NFL Week 16 Takeaways & Picks update
Week 16 of the season was a divisional shakeup for the AFC East, and AFC North, while several other divisions (NFC North, NFC East, NFC South) were clinched.
Starting in New England, as the Bills came into town a game back in the division and holding onto life in the wild card race. Josh Allen played spectacularly and led the Bills to victory and in turn, the lead in the AFC East divisional race. The tables have turned in regards to their relationship with the Pats, no longer playing second fiddle and doing what they can to seize the division for the second season in a row.
It was also impressive to see the Colts travel to Arizona over the Christmas holiday and not only win, but looking dominant over a skidding Cardinals squad. Beating the Cardinals despite missing: Darius Leonard and Quenton Nelson is very impressive. The Colts and Titans are still in a close race, but the Titans swept the Colts earlier this season and now have the tiebreaker in the AFC South race.
Staying in the AFC, I have to talk about Joe Burrow and the Bengals. Burrow racked up the passing yards en route to a career-high 525 yards and 4 TDs to sweep the Ravens and place the Bengals atop the AFC North. There’s been some discussion as to if the Bengals are ahead of schedule. I would have to pushback against this thought, because Burrow has played well but he was also a top pick in a draft that featured Justin Herbert as well. Not to criticize the Bengals, but I would say they’re right on track to be a playoff team given the draft capital and resources they’ve used.
The NFC was much less exciting this weekend. We had the Packers defeat the Browns on Christmas and get closer to clinching the top-seed and playoff bye. Right behind Green Bay are Dallas, Tampa Bay and Los Angeles all in a 3-way tie at 11-4. The wild card race is much more interesting in the NFC with the Niners, Eagles, Vikings and Saints all battling for the final 3 spots. The Cardinals have clinched a spot as well, and will be playing the Cowboys this weekend to determine if they can still win the NFC West.
NFL Week 16 Picks Update (Spread)
Thursday, Dec. 23:
Niners @ Titans — NFL, 8:30 p.m. ET - Titans +3.5 - ✅ - +$7.47
Saturday, Dec. 25:
Browns @ Packers — FOX, 4:30 p.m. ET - Browns +7 - ✅ - +$7.63
Colts @ Cardinals — NFL, 8:15 p.m. ET - Colts +2 - ✅ - +$7.63
Sunday, Dec. 26:
Lions @ Falcons — FOX, 1 p.m. ET - Falcons -7 - ❌ - lost $4
Ravens @ Bengals — CBS, 1 p.m. ET - Ravens +4.5 - ❌ - lost $4
Rams @ Vikings — FOX, 1 p.m. ET - Rams -3 - ✅ - +$7.47
Bills @ Pats — CBS, 1 p.m. ET - Bills +2 - ✅ - +$7.63
Jags @ Jets — CBS, 1 p.m. ET - Jets -1.5 - ✅ - +$7.63
Giants @ Eagles — FOX, 1 p.m. ET - Giants +10 - ❌ - lost $4
Bucs @ Panthers — FOX, 1 p.m. ET - Bucs -9.5 - ✅ - +$7.63
Chargers @ Texans — CBS, 1 p.m. ET - Chargers -10 - ❌ - lost $4
Bears @ Seahawks — FOX, 4:05 p.m. ET - Seahawks -6.5 - ❌ - lost $4
Steelers @ Chiefs — CBS, 4:25 p.m. ET - Steelers +8.5 - ❌ - lost $4
Broncos @ Raiders — CBS, 4:25 p.m. ET - Raiders +1 - ✅ - +$7.33
WFT @ Cowboys — NBC, 6:20 p.m. ET - Cowboys -10 - ✅ - +$7.63
Monday, Dec. 27:
Dolphins @ Saints — ESPN, 8:15 p.m. ET - Saints +1.5 - ❌ - lost $4
$4 on each game - $64 invested and $68.05 returned
NFL Week 16 Picks update (Straight)
Thursday, Dec. 23:
Niners @ Titans — NFL, 8:30 p.m. ET - Titans - ✅ - +$10
Saturday, Dec. 25:
Browns @ Packers — FOX, 4:30 p.m. ET - Packers - ✅ - +$5.29
Colts @ Cardinals — NFL, 8:15 p.m. ET - Colts - ✅ - +$8.40
Sunday, Dec. 26:
Lions @ Falcons — FOX, 1 p.m. ET - Falcons - ✅ - +$5.37
Ravens @ Bengals — CBS, 1 p.m. ET - Ravens - ❌ - lost $4
Rams @ Vikings — FOX, 1 p.m. ET - Rams - ✅ - +$6.22
Bills @ Pats — CBS, 1 p.m. ET - Bills - ✅ - +$8.40
Jags @ Jets — CBS, 1 p.m. ET - Jets - ✅ - +$7.20
Giants @ Eagles — FOX, 1 p.m. ET - Eagles - ✅ - +$4.88
Bucs @ Panthers — FOX, 1 p.m. ET - Bucs - ✅ - +$4.91
Chargers @ Texans — CBS, 1 p.m. ET - Chargers - ❌ - lost $4
Bears @ Seahawks — FOX, 4:05 p.m. ET - Seahawks - ❌ - lost $4
Steelers @ Chiefs — CBS, 4:25 p.m. ET - Chiefs - ✅ - +$4.97
Broncos @ Raiders — CBS, 4:25 p.m. ET - Raiders - ✅ - +$7.63
WFT @ Cowboys — NBC, 6:20 p.m. ET - Cowboys - ✅ - +$4.91
Monday, Dec. 27:
Dolphins @ Saints — ESPN, 8:15 p.m. ET - Saints - ❌ - lost $4
Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook
$4 on each game - $64 invested - returned $78.18
