Sanders's Week 16 NFL Predictions

By Jacob Sanders

A quick short thing here. Thanks to those who continue reading what I put out each week. You’re the reason I still do it even when there have been times where I don’t want to do it at all. I enjoy doing this as a hobby and it wouldn’t mean anything if there weren’t anybody to read them.

Anyway, on to the picks!

Sanders went 11-5 last week putting him to 125-85 on the season.

Indianapolis Colts VS Baltimore Ravens

Well. This will be short. Flacco has consistently put up season high games three weeks in a row now. He is playing against a very poor secondary this week so you tell me what you think it is going to happen. With the Baltimore offense averaging 30.7 points in the last 5 games and the defense still being tight as usual, I don’t see an outcome where the Colts manage to win this game. To me, they are riding out a lost season while Baltimore still has everything to play for.

Colts 10 Ravens 27

Minnesota Vikings VS Green Bay Packers

Even with Rodgers in the game, this feels like a loss for the Packers. The Vikings have proved to a be a great team this season and need to win here to keep their hopes of a bye week and slim chances of home field-advantage alive. But, Rodgers has been placed on IR and they are turning back to Hundley. While Hundley has proved to shine in moments, who knows if it’s enough to beat a vicious defense that the Vikings have.

Vikings 24 Packers 14

Tampa Bay Buccaneers VS Carolina Panthers

The Bucs threw everything and the kitchen sink at the Falcons on Monday night and it resulted in a 24-21 loss with a missed field goal heartbreaker. Typical of this Bucs team. As for the Panthers, they have proven themselves to be an NFC team that the NFC should look out for come post-season time. I myself thought this team would go 6-10. Even when they were starting to do well, I had my doubts. Not so much anymore. I expect them to beat the Bucs handily.

Bucs 16 Panthers 23

Cleveland Browns VS Chicago Bears

What a matchup. Two teams getting ready for the Super Bowl…except not really. Both of these teams are just riding out the season and trying to figure out what they’re going to do in the offseason. Meanwhile, most of these players are trying to prove why they belong to these organizations. I wanted to pick the Browns here. I really did. But the after seeing the Bears blow up the Bengals, I’m not sure the Browns beat the Bears. Kizer just makes too many mistakes and the Browns offense, in general, commits too many turnovers.

Browns 14 Bears 20

Detroit Lions VS Cincinnati Bengals

The Bengals feel like a team with no direction. Not only is their season already over, but they know their head coach leaves the organization after these next two games. The Lions, on the other hand, have very, very, very, very slim playoff hopes that they can only keep alive by winning their last two games and even they need some help. Call it lazy if you want, but I’m taking the desperate team that still has something to play for.

Lions 24 Bengals 14

Miami Dolphins VS Kansas City Chiefs

Suddenly the Chiefs offense looks like the one we came to expect watching on a weekly basis after their hot 5-0 start. However, their secondary is still suspect and a weakness that can be exploited by many different teams. While the Dolphins seems to be up and down, their victory on Monday Night football against New England appears to be an aberration more than anything else. By the way, Alex Smith is still one of the best QBs in the NFL this season. Don’t believe me? Look up his numbers and watch him play. You’ll see what I mean.

Dolphins 17 Chiefs 31

Buffalo Bills VS New England Patriots

Call last week’s win whatever you want but one thing is clear. Tom Brady and the Patriots just seem to always come in the clutch. The Patriots are hard team to beat. They are even harder to beat in New England. The Bills have to win their last two games in order to stay in the playoffs. The Patriots need to win to secure home field advantage. Considering how the Patriots are just a better team and the Bills offense always seems to be in flux, the Patriots are an easy choice here.

Bills 17 Patriots 27

Los Angeles Chargers VS New York Jets

This game would be tougher than I expect. Except that the Jets QB position is still a major question mark. I expect Bosa and Ingram to give the Jets offense hell all day. The Saints were able to ink out the win against these feisty Jets. The Chargers should be able to do the same.

Chargers 23 Jets 17

Los Angeles Rams VS Tennessee Titans

Let’s be real here. My doubt of the Titans for the last 10 weeks have been reasonable. Even when they were winning, I just didn’t understand what made them any good. Now, after losing two consecutive games to the Cardinals and then the 49ers, the Titans just simply are not a playoff team and have shown their true colors. I thought they would get bounced in the first round of the playoffs but now I’m pretty sure they don’t even make it. Their playoffs hopes suffer a major blow if they lose this game here against the Rams. Which, in this case, I believe Goff is the better quarterback and the Rams hold the better defense. Thus, the Rams should be able to pull this one off.

Rams 27 Titans 14

Denver Broncos VS Washington Redskins

I have gone back and forth on who comes in more clutch. The Denver defense or the Kirk Cousins. Then I realized this doesn’t come down to either of those options. This game comes down to if the Broncos quarterbacks can perform well enough or if the Redskins defense can hold down the fort. Considering how this game will be played in Washington, and none of the Broncos QBs have really inspired anyone, I’ll take a close game that Washington wins in the end.

Broncos 19 Redskins 23

Jacksonville Jaguars VS San Francisco 49ers

So the 49ers are a decent team when they have a quarterback who can actually play. But, Jimmy G’s real test comes against a stalwart defense that isn’t going to give up anything for free. This game will be harder than it looks on paper for the Jaguars, but they’ll contine proving that they are a real team by beating an inferior opponent.

Jaguars 28 49ers 20

New York Giants VS Arizona Cardinals

Neither of these teams matter anymore. Both have been eliminated from the playoffs. However, the Cardinals tend to play well at home and since they’re playing the Giants at home, they should be able to take care of business here. A welcome Christmas present for Cardinals fans.

Giants 10 Cardinals 17

Seattle Seahawks VS Dallas Cowboys

A game that is do or die for both teams here. However, Seattle is just too banged up and is now on a two game losing streak to playoff-worthy teams. They didn’t even show up last week when the Rams came to town. It might be time to face the music that we have seen the last of the legendary Legion of Boom. Not because they are injured but because this defense won’t be the same after this season. Looking at the Cowboys, Elliot is coming off of his 6-game suspension. I don’t expect a huge game from him because he has been out for 6 weeks but he very well could help the Cowboys run over the Seahawks like the Rams did last week.

Seahawks 17 Cowboys 28

Pittsburgh Steelers VS Houston Texans

The Texans just aren’t a very good team. The Steelers are. After two demanding games in a row, the Steelers get a break with a relatively easier opponent. Will they over-look the Texans? Probably not. This year, the Steelers have been an uber-focused team with their eyes on the prize. One could argue they should have beat the Patriots. With that in mind, I don’t believe they will falter here.

Steelers 30 Texans 17

Oakland Raiders VS Philadelphia Eagles

Alright. The Eagles don’t have their QB. But Nick Foles wasn’t bad against the Giants. Next up is a terrible secondary in the Oakland Raiders. That’s all I have to recognize to see that the Eagles are going to win. The Raiders provided us an exciting game against the Cowboys. News flash. These Eagles aren’t the Cowboys.

Raiders 20 Eagles 24