Our Guide to NFL Week 16: Schedule, Matchups, Predictions, and Injury Report
With playoff implications abound, we're heading to NFL Week 16, where several high-profile matchups dominate the landscape.
Thursday Night Football gets us started with a potential NFC Championship preview as the Seattle Seahawks host NFC West rivals Los Angeles Rams in one of the most anticipated contests of the season.
Of course, the NFC North could be decided on Sunday as the 10-4 Chicago Bears host bitter rivals Green Bay, who sit at 9-4-1. With the Bears leading the Packers by a half-game with three games left in the regular season and both teams on the fence, this game could decide who gets to play in January and who heads to Cancun.
We also have an NFC South battle between co-leaders Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Carolina Panthers, who both sit at 7-7. They face off twice in the final three games of the season, and whoever fares best will move on to January.
There are a few other marquee matchups to look forward to this weekend, specifically the Steelers-Lions, Jaguars-Broncos, Ravens-Patriots, and Colts-49ers.
Here’s your full NFL Week 16 betting guide, including brief previews and predictions for each game. We'll also take a look at where injuries could make the biggest impacts. Be up to date on all of the latest NFL odds on all of our favorite betting sites.
NFL Thursday Night Football
Los Angeles Rams @ Seattle Seahawks
Odds: Rams -1.5 (ML: Rams -108, Seahawks -108 | Over/Under: 44.5 (via FanDuel)
The best game of the weekend happens to be on Thursday Night Football. Two division rivals who sit at 11-3 that could and should contend for the Super Bowl title square off for this epic thriller.
In their first meeting, in Los Angeles, the Rams squeaked past the Seahawks 21-19, with Sam Darnold throwing for four interceptions.
Darnold has only two games with 2+ interceptions this season and shouldn't revert to that kind of form again.
The matchup of the day should be Devon Witherspoon against Puka Nacua, especially if Davante Adams can't suit up. Adams has been battling both knee and hamstring injuries and has been less than 100% for several weeks now.
Ian Rapaport claims that Adams is unlikely to play, which should see this game lean towards the under. Playing in Seattle could push this even more towards Seattle.
📊 Prediction: Seahawks 21 Rams 20
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Philadelphia Eagles @ Washington Commanders
Odds: Eagles -6.5 (ML: Eagles -285, Commanders +230 | Over/Under: 44.5 (via BetMGM)
No playoffs, and no more Jayden Daniels for the rest of the year as the Commanders begin to close the door on an unbelievably disappointing 2025 NFL season, one year removed from the NFC Championship game.
Washington has been absolutely crushed by injuries all season, with nine of their 22 starters missing at least seven games.
Commanders head coach Dan Quinn has shut down all players currently on injured reserve, including Daniels, Zach Ertz, and many more.
While Washington put on an impressive performance against the Giants last week, they did so by completing just 10 passes. They'd have to do a whole lot more to knock off Philadelphia. I don't see that happening.
📊 Prediction: Eagles 30 Commanders 10
Green Bay Packers @ Chicago Bears
Odds: Packers -1.5 (ML: Packers -115, Bears -105 | Over/Under: 46.5 (via DraftKings)
Talk about high stakes! One of the NFL's oldest and most storied rivalries unveils a new chapter in their biggest regular-season meeting in a crazy long time.
In fact, both teams haven't faced one another with both teams at least five games over .500 since December 2001.
Of course, to Chicago's luck, the entire NFC is extremely good, the NFC North race is still an extremely close three-team one, and they're nowhere near safe despite having 10 wins heading into Week 16.
However, Green Bay got absolutely obliterated in their loss to Denver last week. Micah Parsons is done for the year with a torn ACL, Christian Watson suffered a rib injury and is questionable, while a handful of others exited the game and didn't return.
There has never been a bigger chance for the Bears to claim themselves as the winners of this rivalry in a very long time. The door is wide open; they just have to get the job done. We think it's time.
📊 Prediction: Bears 31 Packers 27
NFL Sunday Early Afternoon
Buffalo Bills @ Cleveland Browns
Odds: Bills -10 (ML: Bills -600, Browns +425 | Over/Under: 42 (via BetMGM)
Talk about an ugly matchup. Even though the Bills are 10-point favorites, we don't see this being anywhere close to that number. They've struggled all year against great defenses, and this game should smash the under.
We also look forward to Myles Garrett breaking the NFL record for most sacks in a single season. He's at 21.5, only one short of the mark. We think he gets it done on Sunday.
📊 Prediction: Bills 16 Browns 9
Los Angeles Chargers @ Dallas Cowboys
Odds: Cowboys -2.5 (ML: Chargers +108, Cowboys -126 | Over/Under: 49.5 (via FanDuel)
These two teams can enjoy a shootout as much as any two teams in the league.
The 10-4 Chargers are rolling on with their season and are virtually assured of a playoff berth. The Cowboys needed to win last week to keep their realistic hopes alive. Unfortunately, now they're only in the race based on mathematics and not in reality.
Somehow, the Cowboys are favored in this one, which we don't quite understand at all. In fact, nobody actually does, which leads us to believe Vegas knows something we don't.
However, based on pure stats, the Chargers should be able to outduel Dallas in a lovely offensive battle. Plus, how much fight will a Cowboys team have now that they're essentially out of the playoffs?
📊 Prediction: Chargers 44 Cowboys 38
Kansas City Chiefs @ Tennessee Titans
Odds: Chiefs -3.5 (ML: Chiefs -190, Titans +156 | Over/Under: 37.5 (via Caesars Sportsbook)
Oof. We're into the really ugly part of the season. Not only are the Chiefs done for the year, but Patrick Mahomes has also torn his ACL, which casts a huge doubt on the future of the Chiefs' dynasty.
Surely, had the Chiefs stayed alive in the playoffs and Mahomes was healthy, the line would be set at -14.5 or higher. Instead, the Chiefs are only three-point favorites with Gardner Minshew under center.
We don't know who the Chiefs will trot out there, but we believe that head coach Andy Reid will be using the next three games to evaluate their bench talent. I would be smashing overs on backups and third-stringers.
📊 Prediction: Titans 16 Chiefs 13
Cincinnati Bengals @ Miami Dolphins
Odds: Bengals -2.5 (ML: Bengals -135, Dolphins +114 | Over/Under: 50.5 (via DraftKings)
Ah yes, another game where both teams are out of the playoffs, and the result means absolutely nothing except for NFL Draft order. Maybe a few players and coaches get some bonus money too.
The actual performances out on the field could mean a lot on both sides. Bengals star quarterback Joe Burrow is very disgruntled and isn't having much fun in Cincinnati, which has led to massive trade rumors, specifically to Pittsburgh and Las Vegas.
Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel, meanwhile, is very much on the hot seat. If the Dolphins don't finish strong, his job could be on the line.
📊 Prediction: Bengals 31 Dolphins 29
New York Jets @ New Orleans Saints
Odds: Saints -4.5 (ML: Jets +185, Saints -225 | Over/Under: 40.5 (via BetMGM)
Talk about a game that absolutely nobody should want to watch, unless you have an active interest in where these teams finish in the NFL Draft standings. Maybe if you're a friend or family member of one of the players.
Tyler Shough has proven that he's a halfway decent NFL quarterback! The Saints have won back-to-back games against the two best teams in the NFC South, and have won their last three in the conference.
Shough is also starting to use his legs much more often, rushing for 87 yards and two touchdowns over the last two games.
The Jets don't look good whatsoever. Honestly, we don't know how this team won three games this year. Saints in a minor blowout.
📊 Prediction: Saints 30 Jets 17
Minnesota Vikings @ New York Giants
Odds: Vikings -3 (ML: Vikings -152, Giants +128 | Over/Under: 43.5 (via Caesars Sportsbook)
Seriously, how many games do we have this weekend with two teams that are out of the playoffs with three games left to play? This is actually absurd.
I'm looking forward to this one, with J.J. McCarthy and Jaxson Dart given free passes to ball out with little-to-no risk.
One storyline to follow is the continued misuse of Justin Jefferson, who has been held to a combined six catches for 37 yards over the last three games. That's just over 12 yards per game for a player drafted high in the first round in every fantasy football draft this season.
📊 Prediction: Vikings 24 Giants 20
Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Carolina Panthers
Odds: Buccaneers -3 (ML: Buccaneers -155, Panthers +130 | Over/Under: 47.5 (via DraftKings)
It's all on the line in Carolina as these two NFC South rivals play for the division in the first of two meetings to conclude the regular season.
While it feels that this is just going to be a typical Panthers loss, the Buccaneers have lost five of their last six games.
This is as unpredictable a game as there has been in the NFL this season. Chuba Hubbard and Rico Dowdle will have to have big games against the 10th-ranked run defense for the Panthers to pull this off.
📊 Prediction: Buccaneers 24 Panthers 21
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NFL Sunday Late Afternoon
Jacksonville Jaguars @ Denver Broncos
Odds: Broncos -3 (ML: Jaguars +144, Broncos -172 | Over/Under: 45.5 (via FanDuel)
In a potential AFC playoff preview, the top-ranked Broncos host the third-ranked Jaguars in the second battle of two 10-win teams this season.
Both of these teams scored over 40 points last week, which pushed the over/under table up nearly three points.
The Broncos are one of the best defensive teams of all time, especially in the sacks department. Meanwhile, the Jaguars have the best run defense in all of football and will force Bo Nix to air the ball out.
The two Broncos losses this season have been against top-10 run defenses. We expect loss number three.
📊 Prediction: Jaguars 20 Broncos 16
Atlanta Falcons @ Arizona Cardinals
Odds: Falcons -2.5 (ML: Falcons -140, Cardinals +118 | Over/Under: 47.5 (via BetMGM)
We're back to the games pitting two teams out of playoff contention. We've got a great matchup between Bijan Robinson and Jacoby Brissett, who are both having phenomenal seasons despite team performances.
Drake London is still questionable after missing last week, though Kyle Pitts had a monster three-touchdown performance in his absence, undoubtedly the best game of his career.
We love the Falcons in a big way in this one.
📊 Prediction: Falcons 33 Cardinals 15
Pittsburgh Steelers @ Detroit Lions
Odds: Lions -7 (ML: Steelers +260, Lions -325 | Over/Under: 51.5 (via DraftKings)
We cannot wait for this matchup, as it pits two playoff contenders who will be fighting for their lives in Detroit.
The Lions are the far more explosive team, while Aaron Rodgers has proven to be an impressive game manager for a well-balanced Steelers team this season.
The biggest mismatch should be Jahmyr Gibbs against one of the worst run defenses in football. He could easily go for over 200 yards, while Rodgers will continue to dink and dunk. That shouldn't be enough.
📊 Prediction: Lions 41 Steelers 20
Las Vegas Raiders @ Houston Texans
Odds: Texans -14.5 (ML: Raiders +750, Texans -1200 | Over/Under: 37.5 (via FanDuel)
The Houston Texans need this win as much as the Raiders need the number one pick next year.
We don't know how the Raiders are going to score against the number one defense in all of football, who are also the number one run defense in football.
The Raiders have scored 10 or fewer points six times this season and were shutout against the Eagles last week. They're horrible and the Texans shouldn't need to do much to come out as clear winners.
📊 Prediction: Texans 17 Raiders 3
NFL Sunday Night Football
New England Patriots @ Baltimore Ravens
Odds: Ravens -2.5 (ML: Patriots +130, Ravens -154 | Over/Under: 47.5 (via FanDuel)
This Tom Brady-era rivalry starts a new chapter with Drake Maye in MVP form against Lamar Jackson's Ravens, who have struggled to find their footing.
The Ravens will be far more desperate in this one, and they should find a way to get it done in what should be a thriller.
📊 Prediction: Ravens 30 Patriots 27
NFL Monday Night Football
San Francisco 49ers @ Indianapolis Colts
Odds: 49ers -6.5 (ML: 49ers -300, Colts +245 | Over/Under: 46.5 (via FanDuel)
We loved seeing Philip Rivers out there balling out against the Seahawks, keeping the Colts in the game despite being two-touchdown underdogs.
Against the 49ers in his second game out there, we don't believe the same magic is going to come out. Expect Christian McCaffrey to have a fantastic game in Indianapolis.
📊 Prediction: 49ers 27 Colts 10
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