NFL Picks Week 16: Advance Warning for Teams on Upset Alert

With so many close games this season, upsets become more feasible predictions, as the inferior teams hang around long enough to steal wins.

We saw Jacksonville do it to Baltimore and Washington do it to the Giants, so there's no reason to think it can't happen a few more times. Thus, we have three teams warned by an upset alert for Week 16.

Click the link for a full view of the Week 16 NFL Line. Also, all FAVORITES are in CAPS

HOUSTON TEXANS at Indianapolis Colts (-6)

Although it's one of the more improbable upset scenarios of Week 16, the Colts besting the Texans isn't so far-fetched.

Last week, Indianapolis beat a vulnerable Tennessee team just coming off a home loss to the New Orleans Saints. This week, the Colts get another vulnerable team in Houston, who just lost to the now 5-9 Carolina Panthers.

The Texans have been mauled by injuries this season and are still learning how to play with them. As for Indianapolis, it took them 15 weeks, but they finally adjusted. Because of the Colts' solid receiving core and respectable offensive line, they will move the ball on Houston.

Utilizing RB Donald Brown will be key, as it was a week ago. As long as the pass rush can take another step up, a win isn't out of the question. Expect Indy to stack the box and force Houston's mediocre WRs to beat them.

In hindsight, that's their only chance when the Texans have the ball.

Colts over Texans

Arizona Cardinals at CINCINNATI BENGALS (-4)

The Bengals-Cardinals Week 16 matchup is a big inter-conference game as both are still alive for the playoffs. Arizona has won six of their last seven games and the Bengals are just 2-4 in their last six.

Nonetheless, Cincy has played Pittsburgh twice, Baltimore and Houston, while the Cardinals have played the Rams twice and Cleveland. Therefore, it's no surprise Cincy is favored.

That being said, the matchup to look for in this game is Cardinals CB Patrick Peterson against Bengals WR AJ Green. Both played against one another each year in college as part of the SEC, so watching them joust on the field will make for some quality football.

The difference in the game, though, lies in two aspects favoring Arizona. For one, they have WR Larry Fitzgerald and he will ruin any defender(s) Cincy puts across from him. Secondly, Peterson has established himself as one of the NFL's best return men.

Cincinnati's special teams aren't nearly as explosive, so the Cardinals will also win the field-position battle.

Cardinals over Bengals

San Diego Chargers at DETROIT LIONS (-2.5)

Had it not been for a Tim Tebow-esque comeback in Oakland, the Detroit Lions would be sitting at 8-6 right now and on the cusp of a catastrophic breakdown—we're talking 2007 New York Mets-style.

Instead, the Lions sit at 9-5 and are hosting the sprinting San Diego Chargers, who have won three straight games and still alive for the playoffs.The Bolts are coming off a beatdown they gave to Baltimore after wins over Jacksonville and Buffalo.

Therefore, an upset would not be surprising.

The Lions are susceptible at home, as they've lost to San Francisco, Green Bay and Atlanta all at home. The Chargers, on the other hand, hadn't been their normal selves until December rolled around.

As for this game, Detroit still lacks a consistently solid defense and rushing offense. In turn, San Diego will keep a mixed/balanced offense to control the game tempo. When on defense, WR Calvin Johnson will be double-teamed and TE Brandon Pettigrew will be bracketed by the LBs.

Detroit's only chance is to air it out, but Charger DBs Eric Weddle and Quentin Jammer will lock it down in The Motor City.

Chargers over Lions

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