NFL Week 16, Tips and Previews
Cowboys vs. Eagles
December 25th
When sitting at 13-1, you can take the foot off the pedal a little, and the Eagles are tipped to do just that. Of course, having your star Quarterback ruled out through injury also plays a part, and Jalen Hurts won’t be in the line-up this week. It will be fascinating to see how that changes their approach, with Miles Sanders set to increase his touches.
Philadelphia won’t want to give this game away, though, especially when it faces NFC East rivals, the Cowboys.
Dallas has played in fits and starts this season, with some inconsistency from Dak Prescott and a defense that has leaked like a sieve at times.
But Hurts’ absence has moved the market, which might seem like an over-correction. There’s value in a team that has only lost one game so far, which is a rare thing coming into week 16.
SUGGESTED BET:
Eagles win at $2.45
- NFL Same Game Multi
- Leg 1: M. Sanders anytime touchdown scorer
- Leg 2: Eagles win
- Leg 3: T. Pollard anytime touchdown scorer
- Leg 4: Dallas first team to score
- Combined odds = $14.00
Steelers vs. Raiders
December 25th
This might not be the biggest game to hit prime time, but it does carry some fascination with both teams locked on identical records and players desperate to salvage their reputations from a poor year.
Pittsburgh has won four of its past six games and has some decent form coming into this week. They should have Kenny Pickett under centre, with George Pickens his primary target again. Their true strength lies with their defense, which made life impossible for Sam Darnold and the Panthers last week. They have the second most interceptions and the dominant T.J. Watt at the line of scrimmage. That is a formidable challenge for a team like the Raiders, who have sometimes looked brittle this season.
They pulled off a miracle win over New England last week, but that papers over the cracks of Derek Carr’s inability to close out a game. When star receiver DaVante Adams is nullified as he was last week, Carr has limited options, and Las Vegas may not be able to pull this one out of the fire as they did last week.
SUGGESTED BET:
George Pickens anytime touchdown scorer at $3.20
Cardinals vs. Buccaneers
December 26th
Arizona’s season has gone from bad to worse with a Kyler Murray ACL tear followed by a loss to the lowly Broncos.
The Cardinals have little firepower on offense and rely on Colt McCoy as their leading man at Quarterback. McCoy has the experience but lacks the star power needed to take his team to the promised land.
Tampa Bay has also been playing below expectations this season but is still in the hunt because of its standing in a weak division. Tom Brady’s doubters are growing, with plenty of speculation over his future. But as we have seen time and time again, Brady is best with his back to the wall and may use this prime-time match-up to remind everyone that he is, in fact, Tom Brady. Look for him to bounce back as long as his O-line can protect him from the lurking J.J. Watt.
SUGGESTED BET:
Buccaneers -7.5 at $1.92
Colts vs. Chargers
December 27th
Nick Foles’ remarkable NFL career has a new chapter, with him getting the starting job at Indianapolis.
The Superbowl-winning Quarterback takes over from Matt Ryan at a time when Indianapolis has very little to play for. Jonathan Taylor is out of action with an ankle injury which diminishes their running game, so all responsibility sits with Foles on offense.
They face an in-form Chargers who have had some troubles on defense recently. With a playoff run about to kick off, look for a more disciplined effort from LA’s defenders while Justin Herbert goes from strength to strength as one of the league’s premier Quarterbacks. He has a host of weapons at his disposal and will use every single one of them to take his team to another win as they surge forward.
