NFL Pro Football 2009 Week 16 Picks early games

NFL Pro Football 2009 Week 16 Picks

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Fearless Rick's NFL Week 16 Picks - Early Games

Rick Gagliano | December 25-28

All times Eastern - Click here for late games.

Friday, Dec. 25

San Diego at Tennessee (-3, 47), 7:30 pm - OK, so you've got nothing better to do on Christmas night than watch football. Shame on you and about 50 million ofher rabid fans who are anticipating what may be one of the best games of the season. Surely, no two teams can be much hotter than the Titans (won 7 of their last 8) and the Chargers (winners of their last 9 straight), and this game offers playoff implications to boot.

The 7-7 Titans realize that their season is on the line and that they'll need help to reach the playoffs. San Diego, having already clinched their division, needs a win to secure a first-round bye, which they can do here or against the Redskins next week. Key for both teams will be defense, an area in which the Titans have improved. Since their bye week and 0-6 start, they're allowing 18.6 ppg, compared to 16.3 for the Chargers since their last loss (Denver, 34-23).

San Diego has an edge offensively, though their defense will have to be solid to prevent Chris Johnson from bursting loose. The Titans will have their hands full with Philip Rivers and Antonio Gates, especially since they have two starting linebackers - Keith Bullock and David Thornton - sitting this one out. The Titans have needed miracles all season and might get one more for Christmas, but giving points to any team that's won 9 straight is asking for trouble.

PREDICTION: Chargers 27 Titans 26

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Sunday, Dec. 27

Buffalo at Atlanta (-9, 41), 1:00 pm - At 7-7, the Falcons can't earn a wild card spot, though they'll be trying to salvage at least a winning season. In Buffalo, the injury string has reached crisis proportions on offense, with the Bills now turning to 3rd-level QB Brian Brohm, who will have both Terrell Owens and Lee Evans as wideouts. Brohm possesses a strong arm, probably better than the two guys he's replacing, so look for the Bills to go deep against a pretty good Atlanta secondary. Buffalo's defense has been pretty solid and should keep the Falcons out of the end zone for much of the time. Points are generous here and should be embraced in a meaningless game.

PREDICTION: Bills 21 Falcons 17

Kansas City at Cincinnati (-14, 40), 1:00 pm - After losing at San Diego last week, this game takes on a new level of meaning for the Bengals, who still need a win to clinch the AFC North. They can get it here or next week on the road against the Jets, so it's likely they'll be geared for a top effort in front of friendly fans. Cincy had been good at home, going 5-2 thus far, while the Chiefs are a certifiable disaster, though two of their wins have occurred on the road (Washington, Oakland).

The Bengals are coming off back-to-back road losses against tough opponents - Minnesota and San Diego - and should welcome the opportunity to beat the stuffing out of a real creampuff. The lingering effects of Chris Henry's untimely death will continue to be a motivator for the often-unpredictable Bengals.

PREDICTION: Bengals 34 Chiefs 14

Oakland at Cleveland (-3, 38), 1:00 pm - Believe it or not, both teams enter this contest off wins in the previous week. The Browns outlasted the Chiefs, while the Raiders took care of business at Denver, and Cleveland beat the Steelers the week prior to last. Can Cleveland actually win three in a row? Are the Raiders really 5-9? Yes and yes, and since mediocrity loves company (actually both teams have improved as the season has progressed), the Browns should win at home, something they've only done once this year. The weather is expected to be dicey, which also should favor the Browns, but this one is taken at one's own risk.

PREDICTION: Browns 20 Raiders 13

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Seattle at Green Bay (-14, 41 1/2), 1:00 pm - The Packers could have made their road to the playoffs much simpler with a win over Pittsburgh last week, but credit the Steelers for not giving up. Seattle won't have the same kind of fire in the belly that Pittsburgh players had, plus this one's at home for the Pack, so they should take care of business against an NFC punching bag with not much going for it. Seattle's scored just 14 points in its last two games. Not much going on there.

PREDICTION: Packers 44 Seahawks 10

Houston at Miami (-3, 45), 1:00 pm - A battle of 7-7 teams, each with hopes for a playoff spot. The AFC is rife with playoff contenders, as 8 teams still have a chance at two wild card slots. With all that competition, this game becomes win or go home, and since the Dolphins are already there, they might as well stay put. The onus is on the Texans, who have the edge on both sides of the ball, but will be in hostile territory. Worse yet, Houston face the Patriots next week, who still haven't wrapped up their division.

Last year was Miami's year and they've done well despite injuries in 2009, but the Texans haven't given up and should prevail, keeping playoff hope alive.

PREDICTION: Texans 30 Dolphins 21

Carolina at NY Giants (-7, 42 1/2), 1:00 pm - Was that really the Panthers out there Sunday night laying waste to the high-and-mighty Vikings? It surely was, playing as though they have nothing to lose (they don't), but they'll be facing a re-ignighted Giants team last seen hammering the Redskins on Monday night. Don't expect either team to be as dominant as they were in their prior outing, but expect many QB hits and a good number of sacks. The Giants d-line will be all over Carolina's Matt Moore, while somebody better step up to take care of Julius Peppers or he might just get overly personal with Eli Manning.

The Giants need a win and some help in their playoff pursuit, so they'll not back down, but the Panthers seem intent on proving they're better than their 6-8 record. They may be, and should keep what looks to be a defensive struggle, close.

PREDICTION: Giants 20 Panthers 16

Jacksonville at New England (-7 1/2, 44), 1:00 pm - If you're looking for teams in "must win" situations, look no further. The Jags are 7-7 and in the pack seeking a wild card, while the Pats are 9-5, but still haven't put away the Jets or Dolphins in their division. The AFC East could end up a three-way tie if Miami and NY win their remaining games and the Pats lose both of theirs. New England will travel to Houston next week in a game that could have implications all over the map, while the Jags will be at Cleveland, so Jacksonville has a legitimate shot at going 9-7 and sneaking into the playoffs, but a win here is paramount.

With that in mind, and the fact that the Patriots are not the dominating type they used to be (5 losses already), Jacksonville deserves a vote of confidence here. despite being at home, they lost their last two games, to Miami and Indy, by 4 points apiece, so they are fighting. They will have to be at their best, and weather may play a large role in the outcome. This won't be easy for either team.

PREDICTION: Jaguars 27 Patriots 24

Tampa Bay at New Orleans (-14 1/2, 49), 1:00 pm - The Saints suffered their first loss of the season last Thursday to Dallas, but have had extra time to heal up and prepare to clinch home field throughout the playoffs. While New Orleans has not been on their game of late (haven't covered in three weeks), the Bucs offer little resistance. New Orleans demolished them 38-7 at Tampa earlier this season, so there's no reason not to expect a similar outcome. The Saints will march into the playoffs as the NFC's #1 seed.

PREDICTION: Saints 35 Buccaneers 13

Baltimore at Pittsburgh (-2 1/2, 42), 1:00 pm - For the Steelers, the season comes down to this: win here, hope that the Bengals somehow lose to KC and some of the other 7-7 teams lose. Pittsburgh is one of six teams in the AFC with 7-7 records and already show a loss at Baltimore earlier this year. A loss would eliminate the Steelers from the wild card and the division. The Ravens can possibly clinch a playoff berth with a win here, though they'd need lots of help as well.

These two come off wins which were dramatically different. The Steelers won with a miraculous TD at the final gun, while the Ravens easily dispatched the Bears in Baltimore. The last meeting between these two teams resulted in an overtime win for the Ravens, but two things changed between then and now. First, the game will be in Pittsburgh and second, Ben Roethlisberger, who sat out the previous encounter, will start at QB for the Steelers. Those two differences give the Steelers the edge in a must-win scenario.

PREDICTION: Steelers 23 Ravens 19

All times Eastern - Click here for late games

Copyright 2009, 2010, Rick Gagliano, Downtown Magazine. All rights reserved. Downtown Magazine is located in the Uinted States of America and is not affiliated with the National Football League or the NCAA. For more information, contact us here. Use of this site is for entertainment purposes only.

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