NFL Week 16: The Ultimate Guide to Sunday's Action
Every game matters.
This is the mantra of every game for every team, but from an NFL-wide perspective, it's difficult to get geared up for every single midseason, mid-tier matchup unless we're talking fantasy impact or NFL RedZone addiction.
Now, though, it seems as if almost every game could have an impact on playoff or draft positioning for every team in the league. Some teams "control their own destiny" (which is a contradiction in terms, and I hate using the phrase), while others can affect the math for other teams around the league.
Meanwhile, how about the fact that coaches and players around the league—nearly to a man—are playing for their jobs and careers right now? This is the NFL, which just as often stands for "not for long." A bad play (or injury) here, a coaching change there or a new direction thanks to a draft pick could mean a big move for all but the most super of superstars and all but a few coaches.
This keeps the games competitive down the wire; everyone in the NFL knows what happens in even the games that seem to matter less could still have a massive impact throughout the league and for the rest of their career.
Biggest Questions
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Can the Cowboys or Eagles Finish This Thing?
The Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles both basically need to win out if they want to make it to the postseason. They both could also use some help from various teams and mutual opponents, but the pathway is pretty clear: Take care of business, and there's little else to complain about.
The Cowboys have the tougher road with Indianapolis in town this weekend, but having the Colts at home rather than on the road is a big boost to their chances. The Eagles may have the easier road, but they also have Mark Sanchez at quarterback, which has its own sets of challenges.
Will the AFC North Hold Serve?
Right now, the top three teams in the AFC North could head to the playoffs as the division champion and the two wild cards. While that's a nice feather in the cap for the division, each team has limped at least a little in recent weeks. It's almost as if Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and Baltimore are backing into the playoffs because there are no other decent candidates.
There's work to be done in the next two weeks, though, and winning out but also continuing to figure out issues of consistency is important if the AFC North teams not only want to make the playoffs but also actually win a game once they get there.
Does Anyone in the NFC South Actually Want to Go to the Playoffs?
Earlier in the year, it actually looked like the AFC North was going to be a power conference, but no such statement has been made about the NFC South, where Atlanta, Carolina and New Orleans are all still playoff contenders in, quite literally, the loosest sense of the term.
The Atlanta Falcons and New Orleans Saints play each other in New Orleans in a game that both franchises could easily say should be a gimme, but nothing has been a gimme for anyone in that division this year.
Meanwhile, the Carolina Panthers get the Cleveland Browns and Johnny Manziel. Again, how can they lose that game? They're the Panthers in 2014, that's how.
One of these teams has to win in Week 16; that could be the divisional champion right there.
Who Actually Wants it in the MVP Race?
Taking a break from the teams that may or may not want to put a clamp down on their respective races in the final weeks, the MVP race doesn't really have a clear winner. Remember that this is a voting award, and voters tend to elevate quarterbacks. So, while Cowboys running back DeMarco Murray and Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt have good arguments, there are going to be voters who (right or wrong) will be looking for a QB to take the reins.
Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers has games against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (stats!) and Detroit Lions (statement win!) left on the schedule. He suffered a setback against the Buffalo Bills but could still grab the honor.
New England Patriots QB Tom Brady has the New York Jets (stats! rivalry!) and the Bills (statement against the team Rodgers struggled against!).
There's going to be a lot of split voting in the MVP race this year, and any jockeying that can be done is still pretty important.
Odds and Ends
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- To find out which games are available in your area, check out these NFL coverage maps, via 506 Sports.
- Who's calling your game of choice Sunday? Here are announcer pairings for CBS and Fox, via B-FLO 360.
- Football Zebras provides a look at which referees are working each game so you can tailor your insults accordingly.
- Can't make it to a TV? SiriusXM covers every single game. Here's the lineup.
- If you don't have satellite radio, check to see if Westwood One has a game playing in your area.
- Even if you can watch your favorite team, make sure you have the Bleacher Report Team Stream app for the latest in news, fantasy football updates and highlights.
Game of the Day ("Sunday Night Football")
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Who: Seattle Seahawks at Arizona Cardinals
When: 8:30 p.m. ET on NBC
Where: University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona
- Seahawks preview from Featured Columnist Marlon Maloney
- Cardinals preview from Featured Columnist Shaun Church
If this game were in Seattle, it probably wouldn't be nearly as interesting, but the Seahawks are vulnerable away from home. Plus, it seems like the moment we count out the Cardinals at any point, they find a way to surprise us.
This game has all the markings of a 10-9 slobberknocker, with both teams shutting down the other's run game but getting key turnovers to put themselves in position to score or at least threaten. I'm pretty confident that the team that wins the turnover battle will win this one overall, and the only things that could change matters are unforced defensive errors leading to long gainers from guys like Cardinals wide receiver John Brown or one of the many Seahawks tight ends.
If the Cardinals win, they're not only winning the division but likely knocking the Seahawks out of the postseason.
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Rest of the Slate (Fox)
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Detroit Lions at Chicago Bears (1 p.m. EST)
Can the Lions lose this against a Jimmy Clausen-led Bears team? Yeah, anyone who has been watching the Lions lose for the better part of the last few decades will tell you that they can. These aren't the same old Lions, though. Their pass rush should get the job done, and fans hope the offense can get rolling like it did on Thanksgiving.
Minnesota Vikings at Miami Dolphins (1 p.m. EST)
The Dolphins are running out of things to play for, but they're the better team here, and it will matter whether or not Joe Philbin can keep this team together over the last couple of weeks as playoff hopes dwindle.
The Vikings, meanwhile, are just going to look to keep quarterback Teddy Bridgewater upright as they continue to see what they have in their franchise passer.
Atlanta Falcons at New Orleans Saints (1 p.m. EST)
I covered this a bit in an earlier slide, but let's say this from an X's and O's perspective: The Falcons' pass rush is disappointing this year, and though injuries have beset the Saints offense, it should be able to do just fine (especially at home) with a little time in the pocket.
OK, that's should. Again, nothing has gone like it should for the Saints this year, so just flip a coin.
Green Bay Packers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1 p.m. EST)
How many points can a team get?
Oh, there's no limit?
Crap, watch out Tampa Bay...
New York Giants at St. Louis Rams (4:05 p.m. EST)
I really don't trust the Giants' pass protection or Eli Manning to pass into the heart of the Rams defense with anything but the most reckless of abandon. I don't think the Rams get the shutout here they've been trying for recently, but they could get close and get the win.
Rest of the Slate (CBS)
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Baltimore Ravens at Houston Texans (1 p.m. EST)
When the Ravens offensive line is firing on all cylinders, Baltimore is among the best teams in football. Against the Texans defense, though, that's easier said than done. I don't trust the offenses to put up a ton of points here, but it will be interesting to see which run game heats up first in Gary Kubiak's return to Texas.
Cleveland Browns at Carolina Panthers (1 p.m. EST)
The Panthers should win handily here, but the only pathway I see for the Browns is if they lean on Johnny Manziel not only as a runner but with a bevy of confusing and inventive run plays. The Panthers defensive line has been more of an issue than expected, and if the Browns can get blockers to the next level, the running game could have considerable success.
Kansas City Chiefs at Pittsburgh Steelers (1 p.m. EST)
Last week I called out what I termed the Steelers' "punctuated greatness", as in...the Steelers can be great when they want to be, but consistency has been their doom this season. The Chiefs have been consistent on both sides of the ball, but their inability to move the ball on offense has made things near-impossible for them to take the next step overall as a team.
So, which Steelers team do we get?
If the Steelers show up with an offense that can hold up (even a little) against the Chiefs' rush and connect on some shots down the field, there's no way the Chiefs offense catches up.
New England Patriots at New York Jets (1 p.m. EST)
Do the Jets have an upset in them at home?
Of course they could. Divisional games—especially rivalries—are tricky situations, and this could have a little trap-game action in it as well, since the Patriots face the Buffalo Bills next week in a tough defensive matchup.
Honestly, though, the Patriots have massive edge at nearly every position on the roster. It would take a tremendous underachievement for them to lose this game.
Buffalo Bills at Oakland Raiders (4:25 p.m. EST)
If you pray, pray for Raiders quarterback Derek Carr.
Indianapolis Colts at Dallas Cowboys (4:25 p.m. EST)
The Cowboys need this game far more than the Colts do, but Chuck Pagano and Co. aren't the types to completely throw things into neutral so early. Still, at Dallas, especially if Cowboys running back DeMarco Murray plays (more on that later), I could see the Colts giving a little pressure before ultimately folding and being OK with that overall.
More likely, though, is that the Cowboys have a fight on their hands. Any folding (even in a win) by Tony Romo and the offense will be like chum in the water for media sharks who are waiting for Dallas to fail.
Key Matchups
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Travis Kelce (TE Chiefs) vs. Steelers Interior Pass Defense
The Steelers have consistently been one of the worst teams against tight ends in the entire NFL, while the Chiefs have consistently under-targeted one of the more physically dominant mismatches at the position in the entire league.
What breaks here? If it breaks the Chiefs' way, this could be over in a hurry.
Dez Bryant (WR Cowboys) vs. Vontae Davis (CB Colts)
While many of you weren't looking, Davis became one of the best cornerbacks in the league. Period. There's no equivocation there. It's starting to border on crazy that more people aren't realizing that. It's a tough matchup with Bryant here, but Davis' shutting down Bryant (especially if he doesn't need a ton of help to do so) could turn the tide for the Colts.
Tom Brady (QB Patriots) vs. Rex Ryan (HC Jets)
This could easily be Ryan's last shot at the quarterback he's had such a hate-hate relationship with over the past handful of years. Ryan is trying to save his job and relishes beating the Patriots more than any other matchup anyway. Think he doesn't have something cooked up?
Johnny Manziel (QB Browns) vs. Luke Kuechly (LB Panthers)
I insinuated this on the other slide, but let's make it official here: The Browns need to throw confusing reads and blockers at the Panthers linebackers and hope that gets their running game (both Manziel and the running backs) free.
However, more than that, if Manziel is effective as a passer, it's likely to be inside the hash marks where Kuechly roams. If he lets the linebacker pick him off or even intimidate his receivers thanks to poor (read: late) throws, this game isn't going to go much better than the one against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Notable Injuries
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DeMarco Murray (RB Cowboys)—Questionable, Hand
If Murray can go without risking any further injury, he should play and receive as much of a workload as possible. This is it for the Cowboys. As much as I'm 100 percent on board with sitting Murray if there is any hint of possibility of re-injury, the Cowboys absolutely need him on the field. This is Exhibit A as to why teams (or doctors too close to teams) can't make these decisions.
Rashard Jennings (RB Giants)—Out, Ankle
Oh, the Giants are without their best running back against a team with a ridiculously fearsome pass rush and an interception-prone quarterback. That should go well...
Kyle Rudolph (TE Vikings)—Doubtful, Ankle/Knee
We're at the point with Rudolph when we're no longer concerned about him for the upcoming weekend, but when are these lingering injuries the final straw? When is he done with the game, or when will the Vikings be done with counting on him as their top tight end?
Joe Haden (CB Browns)—Questionable, Shoulder
Haden was one of the worst players in the early part of the season but really turned things on in the second half of the year. The Browns would love to have him to single-cover Panthers wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin so they could turn their sights to tight end Greg Olsen.
Other Notable Injuries
- Tyrann Mathieu (S Cardinals)—Probable, Thumb
- Tamba Hali (LB Chiefs)—Questionable, Knee
- Robbie Gould (K Bears)—Out, Quad
- Arian Foster (RB Texans)—Probable, Hip
- T.Y Hilton (WR Colts)—Questionable, Hamstring
Bleacher Report Expert Predictions
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To follow how the B/R writers stack up against writers from across the web, check out NFLPickwatch.com.
Michael Schottey is an NFL National Lead Writer for Bleacher Report and an award-winning member of the Pro Football Writers of America. Find more of his stuff on his archive page and follow him on Twitter.
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