Dec 20, 20227 min read

Week 16 NFL Predictions! (Updated With Results)

Updated: Dec 29, 2022

The final weeks of the season are here! Three games remain for every team and the playoff picture is forming. Several teams have clinched their position/division but no seeding has been determined yet. It's going to be a wild ride these last few weeks!

Week 1 - 7-8-1

Week 2 - 9-7

Week 3 - 6-10

Week 4 - 7-9

Week 5 - 10-6

Week 6 - 5-9

Week 7 - 8-6

Week 8 - 10-5

Week 9 - 11-2

Week 10 - 7-7

Week 11 - 8-6

Week 12 - 9-7

Week 13 - 12-2-1

Week 14 - 8-5

Week 15 - 10-6

Season so far: 127-95-2

Thursday:

Jaguars over Jets (home)

I'm going to continue to believe in these Jags and ride the wave. As much as the Jets are also a feel good story, and the season they've had is one of the better ones in years, I like these Jags more and they are playing inspired football. Evidenced by their dramatic comeback overtime win over the Cowboys that ended in a pick-six.

Saturday:

Ravens (home) over Falcons

Two teams that are trending the wrong way. Both are still in the playoff picture, but both have their issues. As of this writing, Ravens QB Lamar Jackson is still on the mend and the most recent loss, road loss to the Browns, coupled with the Bengals win, has taken them out of first place in the AFC North. The Falcons gave rookie QB Desmond Ridder a go last week and got expected results. The Falcons, miraculously, are STILL in the mix for the NFC South division crown.

Lions over Panthers (home)

The Lions are getting scary. They've won six of their last seven, including the last three, and find themselves on the fringe of the playoffs. If somehow these Lions make it in the tournament, HC Dan Campbell will be deserving of Coach of the Year consideration.

Chiefs (home) over Seahawks

These Seahawks are in a bind. They've lost the division and now are currently on the outside of the playoffs following their most recent loss to give them four in their last five games. The fact that the Giants-Commanders game DIDN'T end in a tie HELPS them, just like their head to head shootout win over the surging Lions back in week 4 to give them the tiebreaker. The Problem is their remaining schedule is not a gimme. Meanwhile, it's business as usual for the Chiefs. Another year, another AFC West crown and the #1 seed in the AFC in their sights. They will need to keep winning and get help to obtain that but, the seemingly manageable schedule should set them up nicely.

Browns (home) over Saints

I don't feel good about either team but, I'll go with the one that is used to playing in the elements. The playoffs are LIKELY not happening for the Browns as Deshaun Watson continues to get back up to speed despite them being mathematically still in it. The Saints, meanwhile, are still very much in it for the division and have much to play for. That includes possible jobs for some players and coaches.

Titans (home) over Texans

I think the Titans can finally end their slide. What was once a safe lead, and a division crown by default, has become a perilous stretch of possibly MISSING the playoffs after losing four straight. This isn't no get-right game, though. These Texans have shown all season that they can give some of the good to elite teams in the league at least a scare (Philadelphia, Kansas City, Dallas, Giants, Chargers) even if they don't win.

Bengals over Patriots (home)

What a difference a few weeks make. I wrote some weeks ago that this matchup had the look of a potential de facto playoff game that could hinder the loser's chances. Since then, Cincy has surged to the top of the AFC North, and third overall in the AFC, while the Pats have floated around the .500 mark (while playing the silliest lateral game I've ever seen) to find themselves eighth in the AFC and currently out of the playoffs. A Pats loss won't eliminate them but a win won't come easy against a team that hasn't lost since Halloween.

Vikings (home) over Giants

Two teams that are professional one score game players. EVERY Giants win has been by one score while ten of the eleven wins that the Vikings have are by one score. Both teams are coming off of HUGE wins. Minnesota just completed the largest comeback in the history of the NFL, and probably ruined Colts HC Jeff Saturday's job audition, while the G-Men got a desperately needed road divisional win (their first of the season) to leap Washington in the playoff standings and own the tiebreaker. Why wouldn't this game be close?

Bills over Bears (home)

The Bills were given a tough test by Miami and now head west to face a feisty Chicago team that played well against Philadelphia despite losing. It will be interesting to see how the team handles Bears QB Justin Fields running (95 yards last week) ability as Josh Allen has similar mobility and strength.

49ers (home) over Commanders

The Niners have had nine days to gameplan against the Commanders and will probably use some things that the Giants did in their two games against them. Commanders QB Taylor Heinicke hasn't faced a defense THIS good all season and will have to play extremely well to get a needed win on the road. It starts by not putting the ball in harm's way. I don't expect the newly minted NFC West champs to let up and wouldn't be surprised if this ends early. One thing to watch for me, though, is whether or not the good QB play of third-stringer Brock Purdy continues for the 49ers.

Eagles (duh!) over Cowboys (home)

This was minted as one of the biggest games of the year (months ago), but it has lost a lot of it's luster in recent weeks. Mainly due to the Eagles winning (five in a row) and the Cowboys luck running out and eventually losing last week. Both teams are statistically great but the eye test shows that the Cowboys have struggled in recent weeks with not only losing to a hungry Jacksonville team, but needing a near last second drive to beat a Texans team that outplayed them for about 58 minutes. Meanwhile, the Eagles struggled in Chicago and played a sloppy game but gutted out a win. The two previous wins before it, the starters didn't need to finish the game. Now, the Eagles only need one win in their last three to clinch everything which means this game has less importance. Also, and most importantly, Eagles QB Jalen Hurts did suffer a shoulder sprain on the throwing shoulder which puts his availability in doubt for Saturday.

Steelers (home) over Raiders

Both teams are in it and are coming off of big wins. The Steelers off of a more traditional type of win while the Raiders got a win of the strange and unknown kind that you couldn't possibly make up or recreate. The loser of the game is likely eliminated from playoff contention so, I would expect an intense game from two teams on their last gasp.

Sunday:

Dolphins (home) Packers

The Packers finished off the Rams' playoff dreams Monday night while keeping their own alive in sub 20 degree Lambeau. The Dolphins, losers of three straight, are probably happy to be home after dealing with lake effect snow late in their loss to Buffalo. They can't get too excited as the forecast in Miami for Christmas Day is currently 57 degrees and raining. Either way, they will have to navigate the weather to a win as they currently are in the final slot in the AFC playoff picture.

Broncos over Rams (home)

This is about pride for these 4-10 teams as neither is going to the postseason. It may also be about a job for Broncos HC Nathaniel Hackett as it has been a disaster for his first season at the helm (Rams HC Sean McVay isn't going anywhere). For the Seahawks and Lions, the teams that own the first round draft picks of these teams, it's about positioning. Right now, the Seahawks would be picking third with the Broncos pick while the Lions would be picking fourth with the Rams pick.

Buccaneers over Cardinals (home)

The Bucs still lead the NFC South and probably have the best chance of winning the division but they are running out of chances to get themselves together offensively. They were good for a half against the Bengals last week before the second half meltdown in all phases. The Cardinals are out of it and I do feel that HC Kliff Kingsbury is coaching for his job at this point. Whether or not he is here next year, the team will likely have to go an entire season without starting QB Kyler Murray as he recovers from a torn ACL.

Monday:

Chargers over Colts (home)

The Bolts have won three of five including the last two to put themselves squarely in the playoff picture. They draw a Colts team that is coming off of a historical loss and is likely demoralized. This Colts defense is still pretty good and may be able to provide a tough test for QB Justin Herbert and the rest of the offense. Colts interim HC Jeff Saturday has failed his audition, in my opinion, after this most recent loss but, if he has any hope of sticking around in Indy, or anywhere else in the league in a coaching capacity for that matter, he has to have the team show something over these last three weeks.

Results for the week: 10-6 - A good week! Still over .500 for the season! I think I may have mathematically guaranteed that I will NOT finish under .500 with that repeat week!