NFL Week 16 Predictions: Christmas Eve Edition

The NFL Season is winding down, and there are two completely different situations in each conference. In the NFC, four decided division winners sit atop the conference while three teams fight for two wild card spots. In the AFC, just two teams, including the undefeated Colts, have set spots in the playoffs, while wild 10-team pool fight for the last two division winner spots and the two wild-card spots, 6 of those teams all at 7-7. Un-predictable situations in each divisions leave everyone asking, how will this mess play out?

BOLD - PLAYOFF TEAM

NFC

WEST

1. ARIZONA CARDINALS - CURRENT RECORD 9-5, PREDICTED RECORD 10-6

2. San Fransisco 49ers - 6-8, 7-9

3. Seattle Seahawks - 5-9, 6-10

4. St. Louis Rams - 1-13, 1-15

NORTH

1. MINNESOTA VIKINGS - 11-3, 12-4

2. Green Bay Packers - 9-5, 9-7

3. Chicago Bears - 5-9, 7-9

4. Detroit Lions - 2-12, 2-14

EAST

1. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES - 10-4, 11-5

2. NEW YORK GIANTS - 8-6, 10-6

3. DALLAS COWBOYS - 9-5, 9-7

4. Washington Redskins - 4-10, 6-10

SOUTH

1. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS - 13-1, 13-3

2. Atlanta Falcons - 7-7, 8-8

3. Carolina Panthers - 6-8, 7-9

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - 2-12, 3-13

AFC

WEST

1. SAN DIEGO CHARGERS - 11-3, 12-4

2. DENVER BRONCOS - 8-6, 10-6

3. Oakland Raiders - 5-9, 6-10

4. Kansas City Chiefs - 3-11, 3-13

NORTH

1. CINCINNATI BENGALS - 9-5, 11-5

2. Baltimore Ravens - 8-6, 8-8

3. Pittsburgh Steelers - 7-7, 8-8

4. Cleveland Browns - 3-11, 4-12

EAST

1. MIAMI DOLPHINS - 7-7, 9-7

2. New England Patriots - 9-5, 9-7

3. New York Jets - 7-7, 7-9

4. Buffalo Bills - 5-9, 6-10

SOUTH

1. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS - 14-0, 16-0

2. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS - 7-7, 9-7

3. Tennessee Titans - 7-7, 8-8

4. Houston Texans - 7-7, 7-9

Playoffs - Wild Card

NFC

3. Philadelphia Eagles over 6. Dallas Cowboys - The David to New Orleans's Goliath is slayed by the NFC EAST winners, McNabb and the Philadelphia Eagles, in a battle that will be open until the very last play. 

5. New York Giants over 4. Arizona Cardinals - Although the Giants took much longer than the Cards to secure a playoff spot, Eli and the G-men have the fire power to take them down in this close game of a QB's intelligence rather than a linemen's strength. 

AFC

3. Cincinnati Bengals over 6. Jacksonville Jaguars - David Garrard has faced a lot of adversity in the past but always performed, but in this, possibly the biggest game of his career, he throws more interceptions than TDs, opening the door for Ochocinco and the Bengals offense to take the game by storm (and they do).

5. Denver Broncos over 4. Miami Dolphins - After making the playoffs in a Cinderella story, the Phins don't quite have their wildcat working on this day, and their defense alone won't be enough to hold Marshall and the explosive Bronco offense. 

Playoffs - Divisional Round

NFC

1. New Orleans Saints over 5. New York Giants - A tired out Saints team that dropped their last three games in the regular season breaks that streak when it matters most in a beating that resembles their early season match up.

2. Minnesota Vikings over 3. Philadelphia Eagles - A re-match of last year's Wild-card matchup isn't quite the same game, as Brett Favre airs it out for a 300+ yards. game that continues his quest for another Super Bowl. 

AFC

1. Indianapolis Colts over 5. Denver Broncos - As the Broncos try to re-find their fire from early in the season, the Colts catch them off guard and deliver a beating just a little too early for the mile-high team to handle. 

3. Cincinnati Bengals over 2. San Diego Chargers - After the emotional loss to the Bolts after Henry's death, the Stripes are hungry for revenge and come after them full-on in the playoffs, no holding back. No blow-out in this game, but Cincy gets the job done none-the-less. 

Playoffs - Conference Championship Round

NFC

2. Minnesota Vikings over 1. New Orleans Saints - In this year's dream match up for the NFC's title, AP and the Vikes take down the dominant Saints, keeping Favre's dream alive still. 

AFC

1. Indianapolis Colts over 3. Cincinnati Bengals - Ochocinco's promise of the playoffs came true this year despite everyone's doubts, but a Super Bowl will have to wait until a beast like Indy is out of the way. 

Super Bowl XLIV

2N. Minnesota Vikings over 1A. Indianapolis Colts - In another Super Bowl that unbelievably tops the last, Favre steals the trophy from Manning and gets the defining career-end that he always wanted. Maybe, just maybe, he'll retire for REAL this time (doubtful, though). 

Super Bowl MVP - QB 4 Brett Favre