level, even with the team two games below 0.500 for the season.

Gardner Minshew will be pleased to hear Michael Pittman Jr is trending towards playing after taking a monumental hit last week in the win over Pittsburgh. More importantly, the Indianapolis Colts could have Jonathan Taylor activated this week and that will certainly help the veteran Quarter Back with the Colts looking to establish the run to open up the pass.

Establishing the run against this Falcons Defensive Line will not be easy, but Taylor's return will certainly help and keeping the Colts in front of the down and distance would be a huge boost for the road underdog.

It will also help keep Gardner Minshew upright as it just eases the Falcons pass rush, while helping an Indianapolis Offensive Line that has not reached the heights expected. They will want Minshew to be in a position where he does not need to allow routes to develop too far down the field as the Colts control the clock, while also not having to take too many risks against this Atlanta Secondary.

This has all of the makings of a close game, but the Colts have the momentum and that should show up here.

The Falcons are only 4-3 at home this season, while Arthur Smith has to be feeling the seat warming up considerably on his position as Head Coach. Atlanta are a miserable 4-11 against the spread in the last couple of seasons when set as the favourite and Indianapolis might be able to make a few plays against Taylor Heinicke to set themselves up for the win that will keep them in contention to win the AFC South.


Seattle Seahawks @ Tennessee Titans Pick: The Monday Night Football win has to be considered an unexpected one for the Seattle Seahawks (7-7) having started with Drew Lock at Quarter Back against the Philadelphia Eagles. It is also a win that might just have saved the season for Seattle, who had lost four in a row and who looked unlikely to snap that run and get back into the Wild Card mix.

They would be missing out if the PlayOffs were to begin right now, but the Seahawks have the same record as the Minnesota Vikings and can join Divisional rivals Los Angeles Rams at 8-7 if they can win this one on the road. The Seahawks are likely to be favoured in all three games left to play in the regular season and winning out will be expected to carry them into the PlayOffs, while they are boosted by a returning Geno Smith at Quarter Back.

It is an early Eastern Time start for the Seattle Seahawks who will be travelling across the nation on a short week, but they are facing a Tennessee Titans (5-9) team that has almost certainly been eliminated from PlayOff consideration after dropping an Overtime game to the Houston Texans in Week 15. The Titans may also have lost starting Quarter Back Will Levis for this game, but veteran Ryan Tannehill is ready to step in and that actually may work against Seattle.

The Seahawks Defensive Line will have to pick up their level of play if they are going to win this one on the road, even if the Titans have surprisingly been unable to get Derrick Henry going at Running Back. This is a good chance to 'get right' though and Henry should be able to have success pounding the rock, especially with a veteran at Quarter Back who will have to be respected by the Seahawks.

Derrick Henry and the Titans Offensive Line have not been able to get it going in recent weeks, but the Seahawks have struggled to clamp down on the run. Mike Vrabel will want his team to continue pounding the rock so this should be a day in which Henry has more success than we have seen of late, while also making sure Ryan Tannehill or Will Levis is protected at Quarter Back with the team in front of the chains.

Will Levis has held onto the ball for too long in recent games and swallowed way too many Sacks, but Ryan Tannehill should have the experience to make better reads. With the team expected to be in third and manageable spots, Tannehill, assuming he gets the start, will be able to attack this Seattle Secondary.

Turnovers may be a potential problem, but Tennessee are in a position to at least move the ball with some consistency in this game.

You would expect to say the same for the Seattle Seahawks, especially with the injuries that Tennessee are dealing with Defensively, but it may not be as comfortable for the road team.

For starters, the Titans have continued to play the run pretty well even without Jefferey Simmons, while the Seahawks have not really been able to motor forward on the ground as they would have liked in recent games. They did manage to get something going against the Eagles, so deserve respect, but Kenneth Walker III is a little banged up and so it may be up to Geno Smith to keep things moving.

The expectation is that the Seahawks have the Receivers to help Geno Smith do that and the Titans have had a susceptibility to the big play through the air. Seattle sound confident that Smith will be very healthy having been given an extra week to prepare and he will be able to help move the chains.

However, some of the drives could be stalled by the pass rush pressure that Tennessee should be able to generate whenever Geno Smith and company are in obvious passing situations. The pressure felt by the Seattle Quarter Backs can lead to one or two mistakes in the passing game and that is where the Titans will feel they can keep this one close.

The scheduled time and the short week plays against Seattle here and the Tennessee Titans have a solid record as the home underdog since Mike Vrabel has been the Head Coach. The Titans do have a chance to earn revenge over the Houston Texans for the Week 15 loss when facing them next week, but being at home should mean they put in a strong enough effort here to avoid the blow out loss at the very least.


Cleveland Browns @ Houston Texans Pick: CJ Stroud looks to be trending in a negative direction and is unlikely to be suiting up for the Houston Texans (8-6) in this big AFC clash with the Cleveland Browns (9-5). They found a way to fight back and beat Divisional rivals the Tennessee Titans with Case Keenum at Quarter Back in Week 15 and the veteran is likely to be getting the call again as the Texans look to stay with the Indianapolis Colts and Jacksonville Jaguars at the top of the AFC South.

Winning the Division is not out of the realms of possibility, while the Texans are also firmly in the Wild Card race, but three games are left and there is not much room for error. The Wild Card situation will feel clearer by the time Houston are ready to take to the field with a big AFC North Divisional game on Saturday having a big impact on the standings, but the work during the week will be focusing on winning this game.

The Texans will finish the season with two more AFC South games, but this could be a tie-breaker for the Wild Card places so make no mistake in downplaying the importance of the game.

Houston have split their last four games as some of the momentum has been slowed and injuries on both sides of the ball have caused problems. CJ Stroud is proving himself to be a Quarter Back that can elevate those around him, but it is tougher to ask Case Keenum to do the same, even if he did enough to help the Texans win last week.

The veteran was very much aided by Devin Singletary and the running game, but Houston's Offensive Line may struggle to break open big gains on the ground against this Cleveland Defensive Line. That will shift the pressure onto Case Keenum, who could be stepping back to throw from obvious passing positions on the field, and that is where the Browns pass rush is expected to make a big impact.

While CJ Stroud has the athleticism to aid the banged up Offensive Line, Case Keenum will find it much tougher to get away from the pressure. Nico Collins could be back in the line up for the Texans, which is a huge boost for the entire passing game, but Keenum will have to step into the pocket and make some big throws with pressure around him.

He can do that against a Cleveland Secondary that has not been as effective on the road, although they do continue to make enough plays to keep the team competitive. Case Keenum will really have to be aware of the Interceptions that the Browns have produced and those extra possessions could be crucial to the outcome of the game.

The Texans will roll with a veteran at Quarter Back and Cleveland will continue to do the same as Joe Flacco looks to take another AFC North team into the PlayOffs. A former Super Bowl Winner, Flacco has come in and sparked the Browns Offensively at a time they have really needed a Quarter Back to step up, and back to back wins over Jacksonville and Chicago have edged Cleveland closer to the post-season.

It has not been all plain-sailing for Joe Flacco and the Browns- Interceptions have been a problem as teams have clamped down on the run, and Joe Flacco may be forced to chuck the ball around in this one.

Nick Chubb has been a big loss, but the Browns Offensive Line have lost a couple of key starters and the run game is unlikely to be very effective in this one either. However, Joe Flacco has found a relative rhythm in the passing game and will give his team a chance as long as he is a little more careful with where he is throwing.

Will Anderson Jr is set to miss out again, although it did not slow down the Houston pass rush in their Week 15 win over the Tennessee Titans, and so Joe Flacco will likely be under some fierce pressure as much as Case Keenum. The positive for Flacco is that he has found an early chemistry with the likes of Amari Cooper and David Njoku and those players can help the team move into a position to win this game.

The one negative is that Cleveland are playing on Thursday Night Football at home, but that is against the lowly New York Jets and so they should be able to focus here.

The Browns have also not been nearly as good on the road as they have been at home (2-4 on the road compared with 7-1 at home), but this is a spot where they can get to Case Keenum and edge to the win.

Nothing comes easy for any road favourite, and turnovers are likely going to be the difference on the day.

However, the Browns have the momentum and they will feel Joe Flacco can out-duel Case Keenum and Cleveland may do enough to just about cover this mark.


Arizona Cardinals @ Chicago Bears Pick: There may have been faint hopes for the Chicago Bears (5-9) to make the PlayOffs after winning three of four games, but the narrow defeat to the Cleveland Browns in Week 15 has ended those hopes. They had a chance to win that game with a Hail Mary coming up with a close win to secure the go-ahead Touchdown, but there is still a motivation to finish this season as strongly as possible.

The Coaching staff need that if they are going to have another run with the Bears, while the same can be said for Quarter Back Justin Fields.

Injury has been an issue for Fields, while the Quarter Back has not really developed as the Chicago Bears would have hoped- some of that is down to the poor state of the team, but Justin Fields has only flashed his ability as a franchise player and there is a lot of feeling around the Bears that a new Quarter Back will be selected in the Draft.

They are likely going to be able to do that with the Carolina Panthers holding the Number 1 Pick in the Draft, a Pick that will be heading to Chicago after a trade made between the teams last year that allowed the Panthers to select Bryce Young.

Justin Fields does have a good chance to impress in this game against the Arizona Cardinals (3-11), although you do have to wonder if higher ups in the Chicago organisation would prefer a loss. At the moment the Cardinals only have one more win than the Carolina Panthers in the 'race' for the top Draft Pick so a win for the Bears may actually hurt them as an organisation.

Professional players could care less about who could come in to replace them, while Head Coach Matt Eberflus will not have a chance to have any new Quarter Back at his disposal if he loses games.

The Bears should be able to put together a fair few successful drives in this one and that is because the Arizona Defensive Line has continued to struggle to stop the run. This should mean Chicago can keep Justin Fields in front of the chains, while also allowing a dual-threat Quarter Back to perhaps move out of the pocket and pick up significant gains on the ground himself.

Doing so should open up a few of the passing lanes for Justin Fields, even in cooler conditions, and that should mean the Bears are able to have one of their more successful days on the Offensive side of the ball.

This should also help the Defensive unit as a young group have continued to show improvement and the Chicago Bears will feel they can get the better of Kyler Murray and company.

James Connor will be hoping to run the ball and put Arizona in a positive position on the field, although the Bears Defensive Line have been much more effective at clamping down on the run compared with their Cardinals counterparts. There should still be an opportunity for Connor, and Kyler Murray, to make some plays with their legs, but the Chicago Bears will be trying to force the Cardinals to beat them through the air.

Placing Murray in obvious passing situations should give the Bears an advantage with a much improved and effective pass rush likely to break into the backfield against this Arizona Offensive Line that has been happier run blocking. This pressure that has been around Kyler Murray when he throws has led to some inconsistencies in the passing game and Marquise Brown looks like he may miss out to reduce the options to catch the ball.

Kyler Murray should still have some successful drives, but those could be stalled into Field Goals rather than Touchdowns and it gives the Chicago Bears the edge.

Backing bad teams to do good things is not ideal, but the Bears have been playing much better than their overall record would indicate.

In the kind of conditions expected in the Windy City, Chicago should be more accustomed to dealing with what they face compared to the Cardinals and that may show up when all is said and done.

The Bears have not been a very good home favourite to back with Justin Fields behind Center, but this looks a rare occasion in which they can be backed to win and cover against a Cardinals team that were blown out at home by their Divisional rivals San Francisco in Week 15.


Las Vegas Raiders @ Kansas City Chiefs Pick: After being an almost double digit favourite to beat this Divisional rival on the road, the Kansas City Chiefs (9-5) have to deal with a spread into the double digits in Week 16. The game has been moved to Christmas Day and the Chiefs have an opportunity to potentially win the AFC West if the Denver Broncos have been beaten on Sunday Night Football.

The main ambition going forward has to be trying to chase down the Number 1 Seed in the AFC with a two game gap between themselves and the Baltimore Ravens. The schedule looks manageable compared with the Ravens and Miami Dolphins, who face one another in Week 17, but Head Coach Andy Reid and his Kansas City players have to focus on their own performances.

Unlike previous years, the Kansas City Chiefs have not looked the clear favourite to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl- they are the defending Champions, but the Chiefs have plenty to prove before we get into the PlayOffs, which are closing in at a rapid rate.

First up is this rematch with the Las Vegas Raiders (6-8) who blew out the Los Angeles Chargers to give themselves an outside opportunity to perhaps push into the post-season too. Those hopes are pretty slight, but the Raiders have had a bit more time to prepare for this game and will be motivated to at least play spoiler for a disliked Divisional rival.

They may be without Josh Jacobs again so the Raiders may have to lean on Zamir White and Ameer Abdullah for another game. Both were able to get something going against the Chargers and will be needed to establish the run against the Kansas City Defensive unit.

It has been an issue for the Chiefs for much of the season and establishing the run will be a huge boost for Aidan O'Connell and the passing game. The inexperienced Quarter Back is still trying to prove he can be a franchise player for the Raiders at the most important position in the sport.

Four Touchdown passes were thrown against the Chargers in Week 15, but this is going to be a tougher test for O'Connell against a young, but effective Kansas City Secondary. Aidan O'Connell will feel the pressure from the Chiefs pass rush if he is playing from behind or the team are not able to run the ball as they would hope, while the Quarter Back will have to be careful of making mistakes that could really push this game in favour of the home team.

Kansas City also have something to prove in the passing game with the Receivers available to Patrick Mahomes still making plenty of costly mistakes.

Isiah Pacheco is expected to be back in the line up and that is a boost for the Chiefs, who have been able to run the ball quite efficiently this season. This may be a tougher test against this Raiders Defensive Line, but Pacheco did have 55 yards and two Touchdowns on the ground in the road win over the Raiders.

This should be a boost for Patrick Mahomes who had Rashee Rice and Travis Kelce combine for just shy of 200 yards through the air against the Raiders in their meeting at the end of November. Both Receivers will be important again, while Mahomes may have more time in the pockets if Maxx Crosby is not able to suit up.

It should mean Patrick Mahomes has one of his better outings at Quarter Back and he can find the spaces in the Raiders Secondary with the hope some of his Receivers can step up and make plays outside of Rice and Kelce.

After a big win, it is no surprise the Las Vegas Raiders are being backed by the public, but the sharp money has come down on the side of the home team.

Even a 14-0 lead in the top half of the Second Quarter was not enough for the Raiders to stay competitive with the Kansas City Chiefs in November. Four of the last five Kansas City wins against Las Vegas have been in blowout fashion and the Chiefs can give the fans some Christmas cheer with a big home win here.


New York Giants @ Philadelphia Eagles Pick: Any late surge towards the PlayOffs came to a crashing halt for the New York Giants (5-9) who were blown out on the road in Week 15.

They are back on the road in Week 16 and the Giants are likely to be officially eliminated from the post-season at the end of this set of games. However, they are in a position to play spoiler for the Philadelphia Eagles (10-4) and that should mean plenty of motivation for the team to try and close out the season with a flourish.

Facing the Eagles on a short week will help, but the New York Giants have to be more positive Offensively to make sure they are competitive. Tommy DeVito has made a name for himself in Gotham, but the Giants Quarter Back is still learning his craft and the team will need to lean on Saquon Barkley at Running Back.

Last week was disappointing for the Giants Offensive Line, but they will be expecting more out of Barkley against this Eagles Defensive Line that has been giving up some significant yards per carry in recent games. In their surprising Monday Night Football loss, the Eagles did allow Seattle to move the ball on the ground and the New York Giants will believe they can do the same.

Keeping the pressure off the shoulders of Tommy DeVito is so important for the New York Giants if they are going to produce a competitive game. You cannot expect DeVito to be able to carry the Giants with his arm as any time he is in obvious passing situations there will be pass rush pressure all around him.

The lack of strong Receiving options might not help, even against this struggling and banged up Eagles Secondary and Tommy DeVito and the Giants Offensive unit need to keep this close on the scoreboard.

If not things could quickly escalate against the New York Giants, even if the Philadelphia Eagles have not been at their best of late with three games in a row dropped. Earning the Number 1 Seed will no longer be a concern, but the Eagles need to win out and hope Dallas do not if they are going to win the NFC East.

Back to back road losses will have stung, but the Eagles are looking to get back to basics and perhaps freshen up some of the play-calling on the Offensive side of the ball. The team have struggled for a consistent running attack, and that is a major problem for the Eagles considering how much they rely on that to open up the passing lanes.

Jalen Hurts has been hurt at Quarter Back, which has perhaps contributed to the poor outings produced by the Eagles, and he is going to be facing an improved and hard-working New York Secondary. Throwing against the Giants has been tough, but DeVonta Smith is going to be ready to go for Philadelphia, which is important, and the Philadelphia Eagles may be able to bounce back after facing a tough run of games in their schedule.

The Quarter Back is well protected and the Eagles Defensive unit may be able to make one or two big plays against Tommy DeVito to give the home team and opportunity to win by a wide margin.

Philadelphia have won four in a row against the New York Giants and three of those wins have been by at least 24 points.

Covering this mark will be tough, but the Eagles may have enough on the Defensive side of the ball to set the team up to do that.

MY PICKS: Los Angeles Rams - 4 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)
Pittsburgh Steelers + 2.5 Points @ 2.00 William Hill (1 Unit)
Buffalo Bills - 12.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet Victor (1 Unit)
Indianapolis Colts + 2.5 Points @ 2.00 Bet365 (1 Unit)
Tennessee Titans + 3.5 Points @ 1.85 Bet Victor (1 Unit)
Cleveland Browns - 2.5 Points @ 1.90 Paddy Power (1 Unit)
Chicago Bears - 4 Points @ 2.00 Sky Bet (1 Unit)
Kansas City Chiefs - 10.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)
Philadelphia Eagles - 13.5 Points @ 1.95 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Week 15: 5-4, + 0.60 Units (9 Units Staked, + 6.67% Yield)
Week 14: 5-3, + 1.58 Units (8 Units Staked, + 19.75% Yield)
Week 13: 2-2, - 1.18 Units (5 Units Staked, - 23.60% Yield)
Week 12: 6-1, + 5.23 Units (8 Units Staked, + 65.38% Yield)
Week 11: 5-2, + 2.54 Units (7 Units Staked, + 36.29% Yield)
Week 10: 3-5, - 2.35 Units (8 Units Staked, - 29.38% Yield)
Week 9: 3-2, + 0.82 Units (5 Units Staked, + 16.40% Yield)
Week 8: 2-2-1, - 0.18 Units (5 Units Staked, - 3.60% Yield)
Week 7: 3-2, + 0.82 Units (5 Units Staked, + 16.40% Yield)
Week 6: 4-3, + 0.56 Units (7 Units Staked, + 8% Yield)
Week 5: 4-3-1, + 2.46 Units (10 Units Staked, + 24.60% Yield)
Week 4: 3-5, - 2.35 Units (8 Units Staked, - 29.38% Yield)
Week 3: 4-4, + 0.43 Units (9 Units Staked, + 4.78% Yield)
Week 2: 3-4-2, - 1.36 Units (12 Units Staked, - 11.33% Yield)
Week 1: 5-2, + 2.51 Units (7 Units Staked, + 35.86% Yield)