Week 16 NFL Picks: Last Gasps and Sunday Walks In the Park

The Green Bay Packers will, in all probability, play Brett Favre and the Vikings again this season if they want to advance in the playoffs.

This week they must concentrate on the Seattle Seahawks and their futile efforts to play football.

Take Green Bay at home in December against a weak team. The Packers should be sitting at a nice 10-5 at this point, or even 11-4, provided they beat Pittsburgh.

The Cowboys have broken their December jinx, with a nice win over New Orleans.  New Orleans did not seem interested in that game at all.

Bush was out, and I just can't believe New Orleans was running on all systems. New Orleans will beat Tampa Bay this week, and Dallas will beat Washington.

At 10-5, Dallas has a firm grip on the wild card, or possibly the division title. New Orleans will be 14-1 after this win. I hope New Orleans plays to win this game in Tampa, but Dallas has to keep winning.

Oakland has the capability to go into Cleveland and get a win. I will go with the Raiders to make it to 5-10 for the season.

The Chargers travel to Tennessee and must also continue winning to keep pesky Denver away. The Titans have salvaged this season and should be pretty loose.

This could be a troublesome game for San Diego. Can Chris Johnson slice and dice the Charger defense? I will take the Titans in a mild upset.

The Giants are home against Carolina and must win this game. They would likely win anyway, but now they have to. Am I repeating myself? Giants win at home. Grab some milk and cookies and leave Santa a present, Giants fans.

Houston is in Miami and have given me too many losses this season. As I think about this team, I realize they need more team effort (not poor individual effort), a couple of impact defensive players, and maybe a new coach?

The talent on this team makes it shocking they don't win more. Still, I will take them over the Dolphins. This is like hanging out on a sinking ship. Go, Texans!!

The Steelers can ruin Baltimore's season, so of course they will do just that and win this one at home.

Cincinnati prepares for new ground in the playoffs as they go about their business, beating Kansas City this week.

Atlanta should be back up to strength as they take on Buffaloes in Atlanta. Take the Falcons in this game, of course.

New England might wreck Jacksonville's season as they give the Jags another loss and separate them from the Jets, Miami, and Baltimore. Can 9-7 get in the playoffs? If the Steelers win out and make it to 9-7, can they get in?

The 49ers, with maybe nothing left to play for, will beat the Lions at home. Mike Singletary will not lose to the Lions.

Arizona pretty much wraps up this weak division once more with a win here against the Rams in Arizona. This will have the Cardinals at 10-5 and resting for the playoffs. 9-7 would have won this division; maybe even 8-8.

The Colts at 14-0 are home against the Jets. I believe they will stay in their regular routine and win this game. Fifteen-0: be prepared for four more Peyton Manning commercials to be on all the time.

Philadelphia is at home and must keep winning in this heated division race. Denver must keep its grip on a wild card at least. Take the Eagles at home in December most of the time in your life.

Even with a loss, Denver is still in the wild card driver's seat. If Oakland beat Denver this week, which I doubt, this game takes on more meaning. The game has more meaning for Philadelphia, and that is why they will win.

Minnesota has the Bears on Monday Night Football in an absolutely meaningless game.  Minnesota has the division, but can't catch New Orleans for home field advantage. Take the Vikings anyway, but New Orleans will finish 15-1.

Can Dallas go into Minnesota or New Orleans and win in the playoffs? That's the billion dollar question. New Orleans will certainly be more animated next time Dallas visits, I would imagine.

I am 148-74 for the season, about on pace with the 80 games over 500 last season. Still, some picks, especially with Houston, Kansas City, Pittsburgh, and Tennessee in the early goings, got me extra losses this season; otherwise the NFL is predictable to a point.

Thanks for the reads, and have a great holiday season,

Thomas[ NFL Mikee] Moreland.