NFL Week 16 Biggest Games, Best Bet and FanDuel Lineup
Baltimore Ravens @ San Francisco 49ers
This will hopefully be the best game of the year. On paper, it looks like a Super Bowl preview. Both teams should secure the one seed in their conferences in the coming weeks. Both have top 5 scoring offenses and defenses. It’s the cliché unstoppable force meets immovable object. Something has to give though. I still am not a believer in the Ravens. They’ve had some slip ups this year. San Francisco on the other hand hasn’t, at least not when they’ve been healthy. When the entire offense is on the field for the majority of the game (over 50% of snaps), they score an average of 31.2 points. They’re simply too good. Maybe Baltimore has the secret to stopping them. I wouldn’t be shocked if this game is close until the very end. However, my money is on a double-digit San Francisco win. I’m calling 27-14 in favor of the 49ers.
New York Giants @ Philadelphia Eagles
I’m very interested in this game. Since the Giants’ loss to Dallas on November 12th, they haven’t allowed more than 24 points. Now, they haven’t faced any good offenses in that stretch, but the Eagles aren’t playing like one. Jalen Hurts and the rest of the Philly crew have looked out of sync all year. As we get further away from Steichen’s term as the OC, it is apparent he was a major force behind Hurts’ 2022 MVP level season. I need to see some of that play come back in these next 3 games for Philadelphia. They face the Giants, Cardinals and Giants to end the season. A team couldn’t ask for a better stretch to get right before the playoffs. I need to see something from them this Christmas eve.
Dallas Cowboys @ Miami Dolphins
Part of me thinks Dallas will rebound from their embarrassing loss to Buffalo last week and absolutely crush the Dolphins. But this is Dallas we’re talking about. Every time they have a chance to take a step forward, they take two backward. I was so close to crowning Dak Prescott as my MVP and then he delivers a 134-yard, 0 TD, 1 INT performance. Dallas’ defense was shredded by James Cook and now they face a top 5 rushing offense. I think Mostert and Achane will have their way Sunday on the road to a Miami win. I don’t like it, but Dallas seems like a team that isn’t able to get right unless they’re at home. I see another road loss for the Cowboys by a score of 24-21.
Indianapolis Colts +3 @ Atlanta Falcons
This line has been steamrolling Atlanta’s way all week. This morning it pushed to +3 and I can’t figure out what everyone knows that I don’t. Heinicke is getting the start today which provides the Falcons with a little more juice through the air, but enough to be a 3-point favorite against a good Colts team? I don’t see it. Both Pittman and Taylor are expected to play. The Colts can’t afford to drop a game in this late season playoff push. Even if Indianapolis can’t win this game, I trust them to keep it close. I wish the number was 3.5, but we don’t always get everything we ask for on Christmas.
QB – Baker Mayfield – $7,300
RB – Travis Etienne Jr. – $8,000
RB – Khalil Herbert – $5,100
WR – Mike Evans – $8,700
WR – Jaxon Smith-Njigba – $5,900
WR – Calvin Ridley – $6,800
TE – Cade Otton – $5,200
FLEX – Ceedee Lamb – $9,400
DEF – Seattle Seahawks – $3,500