NFL Weekly Previews: Week 16

Mark Jones' NFL Weekly Previews: Week 16

Season Straight-Up Picks: 102-60-1

Last Week Straight-Up Picks: 8-8-0

Season Spread Picks: 14-13-3

Last Week Straight-Up Picks: 7-6-3

Thursday Night Football Result

Indianapolis 31, Jacksonville 24

Straight-Up Pick: Indianapolis.......W

Spread Pick: Indianapolis (-6.5)......W

NFL Week 16 Previews (Saturday/Sunday/Monday)

Baltimore Ravens (9-5) @ Dallas Cowboys (9-5)

Classic battle between two teams each fighting for wild cards in separate conferences. Tough defensive effort by both teams, but in the end, Dallas comes out on top.

Straight-Up Pick: Cowboys 20, Ravens 16

Spread Pick: Toss-Up, but I'll say Ravens ( 5.5)

Cincinnati Bengals (2-11-1) @ Cleveland Browns (4-10)

The game for Ohio supremacy is also the battle for the 28th spot in next week's power rankings. Oh man, what a matchup!!!

Nothing much to exclaim about here, but I'm going with the upset.

Straight-Up Pick: Bengals 24, Browns 20...Upset of the Week No. 1

Spread Pick: Bengals (+3)

New Orleans Saints (7-7) @ Detroit Lions (0-14)

I seriously doubt this will be much of a game. The Saints, even at 7-7, are one of the most underrated teams in the NFL right now. Their top-ranked offense will just rip this inexperienced Detroit defense and roll New Orleans to an easy win.

Straight-Up Pick: Saints 41, Lions 13

Spread Pick: Saints (-7)

Arizona Cardinals (8-6) @ New England Patriots (9-5)

Arizona is skidding with their lack of energy, and despite having clinched a playoff berth long ago, they need to find some excitement if they want to go far in the playoffs. But I don't think they'll find an energizing win up in Massachusetts against this motivated Patriots team in the middle of a large fight for the AFC East title.

Straight-Up Pick: Cardinals 21, Patriots 34

Spread Pick: Patriots (-8)

Pittsburgh Steelers (11-3) @ Tennessee Titans (12-2)

Quite a game we have here. Tennessee has a better record, but they've struggled since mid-November and are coming off a disappointing 13-12 loss to Houston last week. The Steelers are arguably the best team in the league, and are just finding a way to win every game.

The only way the Titans can win is if they get at least 20 points on the tough Steeler defense. They can't.

Straight-Up Pick: Steelers 23, Titans 14

Spread Pick: Steelers (-2.5)

San Francisco 49ers (5-9) @ St. Louis Rams (2-12)

Most fans have no reason to care about this game, but it is two division opponents. San Francisco is playing hard right now, and while the Rams have stayed with several good teams lately, they haven't been able to win.

Straight-Up Pick: 49ers 24, Rams 17

Spread Pick: 49ers (-5)

Miami Dolphins (9-5) @ Kansas City Chiefs (3-11)

Most might think this is an easy win for Miami, but they are very overrated, at least to me. Yes, they'll pick up a win to keep up with the rest of the AFC East, but it won't be as easy as expected. Kansas City nearly beat San Diego last week, remember?!

Straight-Up Pick: Dolphins 26, Chiefs 24

Spread Pick: Toss-up, but I'll say Chiefs (+3)

San Diego Chargers (6-8) @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-5)

The Bucs are in oh-no mode right now. They thought they had a division title just a couple weeks ago, and now they're in a tight race for a single wild-card spot.

On the other hand, the Chargers might be just as motivated as the look to come out of nowhere and get themselves a playoff berth. But after last week's dismal win vs. KC,  I'm not sure they can win out in Florida.

Straight-Up Pick: Chargers 20, Buccaneers 27

Spread Pick: Buccaneers (-3.5)

Buffalo Bills (6-8) @ Denver Broncos (8-6)

The Bills are dead for the playoffs, and the Broncos are desperate to finally clinch the AFC West and a playoff berth. Last week in Carolina was ugly, but they can rebound from that. This will turn out to be a necessary win for the Broncos, which will result in a division title and the fourth playoff seed.

Straight-Up Pick: Bills 13, Broncos 21

Spread Pick: Toss-Up, but barely Broncos (-6.5)

New York Jets (9-5) @ Seattle Seahawks (3-11)

The Jets noticed some problems in their game vs. Buffalo last week, and they've probably been working all week to fix them. Seattle is better than 3-11, but not much. Another big Jets win in a fairly close game keeps them in at least a tie for the division lead.

Straight-Up Pick: Jets 27, Seahawks 23

Spread Pick: Toss-Up, but Jets (-3.5)

Houston Texans (7-7) @ Oakland Raiders (3-11)

The Texans are one of the hottest teams in the league right now, and after a 0-4 start, they've gone 7-3. However, Slaton is injured and their defense is also beaten up with injuries.

But I just can't see the Raiders winning this game.

Straight-Up Pick: Texans 20, Raiders 10

Spread Pick: Houston (-7)

Atlanta Falcons (9-5) @ Minnesota Vikings (9-5)

Minnesota is overrated. Really. I'm not kidding. This is not joke.

Okay, maybe it is, but Atlanta is still better than them, and I'm serious on that one. The Falcons can easily stay with them, and with the help of their kicker, beat them.

Straight-Up Pick: Falcons 27, Vikings 24 OT.....Upset of the Week No. 2

Spread Pick: Falcons (+3)

Philadelphia Eagles (8-5-1) @ Washington Redskins (7-7)

The Eagles are playing better than a 12-2 team, and the Redskins are playing worse than a 5-10 team (which is Jacksonville). Interesting. Even in Washington, this is a easy victory for Philly. Westbrook and Co. make this supposedly-tough 'Skins defense look like babies. You're going to kill me for saying this, but this is my Lock of the Week.

Straight-Up Pick: Eagles 24, Redskins 3

Spread Pick: Philadelphia (-5)

Carolina Panthers (11-3) @ New York Giants (11-3)...Game of the Week

The Panthers are red-hot, especially because of their exploding run game duo of Williams and Stewart, but the struggling Giants have a good run defense. Delhomme can try to get the ball out to Smith and Muhammad, but the NYG secondary is tough, too.

The best idea for the Panthers would be to run screens and draws to spread out the defense, then attack the middle with their run game.

On the other side of the ball, the Giants have some problems on their hands. Their offense failed to score a touchdown last week vs. Dallas, and then didn't score until the last minute with the game already in hand vs. the Eagles.

Manning is probably better than Delhomme, but then again, the Panthers defense, which held the top pass offense in the country to zero points after the first quarter vs. Denver last week, isn't to be underestimated.

Straight-Up Pick: Panthers 27, Giants 26

Spread Pick: Panthers (+3)

Green Bay Packers (5-9) vs. Chicago Bears (8-6)

All of a sudden, the Bears are the middle of a huge race for the NFC North title with Minnesota. Minnesota currently holds a one-game lead, but if they lose to 9-5 Atlanta and the Bears defeat Green Bay, there is a tie atop the division. The Packers are much, much better than 5-9, but their 10th loss will almost certainly be delivered here in the Windy City.

Straight-Up Pick: Packers 21, Bears 27

Spread Pick: Bears (-4)

Sunday Afternoon TV: What You Have to Watch

1:00 PM

Arizona @ New England...can the Patriots keep pace in the AFC East?

Pittsburgh @ Tennessee...an AFC Championship preview, and the battle for AFC home-field advantage.

San Diego @ Tampa Bay...will the Chargers new playoff hopes stay alive, or will the Bucs get a boost in the wild card race?

4:15 PM

Atlanta @ Minnesota...Can Atlanta help the Bears get into the playoffs, or will Minnesota deliver a crushing blow to Atlanta's playoff hopes?

Sunday Night

Carolina @ NY Giants...Who will be the NFC Regular Season champion? Find out at 8:30 PM on NBC!

Have a question or opinion you'd like to share? Feel free to comment openly on this article!