Thursday
Game: San Diego at Oakland
Prediction: Oakland - San Diego played arguably their best football game of the season in their 30-14 win over Miami on Sunday. However, to say the Dolphins didn't come to play would be like to say there are times Bernie Sanders' hair is reminiscent of Doc Brown from Back to the Future. I'd like to believe the young Raiders, at home, will play more inspired football. I'll take Oakland by a field goal.
Result: Oakland 23 San Diego 20 OT
Record: 1-0
Saturday
Game: Washington at Philadelphia
Prediction: Philadelphia - Washington scored late to beat Philly at home earlier in the season. For as wacky as the NFC East has been this year, I have a difficult time seeing it get clinched before Week 17. I'll go with the Eagles at home by 4.
Result: Washington 38 Philadelphia 24
Record: 1-1
Sunday
Game: New England at NY Jets
Prediction: This was a tough game for me to pick. It's huge for both teams, as the Jets now find themselves on the outside looking in on the playoff picture, needing to win to keep pace with Kansas City and Pittsburgh, who are both 9-5 as well. New England will likely need to win this game to remain the top seed in the AFC. Given that, I have a difficult time going against Brady, Gronkowksi, and Belichick. I'll take the Pats by a field goal.
Result: NY Jets 26 New England 20 OT
Record: 1-2
Game: Houston at Tennessee
Prediction: Houston - Marcus Mariota will be out for this game, so unless the Titans get a few lucky bounces, I don't believe they stand much of a chance. I'll take the Texans by 10.
Result: Houston 34 Tennessee 6
Record: 2-2
Game: Cleveland at Kansas City
Prediction: Kansas City - Johnny Manziel, welcome to Arrowhead, one of the best, loudest stadiums in all of football. I look for the Chiefs to keep rolling, beating the Browns by at least 10.
Result: Kansas City 17 Cleveland 13
Record: 3-2
Game: Indianapolis at Miami
Prediction: Miami - Andrew Luck will again be out for the Colts. The Dolphins laid a complete egg against then 3-10 San Diego on Sunday. If they don't play with more fire and inspiration, they'll likely lose this one as well. However, I'd like to believe, being professionals as they are, they'll be able to bounce back from an embarrassing showing against the Chargers to win this one by 4.
Result: Indianapolis 18 Miami 12
Record: 3-3
Game: San Francisco at Detroit
Prediction: Detroit - San Francisco has struggled a great deal on the road this year, and I don't like how Blaine Gabbert matches up with the improving Detroit Lions defense. So long as Matthew Stafford doesn't get turnover-happy, I like for the Lions to win this one by 10.
Result: Detroit 32 San Francisco 17
Record: 4-3
Game: Dallas at Buffalo
Prediction: Buffalo - It's getting incredibly difficult for me to pick the Cowboys anymore. They've been playing teams tough; their defense has played well for the most part this season, but their offense has been one of the least efficient in all of football. Given that, I'll take the Bills at home by a touchdown.
Result: Buffalo 16 Dallas 6
Record: 5-3
Game: Chicago at Tampa Bay
Prediction: Tampa Bay - While I don't have a great deal of faith in the young and inconsistent Tampa Bay Buccaneers, I have even less faith in Jay Cutler and the Bears on the road. I'll take the Bucs at home by 4.
Result: Chicago 26 Tampa Bay 21
Record: 5-4
Game: Carolina at Atlanta
Prediction: Carolina - Atlanta may have finally won this past weekend, but that doesn't mean they've reinstilled my faith in them, not nearly enough to believe they'll be the first to defeat the Carolina Panthers. I'll go with Carolina by a couple touchdowns.
Result: Atlanta 20 Carolina 13
Record: 5-5
Game: Pittsburgh at Baltimore
Prediction: Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh is one of the hottest teams in football, is currently in the playoffs, and I don't expect them to let go of that spot. Steelers by a couple touchdowns.
Result: Baltimore 20 Pittsburgh 17
Record: 5-6
Game: Jacksonville at New Orleans
Prediction: Jacksonville - I initially had New Orleans, but in watching their Monday night game against Detroit, I've changed my mind. Not only is Drew Brees hobbling around, but the Saints defense, especially their pass defense, is simply dreadful. I'll go with Jacksonville by 4.
Result: New Orleans 38 Jacksonville 27
Record: 5-7
Game: St. Louis at Seattle
Prediction: Seattle - Seattle's already clinched a playoff spot, but that's not enough for the two-time defending NFC champs. St. Louis will give them some problems on offense, but not nearly enough to pull out the victory on the road. I'll take Seattle at home by 10.
Result: St. Louis 23 Seattle 17
Record: 5-8
Game: Green Bay at Arizona
Prediction: Arizona - I just think Arizona is the better all-around football team. They're better on defense than the Packers, could very well be better on offense, and are better on special teams. I'll go with the Cardinals at home by a touchdown.
Result: Arizona 38 Green Bay 8
Record: 6-8
Game: NY Giants at Minnesota
Prediction: Minnesota - I initially took the Giants, but with Odell Beckham now being suspended for this contest, I have to go the other way and take the Vikings at home. I'll go with Minnesota by 6.
Result: Minnesota 49 New York Giants 17
Record: 7-8
Monday
Game: Cincinnati at Denver
Prediction: Denver - Who would have ever thought this game would match up Brock Osweiler and A.J. McCarron? Not me, that's for sure... While Denver's offense still makes me nervous, I believe their defense (and perhaps the altitude) will post more problems for the young Bengals quarterback than vice versa. It should be a close, ugly, low-scoring game throughout, but in the end, I'll take the Broncos at home by a field goal.
Result: Denver 20 Cincinnati 17 OT
Record: 8-8
Week 16 Record: 8-8 (.500)
Overall Record: 139-101 (.579)
Game: San Diego at Oakland
Prediction: Oakland - San Diego played arguably their best football game of the season in their 30-14 win over Miami on Sunday. However, to say the Dolphins didn't come to play would be like to say there are times Bernie Sanders' hair is reminiscent of Doc Brown from Back to the Future. I'd like to believe the young Raiders, at home, will play more inspired football. I'll take Oakland by a field goal.
Result: Oakland 23 San Diego 20 OT
Record: 1-0
Saturday
Game: Washington at Philadelphia
Prediction: Philadelphia - Washington scored late to beat Philly at home earlier in the season. For as wacky as the NFC East has been this year, I have a difficult time seeing it get clinched before Week 17. I'll go with the Eagles at home by 4.
Result: Washington 38 Philadelphia 24
Record: 1-1
Sunday
Game: New England at NY Jets
Prediction: This was a tough game for me to pick. It's huge for both teams, as the Jets now find themselves on the outside looking in on the playoff picture, needing to win to keep pace with Kansas City and Pittsburgh, who are both 9-5 as well. New England will likely need to win this game to remain the top seed in the AFC. Given that, I have a difficult time going against Brady, Gronkowksi, and Belichick. I'll take the Pats by a field goal.
Result: NY Jets 26 New England 20 OT
Record: 1-2
Game: Houston at Tennessee
Prediction: Houston - Marcus Mariota will be out for this game, so unless the Titans get a few lucky bounces, I don't believe they stand much of a chance. I'll take the Texans by 10.
Result: Houston 34 Tennessee 6
Record: 2-2
Game: Cleveland at Kansas City
Prediction: Kansas City - Johnny Manziel, welcome to Arrowhead, one of the best, loudest stadiums in all of football. I look for the Chiefs to keep rolling, beating the Browns by at least 10.
Result: Kansas City 17 Cleveland 13
Record: 3-2
Game: Indianapolis at Miami
Prediction: Miami - Andrew Luck will again be out for the Colts. The Dolphins laid a complete egg against then 3-10 San Diego on Sunday. If they don't play with more fire and inspiration, they'll likely lose this one as well. However, I'd like to believe, being professionals as they are, they'll be able to bounce back from an embarrassing showing against the Chargers to win this one by 4.
Result: Indianapolis 18 Miami 12
Record: 3-3
Game: San Francisco at Detroit
Prediction: Detroit - San Francisco has struggled a great deal on the road this year, and I don't like how Blaine Gabbert matches up with the improving Detroit Lions defense. So long as Matthew Stafford doesn't get turnover-happy, I like for the Lions to win this one by 10.
Result: Detroit 32 San Francisco 17
Record: 4-3
Game: Dallas at Buffalo
Prediction: Buffalo - It's getting incredibly difficult for me to pick the Cowboys anymore. They've been playing teams tough; their defense has played well for the most part this season, but their offense has been one of the least efficient in all of football. Given that, I'll take the Bills at home by a touchdown.
Result: Buffalo 16 Dallas 6
Record: 5-3
Game: Chicago at Tampa Bay
Prediction: Tampa Bay - While I don't have a great deal of faith in the young and inconsistent Tampa Bay Buccaneers, I have even less faith in Jay Cutler and the Bears on the road. I'll take the Bucs at home by 4.
Result: Chicago 26 Tampa Bay 21
Record: 5-4
Game: Carolina at Atlanta
Prediction: Carolina - Atlanta may have finally won this past weekend, but that doesn't mean they've reinstilled my faith in them, not nearly enough to believe they'll be the first to defeat the Carolina Panthers. I'll go with Carolina by a couple touchdowns.
Result: Atlanta 20 Carolina 13
Record: 5-5
Game: Pittsburgh at Baltimore
Prediction: Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh is one of the hottest teams in football, is currently in the playoffs, and I don't expect them to let go of that spot. Steelers by a couple touchdowns.
Result: Baltimore 20 Pittsburgh 17
Record: 5-6
Game: Jacksonville at New Orleans
Prediction: Jacksonville - I initially had New Orleans, but in watching their Monday night game against Detroit, I've changed my mind. Not only is Drew Brees hobbling around, but the Saints defense, especially their pass defense, is simply dreadful. I'll go with Jacksonville by 4.
Result: New Orleans 38 Jacksonville 27
Record: 5-7
Game: St. Louis at Seattle
Prediction: Seattle - Seattle's already clinched a playoff spot, but that's not enough for the two-time defending NFC champs. St. Louis will give them some problems on offense, but not nearly enough to pull out the victory on the road. I'll take Seattle at home by 10.
Result: St. Louis 23 Seattle 17
Record: 5-8
Game: Green Bay at Arizona
Prediction: Arizona - I just think Arizona is the better all-around football team. They're better on defense than the Packers, could very well be better on offense, and are better on special teams. I'll go with the Cardinals at home by a touchdown.
Result: Arizona 38 Green Bay 8
Record: 6-8
Game: NY Giants at Minnesota
Prediction: Minnesota - I initially took the Giants, but with Odell Beckham now being suspended for this contest, I have to go the other way and take the Vikings at home. I'll go with Minnesota by 6.
Result: Minnesota 49 New York Giants 17
Record: 7-8
Monday
Game: Cincinnati at Denver
Prediction: Denver - Who would have ever thought this game would match up Brock Osweiler and A.J. McCarron? Not me, that's for sure... While Denver's offense still makes me nervous, I believe their defense (and perhaps the altitude) will post more problems for the young Bengals quarterback than vice versa. It should be a close, ugly, low-scoring game throughout, but in the end, I'll take the Broncos at home by a field goal.
Result: Denver 20 Cincinnati 17 OT
Record: 8-8
Week 16 Record: 8-8 (.500)
Overall Record: 139-101 (.579)
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