NFL 2017 Week 16 picks

I had a perfect streak of Sunday early games last week, but the last games threw it out of whack.

More playoff spots were set last week.  The Patriots and Vikings clinched their divisions, and Jacksonville returns to the playoffs.  More positions are eligible this week, including Number One seeds, so don't miss the key games this weekend.

Saturday Dec 23
Indianapolis Colts at Baltimore Ravens:  This one shouldn't even be close.  RAVENS

Minnesota Vikings at Green Bay Packers:  With three 10-4 teams sniffing at the heels of 11-3 Minnesota, they need a win to help ensure a first round bye.  There are hints that Sam Bradford might be back, but I think that's being said because the Pack returned Aaron Rodgers last week.  Another injury has sidelined him through the playoffs, so don't expect to see Bradford.  Truthfully, I don't think the Vikings will need him.  VIKINGS

Sunday early games
Atlanta Falcons at New Orleans Saints:  This game could have major NFC South implications.  A Falcons victory puts them ahead of the Saints, chasing the Panthers, who the Falcons face next week.  If the Falcons win out, they win the division.  On the other hand, if the Saints win, they retain the division lead, and they'll root for the Falcons to beat the Panthers.  The Falcons' offense has struggled some this season, but they have sharpened recently.  The question is, can that offense keep pace with the Saints?  Both teams have comparable defenses, so that is the major question.  I don't think they can.  SAINTS

Buffalo Bills at New England Patriots:  The Patriots hold the tiebreaker for home field advantage over the Steelers, but they have to win as often as Pittsburgh.  That means they want to win this one, and they have an excellent record against divisional opponents.  PATRIOTS

Cleveland Browns at Chicago Bears:  Hey, my Bears get to win one, as the hapless Browns have already won the race for the top pick in the draft.  BEARS

Denver Broncos at Washington Redskins:  Neither team will be in the playoffs, but QB play becomes important.  Denver exec John Elway was watching Wyoming QB Josh Allen as a potent draft pick, and Redskins administration are making noise that they may not offer a contract extension to Kirk Cousins.  A good game here will help restore luster to Cousins, but has Denver given up on injured Paxton Lynch?  That could be an interesting off-season storyline.  For this game, Cousins needs a win, and his teammates will help give it to him.  REDSKINS

Detroit Lions at Cincinnati Bengals:  Both Matt Stafford and Andy Dalton are talented QBs who have not played well this season.  Detroit's offense has still moved, while the Bengals have stalled too often.  LIONS

Los Angeles Chargers at New York Jets:  Neither team were expected to do much this season, and yet both have surpassed expectations.  The Chargers are chasing the Chiefs for the division title, so they know they need this game.  They should get it.  CHARGERS

Los Angeles Rams at Tennessee Titans:  The Titans are chasing a playoff spot, but the question is whether they deserve it.  They are 4-5 outside of their division, a record that should get worse after the Rams outplays them and smears them all over the field.  RAMS

Miami Dolphins at Kansas City Chiefs:  The Chiefs seem to have resolved whatever troubles they were experiencing during their five-game losing streak. The Dolphins offense hasn't been steady, either.  While Jay Cutler has been putting up respectable numbers, the offense has been falling short, especially in the last 30 yards.  That is a weakness that the Chiefs will certainly exploit.  CHIEFS

Tampa Bay Bucs at Carolina Panthers:  The Bucs haven't won a divisional contest and the Panthers are chasing the Saints for the division title.  This one's not in doubt.  PANTHERS

Sunday late games
Jacksonville Jaguars at San Francisco 49ers:  Jimmy Garrapollo has revitalized the 49ers, but will it be enough to get past the best defense in the league?  The Jaguars might already have a division title by the start of the game, if the Titans lose to the Rams, but that won't stop the Jags from playing at their best.  JAGUARS

New York Giants at Arizona Cardinals:  It's been a pretty dunky year for the Giants, and traveling to Arizona won't help.  The Cards have been underperforming as well, so a good game to close their home season will be crucial.  CARDS

Seattle Seahawks at Dallas Cowboys:  Let's get right down to it -- the loser of this game is completely removed from playoff contention.  The winner might suffer the same fate, but that won't chill the urgency.  Zeke Elliott will be back, which might perk up the Cowboys.  Either team could win this one, but I'll give a slight edge to the home team.  COWBOYS

Monday Night games
Pittsburgh Steelers at Houston Texans:  Since the Patriots are likely to beat Buffalo, the Steelers know that they need this game.  A loss in that case would remove the Steelers from a bid for the top seed, so they will be driven to drive the Texans into the ground.  Given the poor state of the injury-wracked Texans defense, they should be able to do that.  STEELERS

Oakland Raiders at Philadelphia Eagles:  A win gives the Eagles the top seed in the NFC.  They should get that.  EAGLES