NFL Week 16 Preview
As the teams head into the final weeks of the 2010-11 NFL season, there will plenty of jockeying for position as well as a few requests for some early gifts from St. Nick. Here I take a look at all of this week’s matchups, giving you some early insight that will help make your 2010 NFL wagers winners.
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Merry Christmas Capperpicks.com readers. We hope the holiday season brings much joy to you and your loved ones.
However, it won’t be a Merry Christmas for everyone in the NFL, but Santa has delivered some few easy match ups for the Steelers, and New England while my pick for game of the week is Monday’s matchup between the Falcons and Saints.
Here I take a look at Week 16 of the 2010-11 NFL season, giving you some early insight that will help make your NFL wagers winners.
THU, DEC 23 TIME (ET)
Carolina at Pittsburgh 8:20 PM NFL – The Panthers will travel to what is likely to be the frozen tundra of Heinz Field, a place where the wind chill factor can wreak havoc on a quarterbacks stats. Carolina will want to keep this one on the ground. If the Steelers get back to running the ball, while bottling up DeAngelo Williams, they can walk away with a win.
SAT, DEC 25 TIME (ET)
Dallas at Arizona 7:30 PM NFL – Well, if the Cards are hoping for a little Christmas cheer, I don’t think they’re going to get any. They may have WR Larry Fitzgerald and Steve Breaston, but the Cowboy’s have a multitude of weapons, especially on defense. Dallas’ wins despite Romo’s and Bryant’s injuries.
SUN, DEC 26 TIME (ET)
New England at Buffalo 1:00 PM CBS – New England gets a gift here. The Pat’s should have a big day with Brady and Welker hooking up for major yardage in this blowout. The Bills only hope will be to hand the ball to RB Fred Jackson and run straight at the Pats.
NY Jets at Chicago 1:00 PM CBS – These two teams pair up nicely and with the exception of home field advantage of the Bears. The games between these two have been historically low scoring and this one should be as well with the Bears getting edging out the victory on a field goal difference.
Baltimore at Cleveland 1:00 PM CBS – There is only one thing that gets the Brown’s more up for playing at the Pound –playing spoiler in front of the home fans as they host the hated Baltimore Ravens. If they can put pressure on Flacco and shut down his passing lanes, then all they have to contend with is RB Ray Rice. Easy right? Regardless, the Ravens’ defense should keep Cleveland’s offense out of the red zone for much of the game.
Tennessee at Kansas City 1:00 PM CBS – Will KC’s defense be up to the task of containing Titan’s RB Chris Johnson? Tennessee won’t want to get to lax, as the Chiefs’ Jamaal Charles will be a handful all on his own. Mix in a little Matt Cassell on a good day with WR Dwayne Bowe, and the always-hostile Arrowhead minions — and the Titans don’t stand a chance. 
San Francisco at St. Louis 1:00 PM FOX – Another game the Rams can win to maintain its spot atop the NFC West. It will be a Boxing Day bout of Westbrook vs. Jackson, one of the league’s most consistent running backs versus…well a running back. A great chance for the young Bradford to bring back the “greatest show on turf.’
Detroit at Miami 1:00 PM FOX – It will be interesting to see if the Lions dynamic young talent has come into their own by this point in the season. The Miami Wildcat will surely be a measure of Suh’s potential. Equally, for the Dolphins, CB Vontae Davis will get an opportunity to prove himself as he shadows speedy WR Calvin Johnson. The Lions could grab a late season win if their prospects pan out.
Minnesota at Philadelphia 1:00 PM FOX – It’s all but officially over for Minnesota, but Philly will still need to be wary of a reckless team in this late season tilt as they look to put some distance between them and the Giants. The will still have to contain RB Adrian Peterson while trying to stretch a very good Vikings defense with their passing game.
Seattle at Tampa Bay 1:00 PM FOX – Another good opportunity for Seahawks’ running back Marshawn Lynch to turn around an awful season in Seattle by picking up some Florida real estate while he’s in Tampa. If the Bucs can bounce back from last week’s OT loss to Detroit, LeGarrette Blount could cash in on a weak Seattle rushing D.
Washington at Jacksonville 1:00 PM FOX – The Jags will hand the ‘Skins a good dose of Jones-Drew who should have no problem scratching off some good yardage in this one, as long as he runs away from Washington linebacker Brian Orakpo and CB DeAngelo Hall.
Indianapolis at Oakland 4:05 PM CBS – The Colts look to get closer to clinching a playoff berth. Oakland’s pass defense is the stronger part of their unit as they get after the passer so well. The Raiders can also run the ball, the weakest part of the Colts defense. As long as the Colts’ passes evade the quick hands of Raiders CB Nnamdi Asomugha, I just don’t see Oakland roping the Colts.
Houston at Denver 4:05 PM CBS – Neither of these teams have done much of late. Andre Johnson and TE Owen Daniels could have been the best receiver/tight end combo in the AFC South, but we’ll never know. Has Denver finally sorted out their quarterback impasse? Doesn’t matter.
NY Giants at Green Bay 4:15 PM FOX – Despite the fact that the Giants fell apart last week in Philly, the Packers will not want to get caught napping. New York still has Eli Manning and the deep threat of WR Ahmad Bradshaw could test the veteran legs of Green Bay’s Charles Woodson. The good news for the Pack is Rodgers being cleared to play.
San Diego at Cincinnati 8:20 PM NBC –Cincinnati plays out its schedule as they play a game with a lot of meaning for their opponent. San Diego will move the ball in the air and on the ground. Meanwhile, the Bengals’ ability to move the ball shouldn’t be a problem, but not very effective. What could be a problem — containing Chargers’ QB Phillip Rivers.
MON, DEC 27 TIME (ET)
New Orleans at Atlanta 8:30 PM – The reigning Super Bowl champs will play their penultimate game in front of a national audience on Monday Night Football. The Saints secondary, if not careful, could get caught if they gamble too much with Atlanta’s Matt Ryan and his duo of Tony Gonzales and Roddy White. The Falcons can show that they are serious contenders by grabbing this one at the G-Dome.
Matt Martz is a freelance writer located in Central California. Blessed is the gambler who expects nothing, for ye shall not be disappointed.
