Week 16 NFL Picks

If money grew on trees, here's who I'd pick in the games this week. There are only a few games that have playoff implications while the rest of the games should feature lots of playing time from second and third string players as teams start evaluating talent for next year. Last week I was 10-6. In case you can't figure it out, winning team is in CAPS.

Thursday, Dec. 20
PITTSBURGH at St. Louis
I'm going with the Steelers here and I'm not sure why. They've looked terrible the last few weeks against New England and Jacksonville. Fortunately, they're playing the Rams, who have looked terrible all year.

Saturday. Dec. 22
DALLAS at Carolina
Even with a sprained thumb, look for Tony Romo and the cowgirls to rebound against a weak Carolina team. I wouldn't read too much into the win last week over the Seahawks by the Panthers. Carolina still isn't a good football team.

Sunday, Dec. 23
Oakland at JACKSONVILLE
Jacksonville is shaping up to be a team that I would be very nervous to go up against in the playoffs. Fred Taylor has had some big yardage games in the last month. Look for that to continue Sunday after getting snubbed for the Pro Bowl.

PHILADELPHIA at New Orleans
I'm picking Philadelphia in this game because New Orleans has been inconsistent all year. It's hard to believe that if the Eagles win their final two games that they'll finish 8-8.

KANSAS CITY at Detroit
I looked up the stats and Detroit has by far given up the most points in the NFL all year with 390. However, only Atlanta and San Fran have scored fewer than the 196 points that KC has scored all year. I'm picking Kansas City only because I have a rule against picking any team that has lost six straight games. Actually, I just made that up but it's now officially a rule.

Cleveland at CINCINNATI
I don't feel good betting on Carson Palmer and the Bungals but I'm sticking with them for this game. Both defensive units have given up a ton of points so look for this to be a shootout.

GREEN BAY at Chicago
It's hard to believe that Chicago has started three different quarterbacks this year. I don't think Brett Favre has missed three games his entire career.

NY Giants at BUFFALO
One of the important lessons that we learned last week in the Redskins-Giants game was that it may be better to have no quarterback at all than to have Eli Manning as your quarterback. The Giants look like they've rounded into their regular first round playoff exit mode.

HOUSTON at Indianapolis
Indy looked terrible against the Raiders last week and Houston is fighting for a playoff spot. I'm just going on a hunch here, and a huge disdain for the Colts.

Atlanta at ARIZONA
This is the battle of the sucky teams, with Arizona coming out the victor, if you call it a victory to win the battle of the sucky teams.

TAMPA BAY at San Francisco
With last weeks win against Cincinnati, San Fran moved is jeopardizing their top 5 pick in next year's NFL Draft, which the Patriots own. I hate them.

Baltimore at SEATTLE
I would feel pretty stupid picking a team that lost to Miami. Although, I feel pretty stupid picking a team that lost to Carolina last week. What happened to Shaun Alexander? You know you're having a down year when Laurence Maroney has more yards rushing than you- or it could just mean that you're not very good any more.

Miami at NEW ENGLAND
More to come later in the week.

NY Jets at TENNESSEE
Is Eric Mangina's job on the line here? He's taken a 10-6 team from a year ago and nothing seems to have gone right this year. It may be time to start wondering if he's the guy you want going up against Belicheat for the next decade.

Washington at MINNESOTA
Minnesota continues to look like a good playoff team that could cause some trouble in the playoffs.

Monday, Dec. 24
Denver at SAN DIEGO
Suddenly, San Diego is looking like a good playoff team. It's hard to believe that Philip Rivers is the QB of this team.