Bruce Dias 
With only three more weeks to go, the regular part of the NFL season is almost over. Ahead of us are a string of divisional duels and matches deciding who will take the top spots and reach the playoffs. Of course, some games and teams no longer have anything to play for, but we will give predictions even for those matches. So, take a few moments and prepare for one of the most exciting weekends in sports in 2024.
Broncos at Chargers
The Los Angeles Chargers are having a good season. Under the new coach, Jim Harbaugh, and Justin Herbert at QB, the ambitions were high for this year. They started as expected, but their offense has been struggling in the last few weeks compared to what we were used to seeing from them. The last few weeks have been rough for them, with averages for passing yards standing at 175.3 per game, rushing at 66.3, and 32.8 percent for third-down conversion. Things will worsen next week as they face one of the league’s premium defenses. The Denver Broncos are playing good football on both sides of the ball. While rookie Bo Nix is currently struggling with interceptions, it is believed that the Broncos have enough firepower on defense to hold the Chargers at bay. Covering Broncos should be a safe bet for Thursday Night Football if you’re a fan of online sports betting.
Texans at Chiefs
The end of the year brings us surprise football games on Saturday. There is a concern that Patrick Mahomes won’t be ready for this match due to ankle issues sustained last week against the Cleveland Browns. Yet, we have seen Mahomes limping in the previous, only to return more potent than ever. With the Chiefs playing for the No. 1 seed in the American Football Conference, we claim they will play on Saturday. Both teams want to win this one because of their strong pass-rushing defense. The Chiefs are a team that knows how to win when it matters, and we can see them overcome this good Texans team, led by (lately) mistake-prone C. J. Stroud.
Steelers at Ravens
A divisional rivalry like no other. While the Ravens, as we know them today, are a newer franchise by the NFL standards, their rivalry with the Steelers is really one of a kind. Yet, it will be marred by Steelers injuries as the Pittsburgh team will be weaker through the absence of Donte Jackson (back), T.J. Watt (ankle), Larry Ogunjobi, DeShon Elliott, and George Pickens. Some of them will play, but their contribution will be limited.
Watt is the one whose presence is necessary if they want to contain Lamar Jackson. In the past, the Steelers have always had their way with Jackson despite his unique quality. Still, if they miss a few key pieces on offense and a few standout players on defense, we wouldn’t look past the Ravens to win this one. AFC North is up there for grabs, so you should expect both teams to give their all.
Giants at Falcons
The New York Giants are having a season of nightmares. Not only that they’ve been playing awfully, but they have been marred with injuries to key players. Now that Dexter Lawrence is out of contention, their defense is easily one of the worst units in the league. While most players are playing for their contracts, the Giants franchise is effectively tanking to get their QB in the draft. Things aren’t looking any better on the offense, where the production could be more consistent to compete on the highest NFL level. This is an easy two-score Falcons win in the making. Falcons only need to keep Cousins away from his gunslinging habits. Without turnovers, this game is won by the home team before even starting.
Patriots at Bills
The days when the Bills feared the Patriots are long gone. Buffalo is entering this game as a favored team, but they will have it challenging. Divisional games are always close, and with the way Bill’s defense is playing, they shouldn’t underestimate anyone. In the last two matches, they have allowed 40+ points. This means that Patriot’s rookie Drake Maye, who is still finding his footing in the NFL, will have a chance to carve some success through the Bill’s defense. Yet, Bill’s defense will be facing one of the worst offensive lines in the NFL, so expecting another performance where they fall prey to offense is hard to predict. When you calculate Josh Allen and his MVP season into the equation, you can’t look past a manageable Bills win. Every sport betting fan knows this.
Bears at Lions
At the start of the season, this game will decide who will exit the NFC North victorious. In the meantime, the Bears season collapsed, and they are clear underdogs in this match. Not even the firing of coach Matt Eberflus mid-season, which was the first time this had happened in Chicago, made the team play better. We only see them staying in this game if the Lions’ depleted defense plays another atrocious match, as they did against the Bills. Despite their injury-plagued season on defense, Lion’s offense is still one of the best in the league, and with Goff playing at an MVP caliber, we are seeing them winning this one.
Browns at Bengals
The only way the Bengals are reaching the playoffs is if they win. Deshaun Watson’s season is over, and the way he was playing, this would be a sure-fire Bengals win with him on the field. His deputy, Jameis Winston, is a man capable of producing moments of magic followed by moments of tragedy. With the comeback of Nick Chubb, this team can play good offensive football. With a solid defense already seasoned by NFL standards, the Browns have some tools in the shed to win this match. While the Cincinnati Bengals have been playing fabulous on defense with Joe Burrow and Chase leading the way, they were failed by their defense more than once. So, while the Bengals remain favored to win this one, we would argue that an underdog Browns win is possible, which we would cover on Stake. After all, putting a dent in the Bengals playoff aspiration would make everyone on the Browns happy.
Titans at Colts
This season could go in a better direction for both franchises. Yet, here we are in a match that holds little value for both teams. Will Levis is still leading the Titans despite proving he is not a starting-level NFL QB on several occasions. With Anthony Richardson being a gunslinger on the other side of the field, we expect a match here that will feature more than a few interceptions, if not pick-6es. The defense will decide this game, where the Colts have a slight advantage. Also, their running game is far above what the Titans have, and thus, they should take a home win that will not be celebrated for too long despite still having slim chances of making the playoffs.
Jets at Rams
Aaron Rodgers can’t take a break. After missing the entire last season this year, he’s having one of the worst team years in his career. Coaching changes, controversies, and struggles against Mac Jones and the Jaguars are what’s AR up to these days. What’s even worse, the Jets’ defense has fallen apart. When playing against them, QBs post a 101.5 rating, throwing for 260 passing yards, and compete for 70.8% of their passes. This was all done by offenses far inferior to the firepower of the Los Angeles Rams. The worst part for the New York Jets is that the Rams are chasing a playoff spot with realistic chances of topping their division. When it’s all said and done, this is a safe Rams win, despite the Jets having Aaron Rodgers playing better as the season ends. He better save his batteries for the following year.
Commanders at Eagles
Marshon Lattimore debuted his Washington Commanders against his old team, the New Orleans Saints, and marked it with a win. The Commies CB1 will have to play his best football against the Eagle’s offense if his team is to have any chance of winning this divisional encounter. We say this because Commanders have one of the worst run defenses in the league, and their pass rush is average at best. Across them, they will have the number-one-ranked defense so far, making Jayden Daniels uncomfortable. Also, when you add the dual/threat QB in Jalen Hurst and the league’s best RB in Saquon Barkley, the Eagles have all the advantages coming their way. Daniels and Terry McLaurin have good chemistry, but they’re all the firepower Commanders are taking to Philly. On the other hand, the Eagles are a complete team looking to push all their rivals to the Super Bowl. A secure Eagles win in this one.
Panthers at Cardinals
The only time the Carolina Panthers have been favored to win a football match was last week against the Dallas Cowboys. It was the day when their O-line decided to forfeit the trenches, and they were destroyed by the average Dallas Cowboys defense. While Arizona is even less impressive than the Cowboys on the D, they should feast on Bryce Young while adding the additional pressure of having something to play for. The Cardinals should feast on the Panthers. In recent weeks, their rushing attack was thriving under Kyler Murray and James Conner, and we should see much of the same against struggling Panthers.
Seahawks at Vikings
As the season is coming to an end, the Seahawks are looking worse by the week, and their playoff aspirations are veining. After a loss against the Green Bay Packers in which Geno Smith was hit 12 times and sacked 7 times, they’re facing an even more vigorous Vikings defense. With a potent Vikings attack led by Sam Darnold and Justin Jefferson, they will face the harsh reality of facing one of the league’s top teams and, by the look of it, say goodbye to their playoff chances.
Raiders at Jaguars
These teams have little to look forward to this season, and the Raiders at Jaguars is one of the worst matchups this week. It is hard to envision either of the coaches having their jobs next year.
Their defenses look weak, while backup quarterbacks on both sides lead the offense. It will be an ugly match, and we can see the home team taking the win, but it does not matter to anyone.
49ers at Dolphins
With their squads fully healthy, this would be one of the week’s top matches. Yet, both the Dolphins and the 49ers are devastated by injuries. The situation in San Francisco looks worse in these conditions, so a Dolphins win is being touted. Yet, Kyle Shanahan can outcoach Mike McDaniel. With slim playoff chances on the horizon, we wouldn’t look past the 49ers’ win for this one, as this is the time of the year when the Dolphins usually fall apart, as we saw last week against the Texans.
Cowboys at Buccaneers
Cowboys are another team struck by injuries clinging to their playoff hopes. In the absence of Dak Prescott, the Cowboys’ defense stepped up, and their pass rush has been looking good in the last few weeks. Unfortunately, they are facing one of the league’s best offenses in Week 16. Tampa Bay can both run and pass the ball, leaving the Cowboys with the daunting task of defending Mayfield and Evans. It is expected that Tampa Bay will control this match from the first quarter to the last second of 4th, but wait to write the Cowboys out.
Saints at Packers
The New Orleans Saints have finally entered purgatory after being left by Drew Brees and Sean Payton. This franchise will not be competitive anytime soon, and the harsh reality of kicking the can down the road can already be seen, and it will be further amplified when they’re destroyed at Lambeau next week.
There you have it—picks and predictions for week 16 of the 2024/25 NFL season. The season is entering its final stages, and we are more than looking forward to seeing this super exciting year.
