Sunday is here and with it comes a loaded Week 16 NFL schedule. There are 12 matchups taking place throughout the day, many of which will have a significant impact the 2021 NFL playoff picture.
We’ve officially moved into the home stretch of the season, but COVID has started to rear its ugly head once again. Two games wound up delayed last week, and several teams were forced to scramble to replace key players on both sides of the ball. Hopefully things will improve this week.
Lets begin:
Buffalo Bills at New England Patriots
Three weeks after their wild and windy clash in Buffalo on Monday Night Football, New England and Buffalo will reunite at Gillette Stadium for the rematch that could decide the AFC East.
Based on the current weather forecast for Foxborough, the conditions should be a little bit more palatable for all involved this weekend.
The Patriots took that first game on the back of a punishing ground game that took over the game and allowed them to control the clock from start to finish.
While New England is likely to throw more than three passes in this game, it would be surprising for them to abandon their run first approach considering how vulnerable the Bills have been up front.
This might be the toughest game to pick of the weekend and in a situation like this, you have to back the coaching edge, which goes to Bill Belichick.
Prediction : Patriots ML
Baltimore Ravens at Cincinnati Bengals
Baltimore has had the most injuries in the league this season, but has still played competitively and kept games close.
Quarterback Lamar Jackson (foot) will not be returning this week. Wide receiver Sammy Watkins, who was placed on the Covid-19 reserve list, might play. In narrow defeats to the Steelers and Packers, the Ravens tried and failed at 2-point conversions rather than playing for overtime. With a realistic shot at the playoffs on the line, Coach John Harbaugh may take a more conservative approach. Either way, it is likely this game will be close, making the over a good betting choice.
Prediction: Over 43.5
New York Jets at Jacksonville Jaguars
This is the only game this weekend that does not feature at least one team still in playoff contention, however it could be a big game in terms of determining the first overall pick in the draft.
When two bad teams face off with nothing to lose, we do tend to see these games turn into unintentional shootouts.
Take the over and hope it turns into a moderately competitive affair in the fourth quarter.
Prediction: Over 41.5
LA Rams at Minnesota Vikings
After two embarrassing prime time losses, the Rams (10-4) have won their last two games and are beginning to rise. Against the Vikings (7-7), who finally put together a complete game devoid of any drama last week, the Rams’ pass rush should carry them.
Kirk Cousins is known to struggle when he faces pressure and takes hits, something that Aaron Donald and Von Miller will surely talk about during film meetings. Miller finally secured his first sack with the Rams last week, while Donald’s 11 sacks for the season have him tied for eighth in the N.F.L.
It is unclear whether Adam Thielen (ankle) will play, meaning Jalen Ramsey and Justin Jefferson should be matched up together in coverage for most of the game. If the Rams’ defense contains Dalvin Cook and forces Cousins to throw, they should have a lot of success.
Prediction: Rams -3
Pittsburgh Steelers at Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City is the form team in the NFL now, riding a seven game winning streak and in position to secure home field advantage in the playoffs for the third time in four years over the next few weeks.
They will have to do it the hard way this weekend with Covid potentially robbing them of two difference makers on offence ahead of a matchup with this stingy Steelers defence.
One thing that the Chiefs have done really well this season is handling games that are a bit more defensive and finding ways to win by grinding it out rather than blowing out every opponent.
It does make the -9.5 point line a bit too high for comfort, especially if Travis Kelce and Tyreek Hill are unable to go.
Pittsburgh knows its way to win the game is to slow down the Chiefs and keep them to a low score.
In six of their seven wins, plus their one tie, they have kept opponents to 20 points or less.
Prediction : Chiefs -10