NFL Picks Week 16: Tom Brady's Patriots, Ravens, and Teams on Upset Alert Sunday
Week 16 kickoffs this Thursday night in Pittsburgh in a game that features the mighty AFC North-leading Steelers versus the lowly 2-12 Carolina Panthers.
Saturday night's (Christmas Day) game features a duel in the desert between the Dallas Cowboys and the Arizona Cardinals. However, neither team has more than five wins so the game has zero postseason implications.
Sunday is when the schedule gets good though. Plenty of playoff hopefuls are in action, including every wild card-chasing team still alive for a postseason spot.
It all concludes on Monday night in Atlanta when the NFC-leading Falcons host division rival New Orleans in a game that can wrap up the NFC South division for Atlanta.
Here you will find which teams are on upset alert this weekend and in danger of missing the playoffs.
Patriots Vs Bills
1 of 10
The Buffalo Bills spit in the Miami Dolphins' punch bowl last Sunday when they came into South Beach and dropped the Fins to 7-7 and eliminated them from the playoff picture.
Now those same Bills host the 12-2 Patriots, who are looking to capture home field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs on Sunday with a victory in windy Buffalo.
At 4-10, the Bills seem harmless, but any NFL fan this season can tell you that they do anything but roll over.
Look for a tough game from Buffalo, similar to the one Green Bay played against New England last weekend.
Upset Alert: New England Patriots
Ravens Vs Browns
2 of 10
The Baltimore Ravens were all smiles after knocking off the defending Super Bowl champions last Sunday. Now the birds have to get up again as they prepare for a gritty Cleveland team that they know all to well.
Baltimore's division rival, Cleveland, is just 5-9 this year, but every one of it's games has been close and come down to the wire for the most part.
The Ravens struggled to contain Peyton Hillis in the first meeting in Baltimore this season so that match up will be important to watch for.
Even the average NFL knows what Cleveland is capable of (New England & New Orleans).
Upset Alert: Baltimore Ravens
Titans Vs Chiefs
3 of 10
The Chiefs bring their 6-0 home record back into Kansas City after winning on the road last weekend against the Rams.
Into town come the Tennessee Titans, who snapped a six-game skid last Sunday with a win over the Texans.
Tennessee is always well coached, and they also have Chris Johnson in the back field. And, as we know on any given Sunday, who knows what can happen.
The inexperienced Chiefs, who are not used to playing for so much so late in the season, better come to play this weekend. After all, San Diego is hot on their heels for the AFC West crown.
Upset Alert: Kansas City Chiefs
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49ers Vs Rams
4 of 10
That could be the face on a lot of Rams players after Sunday's game versus division rival San Francisco. A St. Louis loss this weekend would tie them with the 49ers at 6-9, possibly for the division lead (if Seattle (6-8) loses at Tampa Bay).
Thus setting up a complete mess in the NFC West, where 7-9 would earn someone a home wild card playoff game.
The Rams, however, control their own destiny and that's why a loss to San Francisco would be an upset to St. Louis fans.
Upset Alert: St. Louis Rams
Redskins Vs Jaguars
5 of 10
The Jacksonville Jaguars missed a golden opportunity last weekend when they lost to division foe Indianapolis and surrendered the AFC South-lead to the banged up Colts.
Now at 8-6, the Jags must put together two strong performances to end the regular season in hopes that Indianapolis slips up or a wild card spot opens up.
The Washington Redskins are the first of those two games. Washington comes in on a losing streak and seeming about as down as any team can get (McNabb & Haynesworth situations).
Rex Grossman can still wing it though, as he proved against the Cowboys last Sunday. The wishful Jaguars should look to finish this game early and discourage the 'Skins early.
Upset Alert: Jacksonville Jaguars
Chargers Vs Bengals
6 of 10
The San Diego Chargers have risen from the ashes this season to make a run at the AFC West title. 8-6 San Diego is just one game back of the 9-5 Chiefs for the division lead.
The Bolts are on the road this weekend, however, as they battle 3-11 Cincinnati. Two of the Bengals' three wins have come at home though.
But Carson Palmer is still dangerous, even if he sometimes throws it to the other team; OK a lot of the times.
San Diego has shown us what a let down looks like in the past, so they would be better off coming in prepared this Sunday.
Upset Alert: San Diego Chargers
Colts Vs Raiders
7 of 10
Peyton Manning and the nicked up Colts are on the road this Sunday as they take on the Oakland Raiders.
Amazingly, the Raiders still have a pulse in the AFC West title race thanks to their 5-0 division record. They would need some help from Kansas City and San Diego however; a lot of help.
This is a bigger game for the Colts who could drop out of the playoff picture with a loss on the west coast.
Indianapolis would miss out on a wild card and possibly the division all together if they don't win on Sunday.
The Colts have lost four out of seven on the road already this season. But can Peyton Manning really be sitting at home come playoff time?
Upset Alert: Indianapolis Colts
Giants Vs Packers
8 of 10
This is a humongous game for both the Giants and the Packers. Both teams are solely in the wild card hunt now that Chicago has wrapped up the NFC North division and Philadelphia has two wins over New York in the NFC East.
Green Bay is 5-1 at Lambeau Field this season and will have Pro Bowl quarterback Aaron Rodgers back from a concussion that forced him to sit out last week.
The Giants are coming off of an epic collapse at home last Sunday against the Eagles (they were outscored 28-0 in final seven minutes of the game).
A Packers' loss eliminates them from postseason contention and likely wraps up an extremely disappointing season marked by injuries and a handful of heartbreaking losses.
A Giants' loss would hurt New York's playoff chances but not end them entirely. New York would still be alive for the NFC wild card if they won out and New Orleans finished 10-6 or the Packers finish 9-7.
This game is likely the week's most monumental showdown.
Upset Alert: Giants & Packers
Seahawks Vs Buccaneers
9 of 10
Last week's home overtime loss to the Lions delivered a huge blow to Tampa Bay's playoff hopes. The Bucs, now at 8-6, need some help to make the NFC wild card.
A loss to the Seahawks at home this Sunday, however, will effectively end any chance of a Buccaneer postseason.
Though the Seahawks need a win also, a loss wouldn't eliminate them considering the current state of the pitiful NFC West.
Upset Alert: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Vikings Vs Eagles
10 of 10
The Eagles accomplished the impossible last Sunday by erasing a 21-point deficit late in the fourth quarter to defeat the Giants for the second time this season.
Now in control of the NFC East division, they will look to win out and grab a first round bye ahead of the Bears, who currently hold the tiebreaker.
Though Chicago holds the edge now, a Bears loss would open up the door for Philadelphia.
The Minnesota Vikings are coming off of a tough loss to those same Bears last Monday night and the Eagles should have no problem with the injured Vikings.
However, "should" and "will" are two totally different words, and with so much on the line for Philadelphia, and so little for Minnesota, I think you get the picture.
Upset Alert: Philadelphia Eagles
Patrick Clarke is a student at Towson University and a writing intern for Bleacher Report.
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