Week 16 is last chance saloon for some teams as the pressure goes up yet another notch. This week begins with a Christmas day clash between NFC rivals Minnesota Vikings and New Orleans Saints.
Here are my NFL 2020 Week sixteen predictions:
Minnesota Vikings @ New Orleans Saints
Drew Brees returned last week which is perfect timing for the Saints push towards Super Bowl glory. The Vikings season will definitely be done if they lose here although many feel it was over some a few weeks back. The Saints will have too much for the Vikings here.
Vikings 26 Saints 41
Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Detroit Lions
Tom Brady is putting up some good numbers again as he pushes the Buccaneers towards a playoff spot. The Lions are done the season though and have lost 2 straight. I can’t see Tampa easing up now and they should find enough to get the win.
Buccaneers 27 Lions 16
San Francisco 49ers @ Arizona Cardinals
The 49ers are out of the playoff picture in what has been an injury plagued season from the off. The Cardinals have won their last 2 to keep them in the playoff picture but a defeat here could be costly. I don’t believe that will happen though.
49ers 16 Cardinals 24
Miami Dolphins @ Las Vegas Raiders
This is a tough on to call. Both teams can still make the playoffs although the Raiders are hanging on. A Dolphins win here will those hopes dashed and Miami looking good. The Dolphins go in to this one as the team on better form (Raiders have lost 2 straight) and for that reason I think they will seal the win.
Dolphins 20 Raiders 16
Carolina Panthers @ Washington Football Team
Washington are still top of the NFC East despite last weeks loss to the Seahawks. They will have to get back to winning ways this week with the rest of the division not far behind. The Panthers have nothing to play for here. 3 straight losses in a 4-10 season, the were competitive in last weeks loss to the Packers but another defeat is on the cards here.
Panthers 27 Washington 33
Indianapolis Colts @ Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers may have booked a playoff spot already, but their form has to be a worry for head coach Mike Tomlin. They go into this tough encounter after 3 straight losses including an embarrassing defeat to the Bengals last time out. The Colts meanwhile are flying high. 3 straight wins puts them back in the playoff picture and veteran quarterback Philip Rivers is rolling back the years.
Colts 24 Steelers 16
Atlanta Falcons @ Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs continued with their winning by one score trend in last weeks win over the Saints. The problem for the rest of football is that the Chiefs know how to outscore everyone. It will likely be the same in this one. The Falcons will undoubtedly get some points on the board – they managed 27 in last weeks loss to Tampa. But they just won’t have enough in them to beat the Chiefs.
Falcons 30 Chiefs 46
Chicago Bears @ Jacksonville Jaguars
The Bears appear to be back on track with 2 straight wins, keeping them in the playoff race. As for the Jaguars, they continue to lose heavily. Last weeks 40-14 loss to the Ravens was their 13th in a row. Bears for the win here.
Bears 27 Jaguars 17
Cincinnati Bengals @ Houston Texans
The Bengals provided the big shock last week by defeating the Steelers 27-17. An impressive win but only their 3rd for the season. They will be better next year though with Joe Burrow back and young players with a season under their belts. The Texans are another team who are done for the year. 3 straight losses has them 4-10 for the year. I can see them picking up a win here though.
Bengals 23 Texans 32
New York Giants @ Baltimore Ravens
The Giants still have a chance to top NFC East but they have to win this one. It’s a tough task though. The Giants don’t score much and the Ravens defense doesn’t give much away. Offensively, the Ravens are piling up the points with Lamar Jackson back to his best.
Giants 16 Ravens 30
Cleveland Browns @ New York Jets
The Jets surprised everyone (probably including themselves) in last weeks win over the Rams. That was their first win after going 13 games without a victory. They can put a dent in another playoff contender this week. But surely the Browns will have too much? They did what they had to last week against the Giants. I can only see the Browns winning here.
Browns 24 Jets 10
Denver Broncos @ Los Angeles Chargers
These AFC West rivals face off with very little to play for. The Chargers, who have won 2 straight, still sit bottom of the division with a 5-9 record for the year. Denver lost heavily last week in Buffalo and are likely to suffer another loss against a slightly better Chargers team.
Broncos 20 Chargers 27
Philadelphia Eagles @ Dallas Cowboys
Despite having seasons that can be described as mediocre (both have lost 9 games), both of these NFC East rivals can amazingly still make the playoffs. That says a lot about the quality of this division this year. Going into this game, it’s the Cowboys who are hitting some kind of form. 2 wins in a row including a big win over the 49ers last week, puts the Cowboys in good shape for this one.
Eagles 29 Cowboys 32
Los Angeles Rams @ Seattle Seahawks
Playoff chasing Rams inexplicably lost to the previously winless Jets last week to put a dent in their chances. At 9-5 for the season they are still in decent shape but really need a win here. The Seahawks still top the NFC West division, have won 2 straight, but weren’t all that convincing against Washington last week. In fact they no longer look the Super Bowl contenders many felt they were earlier on in the season, so it will be interesting to see how they fair in the playoffs. Rams to bounce back.
Rams 31 Seahawks 27
Tennessee Titans @ Green Bay Packers
This game holds lots of potential for some great attacking play. Aaron Rodgers is still one of the finest quarterbacks in the league and he has his Packers team looking like real championship contenders. The Titans meanwhile are still to book their place in the playoffs but Derrick Henry looks in the mood to take them all the way. This is an exciting game that will be high scoring but close. I think the Packers have the edge though.
Titans 25 Packers 28
Buffalo Bills @ New England Patriots
These teams fought out a close game back in week 8 where Buffalo just came out on top. Recent form tells us the Bills should win again as they close in on 5 wins on the bounce. The Patriots meanwhile are already out of the running which will be strange to look at when we see the playoff picture. Bills to pile more misery on New England here.
