Week 16 NFL Picks: The Steelers Will March On

After a stellar Week 15 (12-4) that included upset calls over the Saints, Packers, and Seahawks, we bring you Week 16 's Free NFL Picks. We've had a stellar record over the season, and have become a dependable option to rely on when making your own picks each week.

Keep leaning on NFLSoup.com for your NFL picks for the remainder of the regular season, as well as all through the playoffs. Read on for this week's picks:

San Diego Chargers @ Tennessee Titans

The Chargers have officially wrapped-up their division, and are almost guaranteed a first round bye, while home field is completely out of the question.

The Chargers have nothing to play for, but to keep their nine-game winning streak going, and would be best advised to start resting their key players.

Tennessee, on the other hand, should be playing hard, and with seven wins out of their last eight games, they have momentum on their side. They don't hold many playoff tiebreakers, so they need to win-out for a chance at the playoffs. A serious push starts with a win against an elite Chargers team.

Titans 26, Chargers 20

Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ New Orleans Saints

The Buccaneers looked solid against a sinking Seattle squad last week, but they don't pose much of a threat against the Saints, even if New Orleans does decide to start resting its starters.

If the Saints lose their final two games and the Minnesota Vikings win-out, they could possibly lose home-field advantage. If the Saints still have something to play for, Tampa Bay has almost no chance.

Saints 34, Buccaneers 13

Baltimore Ravens @ Pittsburgh Steelers

This could possibly be the biggest game of the week, as it's a huge division rival showdown, and carries big playoff implications.

A Ravens win would end the Steelers late bid for the playoffs, while a Steelers win would likely catapult them to a 9-7 finish and a likely playoff berth.

Steelers 31, Ravens 26

Kansas City Chiefs @ Cincinnati Bengals

The Chiefs showed their offensive abilities last week and will enter game two of having star receiver Dwayne Bowe back, but the odds are stacked against them against the Bengals, who won't have as porous of a defense as the Cleveland Browns.

Cedric Benson also has to be licking his chops over the possibilities after seeing Cleveland's Jerome Harrison rush for 280-plus yards last week.

Bengals 36, Chiefs 21

Jacksonville Jaguars @ New England Patriots

The Jaguars put up an impressive fight against the now 14-0 Indianapolis Colts, but will likely have very little life left to go a full four quarters with an underrated Patriots squad.

True, New England hasn't been winning games in exciting or convincing fashion, but Jacksonville's defense won't strike much fear into an offense that found ways to defeat two elite pass defense in Buffalo and Carolina.

Patriots 34, Jaguars 24

Buffalo Bills @ Atlanta Falcons

Both Buffalo and Atlanta are out of the postseason race, but at least the Falcons showed they're still fighting for pride and a respectable record after a late score and victory against the New York Jets last week.

Even if Michael Turner sits out this third game in four weeks, the Falcons shouldn't have much trouble getting past a Brian Brohm-led Bills team.

Falcons 24, Bills 7

Carolina Panthers @ New York Giants

The Panthers were impressive in a dominant defensive performance against an elite team in the Minnesota Vikings last week, and should be a difficult matchup for the surging Giants.

The Giants' main source of offensive production has been coming through the air, and as Tom Brady and Brett Favre have found out, Eli Manning may find success hard to come by against a stingy Carolina pass defense.

The Giants are fighting for a playoff spot, but the competitive Panthers seem to enjoy playing the spoiler role.

Panthers 21, Giants 17

Houston Texans @ Miami Dolphins

The Texans need to win-out, in addition to a ton of help for a shot at the playoffs, while the Dolphins would have a much better chance if they did the same, especially with a potentially huge matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 17.

The Dolphins gave it their all and fell to the Titans in OT last week, but something tells me they still have something to give. And considering how awful the Texans' rush offense is, it just doesn't seem realistic for them to control the clock and edge the Dolphins out.

Dolphins 20, Texans 16

Seattle Seahawks @ Green Bay Packers

The Seahawks are playing pathetic, uninspired football, while the Packers offense is clicking on all cylinders.

The only thing Green Bay really has to worry about is its recent lack of a consistent pass-rush, and its inability to cover teams with solid three-wide receiver sets. Seattle can't protect the pass, doesn't run the ball well, and doesn't have any other matchup advantages.

Packers in a landslide.

Packers 36, Seahawks 12

Oakland Raiders @ Cleveland Browns

This would be a toss-up, but with so many upsets going their way, the Raiders are bound to actually come away with a win in a game they actually "should" win.

The Browns are forced to turn back to the inaccurate Derek Anderson after placing Brady Quinn on IR with a foot injury. He and the Browns don't matchup well through the air against a very good Raiders pass defense.

Raiders 23, Browns 13

St. Louis Rams @ Arizona Cardinals

The Rams are debating whether to keep the unimpressive Keith Null under center, or revert back to the equally unimpressive Kyle Boller.

Regardless of who starts, neither has the talent or ability to keep pace with an elite Arizona Cardinals offense, even though the Cardinals have little to play for.

Cardinals 40, Rams 10

Detroit Lions @ San Francisco 49ers

The Lions will be starting Drew Stanton at quarterback against a solid 49ers defense, after deciding to put rookie Matthew Stafford on IR.

Detroit simply doesn't have enough firepower to match the 49ers' often-balanced offense, especially considering how sorry their pass defense is. Alex Smith should have the best day of his career.

49ers 37, Lions 16

Denver Broncos @ Philadelphia Eagles

Easily one of the top five games of the week. This matchup pits Brian Dawkins against his former team, while a loss by the Broncos could mean the 2009 playoffs are out of reach.

The Eagles still don't have their division locked up, and are still in the running for a first round bye if Minnesota were to falter in the next two weeks.

Eagles 24, Broncos 21

New York Jets @ Indianapolis Colts

The Jets lost a heartbreaker last week, largely due to their inability to run effectively, while also seeing continued erratic play from the rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez.

He doesn't figure to work much magic against an injury-riddled, yet still impressive Colts pass defense. Indy may start resting its stud starters after halftime, but it likely won't matter.

Colts 33, Jets 21

Dallas Cowboys @ Washington Redskins

The Washington Redskins, while appearing like an improving and competitive team, have reverted back to a listless group of wandering fools after their 45-12 drubbing against the New York Giants on Monday night.

With a convincing win over the previously undefeated Saints last week, it appears the Cowboys have erased any "December curse" worries. That's the hope, anyways.

Cowboys 27, Redskins 13

Minnesota Vikings @ Chicago Bears

Even amidst all the hype about Brett Favre and Brad Childress, there is still a lot to like about these Minnesota Vikings. If they can get the ground game going again and open up the passing lane for Favre, the offense shouldn't have much trouble getting back on track.

It won't hurt to face the Bears putrid pass defense, as well as the turnover machine Jay Cutler.