Week 16’s Top 5 NFL Games
The Seahawks and Cardinals lock horns in this weekend’s biggest clash.
Week 16 in the National Football League got underway Thursday night with a throwaway game between the Jacksonville Jaguars and Tennessee Titans.
After trailing 10-0 early in the game, Jacksonville (3-12) came from behind to earn a 21-13 victory over Tennessee (2-13), climbing from the bottom of the AFC South standings for the first time all season. Gus Bradley’s side now has a shot at avoiding a bottom place finish for the second straight year.
Betting Sports now looks ahead to what remains of this week’s NFL action, bringing you the top five games left on the schedule.
Before we get stuck into the big NFC South clash though, a quick programming note. This week sees a pair of games played on Saturday. The Redskins host the Eagles late in the afternoon (4:30 p.m. ET), before the 49ers welcome the Chargers to Levi’s Stadium in prime time (8:25 p.m. ET).
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Atlanta Falcons at New Orleans Saints
Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, LA (Sun, 1:00 p.m. ET)
The fate of the dismal NFC South could be decided this weekend as the New Orleans Saints host the Atlanta Falcons in a must-win for both teams.
New Orleans (6-8, 3-4 home) retook top spot in the division with a win over the Bears on Monday night, putting Sean Payton’s side in the driving seat going into the final two weeks of the season.
After winning at Soldier Field, the Saints return to the Superdome, the site of four straight losses. Drew Brees and Co. will need to find a way to win at home if they’re to stay in the driving seat.
Despite looking up at both the Panthers and Saints, Atlanta (5-9, 2-5 road) actually has an ace up its sleeve in terms of the division race. Right now, the Falcons are 4-0 in divisional play which gives the side a huge advantage if it can match records.
The Falcons beat the Saints in overtime in a Week 1 clash at the Georgia Dome. A similar result would set up a huge clash with the Panthers in the final weekend of the season.
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Kansas City Chiefs at Pittsburgh Steelers
Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, PA (Sun, 1:00 p.m. ET)
Two teams looking to crowbar their way into the AFC playoffs collide in the Steel City Sunday afternoon as the Kansas City Chiefs visit the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Pittsburgh (9-5, 4-2 home) enters Week 16 occupying the first wild card berth and just 1/2 game behind the Bengals at the top of the AFC North. With the Bengals playing on Monday, the Steelers could headline the division come the end of Sunday.
The Steelers face a tough two weeks which means any playoff berth is going to be hard fought. The advantage Mike Tomlin’s side has in this one is home field. That being said, losses to the Saints and Bucs at Heinz Field suggest that’s a tenuous advantage.
Kansas City (8-6, 3-4 road) is knocking at the door of the postseason, and with the AFC North squaring off over the next two weeks, the Chiefs have a solid chance of a second successive postseason appearance.
A win over the Raiders last weekend put the halters on a three-game skid. Alex Smith and Co. will need to ensure they don’t slip again this week, or a postseason berth will likely slip away with it.
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Indianapolis Colts at Dallas Cowboys
AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX (Sun, 4:25 p.m. ET)
The Dallas Cowboys will look to retain their position at the top of the NFC East and move a step closer to a first playoff berth since 2009 Sunday as they host the Indianapolis Colts, a team that’s already in but looking to improve its current standing.
Dallas (10-4, 3-4 home) scored a big Sunday Night Football win over the Eagles last weekend, moving to the top of the division. With the Eagles playing on Saturday, the Cowboys will know where they stand before taking to the field. That could be a good thing or a bad thing.
The Cowboys need to pick up wins over the next two weeks to avoid a potential logjam at the wild card positions. The Cowboys’ conference record won’t do them a lot of favors if that happens.
Indianapolis (10-4, 4-2 road) has punched its ticket to the postseason but there’s still work to be done. Andrew Luck and Co. still has a shot at taking the No. 1 seed in the AFC, providing the Patriots and Broncos slip up along the way. Sunday’s game against the Cowboys will provide an interesting snapshot of where both teams are right now.
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Seattle Seahawks at Arizona Cardinals
University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, AZ (Sun, 8:30 p.m. ET)
The NFC West title could be decided Sunday night as the Seattle Seahawks travel to the desert to take on the Arizona Cardinals.
Arizona (11-3, 7-0 home) can lockup the division with a win on Sunday but that may be easier said than done. Just two weeks ago the Cardinals came up short on the road against the Seahawks, and will head into this one as the underdog. They’ll also go into the game with third-string quarterback Ryan Lindley under center.
Seattle (10-4, 4-3 road) can’t win the division title on Sunday, but a win would make the side the frontrunner in the race. It would also give the team huge momentum heading into the final week. Even a loss wouldn’t be the end of the world for a side that is currently 8-2 in conference play.
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Denver Broncos at Cincinnati Bengals
Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati, OH (Mon, 8:30 p.m. ET)
In a rare Monday Night Football matchup between relevant sides, the Denver Broncos travel to Ohio to face the Cincinnati Bengals in a potential playoff preview.
Denver (11-3, 4-3 road) heads into the Buckeye State making a push for the AFC’s No. 1 seed. The Patriots have an easier run in, which means the Broncos will need some help, but there’s still movement to be made at the top of the conference.
The Broncos have won four on the bounce but are just 1-3 on the road against non-divisional opponents this season. Peyton Manning and Co. haven’t been their offensive selves for a couple of weeks, despite pulling out wins, something that may need to change on Sunday.
Cincinnati (9-4-1, 4-2-1 home) finds itself on a dangerous precipice. A tenuous lead at the top of the AFC North could easily slip away, which would leave the side in the dog fight that is the AFC wild card picture. Winning on Sunday then is essential.
The Bengals have picked up four wins in their last five games, including a 30-0 shutout of the Browns last weekend. That sort of defensive effort will be needed against the Broncos. The Bengals will also need to overcome a terrible record in prime time televised games.
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