With the NFL regular season coming to a close soon, the playoff picture is quickly forming. This is the time of year where everything is on the line, and for some teams it’s make or break. So who wins in NFL’s week 16?
The Broncos showed vulnerability in week 15 against the Colts. Bo Nix was uncharacteristically bad, with just 130 yards passing, with three touchdowns and three interceptions. Luckily, Denver has an elite defense that kept them in the game en route to a 9-5 record.
The Chargers looked abysmal against the Buccaneers last week, with Justin Herbert throwing two first-half TDs, and failing to find the end zone again. LA went completely scoreless in the last two and a half quarters. Momentum is not on the Chargers’ side in this division matchup. The Broncos are on a four-game winning streak, they’ll extend that to five this week.
Winner: Broncos
Back in September, this game would’ve been looked at with pure excitement. The up-and-coming, white-hot Texans vs. the back-to-back Super Bowl champion Chiefs. The Texans haven’t scored more than 30 points since week 11, and the Chiefs are a bad 13-1 team.
At the time of this writing, Patrick Mahomes is questionable for this game, which would turn the tide in Houston’s favor. This game hinges entirely on Mahomes’ ability to play, and he won’t want to miss a shot at the number one seed. The Chiefs win a close one at home.
Winner: Chiefs
The Steelers were hot going into their week 15 matchup with the Eagles. Then Philly dumped cold water on them in a 27-13 loss. The Steelers struggled to keep their offense on the field and the defense gave up three touchdowns.
The Ravens on the other hand just stomped out the Giants, where Lamar Jackson threw five touchdowns in a 35-14 win. The Giants are a bad NFL team, but a big win is still exciting for Baltimore. The Steelers won their last meeting, Lamar Jackson won’t repeat that mistake.
Winner: Ravens
The Browns looked terrible in their 21-7 loss to the Chiefs. Jameis Winston completed 16 out of 25 passes for 146 yards and three interceptions. The Browns have a talented roster but they can’t get out of their own way.
The Bengals have a tremendous offense, with a defense that can’t keep up. Cincy’s defense gave up four touchdowns to the Titans and still won 37-27. The Bengals are a lopsided team, but they have the firepower to get ahead of mediocre opponents. Cincinnati is the stronger squad in this one.
Winner: Bengals
The Falcons finally won a game in week 15, snapping a four-game losing streak. They didn’t look great in a 15-9 victory over the Raiders but it’s a start. The NFC South is still up for grabs, and the Falcons have handed the keys to rookie QB Michael Penix Jr.
Luckily for the Falcons, they’re facing the Giants. The Giants rank 32nd in the league in interceptions with only two. This team is tanking for a new QB, and they’ve lost to teams far worse than the Falcons. The Giants aren’t a competitive NFL team, no matter which backup QB is under center. This is a perfect chance for Penix to get his feet wet against a below average defense.
Winner: Falcons
The Lions’ 11-game winning streak was snapped by the Buffalo Bills last week. Detroit is dealing with a plethora of injuries, including running back David Montgomery. They’re still one of the best teams in the NFL, and this loss will only fuel the fire in Detroit.
The Bears are the opposite. They’re on an eight-game losing streak, and they’re 0-4 against division opponents this season. Chicago is not a contending team right now, and the Lions will take out their frustrations on a downed division rival.
Winner: Lions
The Titans scored 27 points against a terrible NFL defense last week, but it wasn’t pretty. Will Levis threw three interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown before being benched for Mason Rudolph. The Titans are an entertaining team to watch, they’re just not very good.
The Colts are in a similar boat. Indy is giving Anthony Richardson a shot for better or worse. The second year QB still looks green as grass, and the rest of the team isn’t doing much better. The Colts have a way of keeping games close, and beating other bad teams. This game will be messy and fun on both sides, with Indy coming out on top.
Winner: Colts
The Cardinals are feeling good coming off a win over the Patriots in week 15. Kyler Murray threw for 224 yards and was accurate with the ball despite not finding the end zone. James Conner tacked two fourth quarter touchdowns for the win at home.
The Panthers are one of those “frisky and fun” NFL teams. They don’t necessarily play well, but they exceed expectations. Bryce Young is making mistakes but he seems to be figuring things out while the rest of the team is slowly coming together. They’ve got a long way to go before they’re a threat though. This might be closer than expected, but the Cardinals are the better team here.
Winner: Cardinals
The Commanders aren’t the powerhouse they were believed to be earlier this season. There’s doubt around their ability to beat strong teams, but Jayden Daniels is still making a strong case for Offensive Rookie of the Year. Unfortunately, this week isn’t a great matchup for them.
The Eagles are currently on a 10-game winning streak, and they’re one of the top three teams in the NFL. Jalen Hurts is on fire, and Saquon Barkley has Offensive Player of the Year all but locked up. Philly plays all three division rivals to close out the season, and the Commanders are the best of that bunch. This might be a close game, but stopping Philly is nearly impossible right now.
Winner: Eagles
The New York Jets won their first game since October in a 32-25 victory over the Jaguars last week. There’s not much to say about this team for 2024. They’re looking ahead to 2025 with a new coach and a new GM, while Aaron Rodgers is unsure if he’ll return. This team is a mess beyond recognition right now.
The Rams are on the upswing though. LA is on a three game winning streak, with two of those wins coming against the Bills and 49ers respectively. Matt Stafford had a down game on Thursday night, but the long break will do them wonders. The Rams walk into MetLife and take care of business
Winner: Rams
The Seahawks are an interesting team to track in 2024. They’re not exactly standing out, but at 8-6 they’re still in close contention for the NFC West. This is a team that could find themselves in a “one and done” playoff situation.
The Vikings are stark contrast to this. Even on a bad day from Sam Darnold, Minnesota put up 30 points and picked apart the Bears. They’ve won seven games in a row, and the Justin Jefferson/Jordan Addison duo is becoming a scary pairing. The Seahawks are a good NFL team, the Vikings are a great one.
Winner: Vikings
The 2024 New England Patriots are on the ground floor of a rebuild, and 2025 should see a nice upswing for them. They’re coming off a loss to the Cardinals where Drake Maye tallied two touchdowns. Despite some bright spots, this isn’t a very good team right now.
This game is completely one-sided and should be the lock of the season after the Bills took down the Lions in a 48-42 shootout. Josh Allen is the front runner for NFL MVP, and this should be another terrific game for him. Unfortunately for Patriots fans, this shouldn’t be a close matchup.
Winner: Bills
The 3-11 Jaguars are heading to Vegas to face the 2-12 Raiders on Sunday. The Jags almost beat the Jets last week and Mac Jones threw for almost 300 yards, so that’s something to be happy about. The Raiders are now down to their third QB in Desmond Ridder, and the hits are still coming.
This is a 50/50 matchup in the worst way possible, but the Jaguars have consistency on their side, with Mac Jones making his sixth consecutive start. Jacksonville comes away with this one.
Winner: Jaguars
The 49ers were completely incompetent in their 12-6 week 15 loss to the Rams. Brock Purdy went 14/31 for 142 yards and one interception. Their run game was nonexistent and they went 3/12 on third down. This was the worst showing of the season for San Francisco.
The Dolphins are also coming off a bad game, which saw Tua throw three interceptions in a loss to the Texans. Miami is terribly inconsistent, and 2024 has been a tumultuous season for them. The Niners have a long break before this game, and they’ll come back swinging.
Winner: 49ers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were a force to be reckoned with last week. Baker Mayfield went 22/27 with four touchdowns and one interception. The Bucs have won four in a row and they’re looking to lock up the NFC South.
The Cowboys are a 6-8 team with a backup QB and a head coach on the hot seat. This season is just about over for Dallas, and 2025 should see some major changes. That doesn’t feel likely though, and the Cowboys’ fortunes won’t turn this week.
Winner: Buccaneers
NFL’s Monday Night Football sees the 5-9 Saints go into Lambeau against the 10-4 Packers. The Saints are a team without a quarterback right now. Whether it’s Jake Haener or Spencer Rattler under center, this offense is not a threat to anyone.
The Packers are currently in third place in the NFC North despite being 10-4. Their record would make them number one in three different divisions, including the Saints’ NFC South. Green Bay is a terrific football team with a great quarterback who’s only getting better. This shouldn’t be a close game on Monday night.
Winner: Packers
There are only three weeks left in the 2024 NFL season. Who will lock up the remaining playoff spots?
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