We’re a week away from Christmas and the NFL playoff race is reaching a fevered pitch. We won’t know every playoff spot after this weekend, but we could see most of the playoff berths locked up by the close of 49ers-Colts on Monday.
Full list of Week 16 straight-up picks with confidence levels
We make picks for all 16 NFL games with levels of confidence ahead of Week 16.
Photo by Nick Grace/Getty Images
Last week, the Rams and Broncos were the first two teams to clinch a playoff berth. Both won difficult games over the Lions and Packers, respectively, to punch their playoff ticket. The big upsets last week came in the AFC South as the Falcons upset the Buccaneers and the Saints upset the Panthers. My picks weren’t pretty last week, as I finished 8-8. I was 5-0 on my high confidence picks, 2-3 on my medium confidence picks, and 1-5 on my low confidence picks.
The week opens with the biggest Thursday Night Football game of the season. The Seahawks host the Rams with first place in the NFC West and the No. 1 seed in the conference on the line. That’s followed by the first Saturday games of the season with Eagles-Commanders and Packers-Bears both featuring significant playoff possibilities. Ten different teams have a clinching scenario in Week 16, so a majority of the playoff field could be settled soon.
On to my Week 16 picks!
High confidence
Texans over Raiders
Bills over Browns
Medium confidence
49ers over Colts
Eagles over Commanders
Packers over Bears
Bengals over Dolphins
Buccaneers over Panthers
Patriots over Ravens***
Jets over Saints***
Low confidence
Chiefs over Titans
Jaguars over Broncos***
Vikings over Giants
Rams over Seahawks
Cowboys over Chargers
Steelers over Lions***
Cardinals over Falcons***
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