2013 NFL Week 16 Preview

Week 16 Preview

There are two games left in the 2013 regular season and there are still only a few certainties regarding the postseason for either conference. Do you know that it is still possible for the Baltimore Ravens to get the 2 seed in the AFC? What about the fact that the NFC North, East, and South will come down to the final game? So much could happen in these last couple of weeks that it is impossible to predict what will happen down the stretch, but I’ll give it a shot. Week 15 gave us some exciting games, but none bigger than the Packers-Cowboys game that dominated the headlines on Monday. Dallas, on cue, choked up a 26-3 halftime lead to lose to Green Bay 37-36. They gave up five touchdowns on five second half possessions to Matt Flynn, and ran the ball a grand total of SEVEN times in the final two quarters, even though DeMarco Murray was gashing the defense. Tony Romo threw two interceptions right at the end of the game that are inexcusable; it’s amazing that no matter how good this guy can be, the dumb play will always be made. And yet, even after that catastrophe, the Cowboys still control their own destiny in the NFC East! What a crazy season. We finally don’t have a stupid Thursday game, which means that Sunday will be full of fantastic football. Let’s get into the do-or-die matchups for Week 16.

DAL (-3) vs WAS - I just recapped what happened with the Cowboys last week, so I won’t get into it again. But that result made it obvious what is going to happen this week: Big D is going to win a close game. While Tony Romo makes an extraordinary amount of dumb plays on a national stage, he usually follows it up with a clutch play to get everyone excited again, before the next inevitable screwup. If you think that the NFC isn’t going to come down to the final game of the season (DAL vs PHI) like it does every year, you’re wrong. The Cowboys will win a tight, wild game. Washington, meanwhile, is irrelevant. I hope the Rams enjoy their top two pick. Dallas 23, Washington 20

MIA vs BUF (+3) - I keep picking the Dolphins to lose a game because I don’t think they are real playoff contenders, but they keep proving me wrong. They are bound to slip up at some point, right? While the Bills have really struggled (I think they will be much better next year), they are solid at home, and I think they will bounce back. It’s a mini-upset here, as the Bills win straight up. Miami 16, Buffalo 27

MIN vs CIN (-7.5) - The Bengals showed their true colors last week by getting stomped on out of the gate by the Steelers. The Bengals are frauds, but there is still a chance that they could get the two seed! On the other hand, it’s still possible that they could fall to the Ravens in the North as well. But they are coming off a loss, and now playing at home against a crappy Vikings team. They have been blowing out these games all season long, and they will today to get everyone back on the bandwagon, but just wait: this team will fall early in the postseason. Minnesota 13, Cincinnati 31

TEN vs JAC (+4.5) - Again: the Jags have won four out of six, and beat the Titans when they played in Tennessee. What’s up with the line here? I’m just going to close my eyes and say either the Jags win, or the Titans take it by three. Tennessee 23, Jacksonville 20

IND vs KC (-6.5) - This seems like a classic trap game because the Colts have been less than impressive while the Chiefs have had an offensive explosion the last couple of weeks. With the Broncos’ loss to the Chargers and the fact that Indy has already clinched the division, I think KC comes out with more fire at home since they can still take the number one seed. While the Colts have been great against top teams, those wins have mostly come at home. Indianapolis 20, Kansas City 28

CLE vs NYJ (-2.5) - I hope that you have more options on your TV than just this game. Cleveland 13, New York 16

DEN (-11.5) vs HOU - Duh. Make it 13 straight losses for the sorry Texans, and there’s a chance we could see some history from number 18 in this one. Denver 38, Houston 14

TB (+5.5) vs STL - I don’t know if I’ve gotten a single Rams game correct the entire season. I’m probably going to be wrong about this one too. They have been on a roll recently and absolutely dismantled the Saints last week, but I can’t take them here because they could still come back and lose by 20 this week. As for the Bucs, with the recent spurt of wins they’ve had with Mike Glennon and Bobby Rainey at RB, it might be possible for Greg Schiano to keep his job after the season. Tampa Bay 20, St. Louis 24

NO vs CAR (-3.5) - OK, Carolina, this is it. I was wrong a couple of weeks ago when I took the Panthers to win in the Superdome, but I did say that they would split the two games, which means that they will win this one. With the Saints laying an egg last week, these two teams are tied once again, which means that if the Panthers can pull this one out, they only need a win against the Falcons next week to get the two seed in the NFC! Carolina has come so far since the start of the season, and it would be great if Cam Newton and Ron Rivera can overcome their final obstacle: taking the division title away from Drew Brees and Sean Payton. New Orleans 24, Carolina 28

NYG (+9.5) vs DET - The Lions are absolutely pathetic. A few weeks ago, after beating the Chicago Bears for the second time to get to 6-3, and with Aaron Rodgers still out for the Packers, Detroit was in a huge driver’s seat in the NFC North. Since then, they have dropped four out of five, including home losses to Tampa Bay and Baltimore, consistently blowing halftime leads. They had a golden opportunity to establish themselves as a force in the NFC and have just completely collapsed. It is impossible to trust them, and so while they should be able to beat the lowly Giants, if you want to bet on this game it’s hard to justify laying almost ten points. New York 17, Detroit 24

ARI (+10.5) vs SEA - Total pride game for the Cardinals. If they lose this one, they will be out of the playoffs, and while I do think they come up short, they have enough fight to stay within ten of Seattle. Russell Wilson has yet to lose a home game in his career, and that streak continues in this one. The road to the Super Bowl in the NFC will go through Seattle. Arizona 17, Seattle 23

PIT (+2.5) vs GB - Matt Flynn had an incredible second half against the atrocious Cowboys defense, and that definitely impacted the line a lot for this game. It is a whole different ballgame to repeat that feat against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Remember: the Pack were down 26-3 at halftime; there’s a reason for that. Give me the Steel City straight up in this one, pulling one out on the road. Pittsburgh 27, Green Bay 24

OAK (+10.5) vs SD - I know I picked the Raiders to beat the Chiefs last week, and while that was a terrible pick, I was right about a major upset happening--it was the Vikings over the Eagles. I have another opportunity to take them in an upset here, but I don’t think I can do it. Either way, this is basically the exact game that the Chargers lose every single year; not specifically to the Raiders, but a game in late December with San Diego coming off a huge win and losing to an inferior opponent to knock themselves out of the playoff race. Watch out for this one. Oakland 26, San Diego 27

NE vs BAL (-2.5) - Did you really expect anything else? Give me the Ravens all the way. The Pats are without Gronk, and the Ravens know how to play physically against this team. I have basically almost predicted this entire season for Baltimore, with the slow start followed by a late season burst. They are peaking at the right time, and I think their pride gets them a win over their playoff rivals. New England 20, Baltimore 23

CHI (+2.5) vs PHI - A major Sunday Night game for both teams in the playoff hunt. I think this is a sneaky good Bears team, at least if they could produce any kind of rush defense whatsoever. The NFC North is the Bears’ division to lose, and I think that they get one step closer to the three seed. One of the Chicago receivers is going to have 150 yards and two touchdowns. My money is on Jeffrey. Chicago 31, Philadelphia 27

ATL (+11.5) vs SF - It’s just a lot of points to lay in a game that I think the Niners are going to win comfortably. There’s a lot of room for a backdoor cover, or San Fran taking their foot off the gas pedal. The line is 11.5, so I’ll take the 49ers by exactly 11. Atlanta 16, San Francisco 27

Lock of the Week: OAK (+10.5), DEN (-11.5)

Performance of the Week: Alshon Jeffrey, Antonio Brown, DeMarco Murray

Surprise of the Week: CIN and CAR will be the 2 seeds after this week