The Pittsburgh Steelers (7-8) have been winning as of late and they have a small chance to make it into the playoffs. The problem with their playoff chances is the fact they have to go through their division rival Baltimore Ravens. Kenny Pickett has looked good as of late and he’s been able to take advantage of what defenses have given him to make this Steelers team look good. Pickett has been able to find his favorite targets in George Pickens and Dionte Johnson. If the Steelers are going to win this game they will have to make sure that both get the ball and get it in space to keep away from Raven’s defenders. Najee Harris has been a great help as of late too because he’s been running with a certain type of purpose. If Harris can establish the run in this game it will open things up for his rookie quarterback. The Steelers will need to slow down Tyler Huntley instead of Lamar Jackson so as long as the defense can contain him in the pocket they will have a chance to win.
The Baltimore Ravens (10-5) have to beat the Steelers to keep their momentum going. The Ravens are already locked in for a playoff berth but if they want to keep the Steelers out of the postseason they need to get this win. The Ravens have been able to get the most out of DeMarcus Robinson and Mark Andrews in the passing attack and they need to keep that foot on the gas. If Huntley can find both of them it can be a long night for the Steelers. The Ravens have JK Dobbins back and he has fresh legs right in time for this late season run. Dobbins will be running all over the Steelers but it will be up to Pittsburgh to shut it down. Huntley will need to keep away from TJ Watt and Cam Hayward. The Raven’s defense has been banged up as of late but they have been able to make plays to keep the Ravens in the winning column.
Score prediction: Steelers Win (16-13)
Photo Credit: (Photo by Mark Alberti/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The Falcons and Cardinals are out of the playoff hunt but they both will be showcasing new talent. Desmond Ridder has been under center for the (5-10) Falcons and looks to start the season on a high note. Ridder is known for his running ability and he should be able to get some great opportunities against this Cardinal’s defense. The future looks bright in ATL as they have Drake London, Kyle Pitts, and Tyler Allgeier moving forward. This game against the Cardinals will be more about reps and building to next season.
The Arizona Cardinals (4-11) will be starting their 4th quarterback in 4 games with David Blough. This will be our first good look at Blough since New York and it will be tough without DeAndre Hopkins who’s one of the best wide receivers in the game to throw it to. James Conner has been a touchdown machine again and he’s been the quarterback’s best friend whether it’s receiving or rushing. Look for Hopkins and Conner to put in work for the offense. JJ Watt is coming into this game fresh off of his retirement announcement on Twitter the other day. Look for Watt to try and make some plays to make it tough on Desmond Ridder in this contest.
Score prediction: Cardinals win (17-10)
Miami Dolphins at New England Patriots
The New England Patriots (7-8) are fighting for their playoff lives right now and the Dolphins are coming in hot. The Dolphins (8-7) will be without Tua Tagovailoa after suffering another concussion. The Patriots will need to lean on Mac Jones in this game as they lost the last two games in the closing moments. Mac Jones will need to showcase his arm and his confidence in this one. The Patriots need the Mac Jones from the Vikings game and if we get that version they should be in the driver’s seat. Look for Stevenson and Myers to be there to help Mac as the Patriots will need to slow down the Dolphins.
Teddy Bridgewater will be starting in place of Tau and he already knows the offense like the back of his hand. Teddy will be able to be a threat on the ground and through the air so he could make the Patriots pay. Look for Matthew Judon to make it tough on Teddy in the pocket as he’s been swarming to almost every quarterback he’s played this year. Teddy Bridgewater has Tyreke Hill and Jaylen Waddle two of the most explosive players in the NFL that he will be throwing the ball to so look for the Patriots to try to double them in coverage. The Dolphin’s running game will need to be huge as well in this one. Division games are always tough and this should be a game of who makes the first mistake.
Score prediction: Patriots win (27-24)
New Orleans Saints at Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles (13-2) will be heading into this game against the Saints without Jalen Hurts. The main thing they want to focus on is Hurts being 100% for the NFL Playoffs so they will be playing with Gardner Minshew again. This should be a game where Minshew is able to get the ball into the hands of all of his playmakers. Look for AJ Brown and Devonta Smith to have huge games in this game as Minshew is one of those players that looks downfield at all times. The Eagles will be able to balance that passing attack with Miles Sanders in the backfield so it could be a long day for the Saints. This Philly defense has been elite all year and will make it tough on Andy Dalton and Alvin Kamara all day.
If the Saints (6-9) are going to shock the world and win this game it will be with the playmaking ability of Kamara as he’s been their one consistent player as Olave has been banged up. The Saint’s defense will have their hands full but if they can get to Minshew enough to create turnovers anything is possible.
Score prediction: Eagles Win (31-10)
Indianapolis Colts at New York Giants
The Indianapolis Colts (4-10-1) are searching for some positivity to start the new year off right. As of late it’s been tough with multiple quarterback changes and losing Johnathan Taylor for the rest of the season has hurt. The Colts will have Nick Foles out there on Sunday against the Giants as he looks to make up for his last performance. The Colts need to lean on Michael Pittman Jr even if you have to force feed him because when the ball is in his hands great things happen. The Colt’s defense has played very well as of late it just has been tough with the offense giving up the ball so much. If the Colts can limit their turnovers this could be a competitive game.
The Giants (8-6-1) are still in the playoff hunt in the NFC and they will need to win this trap game to continue their great season. Daniel Jones has been good all year long and he will need to continue showing how good he is at home against the Colts. It helps big time that Jones has Saquon Barkley behind him running the ball with purpose and Barkley has been able to lead this team in rushing and receiving. If the Colts can’t contain Barkley it could be a long day as they will need to stop him to prevent that play action passing as Jones will be looking for Slayton/James. The Giant’s defense has been impressive this season and if they get to Nick Foles quickly it could be over ASAP.
Score prediction: Giants Win (28-13)
Carolina Panthers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
This game will be one of the most important games of the season and Week 17. The Buccaneers (7-8) are in the driver’s seat in the division and will need to beat the Panthers in order to make it to the playoffs. Tom Brady’s always ready for the big moment and he will be looking to take care of business against the Panthers. Last week Brady got a lot of help from Playoff Lenny and he will need to duplicate that performance in this one for the Bucs. Brady will need to get his wide receivers involved in this one as the only one getting love recently has been Chris Godwin. This will be the week that the Buccanneers need to get the whole wide receiver core to get loose as Mike Evans, Julio Jones, and Russell Gage need to make some plays to help Brady.
The Panthers (6-9) are trying to claw their way into the playoffs and they will need to take down the GOAT. If the Panthers can continue to take control of the time management in games they should have this one. The Buccaneers have a tough run defense and the Panthers are coming in from running their way to a win last week. Look for the Panthers to try and establish D’Onta Foreman who’s been a great addition to this backfield to make some plays. Sam Darnold will need to also play mistake free football if the Panthers are going to win this game. If Darnold can manage this game and the clock it could be an upset that no one saw coming in Tampa Bay. Darnold will be looking to DJ Moore to get open and make some plays for him if they will take this win.
Score prediction: Panthers Win (24 – 21)
Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are locked in and ready for the playoffs. At this point, it’s all about seeding and seeing if they can get that number one seed. The Chiefs (12-3) have Patrick Mahomes who some have at the top of the MVP list and they also have Travis Kelce who’s a tight end with receiver skills. It’s going to be a tough game for the Broncos as they have just fired their coach and Russell Wilson has struggled all year. The Chiefs have a great running back core of Pacheco/McKinnon as both have given this backfield some life and balance so defenses are guessing. The Chiefs have Juju looking like a true number one receiver as well so this could be an ugly game for the Broncos if everything clicks.
The Broncos (4-11) just fired their coach and they are looking for some new guidance in a lost season. Russell Wilson had a great outing against the Chiefs a couple of weeks back but it will be a tough hill to climb. This has been a down year for Denver and the only bright spot for this team has been Latavious Murray. The only way the Broncos will win this game is with ball management and no turnovers. Keep the ball out of Patrick Mahome’s hands.
Score prediction: Chiefs Win (31-13)
Chicago Bears at Detroit Lions
The last time the Chicago Bears (3-12) played the Detroit Lions (7-8) Justin Fields went for 4 touchdowns. The Bear’s season is already over but look for Justin Fields to try and ruin the playoff chances for the Lions. Justin Fields is one of those players that can take over a game all by himself so he will need a little help from David Montgomery as he will need to balance the attack. The Bears are in a rebuilding season but it will be electric to watch Justin Fields play again as we are coming down to the last two games for him.
The Lions have been playing great as Jared Goff has this team looking and feeling good. Goff has been able to get the ball to his wide receivers Brown, Chark, and Williams. This Lions team has been playing with a lot of heart on both ends of the ball and it comes from their coach Dan Campbell as he’s rubbing off on this crew. They will need to make sure that Justin Fields doesn’t run all over them like the Panthers did last week if they want to win. Swift and Williams have been a great tandem this season as they have made it tough on defenses all year. The Lion’s defense got their butts kicked last week and will be looking to refocus to win this game and make a push for the playoffs.
Score prediction: Lions Win (17-14)
Cleveland Browns at Washington Commanders
The Browns (6-9) are out of the playoff picture but they still want to play at a high level. This was a great season for the Browns who didn’t have Deshaun Watson for about 11 games on the year. The Brown’s future will be bright and they still have a hungry Nick Chubb who wants to be great. Speaking of Chubb he stated he wanted to play in the final games and going against the Commanders he will be looking to get in the end zone. Chubb hasn’t scored since Watson has taken over but will be looking to change that. Watson hasn’t played like himself yet but he’s been able to connect with Amari Cooper and that connection only can get them a win if the defense is playing like this.
The Commanders (7-7-1) are still clawing onto some hope for the playoffs in the NFC and looks like they will be without Antonio Gibson. Look for Brian Robinson Jr to get a good majority of the snaps in this game as they look to run all over the Browns. Carson Wentz has been playing well as of late and he has finally been able to connect with Terry McLaurin this season. When Scary Terry has the ball in his hands the Commanders are always in a great position for a positive gain. The Commander’s defense has been good, not great but they will be looking to make things tough on Watson as they will need to force some turnovers.
Score prediction: Commanders Win (21-18)
Jacksonville Jaguars at Houston Texans
The Jacksonville Jaguars (7-8) have a date with the Houston Texans (2-12-1) to start the new year off the right way. The Jags can’t look past this game and think about the Titans because just last week the Texans took it to them. The Jags will need Trevor Lawrence to be on his A+ game in this one as they need to get the ball to Kirk, Jones, and Engram if they want to win. The Texans are the worst against the run so look for Travis Etienne to get loose in the backfield and make it tough on the Texans.
The Texans are in a losing season and they will need to figure out what they are going to do at quarterback heading into next year. The Texans will try to get the upset against the Jaguars but it will have to be the defense that makes it happen if they will pull it out.
Score prediction: Jaguars Win (24-10)
San Francisco 49ers at Las Vegas Raiders
The San Francisco 49ers (11-4) are getting ready for their playoff run but they will need to lock in on the Raiders first. The 49ers have the best defense in the NFL and they will be focused on Jarrett Stidham instead of Derek Carr on Sunday. This will be a tough matchup for Jarrett as the 49ers will be trying to sack him and force a lot of mistakes. On the offensive side, it was good to see Deebo Samuels back at practice as they need him for the big run. Brock Purdy has been playing amazingly since getting the starter job and he’s been able to lean on Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle, and the play calling. The 49ers have looked good as a whole unit so look for them to continue that in this game against the Raiders as long as Crosby/Jones don’t ruin Purdy’s day.
The Raiders (6-9) have benched Derek Carr for Jarrett Stidham as they look for an offensive spark. Stidham will have his hands full against this 49er’s defense as Nick Bosa will be looking for him. Stidham will need to depend on Josh Jacobs running and DeVante Adams to catch big time if they will have a chance in this game. This just looks like a rebuild waiting to happen at the quarterback position.
Score prediction: 49ers Win (27-13)
New York Jets at Seattle Seahawks
The New York Jets (7-8) during the season are trying to sneak themselves into the playoffs. It will have to start with them beating the Seahawks in Seattle which is tough in itself. The Jets will have Mike White back under center as the experiment with Zack Wilson looks like it’s coming to an end. The Jets have played better under Mike White as he’s been able to get the ball to Wilson/Moore a lot more throughout the games. The Jets will need to establish the running game on the ground with Knight/Carter if they want to balance this game. Look for the Jets defense with Sauce and Quintin to try to make it tough on Geno Smith.
The Seattle Seahawks (7-8) have been struggling as of late and will be hoping to get Tyler Lockett out there even if he’s less than 100%. Geno Smith will be looking to get the ball to DK Metcalf as he needs to lean on him for big plays against this Jets team. The Seahawks have a special running back in Kenneth Walker and they will need him to run all over this Jets defense that specializes in making things tough in the air. The Seahawks will have the 12 with them as they look to get this win but the defense will need to make some key stops if they want to make anything happen in the playoff push.
Score prediction: Jets Win (27-17)
Minnesota Vikings at Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers (7-8) are coming into this game against their rivals the Vikings HOTTTTT. Aaron Rodgers has been playing lights out since he hurt his ribs and came back. This Green Bay team looks like they have hit a groove that can’t be stopped and it’s all about teams that can get hot at the right time. Rodgers has been able to turn Christian Watson into the number one and Allen Lazard has been 1B to him. All that matters is the Packers have been able to make the best of the receivers and everyone’s clicking on every level. The Packers have a great two-headed running back system featuring Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon as they are tough to predict but both can run/catch. If the backs get going against the Vikings it could be a long day for that defense. The Packer’s defense will have their hands full with Justin Jefferson and Dalvin Cook. Jaire Alexander said that Justin Jefferson’s performance was a fluke so we gonna find out if it was or not.
The Minnesota Vikings (12-3) have already won the division but can they win the battle? Green Bay is hot right now and the Vikings keep squeaking out victories. If the Vikings can get Justin Jefferson going early this can be a long day for the Packers. The Vikings have so many weapons in the passing game besides Jefferson with Thielen, Hockenson, and Osborn so they can get you in many ways. Dalvin Cook will be a huge part of this game as the Vikings will need to establish the run to open things up for the other offensive players. The Viking’s defense has been playing outstanding all season and will need to continue that in a game they need to make sure the Packers don’t win.
Score prediction: Packers Win (38-34)
Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Chargers
The LA Rams (5-10) aren’t making it to the playoffs in 2022 but that doesn’t mean they will back down. It’s the battle of LA and the Rams will be putting Baker Mayfield on the field to get the win. The Rams have been jolted as of late with the addition of Baker Mayfield. Also, it has been good to see Cam Akers back in the mix for what the Rams are doing. This will be a tough challenge as the Chargers are coming in fresh off of earning a playoff birth. The Ram’s defense is missing some key pieces and the offense so if they won this would be a huge moral victory.
The LA Chargers (9-6) just earned a playoff birth and will be looking to get their 10th win on the season. This should be a good test for the Chargers as they will look to get Bosa back and get the team playing as a unit heading into the postseason. I don’t imagine the starters playing the whole game if the Chargers get up big in this game as they’re prepping for the playoffs.
It’s time for Week 17 in the NFL and playoff races are getting significantly tighter. The Cowboys are (11-4) trying to make a late push for the number one seed in the NFC. Dak Prescott has his team in the right position to win out but they will need to play the Titans in what could be a trap game. The Titans (7-8) will be without Ryan Tannehill and Derrick Henry for tonight’s game against the Cowboys. Even if the Titans lose tonight they will have a showdown next week against the Jacksonville Jaguars for the AFC South Division.
The Cowboys have been one of the hottest teams in the NFL this season. The season started out shaky when Dak got hurt but since he’s been back the Cowboys have been one of the highest-scoring teams. Dak has been able to get it done with his arm and even his legs. Dak has all his weapons at full strength as CeeDee Lamb, Michael Gallup, and Dalton Schultz will be busy tonight against a generous pass defense in Tennessee. We haven’t even gotten into the two-headed backfield of Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard. Both backs have been helping Dak Prescott as they continue to be the backbone of this offense. Zeke comes with the ground and pound and Pollard comes with the finesse and the receiving game as he can also run routes.
This Cowboys offense is dangerous and if they continue to get things going like this it can turn into a massive playoff run. The Cowboy’s defense has been swarming as of late as well and that’s because of Micah Parsons who has been playing like the defensive player of the year. This defense has been able to create a lot of turnovers and they will be looking to do that tonight against Malik Willis who’s inexperienced but still has a lot of learning to do. This Cowboys defense will be all over the rookie because they will be without Derrick Henry who’s basically their whole offense.
The Titans will try to make the best of the situation with all the injuries. It’s going to be tough for Willis but he will need to lean on Woods and Burks if he’s going to come close to getting a win tonight. The Titans need to just secure the ball and try to keep the Cowboys offense off the ground.
Score Prediction – Las Vegas Raiders 28, Los Angeles Rams 13
Monday Night Football will conclude NFL Week 16 with the (8-6) Los Angeles Chargers taking on the (4-9-1) Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil stadium.
The Chargers come off a tough 17-14 victory against the Tennessee Titans, the Chargers always seem to find themselves winning in the final seconds of the game and haven’t been able to win comfortably in quite some time. The Chargers playoff hopes are very much alive and if they want any chance at making the playoffs and making a legitimate run the offense will have to be nearly perfect with Justin Herbert leading the way and with the rushing attack at its best with Austin Ekeler. The Chargers defense will also need to step up and stop opting teams from running the ball so well.
As for the Colts, they came off a really tough loss, a game in which they led 33-0 against the Minnesota Vikings. The Colts ultimately lost 39-36 in what was the biggest comeback in NFL history. As if blowing lead wasn’t bad enough the Colts also lost their star running back Jonathan Taylor for the remainder of the season. Quarterback Matt Ryan will be sidelined for the game against the Chargers and Nick Foles will be taking over play calling duties this week. The Colts playoff hopes are over and do not have much to play for besides spoiling the Chargers chances of making the playoffs. If the Colts want to win this game they’ll need to convert their red-zone opportunities into Touchdowns.
A AFC conference matchup between the Chargers and Colts could be interesting if the Chargers win the will increase their chances at making the playoffs in a tight race to secure playoff spots.
The (6-8) Green Bay Packers will be away from home this week and will be traveling to Miami to take on the (8-6) Miami Dolphins.
The Packers are still fighting for a playoff spot despite having a rough year, but they’ll need to essentially win the rest of their games to reach the playoffs. The Offensive continues for the Packers as Aaron Jones is questionable with a knee injury and Aaron Rodgers isn’t 100% he’s been dealing with injuries all season. The Packers will have to rely on their defense to get the job done and stop a very high powered Dolphins offense, the Packers offense cannot make many mistakes they have to be nearly perfect all game.
As for the Dolphins they were once the most promising team of the season but injuries and miscommunication have put them in second place in their AFC East division behind the Buffalo Bills. The Dolphins offense will have to put up points as they’ve been struggling as of late, and the Dolphins defense will need to do better at defending the passing game. On the bright side of things, the Packers running game is pretty banged up with Aj Dillion and Jones both hurt.
A win for the Dolphins would set them up nicely for playoffs and they’d have to win their remaining games, as for the packers if they lose their season is essentially over.
Score Prediction: Dolphins win (28-10)
Denver Broncos Vs Los Angeles Rams
The (4-10) Denver Broncos will be traveling on Christmas Day to SoFi Stadium to take on the (4-10) Los Angeles Rams.
The Broncos season is over and they look to build towards next year’s plans, this is not the season the Broncos anticipated they had high hopes only to be beaten by themselves. Offensive struggles continue for the Broncos and quarterback Russell Wilson is listed as probable to play after suffering a concussion. Their running back Javonte Williams will be out with a knee injury and Courtland Sutton is questionable to play. The Broncos defense will continue its dominant playing style as they’ve been one of the league’s best despite having a losing record.
The Rams also did not anticipate this season to be a bad one but here we are in week 16 and the Rams are out of the playoff picture. Injuries have held back the Rams this season with Cooper Kupp being injured and Matthew Stafford on offense. The Rams have Baker Mayfield under center and it’ll be interesting to see if he can play well to maybe find himself on a different team next season. The Rams defense has played great as well but their offense hasn’t been able to deliver. The Rams have decided to pull Aaron Donald from playing anymore games this season as the season for the Rams is over.
A Christmas matchup between the Rams and Broncos could be an interesting one despite both being out of playoff contention.
Score Prediction: Rams win (17-14)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Vs Arizona Cardinals
The (4-10) Arizona Cardinals will be hosting the (6-8) Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Christmas Day at 7:20 PM central daylight time.
The Buccaneers need a win to stay atop of the NFC south division, if they lose they’ll be tied for first with the New Orleans Saints and Carolina Panthers but the Falcons are 2 games behind first place and could very well still make the playoffs. The buccaneers blew a lead last week to the Cincinnati Bengals which has proved to be costly. Tom Brady and the buccaneers offense will need to be on the same page if they want to have a chance at winning this game. The defense will be going up against a struggling Cardinals offense so they could potentially use that to their advantage.
The Cardinals are eliminated from the playoffs and adding more bad news to that they’ve lost Kyler Murray for the season with an ACL injury and also lost Colt McCoy with a concussion. That mean’s quarterback Trace McSorley will be getting the start for the Cardinals. The Cardinals defense will be going up against a high powered offense on paper but on the field the buccaneers offense hasn’t been able to string together points so the Cardinals could possibly cause a headache for Tom Brady. With nothing much to play for this team will just look to build chemistry for next season and see what adjustments they need to make.
The (6-8) Pittsburgh Steelers will be hosting the (6-8) Las Vegas Raiders who have a lot of history between them. More specifically the 50th anniversary of the Immaculate Reception by Franco Harris, Hall-of-Famer Harris passed away this week so this game could be an emotional one.
The Raiders won in the most insane way last week in the final seconds of the game when defensive end Chandler Jones caught a lateral pass that lead to a touchdown with no time remaining on the clock. The Raiders hope for a playoff spot is still alive and they’ll need a victory to keep that playoff hope alive. Josh Jacobs running ability has been a bright spot for this Raiders team, along with Derek Carr and Davante Adams. The offense will need to be clicking on all cylinders and get a much needed victory.
As stated earlier this will be an emotional game for the Steelers as former Steelers running back Franco Harris passed away and the Steelers will be playing this game in honor of Harris. The Steelers were able to win 24-16 last week against the Carolina Panthers. Backup quarterback Mitch Trubisky managed the game last week for the Steelers as he was able to lead the Steelers offense to victory and had himself a rushing touchdown. Kenny Pickett is in concussion protocol and is questionable to play against the Raiders. The offense will have to string together some scoring opportunities and the defense will have to continue their great play and force three and outs.
