NFL Picks Week 16 Against the Spread
Washington Redskins at Philadelphia Eagles – 8:25 PM Saturday – With the NFC East on the line, the Eagles and Redskins will meet on Saturday Night to see who will take the division lead into the final week of the season. The Redskins have been on fire lately as Kirk Cousins has looked like the franchise QB many thought RG3 would be. However, the Redskins are a different team on the road as opposed to home where they’ve been almost dominant in recent weeks. The Eagles are coming off a 40-17 thrashing at the hands of the Arizona Cardinals, and will look to bounce back strong with the division crown on the line. The Redskins defense has been stingy lately, and Kirk Cousins has the offense firing on all cylinders as the Redskins may surprise the world and take the NFC East with another good performance.
Pittsburgh Steelers at Baltimore Ravens – 1 PM Sunday – In what is traditionally the best rivalry in today’s NFL, the Ravens and Steelers will meet on Sunday, or at least what’s left of the Ravens. It will be a new look team from their usual contests as they’re missing the likes of their big name stars like Suggs, Flacco, Forsette, and Gilmore, among others. The loss of key players is the reason the Ravens are vying for their highest draft position in team history, and with some help in the last two weeks of the season, they have a chance to even slide into the top spot in the draft order in May. The Steelers on the other hand have been red hot lately, coming off a great win at home against a top Denver defense. Their offense looks like arguably the most potent in all of the NFL and the Steelers are catching momentum at the right time as they look to make another Super Bowl run.
New England Patriots at NY Jets – 1 PM Sunday – In an AFC East showdown, the Patriots will travel to New Jersey to take on the Jets in what Todd Bowles has already called a must win game for the Jets. Right on the cusp of the playoffs, the Jets will likely have to win out to have a chance at a playoff spot, but they’ve responded thus far by playing well in recent weeks. Todd Bowles has already expressed his confidence in QB Ryan Fitzpatrick and made it clear they want Fitzpatrick to be the Jets quarterback of the foreseeable future. Tom Brady and the Patriots are up to business as usual as they enter Week 16. Ravaged by injuries this year, the Pats still haven’t missed a beat as they’re vying for the top playoff spot in the AFC and a first round bye. A win this week, and some help from other teams, will clinch that first round bye and the top spot.
Cincinnati Bengals at Denver Broncos – 8:30 PM Monday – In what may be the best matchup of week 16, the Bengals will travel to Denver to take on that staunch Denver defense. They’ve got just the right weapons to attack that Denver secondary with the likes of AJ Green, Marvin Jones, Tyler Eifert, and Muhammad Sanu. Andy Dalton’s injured thumb is expected to keep him out till at least the Playoffs, so backup quarterback AJ McCarron, who’s started the last two weeks and done well, will make his third straight start. After ripping off two straight wins in prior weeks, McCarron will have his work cut out for him this week in Denver against a hungry Broncos team that’s seen their top seed aspirations fade away and now are desperate for a win to secure their positioning, after a late loss to the Steelers in Pittsburgh last week.
