NFL - Week 16 Predictions

Ringer's Record
Last Week ATS: 8-8
Last Week SU: 10-6

Season ATS: 114-106-1 (52%)
Season SU: 152-69 (69%)

Houston (-6.5) at Indianapolis
Houston lost the inside track to homefield throughout the AFC Playoffs, when they lost to Carolina last week. TJ Yates suffered his 1st loss as the starting QB of the Texans, but looks to bounce back on Thursday night in Indianapolis. The Colts avoided becoming just the 2nd team ever to lose every game of a 16-game season when they beat Tennessee last week. Indy is now in danger of not winning the Andrew Luck sweepstakes. I think Houston has too much to play for and will bounce back, keeping the Colts the favorites to draft #1 overall.

Prediction - Houston 28 Indianapolis 14

Cleveland (+13.5) at Baltimore
The Ravens nearly lost control of the AFC North after they were blown out in San Diego. Luckily for them, the Steelers were also blown out in San Francisco. That means that Baltimore still controls their own destiny. If they win out they will win the division and have a 1st Round bye. They should take one step forward towards that goal this week when Cleveland comes to town. The Browns found a way to snatch defeat from the hands of victory again. They have now lost at least 10 games for the 4th consecutive year. They don't pose much of a threat to Baltimore.

Prediction - Baltimore 27 Cleveland 13

Denver (-3.5) at Buffalo
The Tebow train couldn't overcome the deficit they faced New England. The Broncos lost for just the 2nd time since Tebow took over under center. A loss by Oakland kept Denver on top of the AFC West though. Now they travel to Buffalo to face a Bills squad that is playing horribly. After a 5-2 start, Buffalo now stands at 5-9 after 7 straight losses. Ryan Fitzpatrick has not looked good since signing a contract extension. It is hard to imagine that he will play well against a tough Broncos D, or that Tebow will let his team lose this one.

Prediction - Denver 21 Buffalo 17

Tampa Bay (+7.5) at Carolina
The Buccaneers are playing as poorly as any team in the league. They began the season 4-2 and many thought that this team was a playoff contender. It turns out that they are a far way from the postseason. Tampa could potentially enter the offseason having lost 10 in a row. To avoid that, the Bucs need to find a way to slow down Cam Newton. In less than a season, Newton has helped guide the Panthers from the worst offense in the NFL to a top 10 offense. I don't see Carolina slowing down this week.

Prediction - Carolina 35 Tampa Bay 24

Arizona (+4.5) at Cincinnati
We are nearing the end of the regular season, and the Bengals are still hanging around in the Wild Card race. They are waiting for the Jets to slip up to seize their opportunity. They welcome the Cardinals into the Queen City this week. Arizona is surprisingly still alive for the playoffs, even after a 1-6 start. The Cards have climbed their way back to .500. Arizona has actually trailed in the 2nd Half of every game this season. That amazing trend should continue, as Cincy squeaks out a close one.

Prediction - Cincinnati 21 Arizona 20

Oakland (+1.5) at Kansas City
The Raiders are fading quickly. A few weeks ago, they stood at 7-4 and were the leaders of the AFC West. Now they need to win out and get some help to reach the playoffs. Carson Palmer has played better in recent weeks, but the defense has faltered. Now they must win in Kansas City, which is not an easy task. The Chiefs are coming off an inspiring win that ended Green Bay's dream of a perfect season. This team wants to play well for interim coach Romeo Crennel. This could be the 2nd straight week KC shatters another team's dreams.

Prediction - Kansas City 23 Oakland 21

Miami (+10.5) at New England
The path to the Super Bowl appears that it could run through Foxborough. After Pittsburgh, Baltimore, and Houston all lost last week, the Patriots now hold a game lead on all of them with just 2 to play. Miami comes into Gillette Stadium trying to spoil those plans. The Dolphins have played very well in the 2nd half of the season. They have Reggie Bush running well, and he should pass 1,000 yards for the year this week. Miami should hang around, but Brady won't lose a game like this at home.

Prediction - New England 35 Miami 27

NY Giants (+3.5) at NY Jets
The Battle of New York is a virtual must-win for both teams. After both teams laid an egg last week, they each need to bounce back in a bad way. The Giants were never really in a game that a playoff team has to win. While the Jets were completely dismantled by the underachieving Eagles. Now it's time for someone to step up. The Giants have a recent history of late season meltdowns. The Jets have recent history of late season surges. I see history repeating itself.

Prediction - NY Jets 23 NY Giants 20

St. Louis (+14.5) at Pittsburgh
Ben Roethlisberger did not look good Monday Night. The Steelers lost 20-3 in San Francisco and Ben turned the ball over 4 times. Now the Steelers have lost control of their own destiny. And Mike Tomlin faces a dilemma on whether to play Ben this week or rest him up for the playoffs. My gut says that Charlie Batch will be taking the snaps. The Rams are dreadful and the Steelers D should be able to win this game, even if Batch looks slow and old.

Prediction - Pittsburgh 21 St. Louis 6

Jacksonville (+8.5) at Tennessee
The Titans playoff hopes took a huge blow last week. They became the 1st team to lose to the Colts this season. It had to be painful for the Tennessee faithful to watch their playoff chances slip away to a winless team. They are still alive though, and come home to host another miserable team. Jacksonville was blow out last week, and pretty much have just one threat in Maurice Jones-Drew on their squad. The Titans will try to take MJD away, and will do enough to avoid a 2nd embarrassing loss in a row.

Prediction - Tennessee 20 Jacksonville 16

Minnesota (+6.5) at Washington
All of a sudden, Minnesota is in the Andrew Luck sweepstakes. Or the #1 draft pick sweepstakes. It is still somewhat of an unknown what the Vikings have in Christian Ponder. Ponder has looked good at times, and has looked awful at times. Such is life as a rookie QB. The Redskins wish they were in the running for Andrew Luck's services. But they've won too many games. This game features 2 bad teams that someone has to win. Give me the Skins at home.

Prediction - Washington 24 Minnesota 20

San Diego (+2.5) at Detroit
Don't look now, but here come the San Diego Chargers again. How do they do this every year? The Chargers fall asleep at some point in the season, only to surge towards a possible playoff berth down the stretch. It may be too late this year, but they are certainly making it interesting. Nobody is playing better than San Diego right now. But Detroit isn't an easy place to win anymore. The Lions can clinch their 1st playoff spot this century with a win. This should be a fun game to watch.

Prediction - San Diego 30 Detroit 28

Philadelphia (+2.5) at Dallas
The Philadelphia Eagles still have a chance to win the NFC East. They will need some help, but the dream is still alive for the "Dream Team". The Cowboys got a big win in Tampa last week. They return home for a completely different challenge. The Eagles are finally playing good football. How will the Cowboys handle the pressure? Dallas could clinch the division with a win and a Giants loss. But if the Giants lose and the Eagles win this game. things will get very interesting next weekend.

Prediction - Philadelphia 30 Dallas 27

San Francisco (-2.5) at Seattle
The 49ers need this game. They are mathematically alive for home field in the NFC, but that is unlikely to happen. The more realistic possibility is a bye into the Divisional Playoffs. If San Francisco wins out, they avoid a Wild Card game and will host a playoff game for the 1st time in a decade. They flexed their muscle against Pittsburgh Monday Night. But now they travel to Seattle on a short week. Seattle is one of the hardest places to win in the NFL. There is something about this 49er team though.

Prediction - San Francisco 20 Seattle 13

Chicago (+13.5) at Green Bay
The Packers run at perfection is over. Now they can concentrate on securing home field throughout the playoffs, and gearing up for another Super Bowl run. They can assure that the NFC Playoffs run through Lambeau Field by beating their arch rival, Chicago Bears, on Christmas night. Chicago has not won a game since they lost Jay Cutler. The Caleb Hanie experiment is over. The keys are being turned over to Josh McCown this week. It is hard to believe that McCown will be able to keep up with Aaron Rodgers.

Prediction - Green Bay 30 Chicago 10

Atlanta (+6.5) at New Orleans
The Saints can clinch the NFC South with a win at home on Monday. A loss means that the Falcons are still alive. Either way, it appears that both teams are going to be playing in the postseason. The Saints have been an unstoppable force at home. They will look to improve to 7-0 at the Superdome. Atlanta has been playing much better and look to be on the verge of playing up to their preseason hype. A win over the Saints could propel them to big things in January. New Orleans is just too good at home.

Prediction - New Orleans 31 Atlanta 21