2020 Week 16 Predix: Christmas in New Orleans

Courtesy of The Athletic

Written by Sam DeCoste

The snow is out, Santa Claus is coming to town, and fantasy championships are in full swing. It must be Christmas. 

The penultimate week of the regular season is underway, and it begins on Christmas Day with a hotly contested playoff rematch between the Vikings and the Saints. Week 16 continues with games fused with playoff ramifications, including showdowns between the Colts and Steelers, Rams and Seahawks, and Titans and Packers. There are also clinching scenarios on tap for the Browns, Colts, Titans, Cardinals, Rams, Buccaneers, and Football Team to seal their tickets to the postseason. By Sunday afternoon, the two longest playoff droughts in the NFL could be snapped, if the Browns and Buccaneers win and gain some help along the way. The Chiefs and Packers also have opportunities to seal homefield advantage in their respective conferences. So much is on the line in the NFL this Christmas. 

With two weeks to go in the regular season, I am predicting games with a 64% accuracy. Over the past 4 weeks, I am 43-20 in my picks, including 10-6 last week. I have picked games over .500 every week since Week 11, and I am heating up at the right time. I have a chance to finish strong with 32 games to go, and I intend on wrapping up the season on a high note. It is the holidays after all, it is a festive and cheerful time. Enjoy my Week 16 Predix, enjoy the football (or basketball if you're into that kind of thing), and have a Merry Christmas. 

Here are my records from this season:

Week 15 record: 10-6

Regular season record: 143-80-1

Lock of the Week record: 11-4

Vikings @ Saints

It was perfectly clear against the Chiefs that the Saints rushed Drew Brees back too quickly. Brees needs to start much faster than he did against the Chiefs this week, and find his rhythm early. He also needs to feature Alvin Kamara from the beginning, and let him take over the game. Kamara touched the ball just 14 times in Week 15 for 94 yards, which is not enough volume for one of the league's elite game changers in space. Michael Thomas returning to injured reserve hurts the Saints passing game, but Brees dealt with his absence all season long to begin with. Brees averaged 290 passing yards per game without Thomas this season, and posted a quarterback rating of 108.5. Brees will have another week going into Christmas to rest and recover in preparation for the Vikings, and he should play much better than he did in his return from injury.

Minnesota's playoff hopes are assuredly over after their Week 15 defeat to the Bears. A superhuman performance from Dalvin Cook was not enough for the Vikings, because their defense allowed nearly 400 yards of offense and 33 points to Mitch Trubisky and the Bears offense. The Vikings defense is bound for a long Christmas Day trying to slow down Brees and the Saints. Whether Brees is 100 percent or not, Alvin Kamara will be a focal point of the attack. The Vikings have to find a way to slow him down, and put the pressure on Brees to control New Orleans' offense like they did in the playoffs a year ago. On offense, the Vikings need to make their possessions count. The Saints forced Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs to punt 5 times in the first half last week, which could translate into this game. As long as Cook is featured early and often, and Justin Jefferson and Adam Theilen can beat man coverage, the Vikings offense can hang around. They need to step up so Kirk Cousins has as little on his plate as possible, otherwise he could unravel quickly.

These two teams share quite the postseason history, and a disheartening one at that for the Saints. Every time these teams face off, it proves to be a classic. This Christmas special should be no different, except the end result.

Prediction: Vikings 16, Saints 23

Buccaneers @ Lions

When the Bucs are clicking on all cylinders, they are unstoppable. The problem is they are wildly inconsistent, and it is impossible to predict which version of the Bucs, specifically the offense, will show up on game day. The Bucs are riding a 2 game winning streak, but the offense was asleep to begin the first half, before showing life in the second. The Bucs ought to start fast out of the gate, against Detroit's 30th ranked defense in total yardage. Brady is improving every game with spreading the ball out to Tampa's arsenal of weapons, and the running game continues to be a strength for the team as well. Ronald Jones may return this week from finger surgery, and he substantially elevates Tampa's ground game. The Bucs defense will be tasked to slow down Matt Stafford who is not at full health, and an inconsistent but explosive Lions offense. The Bucs have the firepower to purely outscore them, and bury the Lions early to allow the Tampa pass rush to fire away.

There is a considerable chance that Lions interim head coach Darrell Bevell will not be on the sidelines for Detroit. Bevell was deemed a close contact to someone who tested positive for COVID-19, as were a number of Lions assistant coaches. Matt Stafford's status is up in the air as well. Stafford is reportedly ailing from a painful rib injury in Detroit's loss to the Packers 2 weeks ago, and he is playing through a severe amount of pain. Despite his pain, Stafford battled through it and played decently against the Titans. If the Lions offensive line can protect him and let him stand in the pocket, he can push through the pain. The Lions will also integrate the running game into their offensive approach to combat Stafford's pain, after running the ball 27 times last time out. That will offset Tampa's pass rush, and control the clock to keep Brady off the field. 

Brady and Stafford promises to be yet another exciting quarterback matchup, but the Lions are facing so many obstacles to be competitive. The Bucs thoroughly outmatch the Lions in every phase, and Stafford may not be able to finish the game when it's all said and done. 

Prediction: Buccaneers 27, Lions 16

49ers @ Cardinals

After losing 4 in a row, the Cardinals are riding a 2 game winning streak and control their own destiny in the NFC playoff picture. Kyler Murray and the offense revived their mojo, and are coming off an all-time performance in which the offense gained 526 yards of total offense, including 400 through the air for Murray. While the passing game may be heavily reliant on DeAndre Hopkins, the offense is clicking again, and they are unstoppable when the ground game is thriving, and Murray has space to throw on the run outside the pocket. The Cardinals can control the game on the ground with Chase Edmonds and Kenyan Drake toting the rock and sharing carries, and Murray keeping option handoffs and scoring himself. The formula is simple for Arizona: run the ball and target Hopkins on third down. It may not be sustainable, and the 49ers defense will look to take Murray's running lanes out of the equation, but the Cardinals stack up to extend their winning streak.

The 49ers officially have nothing to play for. Their 41-33 defeat to the Cardinals eliminated them from playoff contention, and their final 2 games serve as a chance to soil their divisional opponents' playoff seeding. Nonetheless, Kyle Shanahan has activated George Kittle and he will play Saturday against the Cardinals. The 49ers don't care that they aren't in contention anymore, they are going all-in to be competitive. Raheem Mostert will not be on the field anymore this season after going down in Dallas, but Jeff Wilson has filled in admirably for him all year long. The 49ers should be able to run the ball and complement a strong play-action passing game with Kittle back on the field. Kittle will be catching passes from C.J. Beathard in relief of Nick Mullens, who also went down with an injury in the loss a week ago. A breakout game from the 49ers offense and a standout performance from Kittle could be enough to thwart Arizona, as long as their defense shows out and slows down Kyler Murray.

The playoffs are in sight for the Cardinals, but they have to beat the 49ers with the Bears breathing down on them. The 49ers play hard every week, but they won't be able to overcome their injuries against a Cardinals offense at their best. 

Prediction: 49ers 17, Cardinals 27

Dolphins @ Raiders

With their win over the Patriots in Week 15, the Dolphins have clinched just their second winning season since 2008. They can win out and clinch their second playoff berth in the same span. On paper, the Dolphins are soundly favored to run the ball up and down the field against a horrific Vegas defense. But don't be mistaken, the Dolphins offense is not built to exploit the weaknesses of the Raiders defense. The Dolphins primarily run slants and fades, with the jump ball a focal part of their offense. They like to drive down the field methodically, possessing the ball for 5 to 6 minutes at a time. The Raiders struggle with explosive plays down the field, but the Dolphins are not an explosive offense. The Dolphins can wear the defense out with their running game, after Salvon Ahmed bursted for 122 yards against the Patriots, and Myles Gaskin lined up to return from the COVID list. Parker and Geisicki are practicing, which bodes well for Miami's offense which will need all hands on deck for a must-win game.

Technically, the Raiders are still alive in the playoff hunt. But realistically, they're done. The Raiders are winless in 4 of their last 5 games, with a Henry Ruggs Hail Mary saving them from losing 5 straight. Their defense has allowed 36 points per game in that span, and has become this team's liability. They will need to confuse and fluster a rookie quarterback this week to disrupt Miami's rhythm on offense. The Raiders can show confusing blitz packages and double cover DeVante Parker and Mike Geisicki (if they are healthy) to throw Tua Tagovailooa off his game. On offense, Jon Gruden has not named a starter for this game, as Derek Carr recovers from a groin injury. But Marcus Mariota filled in a week ago and was spectacular. Mariota can start and extend plays with his legs, escape the pocket, and implement quarterback-designed runs to thwart Miami's defense. The drop-off from Carr to Mariota is minimal, and even if Carr returns, the Raiders offense will feel confident they can move the ball against the Dolphins as long as they don't cough up the football.

Brian Flores is a phenomenal head coach, and has revitalized the Dolphins sooner than most expected. But this is a must-win game with significant playoff ramifications in the Week 16 primetime spotlight with the Ravens breathing down on their necks. It will be close, but I'm not ready to crown the Dolphins an AFC threat. Not yet.

Prediction: Dolphins 16, Raiders 23

Colts @ Steelers

In the span of 3 weeks, the Pittsburgh Steelers have gone from 11-0 and chasing the undefeated season to a complete capitulation. The Steelers have the looks of a broken team, especially on offense. Look no further than the box score, Ben Roethlisberger does not have the arm strength to throw the football 50 times per game anymore. Roethlisberger has thrown at least one interception in his last 5 games, and the Steelers offense averages 17 points per gam in their last 4 games. It is too late for the Steelers to reinvent their offense, they just have to execute. If the Steelers have neglected the running game for this long, they surely won't suddenly turn to it in a must-win game against the playoff-ready Colts. The only way the Steelers move the ball is if Roethlisberger flips the switch and can shine with his accuracy. But the Colts defense will not be scared of the passing game, which is remarkably one-dimensional, and easy to slow down. The Steelers defense is still as potent as ever, and they will turn up the heat on Philip Rivers and slow down the passing game. But there is only so much the Steelers defense can do, and they can only be stout for so long before their offense puts them in positions to fail.

Even though the Steelers are unraveling at the seams, this is a huge test for the Colts. The Steelers defense allows fewer than 300 yards per game, and they lead the league in sacks and takeaways. The Colts can offset the Pittsburgh pass rush with a strong ground game, and that is right up Indy's ally. Jonathan Taylor has emerged as a prolific running back as a rookie for the Colts, and he is the X-factor this Sunday. Taylor has amassed 414 yards in his last 4 games, and is carrying the Colts offense into the playoffs. With a productive rushing attack, Philip Rivers can drop back and have the time to send T.Y. Hilton in, as well as feed the ball to Michael Pittman, Jr. and Zach Pascal. The Colts offense can wear down the Steelers defense over 60 minutes as long as Taylor is active and productive, and the Colts defense holds up their end. Pressuring Ben Roethlisberger in the pocket will be decisive if the Colts can sack the Steelers quarterback, and if they can come away with a few turnovers. 

Picking against the Steelers at Heinz Field in December takes stones, even if the Steelers have been licking their wounds for 3 weeks. But the Colts are battle-tested, strong on defense, and they are heating up at just the right time. The Colts will extend Pittsburgh's tailspin, and move to 11-4.

Prediction: Colts 24, Steelers 13

Giants @ Ravens

As Giants head coach Joe Judge put it so eloquently, Lamar Jackson is a "unicorn." Jackson has a way of frolicking in the pocket, and his escapability makes him so dangerous to slow down. The Ravens offense is heating up at just the right time, and they are setting themselves up to make a late playoff push with a win over the Giants this Sunday, and a win over the Bengals to end the regular season. Against the Jaguars a week ago, the Ravens amassed 159 yards on the ground, and the team converted 8 of 12 third downs. They are built to completely wear down the Giants offense, especially after their stale showing against the Browns last Sunday night. J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards will pound the rock all afternoon, while Jackson will have the space to run outside the pocket and keep the ball on 5-10 carries as well. 

Giants quarterback Daniel Jones is practicing, which bodes well for him to suit up in Baltimore. The Colt McCoy experience was thrilling against the Seahawks, but pathetic against the Browns. The Giants offense will need to match the Ravens punch for punch and improve from their total against the Browns. They will look to match Baltimore's ground game with Wayne Gallman and Alfred Morris, but they are not as dynamic as the Ravens backs. The Giants certainly have the more explosive receiving core, but they are facing a stiff Ravens secondary. If the Giants are to upset the Ravens, it will be because the passing game thrives, and Jones plays his best game of the season without turning the ball over. The Giants defense will need to come to the rescue with sacks and turnovers to put their offense in a position to pounce and keep their NFC East hopes alive.

Baltimore and New York's seasons are both on the line, and they both need this game as much as the other. But the Ravens have been here and done that so many times before. In a matchup between two special teams head coaches, John Harbaugh will outsmart his opponent, and the Ravens will roll to their 4th straight win.

Prediction: Giants 13, Ravens 27

Falcons @ Chiefs

With Kansas City's 32-29 win over the New Orleans Saints in Week 15, the Chiefs finish the 2020 season undefeated on the road. If they beat the Falcons on Sunday, they will clinch homefield advantage, and will not play on the road again this season unless they play in the Super Bowl in Tampa. They can comfortably defeat the Falcons with a standout performance on offense, starting with Patrick Mahomes. The offense is just too talented and too fast to be slowed down. Tyreek Hill will inevitably find himself loose in the secondary again, and Travis Kelce will move the chains for Mahomes all game long. If the Falcons cover Hill and Kelce well, then Sammy Watkins and Mecole Hardman will find themselves wide open, and they will just make plays of their own. There's no stopping this offense. While the injury to Clyde-Edwards Helaire hurts, the Chiefs can lean on their passing game to victory, while dosing in a few carries by Le'Veon Bell in the meantime.

The ghosts of Atlanta's past came to haunt them once again last week against the Buccaneers, when Tom Brady rallied from a 17 point deficit to defeat the Falcons in the fourth quarter. Make no mistake about it, the Falcons are desperate for the season to end, and to recharge for 2021. Matt Ryan will have his first up-close look at Patrick Mahomes and the high octane Chiefs offense when he takes them on this Sunday, and he will need to match Mahomes punch for punch. Julio Jones may return this week, but Ryan will have to rely on Calvin Ridley once again. Ridley caught 10 balls a week ago against the Bucs, and he will likely have a similar output against the Chiefs. But the role players in Atlanta's offense like Russell Gage, Hayden Hurst, Laquon Treadwell, Brian Hill, and Brandon Powell have to step up and burn the Chiefs deep as well for the Falcons to have any chance of outscoring the Chiefs.

It's about time that the Chiefs win by more than one score and put a team on blast. Now is the time, against a hapless Falcons squad with nothing left to play for. By Sunday evening, the road to Super Bowl LV will officially run through Kansas City. 

Prediction: Falcons 13, Chiefs 37

Bears @ Jaguars

Don't look now, but the Bears are hot. Two straight wins have the Bears set up to sneak into the playoffs if the Cardinals slip up against the 49ers or Rams. But they have to take care of their own business by beating the 1-13 Jaguars on the road. The Bears can easily put the Jags away early, in two words: David Montgomery. Ever since Week 12, the second year running back has ran for 434 yards and 4 touchdowns. His late-season surge has revitalized the Bears offense, and firmly reestablished Chicago as a playoff contender with two games to go. A strong ground game opens up play-action for Mitchell Trubisky, who is playing for his career as the Bears starting quarterback. He has revitalized the Bears offense since taking over as starter in Week 12, and the Bears average 31 points per gam in that span. If the Bears sustain their high scoring form, the Jaguars will not be able to keep up. 

Even though the Jaguars have lost 13 straight games, they have been remarkably competitive all season long. Jacksonville's average margin of defeat this season is 12 points, and they have lost by just one score 6 times. The roster has no business being this competitive, but Jacksonville's young players are giving it their all every game. Gardner Minshew will start once again, and continues to play for his spot on the Jaguars, and possibly his trade value later on. The Jaguars will need to protect him in the pocket to let him find the likes of D.J. Chark, Keelan Cole, and Laviska Shenault, Jr. Their most explosive threat on offense is undeniably James Robinson, the league's most notable Pro Bowl snub. But even if Robinson is not productive early on, the Jaguars will not be afraid to stick to the passing game and take it to the Bears defense. This team has nothing to lose, and they would love nothing more than to soil Chicago's postseason dreams. 

On paper, this should be over quickly. But the NFL is a funny place. The Bears have enough to win, and I don't have the stones to pick them to lose to a team who has lost 13 straight games. But if the Bears don't take care of business in Jacksonville, they do not deserve to go back to the playoffs.

Prediction: Bears 29, Jaguars 13

Browns @ Jets

Baker Mayfield and the Browns are hot, and a win over the Jets may clinch their first playoff berth since 2002. In order to take care of business against a 1-13 football team, they just need to do more of the same. Run the ball, run the ball, run the ball. Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt will be busy early, and they will look to dominant the line of scrimmage against a banged up Jets defensive front. The Browns rank third in rushing offense this season, which will open up play-action for Baker Mayfield. Since Week 8, Mayfield has thrown just one interception. Just one. He is protecting the football, and playing at a high level. The offense is humming on all cylinders, and Mayfield's resurgence to form is a pivotal reason their offense is so dynamic and multi-dimensional. They will control this contest against the Jets without a problem.

As much as the Browns may underestimate the Jets, they need to be wary. The Jets handed the Rams, a Sean McVay-coached Super Bowl contender, a defeat a week ago. The Jets are winless no more, and they can thank their defense and special teams for closing the game out. They will look to control the line of scrimmage against the Browns and prevent them from dominating on the ground. If they collapse the pocket and put pressure on Baker Mayfield, they can turn the ball over and turn the tide in the game. On offense, Sam Darnold needs to stretch the ball down the field. They methodically drove the ball down the field against the Rams, and it proved effective. Long lasting drives could keep the Browns sidelined, but they need chunk plays for 60 minutes to match Cleveland's high powered offense.

I underestimated the Jets a week ago, but their win over the Rams was a mathematical improbability to put it lightly. The Browns will not be made an example of. The tides have turned in Cleveland, Ohio. 

Prediction: Browns 33, Jets 17

Bengals @ Texans

Credit Deshaun Watson for giving his all every week despite Houston's elimination from the playoffs. Watson earned a Pro Bowl nod for a reason, he has been carving defenses to shreds all season long. He threw for 373 yards and 2 touchdowns against the Colts stingy defense, and would have had a chance to knock them off in overtime if not for a fumble by Keke Coutee at the goal line. Watson is poised to pick apart Cincinnati's defense, but the Texans offensive line needs to keep him upright. The Texans have allowed 44 sacks this season, which ranks second most in the NFL this season. Protecting Watson will let him sit back and find Brandin Cooks, Keke Coutee. David Johnson can be utilized to offset the pass rush, but he has been under-utilized all season long, and that isn't going to change in Week 16.

Ryan Finley and the Bengals upset the Steelers on Monday night, but it is going to take a much better performance on offense to keep up with Deshaun Watson. Ryan Finley completed just 7 passes for 89 yards a week ago. The ground game totaled 152 yards, which will do the trick against Houston's 31st ranked rushing defense. The Bengals will lean on Giovani Bernard throughout, and the Texans may not be able to slow him down based off their success against the rest of the league's rushing attacks in 2020. But the Texans can disrupt Finley's rhythm, force turnovers, and win on third down and red zone situations. Cincinnati does not have a competent offensive attack when the opposing defense contains their running game, which bodes well for Houston. 

Deshaun Watson is the best player on the field in this game, and he will shine. The Texans should romp the Bengals, without much of a fight from Ryan Finley.

Prediction: Bengals 13, Texans 31

Panthers @ Football Team

Ron Rivera's Football Team welcomes his former club who fired him a year ago, with the chance to wrap up the NFC East this weekend if all goes according to plan. Washington will hope that Alex Smith is ready to go and take snaps this week, following a breach of COVID protocols from Dwayne Haskins. Antonio Gibson is gearing up to come back, but he is limited in practice, which is a promising sign for the offense. The Washington offense will focus on the ground game and let J.D. McKissic and Peyton Barber run the show, to let Smith find Logan Thomas, Cam Sims, and Terry McLaurin on short route combinations. But for Washington to take care of business, they need to protect the quarterback in the pocket and produce chunk plays in bunches. The version of Washington's offense against the Seahawks a week ago will not cut it this week. The Washington defense will take care of business and pressure Teddy Bridgewater, and may force key turnovers. But Smith and the offense need to be more efficient on offense.

A week ago, the Panthers were a touchdown drive away from forcing the Packers to overtime. The Panthers held the Packers to under 300 yards of offense and 24 points, and sacked Aaron Rodgers 5 times. That is a defensive performance which is flying under the radar, but would do the trick to spoil Washington's playoff hopes. The Panthers pass rush needs to turn up the heat on Alex Smith as they did to the league favorite to win the MVP a week ago to fluster Washington's offense. They will be without Brian Burns on the defensive line, which significantly slows down Carolina's pass rush. The offense will be without Cristian McCaffrey again, and they will lean on Mike Davis to control the clock and the line of scrimmage. Bridgewater will need time in the pocket to find Robby Anderson and D.J. Moore, but the Panthers can capitalize on Washington's aggression on defense with a screen-heavy game leaning on Curtis Samuel. 

The Panthers showed last week that even when they have nothing to play for, they have heart on defense. But their offense is inconsistent, and they will struggle to move the ball against Washington's ferocious pass rush. The Giants will lose before kickoff, and Washington will seal the division title.

Prediction: Panthers 13, Football Team 17

Broncos @ Chargers

Justin Herbert is on the verge of history. If he throws just one touchdown pass against the Broncos this Sunday, he will break the rookie record for touchdown passes set by Baker Mayfield in 2018. Herbert is poised to do it, after a stellar performance on Thursday night against the Raiders. The Chargers lost to the Broncos in Week 8, but Denver's performance against the Bills offense a week ago is promising for Herbert and the Chargers offense. The Broncos will not have an answer for Herbert's arm, or the speed and explosiveness of Jalen Guyton, Tyron Johnson, or Mike Williams. Keenan Allen will invariably be open on every passing play, and Herbert will lean on him all game long. Integrating Austin Ekeler in the backfield will diversify their attack and make Denver's defensive duties even more difficult, but the passing game alone is enough to overwhelm the Broncos defense. 

Drew Lock could find himself in a shootout very quickly, as the game script unfolded for him and the offense against the Bills last week. But the Broncos offense mustered just 255 yards last week, which will not stir any trouble for the Chargers defense. Melvin Gordon and Philip Lindsay could not find running lanes all game, but they can slow the game down for Lock and help the offense control the line of scrimmage with authority. Lock also has to target Denver's most explosive weapons, mainly Jerry Jeudy and K.J. Hamler, who caught just 2 passes combined against the Bills. On defense, the Broncos have to fluster Herbert and force him into making decisive mistakes. But the Broncos do not stack up to match the Chargers offensive output.

In Week 8, the Broncos rallied from a 21 point deficit to defeat the Chargers in Denver. That will not happen again. The Chargers will stomp their foot on the gas and Justin Herbert will break the record. This is my Lock of the Week.

Prediction: Broncos 17, Chargers 31

Rams @ Seahawks

Over the course of the second half of the season, the Rams have looked the part of a Super Bowl contender in the NFC. Then they lost to the Jets. Inexplicably, Sean McVay's Los Angeles Rams were defeated by the previously 0-13 New York Jets. There are no words, and there no are no excuses. The timing could not possibly be worse, with the division title on the line in Seattle this weekend. The offense must be less predictable against a Seahawks defense which is playing their best football of the season. The Rams offensive line needs to protect Jared Goff in the pocket to allow him to find Cooper Kupp and Robert Woods in space, and to open up running lanes for Malcolm Brown and Darrell Henderson. With Cam Akers sidelined due to an injury, the Rams backfield will have to step up in his place. The Rams defense is perfectly capable of collapsing the pocket for Russell Wilson, who is the third-most sacked quarterback in the NFL this season. Aaron Donald will be an unstoppable force in the backfield.

The Seahawks fell to the Rams in Week 10 by a 23-16 scoreline, in Seattle's least impressive performance of the season. Russell Wilson threw 2 interceptions, D.K. Metcalf was held to just 2 receptions, and the Rams offense moved the ball up and down the field all afternoon. That being said, the Seahawks come in with the momentum, and they can exploit the weaknesses the Rams showed against the Jets. The Seahawks can ride Cris Carson like the Jets used Frank Gore a week ago, and Wilson can spread the ball more confidently this time around. Metcalf will have another shot to show out against Jalen Ramsey, but Tyler Lockett will chime in with downfield plays of his own. The team recently activated Josh Gordon to the roster as well, and he diversifies Seattle's vertical offense immensely. The offense must be more efficient this time around, and protect the football. The defense can slow down the predictable Rams offense and stifle the ground game from the outset, and they will be in position to put the Rams in an early deficit once again. If Jared Goff is flustered from the beginning as he was against the Jets, there will be no turning back for the Seahawks.

A lot has changed since these teams faced off on November 15. While Russell Wilson and the Seahawks aren't as explosive as they were in September, they can be trusted in Seattle with the opportunity to seal the NFC West title. Besides, the Rams are unpredictable week to week, and their loss to the Jets is very worrisome for their chances in this game, and their playoff hopes. The Seahawks will take care of business and wrap up the division.

Prediction: Rams 14, Seahawks 21

Eagles @ Cowboys

There will be plenty of scoreboard watching for Eagles and Cowboys fans this week, but there is business to attend to in Dallas. For the Eagles, they can ride the hot hand with Jalen Hurts. The second round pick out of Oklahoma has breathed life back into the Eagles season, and has completely revitalized the offense. Hurts can run outside the pocket and escape pressure as well as any mobile quarterback in the game, but he shredded the Cardinals secondary through the air as well last week. The Cowboys defense will have their hands full to stop Hurts, but they are especially leaky on the ground. Hurts can keep the ball on designed quarterback runs, but the Philly ground game will steamroll the Cowboys. The Dallas defense ranks bottom in the NFL against the run, which promises to open running lanes all afternoon for Miles Sanders. The running game should thrive for the Eagles, opening up play-action for Hurts to cook in the Dallas secondary.

The Cowboys scored 41 points in their win over the 49ers last week, but the box score suggests the offense was much more stagnant than that. The offense totaled 291 yards, but capitalized on short fields off the defense's 4 forced turnovers. The Cowboys are poised to be in shootout with Jalen Hurts this week, and they will have to match the Eagles offense punch for punch. Ezekiel Elliott should be active this week, but the Cowboys have under-utilized him all year long, and that will not change in Week 16. Tony Pollard seemed to flourish in a similar volume of touches to Elliott a week ago, and he could be an X-factor for the Cowboys offense. The passing game should not have obstacles moving up and down the field, but the defense could force Andy Dalton to drop back more often than he is comfortable doing. The Cowboys need to start fast to prevent the defense from spiraling them into an insurmountable deficit early on. If the Eagles jump out to a large lead, the Cowboys are not built to rally.

Jalen Hurts has reinvigorated Eagles fans across the country, and they are back in the playoff race because of him. He will shine brightly in Dallas, sweep the Cowboys, and send the Cowboys packing for the offseason.

Prediction: Eagles 31, Cowboys 27

Titans @ Packers

In last year's NFC Championship, the Packers were smacked in the mouth by Raheem Mostert and the 49ers. The Packers could not match San Francisco's physicality and toughness, and that was the difference between going home and going to the Super Bowl. Derrick Henry and the Titans will prove to be the ultimate litmus test for the Packers, and measure just how ready the Packers are to win a Super Bowl. Nobody has been able to stop Henry this year, and there's no reason to believe the Packers can, either. But they can take away A.J. Brown and Corey Davis, and force Ryan Tannehill into errant throws, and bring him down with the pass rush. On offense, the Packers offensive line needs to protect Aaron Rodgers, and his receivers similarly need to create separation against Tennessee's mediocre secondary. Rodgers was sacked 5 times against the Panthers, and he needs time in the pocket to carve the Titans defense. The X-factor on Sunday night is Aaron Jones. While he is no Derrick Henry, Jones can control the line of scrimmage for Green Bay, offset Tennessee's pass rush, and control the clock, thus keeping the Titans offense on the sideline.

Believe it or not, the Titans have the highest scoring offense in the NFL. Not the Packers. In their last 5 games alone, the Titans average 38 points per contest. To beat Aaron Rodgers, you need to outscore him, and the Titans are built to do just that. Derrick Henry has been running NFL defenses over all season, and seemingly humiliate and posterizes a defensive back with his famous stiff arm every week. Henry should dominate the line of scrimmage as always, but Ryan Tannehill is poised to thrive on play-action as a result. A.J. Brown and Corey Davis have been reliable targets for Tannehill all season, and a strong passing game can keep the Packers defense on their toes and stretched vertically all game long. If the Titans win on third downs and keep Rodgers off the field, the Titans should dominate on offense.

Derrick Henry is a game wrecker, and the Packers will not have an answer for him all night. Aaron Rodgers will try to pull a rabbit out of his hat and keep the Packers in it, but the Titans are the better of the two teams, and ironically, more built to win in Lambeau than the home team. 

Prediction: Titans 30, Packers 27

Bills @ Patriots

The Bills have been squashing demons all year long, including clinching back-to-back playoff berths, back-to-back winning seasons, and winning the AFC East. Now they have the chance to sweep the Patriots for the first time since 1999. This is Buffalo's chance to bury the Patriots once and for all with another breakout performance by Josh Allen. The reigning AFC Offensive Player of the Week is wrapping up an MVP caliber season, and the offense is reaching unimaginable heights. Bill Belichick will look to take away Stefon Diggs, but Stephon Gilmore is not going to be on the field to guard him one-on-one. Even if Diggs is slowed down, Cole Beasley is the NFL's most productive slot receiver and one of Allen's most dependable targets. The running game can be counted on when it needs to burn the clock, John Brown will be returning from injured reserve as well, and the Bills defense continues to play its best football of the season. Allen does not need to throw for over 350 yards and 4 touchdowns on Monday night to outlast the Patriots, he just needs to outscore the New England offense. 

According to Bill Belichick, the Patriots are sticking with Cam Newton this week, despite the team's playoff elimination. With Newton under center, the Patriots will continue to lean on their run-heavy offense. The Patriots will lean on Sony Michel if Damien Harris is not 100 percent, but he passing game will define New England's success on the night. Josh Allen is bound for another stellar superstar performance, but Newton has been one of the league's worst passers in 2020. The receiving core matches up horribly against the Bills defense which has allowed under 200 yards to opposing quarterbacks in their last 2 games. Newton will target Jakobi Myers and Damiere Byrd early and often, but they are incapable of changing the game like Stefon Diggs, Cole Beasley, or John Brown. If the Patriots fall into an early deficit, the Bills defense will eat the Patriots offense alive.

It seems fitting that the Patriots will face the Bills in the penultimate game of the season to send heir divisional rivals off into the playoffs. The tide has shifted in the AFC, and the Bills will send one last statement before riding into the postseason. 

Prediction: Bills 31, Patriots 14