As everyone rushed to finish the Christmas shopping, the NFL season waits for no one.  15 of the 16 games are on Sunday this week (with the other on Saturday) to avoid a Christmas Eve Monday Night game.  The matchups here in Week 16 are not as good as they otherwise could be, but it’s still Week 16, so you can’t go wrong.  Sit back in your warm living room and watch NFL RedZone during the ELEVEN 1:00 games this week.

Saturday Night

Atlanta (10-4) at DETROIT (8-6) – Vegas: Lions -3.5
It’s time for the Lions to circle the wagons and make a statement on this season.  And, that time happens during this HUGE Thursday Night game.  Lions (close)

Sunday, Early Afternoon

New Orleans (10-4) at DALLAS (7-7) – Vegas: Saints -1
Another big road game for an NFC South leader, and another L.  Despite the Cowboys struggles in December, I think they can rally the troops for one last hurrah here.  Cowboys (close)

Tennessee (7-7) at GREEN BAY (12-2) – Vegas: Packers -11
The Titans only get 6 days (after a physical game with the Jets) to rest up for the Packers in the frozen tundra?  Packers (easy)

Indianapolis (2-12) at KANSAS CITY (7-7) – Vegas: Colts -6
Just what the Chiefs need in the late stages of this division race – an easy game at home.  Chiefs (easy)

Buffalo (8-6) at MIAMI (7-7) – Vegas: Dolphins -3
There are a lot of young guys on the Dolphins that should be just coming into their own by this time.  The Bills have historically had a lot of trouble in Miami, but this one hurts bad.  Dolphins (close)

St. Louis (4-10) at TAMPA BAY (4-10) – Vegas: Bucs -2.5
Give me the bad, but sneaky team at home over the bad, but sneaky team on the road.  Bucs (moderate)

Oakland (3-11) at CAROLINA (4-10) – Vegas: Panthers -4.5
Time for Cam and Company to take out some frustrations.  Panthers (moderate)

New England (12-2) at JACKSONVILLE (4-10) – Vegas: Patriots -9
There is no reason to think the Pats shouldn’t waltz out of Jax with an easy win.  Patriots (easy)

N.Y. Giants (7-7) at BALTIMORE (9-5) – Vegas: Ravens -3.5
This could be a WAR, depending on how the standings sit at the time.  Not only are the Ravens at home, but I think they’re flat-out better.  Ravens (moderate)

Minnesota (4-10) at HOUSTON (9-5) – Vegas: Texans -10
Nice cushy Week Sixteen game for the Texans as they try and claim a second straight division title.  Texans (easy)

Washington (5-9) at PHILADELPHIA (10-4) – Vegas: Eagles -8
The Redskins always terrify me in spots like this.  With a trip to the Meadowlands looming in Week Seventen, the Birds may be tempted to look ahead.  But, with 10 days to prepare, this team should be fired up and ready to go.  Eagles (moderate)

Cincinnati (9-5) at PITTSBURGH (10-4) – Vegas: Steelers -6
A potentially gigantic divisional game here, with the Steelers coming off a trip to Dallas and the Bengals preparing for this one for 10 days.  This is the hardest pick of the entire week, but one of these organizations just simply gets it done every single year, while the other seems to never, ever get it done.  Steelers (close)

Sunday, Late Afternoon

Cleveland (1-13) at DENVER (7-7) – Vegas: Broncos -8.5
There is no way the Broncos give this one away if it matters.  Broncos (easy)

San Francisco (10-4) at SEATTLE (5-9) – Vegas: 49ers -2.5
It’s a shame that the early-season schedule is just so brutal on the Seahawks because this is a good team that can give the Niners a run for their money.  But, the schedule-makers just about assured us that that won’t happen.  I do think that they win this game, though.  Seahawks (close)

Chicago (11-4) at ARIZONA (4-10) – Vegas: Bears -1
The current Chicago team against the former Chicago team.  The city kept the right franchise.  Bears (moderate)

Sunday Night

San Diego (8-6) at N.Y. JETS (7-7) – Vegas: Jets -2.5
Back-to-back prime time affairs for Rex and the Boys.  This time they’re at home, and this time they get to face Norv.  Jets (close)

Standings After Week Sixteen

NFC EAST:
The Giants slip to 3rd place, as the Eagles are still looking for that first-round bye
11-4 Eagles
8-7 Cowboys
7-8 Giants
5-10 Redskins

NFC NORTH:
The Pack clinches homefield advantage…again; the Bears clinch a wild card; and, the Lions get the biggest win of the week, keeping their playoff chances alive
13-2 Packers
11-4 Bears
9-6 Lions
4-11 Vikings

NFC SOUTH:
The two bottom teams win, while the two top teams lose – and miss a chance to clinch playoff berths – now they have to play hard in Week 17
10-5 Falcons
10-5 Saints
5-10 Panthers
5-10 Bucs

NFC WEST:
Way too little, way too late for the Seahawks, though they are showing signs of life; the Niners are slipping into that first weekend
10-5 49ers
6-9 Seahawks
4-11 Cardinals
4-11 Rams

AFC EAST:
The Pats lock up homefield advantage in the AFC, while the whole rest of this division is in the quagmire of 8-7
13-2 Patriots
8-7 Bills
8-7 Dolphins
8-7 Jets

AFC NORTH:
The Bengals are falling apart at the seams, while the Ravens are red-hot and pushing on the Steelers for the division title and first-round bye
11-4 Steelers
10-5 Ravens
9-6 Bengals
1-14 Browns

AFC SOUTH:
The Texans are still a game back of Pittsburgh for that second bye; the Titans are officially eliminated
10-5 Texans
7-8 Titans
4-11 Jaguars
2-13 Colts

AFC WEST:
Here we go again – a three-way tie atop the AFC West; who wants it?
8-7 Broncos
8-7 Chargers
8-7 Chiefs
3-12 Raiders

NFC Playoff Picture

The 6 playoff teams are pretty much assured, with on the Lions left that can crash the party; there is a HUGE mixup for seeds 2 through 5/6
1 – CLINCHED – Packers (13-2)
2 – Eagles (11-4)
3/4 – Falcons/Saints/49ers (10-5)
5 – Bears (11-4)
6 – Falcons/Saints (10-5)
STILL ALIVE – Lions (9-6)

AFC Playoff Picture

The AFC West is three fighting for one, while the second wild card is a two-for-one, with the Jets just a game back
1 – CLINCHED – Patriots (12-2)
2 – Steelers (11-4)
3 – Texans (10-5)
4/OUT – Broncos/Chargers/Chiefs (8-6)
5 – Ravens (10-5)
6 – Bengals (9-6)
IN THE MIX – Bills/Dolphins/Jets/Broncos/Chargers/Chiefs (8-7)
ELIMINATED THIS WEEK – Titans (7-8)