Week 16 NFL Game Predictions
Welcome to Week 16’s predictions for the 2012-2013 NFL Season! We have a fun packed week ahead of us! New England, Houston, Atlanta, and San Francisco have all won their respective divisions – Marked with “Y”. Kansas City and San Diego are in a tight battle for the AFC West title. It will be interesting to see how that one pans out – the loser of the battle likely has a Wild Card spot locked up also. Baltimore is trying to fend off the aging Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC North. I am also quite excited to see if Dallas can catch Philadelphia and if Detroit can catch Green Bay. Dallas has caught fire as of late and the team seems to be picking up steam heading into the playoffs. Detroit could find a way to pass Green Bay – that being said, both Philadelphia and Green Bay have to lose the final two games, while Dallas and Detroit have to win their remaining two games!
Enough jibber-jabber, let’s get to some action!!!
Y- Divisional Champs.
AFC EAST
Y-New England Patriots – (11-3) [4-1]
Buffalo Bills – (8-6) [2-2]
Miami Dolphins – (7-7) [3-1]
New York Jets – (5-9) [0-5]
AFC WEST
Kansas City Chiefs – (10-4) [4-1]
San Diego Chargers – (10-4) [3-2]
Denver Broncos – (5-9)[2-3]
Oakland Raiders – (4-10) [1-4]
AFC NORTH
Baltimore Ravens – (10-4)[3-2]
Pittsburgh Steelers – (9-5)[3-1]
Cincinnati Bengals – (8-6)[3-1]
Cleveland Browns – (1-13) [0-5]
AFC SOUTH
Y-Houston Texans – (13-1) [5-0]
Tennessee Titans – (7-7) [3-2]
Indianapolis Colts – (2-12) [1-4]
Jacksonville Jaguars – (1-13) [1-4]
AFC WILDCARD
San Diego Chargers – (10-4) [3-2]
Pittsburgh Steelers – (9-5)[3-1]
Cincinnati Bengals – (8-6)[3-1]
Buffalo Bills – (8-6) [2-2]
Miami Dolphins – (7-7) [3-1]
Tennessee Titans – (7-7) [3-2]
Denver Broncos – (5-9)[2-3]
NFC EAST
Philadelphia Eagles – (11-3) [3-1]
Dallas Cowboys – (9-5) [3-2]
New York Giants – (6-8) [3-2]
Washington Redskins – (3-11) [0-4]
NFC WEST
Y-San Francisco 49er’s – (11-3)[4-0]
Seattle Seahawks – (8-6) [3-1]
Arizona Cardinals – (3-11) [1-4]
St. Louis Rams – (3-11) [1-4]
NFC NORTH
Green Bay Packers – (11-3)[4-1]
Detroit Lions – (9-5) [3-2]
Chicago Bears – (6-8) [2-3]
Minnesota Vikings – (2-12) [1-4]
NFC SOUTH
Y-Atlanta Falcons – (11-3) [4-1]
Carolina Panthers – (8-6)[4-1]
Tampa Bay Buccaneers – (6-8) [1-4]
New Orleans Saints – (6-8) [1-4]
NFC WILDCARD
Dallas Cowboys – (9-5) [3-2]
Detroit Lions – (9-5) [3-2]
Carolina Panthers – (8-6)[4-1]
Seattle Seahawks – (8-6) [3-1]
New York Giants – (6-8) [3-2]
Chicago Bears – (6-8) [2-3]
Tampa Bay Buccaneers – (6-8) [1-4]
New Orleans Saints – (6-8) [1-4]
Atlanta (11-3) @ Detroit (9-5)
Match up to watch: Asante Samuel v.s. Calvin Johnson
Atlanta has already locked up the NFC South title, but don’t expect the team to sit their starters. The Falcons need this win. With numerous division leaders tied at 11-3, one team must emerge from the pack to take the #1 seed in the NFC – not to mention the winner will get a bye week and home field advantage for the duration of the playoffs. Detroit also needs this win, badly! The Lions are looking to -1. Lock up a Wild Card birth – 2. Catch Green Bay and win the NFC North division. It’s looking quite nice in Detroit this week, just kidding. The streets will be covered in snow, not to mention the air will be cold and frigid. Good thing the Lions have a dome. Detroit wins this one in a shoot out.
Atlanta – 27 Detroit – 30
New Orleans (6-8) @ Dallas (9-5)
Match up to watch: Curtis Lofton v.s. DeMarco Murray
New Orleans is out of the playoff picture, the team has been for AWHILE. Although, the Saints have found a new life in the past few weeks and are looking forward to next season. Dallas is in contention and needs this win to not only lock up a wild card spot in the NFC, but also to remain in the hunt for the NFC East title. Dallas has this game on their home field, which is ultimately the reason the Cowboys will win this game.
New Orleans – 23 Dallas – 27
Tennessee (7-7) @ Green Bay (11-3)
Match up to watch: Michael Roos v.s. Clay Matthews
Tennessee needs to win this contest to remain in the hunt for the final wild card spot in the AFC. The team gets a tough test against a talented and experienced Green Bay team. The Packers have the Lions breathing down their necks. Not to mention the game is being played IN Green Bay, IN December. Good luck Tennessee, stay warm.
Tennessee – 20 Green Bay – 35
Indianapolis (2-12) @ Kansas City (10-4)
Match up to watch: Andrew Luck v.s. Eric Berry
Indianapolis is done this season. Earlier today the team traded for former Miami Dolphin, Vontae Davis. Even with Davis now on the roster, the team still is not in for a season with more than 3-4 wins. Kansas City on the other hand is in the drivers seat in the AFC West. I’d love to see this talented Chiefs team fend off the Super Chargers and win the division. Here’s step one!
Indianapolis – 17 Kansas City – 30
Buffalo (8-6) @ Miami (7-7)
Match up to watch: Mario Williams v.s. Jake Long
Buffalo is in position to possibly sneak into the playoffs via the final Wild Card spot in the AFC. The team was pegged to finish second in the AFC East and has lived up to that bill so far this season. Miami is also in position to sneak into the playoffs. BUT the team must beat Buffalo this week at home. I see Miami and Buffalo splitting the series this season. Each team winning on their own turf. Miami is the home team here.
Buffalo – 17 Miami – 27
St. Louis (3-11) @ Tampa Bay (6-8)
Match up to watch: Cortland Finnegan v.s. Vincent Jackson
St. Louis is that scrappy team that every team with playoff hopes wishes not to play. The Rams have nothing to lose. Therefore this team could pull off an upset or two in the closing weeks. Tampa has playoffs hopes still, but the team is realistically out of contention. Although, it would be great for the team morale to finish with a perfect .500 record.
St. Louis – 21 Tampa Bay – 24
Oakland (4-10) @ Carolina (8-6)
Match up to watch: Darren McFadden v.s. Jon Beason
Oakland has been somewhat of a letdown this season. The team traded for quarterback Carson Palmer last season to solidify the quarterback position. But the organization forgot one tiny little thing. It does not matter who your quarterback is if the player does not have any time to throw the ball. Hmm.. Carolina, on the other hand, has their quarterback in place! Cam Newton has played phenomenal this season, and will only get better. This Panthers team should have no problem winning against a weak Oakland Raiders secondary.
Oakland – 17 Carolina – 27
New England (11-3) @ Jacksonville (1-13)
Match up to watch: Brandon Spikes v.s. Maurice Jones-Drew
New England is fighting for the AFC #1 seed in the playoffs – right now Houston is in that position and the team does not appear to be looking back. The Patriots have their division locked up and it seems that the starters may only play one half of football in this contest – I can’t blame them. Jacksonville has talent on offense, but the team lacks an offensive line. This could, more likely should, get ugly.
New England – 42 Jacksonville – 14
New York Giants (6-8) @ Baltimore (10-4)
Match up to watch: Keith Rivers v.s. Ray Rice
New York is realistically out of the playoff picture, even though crazy things could happen to put the team back into the race. The Giants are the defending champs, but have been dealing with the age factor this season. Not to mention a rough schedule. The team is in position to lay out a few upsets before the season ends, though. Baltimore is in great position to win the AFC North and roll right through the playoffs. The Ravens must defeat the defending champs, though. I believe in Baltimore this season, and the team should have little trouble beating the New York Giants at home.
New York Giants – 23 Baltimore – 28
Minnesota (2-12) @ Houston (13-1)
Match up to watch: Audie Cole v.s. Arian Foster
Minnesota…you have seen better days. This Vikings team is just awful. Adrian Peterson is not fully healthy, but “All Day” should be ready to go 110% next season. So there’s promise there. Other than that, this team may need some more offensive weapons to help Christian Ponder command this offense from the quarterback position. Houston is just…good. Man, this team is steam rolling everyone in their way. Don’t be surprised to see this team playing for a Lombardi trophy this season.
Minnesota – 13 Houston – 38
Washington (3-11) @ Philadelphia (11-3)
Match up to watch: Pierre Garcon v.s. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie
Washington is in position to deal a few upsets before the season is over. But not this week. The ‘Skins have no way of stopping this insanely fast Philadelphia offense. Philly has one of the league’s best defenses, not to mention one of the league’s top offenses – depending on which Michael Vick shows up to the game. Bottom line here – this one is over before it even starts.
Washington – 14 Philadelphia – 28
Cincinnati (8-6) @ Pittsburgh (9-5)
Match up to watch: Leon Hall v.s. Mike Wallace
Cincinnati needs to win this week, and next week to have any shot at making the playoffs. Pittsburgh also needs to win this week, and probably next week as well to lock down a Wild Card birth. Although I love Pittsburgh’s tenacity at home. There’s something about this Cincinnati team when they play in big games. Cincy may just be able to steal a win from the aging Pittsburgh Steelers and improve their playoff chances.
Cincinnati – 23 Pittsburgh – 20
Cleveland (1-13) @ Denver (5-9)
Match up to watch: Josh Gordon v.s. Champ Bailey
Cleveland has already lost this season. Who are we kidding, the team lost this season during week 2. The Browns are left searching for answers and will find it in an offensive tackle from Michigan during this April’s Draft. Denver, on the other hand, has been underachieving based upon everyone’s predictions for the team this season. The Broncos were supposed to be Super Bowl contenders. It appears the team was nothing more than a mere pretender this season. Better luck next year fellas.
Cleveland – 13 Denver – 24
San Francisco (11-3) @ Seattle (8-6)
Match up to watch: Patrick Willis v.s. Marshawn Lynch
San Francisco has already won their division, but the team WANTS that #1 seed in the NFC playoffs. If the Niners want to be the best team in the NFC, the team will have to beat a tough Seattle team on the road. Seattle needs to win this one to vault themselves into the playoffs. I expect a hard fought battle, and I predict that Seattle will pull off a HUGE upset at home against the Niners.
San Francisco – 23 Seattle – 24
Chicago (6-8) @ Arizona (3-11)
Match up to watch: Brandon Marshall v.s. Patrick Peterson
Chicago has lost their season after starting the year hot. The Bears have some nice young pieces on offense but the team’s offensive line is horrible. The Bears will look to address this issue during the offseason if the team hopes to contend next year. Arizona is a tough team at home. The Cardinals have a great offensive attack. BUT the team cannot go anywhere without an offensive line. I guess the loser of this one has the worse offensive line, which is Arizona.
Chicago – 23 Arizona – 17
San Diego (10-4) @ New York Jets (5-9)
Match up to watch: Ryan Matthews v.s. Bart Scott
San Diego needs to keep winning if the team wishes to keep up with Kansas City. The Chargers are in great position for a Wild Card spot, though. New York has lost the season and should try to bring in some talent on offense if the team wishes to compete next season. I look for Philip Rivers to let his ground game soften that hard nosed New York Jets defense, and then look for Rivers to lay it on them!
San Diego – 27 New York Jets – 17
Man, can this get any better!? The Wild Card race is heating up big time! This is going to make for a great Week 17, fans! Don’t forget to check back soon for Week 17’s predictions! You definitely won’t want to miss them!!!!
Keep your fins up fans!!!
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