On Christmas Day, the Green Bay Packers (11-3) host the Cleveland Browns (7-7) who are in the middle of a dog fight with the rest of their division. The AFC North race has all four teams separated by just one game. Plus, the Browns might not have starting QB Baker Mayfield (COVID list) again this week. Meanwhile, the Packers have already clinched the NFC North and have the best overall record in the NFL. They want to have the home field advantage and another win will keep things rolling for The Pack.
The other Saturday game will feature the red hot Indianapolis Colts (8-6), winners of five of their last six games, traveling to Arizona to face the slumping Cardinals (10-4), who have lost two straight games and are now tied for first place with the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC West. The Colts strong running game will be a challenge for the Arizona defense to stop. If the Cardinals lose, they could drop down to the fifth spot in the NFC playoff chase.
On Sunday, the L.A. Rams (10-4) will be in Minnesota to face the Vikings (7-7), who are still in the playoff race and battling several other teams for the final spot. The Rams beat the Seattle Seahawks last week and can still win the NFC West division, so this is a huge game for them. The Vikings won't have running back Dalvin Cook (COVID restricted list) in this game and the Rams defense seemed to be back in form last week, so that could be a problem for the Vikings.
In the AFC East race, it comes down to this Sunday's game between the host New England Patriots (9-5) and the Buffalo Bills (8-6). The Pats ran all over the Bills three weeks ago, gaining 222 yards on the ground while throwing just three passes in their 14-10 win. Buffalo is currently holding down the seventh and final AFC playoff spot, but needs to win this game because there are five other teams right there waiting to get that wild card spot.
Over in the AFC North, the Baltimore Ravens face the Cincinnati Bengals in a road game that will go a long way in determining the division winner. Both teams are 8-6 and the Bengals annihilated the Ravens in Baltimore, 41-17 two months ago. The Ravens are currently out of the playoffs and could leap right back up to the number four spot (where the Bengals are right now) with a win as they look to snap a three game losing streak. Getting back starting quarterback Lamar Jackson (ankle sprain) would be a big boost to achieving that.
The Pittsburgh Steelers (7-6-1), another team in that crazy AFC North division race, will be on the road this weekend, facing the Kansas City Chiefs (10-4), a team that has won seven straight games and are in the driver's seat in the AFC West division. Kansas City QB Patrick Mahomes has been on fire of late, but might not have his best receivers in this game as tight end Travis Kelce and wide receiver Tyreek Hill are both on the COVID protocol list. In all (as of Friday, December 24) the Chiefs have seven players on the COVID restriction list. The Steelers might be able to pull this one out.
Two teams that are at .500 are the Denver Broncos and the Las Vegas Raiders and they face off in Vegas on Sunday. One thing for certain, the loser of this one will likely be out of the running for a wild card playoff spot in the AFC. It's simply a numbers game and being at 7-8 does not bode well for making the playoffs with only two games left and having eight other teams in the same position for those last three playoff spots.
The Dallas Cowboys (10-4) can clinch the NFC East division with a home win against Washington (6-8) on Sunday night. The Cowboys have already clinched a spot in the NFC playoffs as a result of the San Francisco 49ers losing to Tennessee on Thursday night. Dallas needs to get the offense rolling as it has struggled in recent weeks, averaging just 23.6 points per game since mid-November. Washington lost a tough game in Philadelphia last Tuesday (COVID forced the game to be rescheduled) and now must win out and get some help to even make the NFC playoffs.
Finally, on Monday night, the New Orleans Saints host the surging Miami Dolphins, who have won six consecutive games. The Saints had a huge win last week against Tampa Bay on the road as they shut out Tom Brady and the Buccaneers. The New Orleans defense was dominant in the win.
Both teams are 7-7 heading into this one and the Saints will be going with their fourth QB this season as rookie Ian Book will likely start with the injured Jameis Winston being out again while reserves Taysom Hill and Trevor Siemian are on the (you guessed it) COVID restricted list. This is a huge game for both teams with the loser likely falling out of contention for the playoffs.
The rest of the NFL games are previewed in the capsule style format and the Heftyinfo predictions follow up.
Merry Christmas!
N.Y. Giants (4-10) at Philadelphia (7-7) - The Eagles are hot and should get their revenge on the G-Men after a close loss to them three weeks ago.
Tampa Bay (10-4) at Carolina (5-9) - The Buccaneers should win this game against the slumping Panthers, who have lost four in a row. But the Bucs are banged up and Tom Brady might have to will them to victory in this one.
Jacksonville (2-12) at N.Y. Jets (3-11) - Two very bad football teams in this one and the loser could win up being "on the clock" for the first pick in the next NFL draft.
Detroit (2-11-1) at Atlanta (6-8) - Two teams playing out the string here. The Falcons could still win out and (with a lot of help) make the NFC playoffs.
L.A. Chargers (8-6) at Houston (3-11) - The Chargers were their own worst enemies in so many losses this season. They still have a great chance to be in the playoffs, so look for them to win this one.
Chicago (4-10) at Seattle (5-9) - The Seahawks just might take out their frustrations for this bad season against the Bears in this game.
The Heftyinfo picks for Week Sixteen . . . . . . . . (Home teams are listed in bold; Lock of the Week is listed in BOLD CAPS)
Tennessee over San Francisco
Green Bay over Cleveland
Arizona over Indianapolis
Philadelphia over N.Y. Giants
L.A. Rams over Minnesota
New England over Buffalo
Tampa Bay over Carolina
N.Y. Jets over Jacksonville
Atlanta over Detroit
L.A. CHARGERS over Houston
Cincinnati over Baltimore
Seattle over Chicago
Kansas City over Pittsburgh
Las Vegas over Denver
Dallas over Washington
New Orleans over Miami
Last Week's Record - 10-6
SEASON RECORD - 138-85-1
Lock of the Week Record - 11-4
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