NFL Week 16

I began Week 16 with a loss Thursday night, for some reason ignoring the weather conditions in Green Bay. Now we have the meat of the schedule coming up Sunday and Monday after an expected yawner in Oakland tonight.

Chiefs –6.5 over RAIDERS: Kansas City still has feint playoffs hopes and the only thing the Raiders should be hoping for is the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft. Chiefs 27-7

Saints +3 over GIANTS: NYG remarkably can still make the playoffs if they lose this game. Can’t see them containing multiple weapons New Orleans will throw at them. Saints 30-27

Titans +4.5 over Bills: Somehow both teams have rebounded to be 7-7 at this point, with remote playoff hopes. A windy day should keep the ball on the ground. Bills quick defense should keep Vince Young in check. Bills 20-17

FALCONS –6.5 over Panthers: Carolina has packed it in and Atlanta has everything to play for. They remember getting smoked by the Panthers in the final game last year and will pour it on. Falcons 34-10

RAMS –2 over Redskins: Rams are another team that somehow has remote playoff hopes. Skins played well against Saints last week, but can’t do it twice in a row on road. Rams 27-21

Colts –9 over TEXANS: Colts can still get a bye and got serious last week against Bengals, while Houston was humiliated in New England. More of the same: Colts 37-17

Ravens +3 over STEELERS: Steelers have played well of late but I can’t understand this spread. Ravens playing for a bye with Pittsburgh having only a remote playoff shot. Ravens 19-17

BROWNS –3 over Buccaneers: I’d rather eat fruitcake than watch this game. Browns 17-13

Bears –4.5 over LIONS: The good news for Detroit. You can still get the No. 1 pick. The bad news: Matt Millen could still be around the screw it up. Bears 26-10

Patriots +3 over JAGUARS: Jittery Jags reeling after fumbling away game against Tennessee last week and Patriots playing for division crown. Oh, and Tom Brady wants to show Pro Bowl voters a thing or two. Patriots 24-20

49ERS –4 over Cardinals: San Francisco could actually win NFC West at 8-8 should they win out and Seattle loses last two. With 10 days rest, they will lay it on the woeful Cards. 49ers 31-14

Bengals +3 over BRONCOS: More or less a playoff elimination game for both teams and in such a scenario, go with the experienced QB in Carson Palmer over Jay Cutler, making only his fourth start. Cincinnati remarkably arrest-free this week, though there’s still time. Bengals 27-20

Chargers –4 over SEAHAWKS: Super Bowl runner-up syndrome creeping in on Seattle, while San Diego has home field advantage in sight. A few more TDs for LT and another week for Seattle to worry about blowing the division. Chargers 33-20

Eagles +7 over COWBOYS: Too big a spread for huge game with division crown on the line. Looks for Eagles to confuse Tony Romo, but for Dallas to also keep Garcia in the pocket and force a couple of turnovers. A field goal game, and my hunch says: Cowboys 20-17

Jets +2.5 over Dolphins: Jets could take the field with their playoff destiny in their hands, a remarkable achievement considering they were expected to be a last-place team. Miami would love to play spoiler, but if anything, Mangini always seems to have his boys prepared; and if they watched film of the debacle in Buffalo last week, they will be ready to throttle weak Fish offense. Jets 7-1 last eight ATS at Miami: Jets 27-17

And with that, I wish everyone