Just three weeks remain in the NFL season to sort out the playoff picture, and the Week 16 schedule delivers with a depth of marquee matchups.
So many, in fact, that we had to expand our weekly spotlight of the best games from five to six.
And that’s not counting the doozy that already happened Thursday night as the Seahawks nipped the Rams, 38-37.
With that as the tone-setter, strap in for what should be a wild weekend in the NFL that starts a little early with two Saturday games — including one of the best matchups of the week.
(All game times ET; all point spreads via ESPN Bet)
Best Games To Watch
Jacksonville Jaguars (10-4) at Denver Broncos (12-2)
4:05 p.m. Sunday on FOX
The Broncos have the NFL’s longest winning streak at 11 games and are coming off their best win of the season after beating the Packers 34-26 last week. In that game, second-year QB Bo Nix was brilliant with 302 yards, 4 TDs and 0 INTs.
But the Jaguars are also one of the hottest teams in the league with five straight wins, while QB Trevor Lawrence played the best game of his career last week with 330 passing yards, 5 TDs, 0 INT and 51 rushing yards with a TD on the ground as well.
Add it all up and this is the game of the week in our book.
We’ve kept Jacksonville outside of the “True Super Bowl Contenders” tier in our weekly NFL Power Rankings, but if the Jaguars can win in Denver then we’ll have to rethink that.
Denver is a 3.5-point favorite.
Prediction: Broncos 28, Jaguars 24
Green Bay Packers (9-4-1) at Chicago Bears (10-4)
8:20 p.m. Saturday on FOX
This game may well decide the NFC North.
The Packers beat the Bears, 28-21, at home just two weeks ago and had won four in a row overall before a painful 34-26 loss to the Broncos last week. Not only did Green Bay blow a 23-14 third quarter lead but it lost defensive game-wrecker Micah Parsons for the season to a torn ACL.
It remains to be seen how the Packers’ defense adjusts without its biggest star.
The Bears, meanwhile, have won six of their last seven with that loss at Lambeau Field the only setback in that span. Chicago responded with a 31-3 win over the Browns last week as second-year QB Caleb Williams continues to look the part of a No. 1 overall draft pick.
Williams is up to 3,150 passing yards, 21 TDs and just 6 INTs for the season, plus 334 yards and 3 TDs rushing. Williams has been complemented by the backfield duo of D’Andre Swift (935 rushing yards, 7 TDs) and Kyle Monangai (681-5). Swift was limited in practice with a groin injury this week but is expected to play. Unfortunately, two of the Bears’ top receivers — Rome Odunze (foot) and Luther Burden III (ankle) — have been ruled out.
Chicago does get a boost defensively, though, with linebacker and leading tackler Tremaine Edmunds returning after missing four games with a groin injury.
For Green Bay, the big question leading up to kickoff Saturday night is the status of RB Josh Jacobs (knee/ankle), which will be a game-time decision based on how he feels in warm-ups.
RT Zach Tom (knee) is trending toward being out, per FOX’s Jay Glazer, while WR Christian Watson (chest/shoulder) is expected to play, which is big for QB Jordan Love as Watson has re-established himself as one of the league’s premier deep threats this season.
Chicago is a 1.5-point favorite.
Prediction: Packers 26, Bears 24
New England Patriots (11-3) at Baltimore Ravens (7-7)
8:20 p.m. Sunday on NBC/Peacock
The Patriots had their 10-game winning streak snapped last week after blowing an early 21-0 lead to the Bills (35-31), so it will be interesting to see how New England responds to its first setback in months and now with just a one-game lead over Buffalo in the AFC East.
QB Drake Maye lost some steam in the MVP race with his worst passing performance of the season in that loss, throwing for just 155 yards, 0 TDs and 1 INT, but he did rush for 43 yards and 2 scores.
Meanwhile, TreVeyon Henderson continued his breakout rookie season with 148 yards and 2 TDs on 14 carries.
The records aside, this should be a tough test for New England as it faces a Ravens team playing for its season, a game back of the Steelers in the AFC North with three weeks to go.
Baltimore snapped a two-game losing skid with a 24-0 win over the Bengals last week.
The wildcard remains QB Lamar Jackson, who hasn’t been the same player since returning from an early-season hamstring injury. He rushed just twice last week for 26 yards, though he didn’t need his legs in that lopsided game, but in general Jackson has been hesitant to run while topping 40 rushing yards just once since the injury.
Baltimore’s secondary could be depleted a bit with CB Chidobe Awuzie (foot) doubtful and S Kyle Hamilton (ankle) questionable. LT Ronnie Stanley (knee/ankle) is also questionable.
Baltimore is a 3-point favorite.
Prediction: Patriots 31, Ravens 28
Pittsburgh Steelers (8-6) at Detroit Lions (8-6)
4:25 p.m. Sunday on CBS
The Steelers have won two straight and hold a one-game lead atop the AFC North standings over the Ravens so they control their path to the playoffs.
The Lions can’t say the same as they are currently on the outside of the playoff picture trying to battle back for a wildcard spot. They’ve alternated wins and losses the last 10 weeks while failing to generate any momentum or look like the team that won 15 games a year ago.
Detroit essentially needs to win out and get a little help to make the playoffs, but they’d have a strong shot of making it if they handle their side of things vs. the Steelers, Vikings and Bears (with those last two games on the road).
While the Lions have been inconsistent, they lead the NFL in scoring (30.6 PPG) and rank fourth in the NFL in total offense (379.9 YPG). It’s the other side of the ball that is the problem as Detroit has given up 32.3 PPG over the last four games.
Star pass rusher T.J. Watt will miss another game for Pittsburgh as he recovers from a partially collapsed lung, CB James Pierre (calf) will also miss a second straight game and OG Isaac Seumalo (triceps) has been ruled out as well.
The Lions could be without C Graham Glasgow (knee).
Detroit is a 7-point favorite.
Prediction: Lions 27, Steelers 20
San Francisco 49ers (10-4) at Indianapolis Colts (8-6)
8:15 p.m. Monday on ABC/ESPN
The Colts once had one of the best records in the NFL midway through this season, but they have lost four straight games (five out of six) and their starting quarterback since then. Even still, they maintain a shot at the playoffs if they can finish strong and get some help (the video below explains all the scenarios).
Of course, that’s asking a lot with 44-year-old QB Philip Rivers leading the offense now after playing in his first game in five years last week. Rivers wasn’t in vintage form (18 of 27 for 120 yards, 1 TD and 1 INT), but he had Indianapolis in the lead late in the game before Seattle won it on a long field goal in the final minute.
Look for the Colts to continue to lean hard on star RB Jonathan Taylor, who had 25 carries (tied for his second-most this season) last week for 87 yards. He’s slowed down since his torrid start to the season, but Taylor still leads the NFL with 1,443 rushing yards and 16 TDs (plus 318 yards and 2 TDs receiving).
San Francisco weathered a spate of setbacks and injuries early in the season and is now rolling with four straight wins, but it could be without WR Ricky Pearsall (knee/ankle) as his status remains up in the air.
The Colts remain without star CB Sauce Gardner.
San Francisco is a 5.5-point favorite.
Prediction: 49ers 27, Colts 17
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-7) at Carolina Panthers (7-7)
1 p.m. Sunday on FOX
We had to fit in a sixth featured game this week because this one has huge playoff implications.
The Buccaneers and Panthers are tied atop the NFC South, but this game won’t decide it as the teams also meet again in two weeks in the final week of the regular season.
The Bucs are in a freefall with five losses in their last six games with only a win over the hapless Cardinals breaking up the streak. They blew a 14-point fourth quarter lead in a 29-28 loss to the Falcons last week, prompting coach Todd Bowles to question the commitment and heart of his team in an expletive-laden postgame press conference. We’ll see how that message landed.
QB Baker Mayfield was a top MVP candidate early in the season, but he hasn’t looked right the last month and a half and has just 6 passing TDs (plus a rushing TD) and 5 INTs in the last five games. That said, he did look in sync with Mike Evans in the star receiver’s first game back from a broken collarbone, connecting 6 times for 132 yards.
The Bucs also look to be fully healthy — or as healthy as they’re going to get — with no key players missing practice Friday.
As for the Panthers, their wacky season continued with another letdown loss to the Saints last week. Earlier this season, Carolina went into Lambeau Field for a stunning upset win over the Packers only to lose the following week to the Saints. This time, the Panthers had beaten Rams at home, had a bye and then lost to the middling Saints yet again.
They are truly the NFL’s Jekyll and Hyde team.
Tampa Bay is a 3-point favorite.
Prediction: Buccaneers 24, Panthers 22
More Predictions
Saturday 5 p.m.
Philadelphia Eagles (9-5) at Washington Commanders (4-10): The Eagles snapped a three-game losing streak with a 31-0 beatdown of the Raiders last week and they get another favorable matchup vs. Washington and backup QB Marcus Mariota. The Commanders did beat the Giants 29-21 last week but had lost eight straight before that. The Eagles remain without RT Lane Johnson (foot) and DT Jalen Carter (shoulders), while the Commanders will be missing LT Laremy Tunsil (oblique). Philadelphia is a 7-point favorite. Prediction: Eagles 28, Commanders 20
Sunday 1 p.m.
New York Jets (3-11) at New Orleans Saints (4-10): Undrafted rookie QB Brady Cook makes his second start for New York after passing for 176 yards, 1 TD and 3 INTs in a lopsided loss to Jacksonville last week. The Jets officially declared that top WR Garrett Wilson (who has been out since mid-November with a knee injury) is done for the season as they limp to the finish line of another disappointing campaign. The Saints remain somewhat spunky even with star RB Alvin Kamara sidelined, beating the Panthers last week as Tyler Shough passed for 272 yards and a TD with no picks. New Orleans is a 6.5-point favorite. Prediction: Saints 20, Jets 17
Buffalo Bills (10-4) at Cleveland Browns (3-11): Buffalo is rolling again with three straight wins, including the big road victory at New England last week. QB Josh Allen has had back-to-back games with 3 passing TDs and 0 picks and is creeping back into the MVP race (3,276 passing yards, 25 TDs, 10 INTs, 535 rushing yards, 12 TDs). And the Browns are still the Browns, coming off a 31-3 loss to the Bears in which QB Shedeur Sanders tossed 3 picks. That said, the Bills too often play down to their competition. Buffalo is a 10.5-point favorite. Prediction: Bills 27, Browns 17
Kansas City Chiefs (6-8) at Tennessee Titans (2-12): Gardner Minshew starts at QB with Patrick Mahomes recovering from knee surgery and the Chiefs officially eliminated from the playoffs for the first time since 2014. Kansas City is also without WRs Rashee Rice and Tyquan Thornton, OL Jaylon Moore and Jawaan Taylor, DT Derrick Nnadi, LB Leo Chenal, CB Trent McDuffie and S Nazeeh Johnson, who have all been starters or key contributors this season. Only against the lowly Titans could Kansas City be set as a 3-point favorite still. Prediction: Titans 20, Chiefs 16
Los Angeles Chargers (10-4) at Dallas Cowboys (6-7-1): The Cowboys haven’t officially been eliminated from playoff contention, but it’s only a matter of time now after two straight losses. Dallas put CB DaRon Bland (foot) on injured reserve but is expected to get CB Trevon Diggs back for the first time since late October. The Chargers have won three straight, including statement wins over the Eagles and Chiefs, to move into strong position for a playoff berth. Dallas is a 1.5-point favorite. Prediction: Chargers 23, Cowboys 21
Minnesota Vikings (6-8) at New York Giants (2-12): QB J.J. McCarthy has played better in helping Minnesota to two straight wins over the Commanders and Cowboys, but trust him at your own peril. The fact he can’t get Justin Jefferson going — the star wideout has a total of 6 catches for 37 yards combined in the last three games — is a glaring concern still. The Giants have lost eight straight games, though rookie QB Jaxson Dart is entertaining and capable of keeping them competitive. He has 10 passing TDs, 2 INTs and 6 rushing TDs in his last seven games. Minnesota is a 2.5-point favorite. Prediction: Vikings 33, Giants 21
Cincinnati Bengals (4-10) at Miami Dolphins (6-8): Rookie QB Quinn Ewers makes his first career start with Tua Tagovailoa benched, while the Bengals are coming off a 24-0 loss to the Ravens with star QB Joe Burrow questioning the meaning of life in every interview now. Both teams are eliminated from the playoffs, so it’s hard to know what to expect here. WR Tee Higgins remains questionable for Cincinnati as he works through the concussion protocol. Cincinnati is a 4.5-point favorite. Prediction: Bengals 24, Dolphins 20
Sunday 4:05/4:25
Atlanta Falcons (5-9) at Arizona Cardinals (3-11): The Falcons showed some life last week, erasing a 14-point fourth quarter deficit to beat the Buccaneers. They also get star WR Drake London back after he missed four games with a knee injury. The Cardinals, meanwhile, have been lifeless for a while in losing six straight games with four of those defeats coming by 19 or more points. Atlanta is a 3-point favorite. Prediction: Falcons 27, Cardinals 21
Las Vegas Raiders (2-12) at Houston Texans (9-5): The Texans have won six straight games thanks to their stifling defense that leads the NFL in both yards (269.2) and points (16.3) allowed per game. The Raiders, meanwhile, are a disaster. QB Geno Smith is back in as the starter this week for Las Vegas, but that hasn’t made a difference all season. Texans’ RBs Woody Marks (ankle) and Nick Chubb (ribs) remain questionable, but Jawhar Jordan rushed for 100 yards in their stead last week, so it shouldn’t matter much who is taking the handoffs there. Houston is a 14.5-point favorite. Prediction: Texans 28, Raiders 9
