2021 NFL picks, score predictions for Week 16

Los Angeles Chargers (8-6) at Houston Texans (3-11)

Sunday, December 26, 1PM ET

To my dismay, the Los Angeles Chargers didn’t pull off the upset I predicted this past week. They did come close, however, and are still very much a threat in the AFC. Week 16 will provide them with the perfect opportunity to get back in the win column with only three weeks to go.

Sure, the Houston Texans are coming off their own win and Davis Mills hasn’t been that bad in the second half of the season. While that may be the case, they still pale in comparison to the Chargers, who have the talent to make a run in the AFC playoffs if Justin Herbert is on his game.

Speaking of Herbert, he figures to carve up the Texans secondary like a Christmas ham on Sunday. He’s been having a tremendous season, and I don’t see him slowing down with the playoffs just around the corner. Houston will do their best to keep him and the rest of the Los Angeles offense in check, but I’m predicting limited success in that regard.

The Texans would love to play spoiler here, even if it could potentially push them further down the 2022 NFL Draft order. That’s just not going to happen, though, as Herbert, Keenan Allen, Austin Ekeler, and the Chargers offense put on a show to secure their ninth win of the year.

Prediction: Chargers win 41-20 | Spread: N/A