NFL Predictions Week 16: Picks Guide, Odds Advice and Schedule Info

Which NFL teams and players have more motivation to go out and perform at a high level at this time of the year?

Some are just playing out the string and looking forward to vacations. Others are still playing hard regardless of whether they have been mathematically eliminated.

Then there are teams and players fighting for playoff spots and higher seeds as the regular season draws to its conclusion.

Finally, you have those who have an additional X-factor. Maybe a player is facing a team who spurned them in the past (the classic revenge game), or perhaps a team is itching to get back out there after getting crushed the week before.

We'll try to spot the motivational factors in some games below as we take a look at the remainder of the Week 16 schedule. All date, time and television information is via NFL.com, and all spreads and over/under totals are through OddsShark.

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

Pick: Bears 20, Browns 17

Date, Time and TV: Sunday, December 24 at 1 p.m. ET on FOX

The Cleveland Browns don't want to be the second 0-16 team in NFL history. The Chicago Bears are just 4-10 and mired in sub-mediocrity, but they've been fighting hard in recent weeks, most notably when they beat the Cincinnati Bengals 33-7 in Week 14.

The edge goes to the home team, but this should stay close.

Detroit Lions (-3, 44.5 O/U) at Cincinnati Bengals

Pick: Lions 31, Bengals 17

Date, Time and TV: Sunday, December 24 at 1 p.m. ET on FOX

The Cincinnati Bengals have lost their last two games by a combined score of 67-14.

Meanwhile, the Detroit Lions are still alive for a playoff berth, and wideout Marvin Jones Jr. returns to his old stomping grounds. Jones played four years in Cincinnati before leaving for Detroit, and he may want to show his old team what it is missing.

Don't be surprised if Jones and his friend A.J. Green both post big games as they try to one up each other on the field, but Detroit should win this one.

Los Angeles Rams (-6, 46.5 O/U) at Tennessee Titans

Pick: Rams 31, Titans 14

Date, Time and TV: Sunday, December 24 at 1 p.m. ET on FOX

A win gives the Los Angeles Rams the NFC West crown, while the Tennessee Titans are fighting to stay alive in the wild-card race after losing their last two games.

Both teams should get up for this game, but the Rams are on the rise while the Titans look like they are free-falling. The Rams offense gets all the attention, but the defense will get the accolades with a big performance here.

Miami Dolphins at Kansas City Chiefs (-10.5, 43 O/U)

Pick: Chiefs 31, Dolphins 10

Date, Time and TV: Sunday, December 24 at 1 p.m. ET on CBS

Yes, the Miami Dolphins are mathematically alive to make the NFL playoffs, but in reality, their season is all but over.

The Kansas City Chiefs will take the AFC West with a win. They've also been great at home this year, as they sport a 5-2 record and haven't given up more than 20 points in any single 2017 game at Arrowhead Stadium. This one could be over at the half.

Buffalo Bills at New England Patriots (-11.5, 47.5 O/U)

Pick: Patriots 31, Bills 17 

Date, Time and TV: Sunday, December 24 at 1 p.m. ET on CBS

Two more wins will clinch the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs for the New England Patriots, while the Buffalo Bills are looking to snap a postseason drought dating back to last century.

Simply put, the Patriots just have the Bills' number (per Pro Football Reference, Pats quarterback Tom Brady is 27-3 against them lifetime), and it's hard seeing Buffalo going into Gillette Stadium and stealing a win. New England will advance to 12-3.

Atlanta Falcons at New Orleans Saints (-5.5, 52.5 O/U)

Pick: Saints 31, Falcons 24

Date, Time and TV: Sunday, December 24 at 1 p.m. ET on FOX

The New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons both control their own destinies for the NFC South title, oddly enough. Obviously, the two sides are also fierce rivals, so this game should be quite heated.

It's hard to bet against the Saints at home, and it's even harder to bet against the dynamic rushing duo of Mark Ingram and Alvin Kamara, who at times look invincible. They'll be the engine that drives New Orleans to an 11-4 record on Sunday.

Los Angeles Chargers (-6.5, 42.5 O/U) at New York Jets

Pick: Chargers 28, Jets 14

Date, Time and TV: Sunday, December 24 at 1 p.m. ET on CBS

I'm not about to suggest that Todd Bowles should be considered for AP NFL Coach of the Year, but nearly everyone thought that his New York Jets would be the worst team in football. They are closest to the worst than the best, but they play hard every week and aren't a laughing stock by any means.

That being said, this should be a tough game against the Los Angeles Chargers, who have to win their final two contests to even have a chance at the postseason. The Bolts should get it done here.

Denver Broncos at Washington Redskins (-3, 40.5 O/U)

Pick: Redskins 20, Broncos 17

Date, Time and TV: Sunday, December 24 at 1 p.m. ET on CBS

Both teams are looking forward to next year after slogging through disappointing 2017 seasons. To their credit, Denver and Washington played hard last week, and each won its respective game.

The motivation here lies in Washington running back Kapri Bibbs, a former Denver Bronco who has made it clear that he wants to prove why his former team made a mistake in letting him go.

Look for Bibbs to have a productive outing en route to a close Washington win.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Carolina Panthers (-10, 46.5 O/U)

Pick: Panthers 35, Buccaneers 17

Date, Time and TV: Sunday, December 24 at 1 p.m. ET on FOX

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have suffered an incredible amount of injuries this year, and their injury report for this week is no exception. Credit goes to the Bucs for still playing hard against the Atlanta Falcons last Monday given the circumstances.

But this Sunday presents a difficult task for Tampa as it faces a Carolina team that will clinch a playoff berth with a victory. The Panthers have won six of seven games and are starting to resemble the 2015 team that went 15-1 in the regular season. They should win easily.

Jacksonville Jaguars (-4, 42 O/U) at San Francisco 49ers

Pick: Jaguars 24, 49ers 16   

Date, Time and TV: Sunday, December 24 at 4:05 p.m. ET on CBS

The Jimmy Garoppolo era in San Francisco is off to a roaring start as the team is 3-0 in the last three weeks. The 49ers are playing with a renewed sense of confidence and show tremendous promise for next year.

Meanwhile, the Jacksonville Jaguars are still hopeful for a bye in the AFC playoffs and even have an outside shot at the No. 1 seed.

In the end, the Jags defense will be too tough and give San Francisco its first loss, but this should be one of the games of the week.          

Seattle Seahawks at Dallas Cowboys (-4.5, 47.5 O/U)

Pick: Cowboys 31, Seahawks 30

Date, Time and TV: Sunday, December 24 at 4:25 p.m. ET on FOX

I've gone back and forth on this game, and I'm settling on this becoming a two-man show between Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson and Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott.

Ultimately, the Seahawks aren't as bad as they showed last Sunday (a 42-7 loss to the Los Angeles Rams), and this group of veterans has too much pride to go out there and lay another egg.

However, the Seattle front seven has been battling injuries, and now they'll face running back Ezekiel Elliott, who was suspended for six games but is returning for this Week 16 tilt. Seattle will be at a disadvantage facing a running back who hasn't dealt with the grind of the NFL season for six weeks.

This should go down to the wire. In what will be the closest game of the week, give the edge to the home team.

New York Giants at Arizona Cardinals (-3, 39 O/U)

Pick: Cardinals 24, Giants 17     

Date, Time and TV: Sunday, December 24 at 4:25 p.m. ET on FOX

Per Arizona Cardinals beat writer Darren Urban, superstar wideout Larry Fitzgerald said that he isn't sure whether he will play in 2018. Therefore, Fitzgerald may be playing in front of the Cardinals faithful for the last time on Sunday.

I wouldn't bet against a future Hall of Famer in what could be his last home game. Fitzgerald is going to post a monster day en route to an Arizona win.

Pittsburgh Steelers (-8.5, 45.5 O/U) at Houston Texans

Pick: Steelers 24, Texans 10   

Date, Time and TV: Monday, December 25 at 4:30 p.m. ET on NBC

Greener pastures lay ahead for the Houston Texans in 2018, but they have suffered an awful amount of injuries to key players this year and struggled to a 4-10 record through 14 games.

The Pittsburgh Steelers, who hold the No. 2 seed in the AFC but could move up one spot (or down one), know that they can't afford a loss in a trap game at this point. They should hold serve and win.

Oakland Raiders at Philadelphia Eagles (-9.5, 47.5 O/U)

Pick: Eagles 31, Raiders 20

Date, Time and TV: Monday, December 25 at 8:30 p.m. ET on ESPN

The Oakland Raiders have the slimmest of chances to make the NFL playoffs, but by the time this game rolls around, their season could effectively be over based on how the rest of the games shake out.

Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Eagles are looking to clinch the No. 1 seed in the playoffs. The 12-3 Minnesota Vikings are hot on their heels, but Philadelphia can stay a game ahead with a win. Expect them to do so here.