Sanders's Week 16 Picks

WEEK 16 NFL Predictions

The holidays are here and playoff lives are on the line as well. The games will be played on the beginning day of Hanukah and on Christmas Day. While I would love to talk about all the implications, I want everyone to be celebrating their holidays with their families so I will get right to the picks. Happy Hanukah, Merry Christmas, and Happy Kwanzaa everyone!

Sanders went 24-8 in the last two weeks putting him to 140-82-2 on the season

NY Giants vs Philadelphia Eagles

Yes I missed this one for picks and I picked the Giants to win. So a loss for me here already.

Giants 19  Eagles 24

Miami Dolphins vs Buffalo Bills

Both teams are fighting for their playoff lives although the Dolphins are the ones with a realistic chance of getting the wildcard while Buffalo has to pray that Baltimore, Denver, and the Texans go 0-2 in the next two weeks which is not likely. However, the Bills do have something to fight for and that is Rex Ryan’s career as their head coach and a few Bills players have already stated they want to play for him. Keeping this in mind, I believe the Bills have a fighting chance however the Dolphins are a better team. If the Dolphins can show up like they have most of the season, they can handle an inferior team like the Bills. If not, they are going to have a rough day in upstate in New York.

Dolphins 27  Bills 24

UPSET OF THE WEEK!!!!

Atlanta Falcons vs Carolina Panthers

The Panthers are hot. And by hot, I mean, they look as good as they did last year and while it’s too late for the Panthers to realistically make the playoffs, they can definitely play the upset role here. This team loves to have fun and what more fun can you have than destroying your opponent’s division title dreams? The Falcons are good and will have Julio Jones back and have the potential to beat the Panthers. The reason I take the Panthers though, is because they finally have an identity. They are finally having fun again when they play. And as I have stated before, when the Panthers are having fun and knowing what they are doing, they usually dominate their opponents. I expect a fight from the Falcons, but it won’t be enough.

Falcons 24  Panthers 26

Washington Redskins vs Chicago Bears

I would say that this is a no-brainer, but it really wouldn’t surprise me if the Bears pulled of the upset. While the Bears roster doesn’t look like a winning team, they look like a competitive team and one that has given opponents a run for their money. This one should be no different seeing as the Redskins defense can be easy to pick on. The key difference is that the Redskins have a great offense and one the Bears may not be able to handle very well. Look for Crowder and Jackson to go off and make the key plays necessary to give the win to the Redskins.

Redskins 24  Bears 20

San Diego Chargers vs Cleveland Browns

As usual, hard to say anything about the Browns. As a matter of fact, I think RG3 will be running for his life all day. Why? That San Diego pass rush is legit and has been running over offensive lines since Bosa started playing. While Rivers has not looked good as of late, worse quarterbacks have performed well against the Browns. Can we say anything different for Rivers? Not likely.

Chargers 27  Browns 17

Minnesota Vikings vs Green Bay Packers

The Packers look like the vintage Packers we have come to love and know. They can keep up their momentum with another win against a reeling divisional opponent. It’s almost unfathomable that a Vikings team which started 5-0, has only won 2 of their last 9 games. Which means I have no faith in the Vikings to win against a streaking Rodgers led Packers team.

Vikings 13  Packers 28

Tennessee Titans vs Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jaguars are like the Browns. It’s hard to talk about them because there isn’t much to say about them. Bortles looks like he should be replaced. The defense isn’t working even with the talent they have. There is no depth on the team. And that’s pretty much it. The Titans, on the other hand, are my pick to take the division at 10-6. I think they are the best team in their division and one of the more underrated teams in the NFL. While I’m not sure they are built to last in the playoffs, they definitely deserve to be in the playoffs. They’ll show that with an easy pick up win here in Jacksonville.

Titans 31  Jaguars 20

NY Jets vs New England Patriots

The Jets are officially in “figure out who we want for next season” mode. If anything, these players need to play hard if they want to keep their jobs. As for New England, they are playing for home field advantage here and need the win here as well. I can’t see them losing to a Jets team that doesn’t look like it has much soul to it or any ounce of motivation.

Jets 17  Patriots 31

Indianapolis Colts vs Oakland Raiders

Both teams have a lot to fight for. The Colts have their playoff lives on the line and the Raiders are looking to secure the playoff bye. While the Colts have a shot at this game, the Raiders are at home and Khalil Mack is more than likely going to tear up a poor Colts offensive line. The Raiders should secure their playoff bye this week.

Colts 27  Raiders 28

San Francisco 49ers vs Los Angeles Rams

Well. Here we are. A stinker of a game in the midst of many amazing games. Both franchises will be looking to rebuild next season and this will be a big game in deciding draft picks. That’s about as hyped as you can get for this game. The better team wins here.

49ers 13  Rams 16

Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs New Orleans Saints

 I like the Saints. Enough that you could say I have a bias liking toward them. However, I couldn’t be bias enough to say that they pick up the win here. While I would see them upsetting the Bucs at home, the Bucs just look to good to lose right now to teams that are inferior to them. Winston is developing into a fine franchise quarterback and the defense is finally starting to click. I like where they are headed and should secure a playoff spot this week with a win.

Bucs 35  Saints 31

Arizona Cardinals vs Seattle Seahawks

I would like to believe the Cardinals can come in and beat the Seahawks seeing as the Hawks look inconsistent at times. But the Hawks are 9-4-1 and getting a lot of bologna they probably don’t deserve. The games they have lost have been to the Packers, Bucs, Saints, and Rams. None of those should be surprising seeing as the Rams have had their number, and the other teams are tough outs. The Cardinals lack an  crystal clear identity. They are supposed to be a run-first team but have not succeeded in putting up enough points like that and their defense is top-notch yet somehow didn’t show up last week looking like they had given up. A team with that kind of attitude can’t beat the Seahawks in Seattle. BUT, this is a divisional game after all. I’m looking for the Cardinals to be lockdown against Seattle and this should be a low scoring affair just like the last one (which ended in a mind-boggling tie.)

Cardinals 10  Seahawks 13

Cincinnati Bengals vs Houston Texans

I don’t think the Texans are really all that great but they keep proving me wrong AND they have officially benched Brock Osweiler. That gives me some hope at the quarterback position although I have no idea if Tom Savage can perform in critical games. What better test than a Saturday night game? I’ll trust the Texans defense to carry the wait here.

Bengals 20  Texans 23

Baltimore Ravens vs Pittsburgh Steelers

The Ravens have won 6 of the last 7 games against the Steelers yet somehow, this matchup feels totally different. This game will essentially decide the AFC North and while Baltimore does have Pittsburgh’s number in recent years, this seems like a game heavily in Pittsburgh favor. The Steelers will be at home and have just started to hit their stride on offense. To make matters even better for the Steelers, Jimmy Smith, Baltimore’s top corner, will miss the game which leaves things wide open for Antonio Brown to go off and dominate the Ravens secondary. Unless Flacco and the Ravens offense can find balance in a running and throwing the ball to keep the Steelers defense at bay, the Steelers should outscore the Ravens.

Ravens  19  Steelers 23

Denver Broncos vs Kansas City Chiefs

The Broncos are struggling. There is no denying it. With such a porous offensive line, it’s hard to see the Broncos being able to move the ball against a fierce Chiefs pass rush. The Chiefs offense might be boring but it takes care of business and has proven this season that it can make the necessary game-winning drive when need be. Barring great play from Denver’s offensive line, the Chiefs should put this game away early.

Broncos 17  Chiefs 21

Detroit Lions vs Dallas Cowboys

The Cowboys don’t have anything to play for as they have secured home field advantage and the Lions have everything to play for with their division title and playoff bye hopes on the line. While it seems like the Lions should win this because the Cowboys won’t play as fiercely as normal, I think the Cowboys will still win. Garrett should entice his team to not give up and take a break. That is the wrong idea and Prescott needs to continue to grow by beating a team heading to the playoffs with them. If the Cowboys give up this early, they could end up like the 2007 Cowboys team who looked destined for the Super Bowl but then went home early in January.

Lions 23 Cowboys 27