NFL Week 16 Predictions: Early Projections for Vegas' Odds, Lines and Spreads

At this moment, the Baltimore Ravens, Tennessee Titans and Buffalo Bills are tied at 8-6 in the AFC playoff race. They are all technically tied for fifth in the conference, but only six teams make the playoffs, so at least one of those franchises is going to be left out in the cold.

We'll take a look at those three in a bit more detail below in addition to making picks for each Week 16 game. All spreads and over/under totals are via OddsShark.

Indianapolis Colts at Baltimore Ravens (-13.5, 41.5 O/U)

Pick: Ravens 24, Colts 10

Minnesota Vikings at Green Bay Packers (No Line)

Pick: Vikings 27, Packers 24

Cleveland Browns at Chicago Bears (-6.5, 38.5 O/U)

Pick: Bears 20, Browns 17

Detroit Lions (-4, 43 O/U) at Cincinnati Bengals

Pick: Lions 31, Bengals 10

Los Angeles Rams (-6.5, 49 O/U) at Tennessee Titans

Pick: Rams 31, Titans 17

Miami Dolphins at Kansas City Chiefs (-10, 44.5 O/U)

Pick: Chiefs 31, Dolphins 10

Buffalo Bills at New England Patriots (-11.5, 47 O/U)

Pick: Patriots 31, Bills 17

Atlanta Falcons at New Orleans Saints (-5.5)

Pick: Saints 31, Falcons 24

Los Angeles Chargers (-7, 42.5 O/U) at New York Jets

Pick: Chargers 28, Jets 14

Denver Broncos at Washington Redskins (-3.5, 41 O/U)

Pick: Redskins 20, Broncos 17

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Carolina Panthers (-9)

Pick: Panthers 35, Buccaneers 10

Jacksonville Jaguars (-4.5, 42.5 O/U) at San Francisco 49ers

Pick: Jaguars 24, 49ers 16

Seattle Seahawks at Dallas Cowboys (-2.5)

Pick: Cowboys 31, Seahawks 30

New York Giants at Arizona Cardinals (-4.5, 40 O/U)

Pick: Cardinals 24, Giants 17

Pittsburgh Steelers (No Line) at Houston Texans

Pick: Steelers 24, Texans 10

Oakland Raiders at Philadelphia Eagles (No Line)

Pick: Eagles 31, Raiders 20

Indianapolis Colts at Baltimore Ravens

In his last three games, Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco has accounted for six total touchdowns and just one interception. He also threw for at least 269 yards in each of those contests (all wins).

Flacco has struggled for the better part of 2017, but if he continues this recent trend the Ravens could be a dark horse in the playoffs thanks to their stellar defense and special teams.

Breaking those two units down in more detail, the Raven defense is fifth in the NFL in points allowed despite two rough performances against the Jacksonville Jaguars (a 44-7 loss) and the Pittsburgh Steelers (a 39-38 defeat). Per Football Outsiders, the Ravens rank first in the NFL in defense (second against the pass, eighth versus the rush).

They are also second in the NFL in total takeaways and first in interceptions. On special teams, kicker Justin Tucker is a serious weapon who has the range to knock home field goals of 60 yards or more.

Football Outsiders also ranks Baltimore first overall in special teams and gives them positive marks in each aspect there (e.g. kick return, punt return, etc.).

As for this game, the Ravens should hold serve easily over the 3-11 Indianapolis Colts, who have lost eight of their past nine games after starting 2-3 and are just 1-6 on the road.

Los Angeles Rams at Tennessee Titans

It seemed a bit odd that the 3-10 San Francisco 49ers were one-point favorites over the 8-5 Tennessee Titans prior to their matchup last Sunday, but sure enough, the Jimmy Garoppolo-led 49ers beat Tennessee in a 25-23 victory.

After losing 12-7 to the now 6-8 Arizona Cardinals in Week 14, and following that performance with a loss to a four-win team, it's panic time in Nashville for a Titans squad that many assumed would win the division and earn a postseason berth. At this juncture, they are in a three-way tie for the wild-card spot with the Buffalo Bills and Baltimore Ravens.

The problem is that the Titans schedule is harder than that of the Ravens and Bills. Tennessee has the hottest offensive juggernaut in the league (the 10-4 Los Angeles Rams) strolling into town on Sunday, while a date with the hottest defensive juggernaut in the league (the 10-4 Jacksonville Jaguars) looms in Week 17.

Baltimore is a heavy favorite against 3-11 Indianapolis and closes the year with a home game against a Cincinnati Bengals team that has lost its last two games by a combined score of 67-14. Buffalo has a tough New England Patriots team on the road next Sunday, but then it faces the 6-8 Miami Dolphins (who the Bills just beat 24-16) to close the year.

The Titans' playoff stretch has started two weeks early, as they are in win-now mode. The problem is that the Rams just posted probably the most impressive win of the year by going into Seattle and beating the tough Seahawks 42-7 thanks to four touchdowns from running back Todd Gurley.

It's difficult to bet against the Rams right now, so the guess here is that the Titans fall to 8-7.

Buffalo Bills at New England Patriots

Regardless of how this season ends for the Buffalo Bills, this year has to be considered a success. Very few people thought they had any chance of competing in year one of the Brandon Beane-Sean McDermott era, but they are tied for an AFC wild-card spot with two games left. A playoff berth, which would break an 18-year postseason-less streak, is the cherry on top.

This matchup with the New England Patriots, who are trying to hold off the Pittsburgh Steelers for the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs, is not ideal. The Bills offense couldn't get it going against the Pats in a 23-3 loss to them at home in New Era Stadium, and it's hard seeing them fare well on the road this time.

On defense, the Bills never have an answer for quarterback Tom Brady and tight end Rob Gronkowski, who dominate them every year.

Last time around, Gronk caught nine passes for 147 yards. That's in addition to these performances against Buffalo that Evan Silva of Rotoworld listed recently:

Per Pro Football Reference Brady has 66 touchdowns and a 101 quarterback rating against the Bills in his career. His lifetime record against them is 27-3, although he left the most recent loss (a Week 17 defeat in 2014) early to rest up for the postseason (the Pats had already clinched the No. 1 seed in the AFC at that point).

It will be a tough test for the Bills in New England, but even if they lose they still can obtain a wild-card spot with a win against the Miami Dolphins in Week 17 coupled with some help.