NFL Week 16 Picks

Winners in Bold

Carolina @ Pittsburgh: Jimmy Clausen vs. the Pittsburgh defense even without Troy Polamalu has to be the biggest mismatch of the season. Pittsburgh's offense has struggled for the last month, and Carolina's D isn't as lol as one would think, but Pitt's D outscores Carolina for an easy win.

Dallas @ Arizona: The Cardinals lost to the Panthers. That's pretty much all you need to know. Talk about a stocking of coal for a game though. Outside of Cowboys fans, drunk cowboy haters, and fantasy owners, I don't know who is gonna watch this game.

Washington @ Jacksonville: Maybe the Shanahans knew what was up when they benched McNabb for Sexy Rexy. He'll get to pick on an absolutely porous Jags secondary, but the Skins have given up, MJD is gonna run wild, and the Jags will find a way to win as they've done all year.

San Francisco @ St. Louis: Expect a heavy dose of Brian Westbrook and Vernon Davis who will challenge the Rams on the edges and in space which is the deficiency on this defense. Defensively, the Niners will load the box to try and take away SJax and force a struggling Sam Bradford to beat them, which he won't. The Rams have made tremendous improvements this year, but they'll still not quite there.

Tennessee @ Kansas City: The Titans broke their 7 game losing streak against an equally miserable Texans team, but this team has given up on Jeff Fisher who is probably on his way out. Jamaal Charles runs wild and the Chiefs edge one step closer to an AFC West crown.

NY Jets @ Chicago: The Bears ARE WHO WE THOUGHT THEY WERE! And that's a damn good football team. They've patched up the offensive line, Cutler is playing a lot better, they are EXCELLENT on special teams, and that defense is still one of the best units in the league, strong on all 3 levels. I don't see how the Jets move the ball on Chicago's D, and the Bears ST makes a big play to change the game and move the Bears a step closer to a 1st round bye.

New England @ Buffalo: My opponent in the fantasy championship has like half the Patriots roster. I'm scared, very scared.

Baltimore @ Cleveland: UPSET SPECIAL! Cleveland has played to the level of its competition all year with wins over the Pats/Saints, but back to back losses to the Bill and Bungals. They're playing for coach Eric Mangini's job, and the Ravens seem like a team ripe for the picking. Their vaunted defense just hasn't been the same this season, and they're struggling to get the ball to their receivers. The Browns have been competitive in all but one game this year, and with bruiser Peyton Hillis and a surprisingly solid rookie Colt McCoy will make enough plays on both sides of the ball to save Mangini's job and clinch the North for Pittsburgh.

Houston @ Denver: Tim Tebow makes for a really enticing fantasy play this week against the worst defense in the league. Timmay gets his first NFL win, you gotta love this kid he just knows how to win.

San Diego @ Cincinnati: The Bungals finally showed some life this week, but it all comes crashing down as the Marvin Lewis/Carson Palmer/Ochofucko era nears its end. F the Chargers tho

Indy @ Oakland: The Raiders want to run the ball, the Colts can't stop the run. The Raiders pass rush is pretty solid, and against a depleted Colts team, the Raiders ensure that they won't have a losing season.

NY Giants @ Packers: The Giants are the Chargers of the NFC. All the talent in the world, but they just find ways to give games away. They've been here before with their backs against the wall, and even though Rodgers is going to play, their defense hits him hard and often, knowing they don't have to worry about the run, and their power running game takes this one over.

Seattle @ Tampa Bay: It scares me that both of these teams could conceivably still make the playoffs. What a dreary proposition that is. The Bucs have devastated their playoff chances with a home loss to the Lions, and while they are injury depleted, the Seahawks are just a terrible terrible football team right now. They haven't been able to run the ball all season, their defense gets worse every week, and Matt Hasselbeck throws more completions to the DB's than his WR's. There really aren't words to describe how terrible the NFC West is, and what a crime it is that somebody from that division will make the playoffs over the Giants or the Packers.

Minnesota @ Philadelphia: I hear that Vick guy is kind of good. If Favre plays there's over a 50% chance that a national TV audience will see somebody actually get killed on the football field.

New Orleans @ Atlanta: This game lost a lot of luster when the Saints lost last week, but both teams need a win to lock up a playoff berth/HFA. In what is probably an NFC Divisional Playoff preview, I like Matty Ice to do what he does best, and win the game in the 4th quarter. This kid has ice water in his veins. The next Tom Brady imo.