NFL Week 16 Predictions: Projecting the Week's Most Explosive Offenses

Though the regular season is winding down, this year's trend of high-powered offensive performances hasn't waned one bit.

And with four of the top-producing offenses in choice matchups this week, we're likely to see more high-scoring, big-yardage games. Here are my picks for the top four most explosive offenses for Week 16.

New Orleans Saints (vs. Atlanta Falcons)

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees is just 305 yards shy of breaking Dan Marino's all-time single-season passing yardage record. That's just one clear indication that the Saints have one of the best and most productive offenses in the NFL this season.

In terms of yardage, the Saints offense is in the top 10 in both passing and rushing, averaging 456.8 yards per game. Brees himself is averaging 341 passing yards per game and has thrown 16 touchdowns and zero picks in his last five games.

The Saints are also excellent in the running game. The New Orleans offense has scored 38 touchdowns to just 22 by their opponents. While the Atlanta Falcons and their top-five rush defense won't likely allow the Saints their usual 125.4 yards on the ground this week, they're still allowing over 250 passing yards per game, which should play right into Brees' hands.

Last week, Brees threw for 417 yards and five touchdowns and completed 80 percent of his passes. While he may be slightly less successful this week against a better defense, he's still guaranteed well over 300 yards on his own and at least two touchdowns. Add into that around 80 yards on the ground, and it's clear the Saints will end up with one of the most productive offensive outings of the week.

Atlanta Falcons (at New Orleans Saints)

The New Orleans Saints aren't the only team in this game that is primed for a great offensive showing. The Atlanta Falcons, who boast a top-10 passing offense and a top-20 rushing game, are also capable of having an explosive game, and this should be one of them.

While Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan has just five games with 300 or more passing yards, his best game of the season came against the Saints in Week 10, when he threw for 351 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.

On the year, Ryan has 3,698 passing yards for 26 touchdowns to 12 interceptions. His impressive production has been assisted by starting running back Michael Turner, who has 1,261 yards from scrimmage—1,129 of them on the ground—so far this year, and nine rushing touchdowns.

The Saints defense has been giving up big plays all year, allowing an average of 256.1 passing yards and 109.9 rushing yards per game. While the Saints may end this game as the victors, it seems likely that the Falcons offense will have quite the impressive showing of their own, with 400 yards of total offense and at least two scores probable in this contest.

Green Bay Packers (vs. Chicago Bears)

Though the Green Bay Packers were held to just 315 total yards and two touchdowns in their Week 15 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs—their first of the season—they're primed to bounce back in a big way against the Chicago Bears this Sunday night.

The Packers, led by quarterback Aaron Rodgers, are averaging just under 400 yards of total offense per game, most of which has come from the passing game. Rodgers is one of the few truly elite quarterbacks in the NFL, having completed 68.1 percent of his passes so far, for a total of 4,360 yards, 40 touchdowns and a mere six interceptions.

He's the single most important component of the entire Packers team, and he's the main reason why the Packers will yet again have one of the more dominant offensive showings in Week 16.

Two issues may keep the team's production down this week—for one, the Bears do have a strong defense, and secondly, the Packers offensive starters may see limited playing time this week now that they aren't still fighting to go 16-0 and must shift their focus to being as healthy as possible in the postseason.

However, that vaunted Bears defense is far, far stronger when it comes to stopping the run than stopping the pass. Considering the Packers run the ball much less than most other teams, Rodgers and his receivers should put up some serious numbers no matter how long they're on the field this week.

Carolina Panthers (vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

With a 5-9 record, those not in the know would think the Carolina Panthers are struggling on offense, but that's simply not the case.

Thanks to the efforts of rookie quarterback Cam Newton, veteran receiver Steve Smith, tight ends Greg Olsen and Jeremy Shockey and running backs Jonathan Stewart and DeAngelo Williams, the Panthers have one of the very best offenses in the league.

The Panthers are averaging 393.1 yards of total offense per game; that number greatly increased from last year. The main difference has been Newton, a mobile quarterback who is just as much a threat on the ground as he is in the air.

So far this season, Newton has racked up 3,722 passing yards, good for 17 touchdowns and 16 interceptions and has rushed 114 times for 609 yards and a record-setting 13 scores. His presence alone has revitalized a Panthers offense long regarded as washed-up and ineffective.

And that hot Panthers offense is only going to continue their impressive tear this week as the team hosts the dismal Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who are on an eight-game losing streak.

Through those eight games, the Buccaneers defense has given up no fewer than 23 points. They're allowing 389.2 yards worth of total offense per game, which means that the Panthers should easily meet or exceed their weekly offensive average this Saturday.

Newton alone should contribute around 250 passing yards and 50 rushing yards to his team's total effort this week, with his two running backs combining for at least 120 yards. Add to that three or four touchdowns, and there are few teams with offenses that are going to be more successful than the Panthers' in Week 16.