NFL Picks Week 16

The New York Jets and Jacksonville Jaguars kick off the action on Thursday night. Then, because Christmas is on Sunday, most of the action happens on Saturday, Dec. 24. Check out analysis and free picks for every game in week 16 of this NFL season. 

NFL Picks Week 16 Thursday, Dec. 22

Jacksonville Jaguars at New York Jets -2.5 – 8:15 p.m. ET

The Jets hope to end a three game losing streak. Doing so requires NYJ quarterback Zach Wilson to play well because the Jags are on fire. 

That could happen because sidebar NFL picks are against Jags’ QB Trevor Lawrence. Also, Jacksonville is 2-8-1 ATS in their last 11. In addition, the pros pounded the Jets Thursday morning, shifting the line an entire point toward a J-E-T-S cover. 

NFL Week 16 Picks – Saturday, Dec. 24

Atlanta Falcons at Baltimore Ravens -7.5 – 1:00 p.m ET

The Baltimore Ravens remain one of the AFC North teams with a shot to win the Super Bowl. However, the Ravens haven’t been winning games. 

Also, the Edgar Allan Poes are 0-5-1 ATS in their six home games. Atlanta Falcons quarterback Desmond Ridder played okay in his first start. He’s got legs. So he can escape trouble if required. Take the points. 

Detroit Lions -2.5 at Carolina Panthers – 1:00 p.m ET

The Detroit Lions are a scorching play in gambling circles. Detroit has gone 7-0 ATS in their last seven, while the Panthers host Detroit a week after allowing the offensively challenged Steelers to score 24.

Buffalo Bills -8.5 at Chicago Bears – 1:00 p.m ET

Buffalo’s playoff hopes are secure after beating the Dolphins in their last. Buffalo may not push the envelope in this, and the most important trend is the Bills are 1-5 ATS  in their last after a victory. 

New Orleans Saints at Cleveland Browns -2.5 – 1:00 p.m ET

The Saints are a terrible 1-5 ATS on the road. N’Awlins is also 0-5 ATS after a straight up win. 

But it’s not like the trends favor the Browns. This is one of those toss-up games. So we’ll side with the home team. 

Seattle Seahawks at Kansas City Chiefs -10 – 1:00 p.m ET

Sure, Seattle is on a 0-5 spread line losing streak. But this is 10 points. 

10 freaking points. Not only is it 10 points, but it’s 10 points against a Kansas City side that is 0-5-1 ATS at home and 3-10-1 against the spread overall. 

New York Giants at Minnesota Vikings -3.5 – 1:00 p.m ET

The New York Giants hope to keep the good times rolling when they enter the Twin Cities to take on the Minnesota Vikings. Forget Minnesota’s incredible comeback victory.

Why? The Vikings didn’t cover the spread. Still, Minnesota’s passing game was on fire in the comeback. But the York Giants are 4-1 ATS on the road.

Cincinnati Bengals -3.5 at New England Patriots – 1:00 p.m ET

New England was on the opposite end of one of the strangest games in NFL history. The England Patriots, we should forget calling them New England after the play, tried trickery that spectacularly backfired.

Based on trends, the Cincinnati Bengals should roll. But the Bengals have been playing at such a high level that they’re due for a letdown. The Pats cover. 

Houston Texans at Tennessee Titans -3.5 – 1:00 p.m ET

One would think the action would more heavily side with the Texans because quarterback Ryan Tannehill is supposedly out for the season. Also, Houston has a winning record, 15-7-1, versus the Titans against the spread.

But Tennessee finally plays a team they should beat, and Malik Willis can cause all sorts of issues for Houston’s defense. Backing the Titans to break the losing streak with a sweet win and cover makes sense. 

Washington Commanders at San Francisco 49ers -7 – 4:05 p.m ET

The refs had a hand in the Commanders’ loss to the Giants in their last. San Francisco doesn’t care.

The 49ers are on a 5-game SU And ATS streak. The most influential trends say SF rolls, and, once again, D.C. may have to play without top defensive end Chase Young. 

Philadelphia Eagles at Dallas Cowboys -4.5 – 4:25 p.m ET

On Wednesday, the line was Cowboys -6.5. Thursday morning, the line is Dallas Cowboys -4.5.

The 2-point shift happened because Jalen Hurts is no longer doubtful. He’s questionable. Even if Hurts doesn’t play, we’d go against Dallas to cover.

The Boys are 0-5 ATS in games right after scoring 30 or more points in the previous contest. So although Philly is 0-4 ATS in the last 4 in Big D, the Cowboys trend suggests Dak and his buds bounce, whether it’s Hurts or Gardner Minshew under center.  

Las Vegas Raiders at Pittsburgh Steelers -2.5 – 8:15 p.m ET

Las Vegas heads to Pennsylvania to take on the Steelers in a game that could go either way. The Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Carolina Panthers in their last. 

The victory pushed Pittsburgh’s record to 6-8, the same as the Las Vegas Raiders. Neither one of these teams is a serious playoff contention squad.

Because the Raiders are 3-14 ATS in their last 17 versus a team who doesn’t have a winning record at home, Pittsburgh gets the nod.   

NFL Week 16 Picks – Sunday, Dec. 25

Green Bay Packers at Miami Dolphins -3.5 – 1:00 p.m ET

Green Bay’s playoff hopes depend on beating the Miami Dolphins in the first of our picks for NFL week 16 for Dec 25. If Aaron Rodgers and his buds can get another victory, the Packers will keep their postseason dreams alive. 

But Miami has a home-field advantage. How big? The Fins are 20-8 ATS in their last 28 home games. 

Denver Broncos -2.5 at Los Angeles Rams – 4:30 p.m ET

Baker Mayfield didn’t play poorly against the Green Bay Packers. But like any quarterback who stands behind the Rams’ offensive line, Mayfield struggled to keep a clean jersey.

The Broncos’ pass rush should dominate Baker and the Rams. The Broncos to cover would be a best bet if the game were in Denver. But Mayfield could provide magic at SoFi. So we will side with the Colorado Ponies and hope for the best. 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers -7.5 at Arizona Cardinals – 8:20 p.m. ET

The Cardinals are a disaster. No doubt, the Cards should lose this game. 

But the matchup happens at the stadium in Glendale. Also, neither team has a trends edge. Sometimes, you must listen to the gut, and the gut says to take the points. 

NFL Week 16 Picks – Monday, Dec. 26

Los Angeles Chargers -4.5 at Indianapolis Colts – 8:15 p.m. ET

The Colts gave up a 33 points lead in a 39-36 overtime loss to Minnesota. Losing the way Indianapolis did should affect how they play against a surging Chargers squad. LAC wins and covers for the last of our picks and is the fourth best bet in NFL Week 16.