Week 16 Picks

Updated 11:38 am, Sunday, Dec. 25, 2005

Saturday, Dec. 24
Atlanta at Tampa Bay, 1 p.m.
Prediction: Buccaneers, 17-14.

Buffalo at Cincinnati, 1 p.m.
Prediction: Bengals, 38-16.

Dallas at Carolina, 1 p.m.
Prediction: Panthers, 24-10.

Detroit at New Orleans in San Antonio, TX, 1 p.m.
Prediction: Saints, 9-6.

Jacksonville at Houston, 1 p.m.
Prediction: Jaguars, 12-6.

N.Y. Giants at Washington, 1 p.m.
Prediction: Giants, 24-21.

Pittsburgh at Cleveland, 1 p.m.
Prediction: Steelers, 26-24.

San Diego at Kansas City, 1 p.m.
Prediction: Chiefs, 32-30.

San Francisco at St. Louis, 1 p.m.
Prediction: Rams, 24-3.

Tennessee at Miami, 1 p.m.
Prediction: Dolphins, 24-10.

Philadelphia at Arizona, 4:05 p.m.
Prediction: Eagles, 16-13.

Indianapolis at Seattle, 4:15 p.m.
Prediction: Seahawks, 31-17.

Oakland at Denver, 4:15 p.m.
Prediction: Broncos, 35-10.

Updated at 11:38 am, Sunday, Dec. 25, 2005
Sunday, Dec. 25
Chicago (10-4) at Green Bay (3-11), 5 p.m.
Chicago can tie up the division with a win of their own or a Minnesota loss later tonight, but there's no better time than the present -- especially since a win also gives Chicago a first-round bye in the playoffs. Chicago manhandled Atlanta last week and Green Bay, who has pretty much mailed it in, got pounded by Baltimore. No reason to expect the result won't be similar. One team has something important to play for. If anything, Green Bay is playing for Brett Favre's legacy, and no one seems that interested.
Prediction: Bears, 28-9.

Minnesota (8-6) at Baltimore (5-9), 8:30 p.m.
Minnesota still has an outside shot at a playoff berth, even if Chicago wins, so they desperately need to beat Baltimore (and then Chicago in Minnesota next week, and hope Washington and Dallas lose next week). Baltimore is playing for coach Brian Billick's job, which they may have saved last week by pummeling Green Bay. Why they'd want to save his job is a mystery, but there it is. Minnesota was humbled last week, 18-3, by Pittsburgh, ending quarterback Doug Johnson's winning streak. Can Johnson redeem himself against a really good defense? Vikings are 3-4 on the road; Baltimore is 5-2 at home, accounting for all their wins. If Baltimore wins, Minnesota is out, and maybe Mike Tice with them; otherwise, it could be Billick looking for a new job (I'd bet on Oakland, if it comes to it). Hey, maybe they'll both get canned.
Prediction: Vikings, 17-13.

Come back tomorrow for a preview of Monday Night's Game (also to be posted separately).
Monday, Dec. 26
New England at N.Y. Jets, 9 p.m.