NFL Picks Week 16: 3 Teams That Will Thump Opposition

It might be the holidays, but that doesn't mean NFL teams are going to be any more generous than usual when it comes to their opponents this week. Three of the league's best teams have what should be easy matchups in Week 16, and if everything plays out as it should, they should thoroughly decimate their respective opponents.

Yes, the concept of "any given Sunday" is alive and well this season, and of course, anything is possible. But one look at these matchups and it's easy to see why the favored teams could win by huge margins this week.

Green Bay Packers vs. Chicago Bears

The Green Bay Packers suffered their first defeat of the season last week at the hands of the supposedly-lowly Kansas City Chiefs. Though the Bears are just as heavy underdogs as the Chiefs were last week, do not expect them to pull off the upset victory this week.

Despite that one loss, the Packers are still the best team in football. While, perhaps, six weeks ago, this game could be viewed differently, the Chicago Bears of today aren't a team equipped to beat an opponent so tough.

In the past six weeks, the Bears have lost starting quarterback Jay Cutler to a broken thumb that required surgery, running back Matt Forte to an MCL sprain and wide receiver Johnny Knox to a serious back injury.

They've lost their last four games in a row with Caleb Hanie under center, and now it's likely he will be benched in favor of the similarly uninspiring Josh McCown. Though the Bears defense is still strong, it hasn't done enough to make up for its offense's underperformance.

Because of this, the Packers should have no trouble bouncing back in a big way, putting up at least 30 points against this troubled Bears team, while Chicago itself won't manage more than 14 points of their own if they're lucky.

Houston Texans at Indianapolis Colts

Both the Houston Texans and Indianapolis Colts were the recipients of shocks in Week 15. The Houston Texans, one of the AFC's top teams, fell to the Carolina Panthers, and the Indianapolis Colts, winless all season, notched their first victory of the year over the Tennessee Titans.

However, things will go back to normal for both squads this Thursday night when the Colts host the Texans. The Texans, despite a number of injuries to their most important starters on both sides of the ball, have managed to win the AFC South title and a playoff berth for the first time in franchise history.

The Colts have struggled on both offense and defense this season, the team's many weaknesses left exposed without quarterback Peyton Manning to mask them.

While the Texans have their fair share of struggles ahead, with the prospect of heading into the playoffs with rookie T.J. Yates under center not a very promising one, they shouldn't have trouble running, passing and thus scoring at will against Indianapolis on Thursday.

New England Patriots vs. Miami Dolphins

Simply put, the New England Patriots don't lose to bad teams this year, and though the Miami Dolphins have had a stellar second half of their season, losing just two of their last seven games, they did open the year with seven consecutive losses.

The Dolphins offense has ironed out their early-season issues to be sure, and the Patriots still field a suspect secondary. But on Christmas Eve in Foxboro, it's not likely that the Dolphins will get the better of the Patriots.

There are two ways to stop the Patriots: try to keep quarterback Tom Brady off the field and contain him when he's on it, or to outscore them. The Dolphins, despite their recent successes, just don't have what it takes to do that this week. The Patriots should put up their customary 30 or more points on Saturday afternoon.