Week 16 Game Picks Cont.
26 Dec. 2021 4:05 p.m. ET Game
Bears @ Seahawks
In a meaningless NFC conference matchup, the Bears head to Seattle after losing 3 straight games and eight of their last nine contests. Meanwhile, the Seahawks have won two of their last three games and it seems like the team is doing too little too late. Seattle is without a first-round pick in the upcoming draft which gives the team a whole lot of incentive to win their remaining games as it will have no effect on them heading into next season.
Score: 24-19, Seahawks Win.
Steelers @ Chiefs 4:25 p.m. ET Game
The talk of the AFC has been the CHiefs regaining control of the No. 1 seed in the conference. The reigning AFC champs looked primed to be dethroned through the first half of the season but have won seven straight since week 9. Although their offense has looked faulty at times, their defense has been revamped, and the main reason why this team has been getting back in rhythm.
Chiefs Stats 2021
This week they invite a Steeler defense that may not look great statistically but has names all across the board starting with pass rusher T.J. Watt. The defensive player of the year candidate has a sack on 6.0 pct of his pass rushes this season, the highest rate of any player in a season in the Next Gen Stats era. There’s only so much Watt can do though as his defense is allowing 23.9 PPG and 367.5 total YPG this season, which would be the Steelers’ most PPG allowed since 1988.
Kansas City has struggled at home with Mahomes tossing 12 TD, 7 INT, and an 85.0 passer rating. There’s room for both teams to make mistakes and recover from it, but ultimately the Chiefs should come out on top and clinch a playoff berth.
Score: 26-20, Chiefs Win.
Broncos @ Raiders
Although the Raiders have gone 2-5 since week 9, the team finds themselves in a favorable matchup at home which happens to be an AFC west tilt. Las Vegas has kept their playoff hopes alive and a win on Sunday will push them just a little bit closer to the postseason. The defense needs to keep things in check as they have allowed 30+ points in four of their last six games, but this week they take on Drew Lock and the Broncos which makes things lopsided.
Denver is allowing a 36.9 QB pressure pct this season (highest in NFL) as the Raiders lead the NFL with a 33.5 pct QB pressure rate. Lock could be flustered early on in this one which could make the team rely on their run game in Javonte Williams and Melvin Gordon.
Derek Carr’s aerial attack should be able to outplay anything Denver does offensively. Besides, the Broncos are 0-6 since 2020 vs a team entering the game with 7+ wins. Based on this week’s game picks, the Raiders should jump into the No. 7 seed of the AFC playoff picture.
Score: 30-17, Raiders Win.
Sunday Night Football; 8:20 p.m. ET
Washington @ Cowboys
If you look up the meaning of a lopsided matchup in the dictionary, the Dallas and Washington rivalry is right up there. Washington has lost 12 of their last 17 games vs Cowboys as Dak Prescott has an 8-1 record against the NFC East rival.
Rey Del Rio/Getty Images
To make matters worse for Washington, they seem to have no answer for the Cowboys’ stout defense. It all starts and ends with rookie LB Micah Parsons who seriously is a defensive player of the year candidate. When these two teams met two weeks ago, Parsons was a game wrecker and forced a pivotal strip-sack that ended up being a defensive touchdown. A similar performance could be on the horizon as Dallas continues their dominance over the NFC East.
Score: 34-23, Cowboys Win.
Dolphins @ Saints; Monday Night Football
New Orleans always finds a way to get things done against Tampa Bay but let that not distract you from the flaws this team has on defense. Prior to last week’s shutout victory, the Saints defense allowed 30+ points in their previous two matchups. Miami should be able to have their way as Tua Tagovailoa has looked more comfortable off late thanks to a receiving core consisting of Jaylen Waddle, DeVante Parker, and TE Mike Gesicki.
The consistency from the offense combined with a stout defense has been the driving force behind the Dolphins’ six-game win streak. This week they take on a Saints’ offense that is down to their 4th different starting QB in Ian Book. As long as Brian Flores has a plan to do stop Alvin Kamara, Miami should be smooth sailing.
