We're now at the point of the regular season where playoff and division-clinching scenarios are beginning to pop up all over the place. In Week 15, the Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Rams each clinched a playoff spot, becoming the first two teams in the NFL to do so this year.
In Week 16, we could see more teams punching their ticket to the playoffs, projected to be one of the more wide open postseasons we have seen in recent NFL memory. The playoffs in the AFC will likely be without all of Lamar Jackson, Joe Burrow, and Patrick Mahomes, which is hard to believe.
The NFC playoffs also appear to be wide open at this point. As we have done every week thus far, we have our picks and score predictions for every single game, so let's get into it right here. All 32 teams are in action now that bye weeks are done.
NFL picks and score predictions for every single Week 16 game
Los Angeles Rams @ Seattle Seahawks
Thursday, December 18th, 8:15 PM ET
This could be the regular season game of the year, as the winner of this battle between two 11-3 NFC West teams could end up winning the division. The Los Angeles Rams beat the Seattle Seahawks a few weeks ago. Sam Darnold tossed four interceptions in the loss.
The outcome of this game could end up being the difference between the no.1 seed in the NFC playoffs and the no. 5 seed. Seattle has been in that fifth seed spot for weeks now, with the LA Rams occupying the top seed.
The top seed gets the first-round bye and home-field advantage, and the fifth seed has to travel in the Wild Card Round. With Seattle having this game at home, I tend to want to pick them, as the Rams are also likely not having Davante Adams suiting up in this one.
Darnold, though, doesn’t really play well in big games, so I think that is a valid concern right now. This game is as much of a toss-up as any in the Week 16 slate. I do believe the Rams are the better team and end up doing enough to win.
Prediction: Rams win 23-21
Philadelphia Eagles @ Washington Commanders
Saturday, December 20th, 5:00 PM ET
This game was supposed to have huge playoff implications for both teams, but the 4-10 Washington Commanders have been eliminated from the postseason and have had a season to forget. Jayden Daniels has been shut down for the rest of the season due to injuries, and obviously, Washington is not in the playoff picture.
He’s had multiple injuries this year and truly just could not stay on the field. That’s also true for many other players on the roster, and I think many of us overrated this team heading into 2025. The roster wasn’t nearly as good as people thought, and it was also an old group of players.
Simply put, all of the franchise’s shortcomings caught up with them this season. Marcus Mariota gets the start against the 9-5 Philadelphia Eagles, a team that did get back on track a bit with a win over the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 15, but that is not saying much.
Luckily for Philly, the Commanders are bad, so this game should not be a huge problem for them. What could come from this is that the Eagles stack a few more of these wins, win the NFC East, get some neat playoff seeding, and perhaps go into the playoffs with a bit of momentum.
The Eagles are going to overwhelm Washington with their stingy defense, and Jalen Hurts is good enough to expose a bad secondary as well. The Commanders hope to turn the page and reload for 2026 and beyond, so I would not be shocked if many of the players and coaches just wanted this year to be over with.
The Eagles win by multiple scores and become yet another team to teach double-digit wins here in 2025.
Prediction: Eagles win 30-17
Green Bay Packers @ Chicago Bears
Saturday, December 20th, 8:20 PM ET
The second Saturday game here in Week 16 is going to be a great one, as the 10-4 Chicago Bears host the 9-4-1 Green Bay Packers, a team that lost its first-place standing in the NFC North in Week 15 thanks to a Bears’ win over the Cleveland Browns and a loss to the Denver Broncos.
The Packers have had an interesting season, as they are a good team, but they have lost to teams like the Browns and Panthers. Green Bay also lost Micah Parsons for the rest of the season due to a torn ACL suffered in the second half of their loss to the Broncos, which is just brutal news for the defense.
Right now, the Bears are the better team and get to play this game at home. What we’ve seen from Chicago this year is a strong run game and a quarterback who is playing well when his team needs him to the most. Caleb Williams needs to get that completion percentage up, but that could simply come with more reps.
I am inclined to pick the Bears in this one, as losing Parsons changes everything for the Packers, and the team also may not have Christian Watson in this game, as he suffered a chest injury in Week 15.
The winner of this game could end up winning the NFC North this year. The Packers being able to sweep the Bears would be massive given what they just went through in Week 15, but I believe Chicago makes this very interesting and wins in Week 16, getting to 11-4 in the process.
The Packers' chances at the NFC North are virtually gone if they are not able to take down the Bears in what could be the biggest game for both teams this year.
Prediction: Bears win 24-23
Buffalo Bills @ Cleveland Browns
Sunday, December 21st, 1:00 PM ET
This is a huge game for the Buffalo Bills, as they kept their AFC East hopes alive with a huge comeback win over the New England Patriots in Week 15. The Bills were down 21-0 at one point and were able to storm all the way back and win.
On the season, Buffalo is now 10-4, but this team does have some major concerns, as the offense is very Josh Allen-reliant, and almost too Allen-reliant at times. The reigning MVP can make a ton of plays and carry this team to victory when needed, but at some point, that is not going to be sustainable, period.
The Bills have botched the WR room for years, and that’s really the main issue with the offense. Defensively, they have been soft at times and need some new players at all three levels, so this team is far from perfect.
The Cleveland Browns are in another lost season, but Myles Garrett is getting close to breaking the all-time sack record, and it’s important to note that the Browns have been able to beat good teams at home this year, as they took down the Green Bay Packers at home earlier this year.
And that stingy defense is really the only good thing from this year. I would not be shocked if head coach Kevin Stefanski was shown the door, as I get the sense that the team is wanting a fresh start.
The Browns are one of the worst teams in the NFL for a reason, as their failure to stabilize the QB position has been this team’s downfall in recent years and the primary reason why they have lost so many games. The Bills are able to win a low-scoring affair and get to 11-4, keeping their hopes alive for the AFC East crown, a division they have won each year since 2020.
Prediction: Bills win 21-14
Los Angeles Chargers @ Dallas Cowboys
Sunday, December 21st, 1:00 PM ET
A huge game for both teams, the Dallas Cowboys host the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 16. Both teams are clinging to life, but in different ways. The Cowboys are actually still alive in the NFC East, but they simply need to win out and get some help to even sniff the playoffs this year.
Dallas has fielded one of the more efficient offenses in the league this year, but it’s been wasted by a bottom-tier defense to put it plainly. Dak Prescott, George Pickens, CeeDee Lamb, and Javonte Williams have all been great this year.
And even if Dallas had an average defense, they’d likely have double-digit wins and could be in first-place in the NFC East. All in all, though, the Cowboys do have a clear path forward to get better and emerge as a contender in 2026 and beyond.
The LA Chargers are 10-4 on the season and are still alive in the AFC West race, but this team is flawed and is likely going to have to settle for a Wild Card spot this year. The offensive line has had a ton of different combinations in 2025, and Justin Herbert has put the ball in harm’s way more than you’d like.
The Cowboys probably have the early advantage in this one, but we did just see the Minnesota Vikings, an inferior team, go into Dallas and win, so you can’t really rely on the Cowboys for much at this point.
But with their playoff hopes on the line and having a top-tier offense, the Cowboys find a way to win and get back to .500 with a victory over the Chargers. Los Angeles does have a path to win this game, though, as their defense is good enough to limit the Dallas offense, and Justin Herbert can pick apart the Cowboys’ defense.
Prediction: Dallas wins 27-24
Kansas City Chiefs @ Tennessee Titans
Sunday, December 21st, 1:00 PM ET
This game just got a lot more interesting. The Kansas City Chiefs are in Tennessee to play the Titans in a game of two teams that have been eliminated from playoff contention. Let’s start with the Kansas City Chiefs, a team that has had a year to forget.
The Chiefs struggled to get much going all year but did have their moments. Overall, the issues with the Chiefs this year can be boiled down to them simply not having enough good players. The offensive line battled some injuries this year, the weapons on that side of the ball just are not special, and the defense doesn’t have much juice.
This team got very top-heavy, but their best players like Travis Kelce and Chris Jones aren’t who they used to be. Patrick Mahomes tore his ACL trying to extend a play against the Chargers at home, and that could put him out for a chunk of the 2026 NFL Season.
The Chiefs’ future just got a lot more uncertain. Backup QB Gardner Minshew should see the remaining starts for the Chiefs, but they could beat the Tennessee Titans, the worst team in football and a team that used the first overall pick on Cam Ward.
Ward has shown some flashes here and there, but until the Titans load up this roster, we won’t fully know how good Ward can be. This game is honestly totally irrelevant when you think about it, as the 6-8 Chiefs cannot make the playoffs - there is no path.
I would expect KC to play some uninspired football to be completely honest, as getting a higher draft pick in the 2026 NFL Draft is really not a bad idea. The Titans are able to do enough to win at home and perhaps provide some optimism as the regular season comes to an end.
Prediction: Titans win 20-17
Cincinnati Bengals @ Miami Dolphins
Sunday, December 21st, 1:00 PM ET
Both Cincinnati and Miami have been eliminated from playoff contention in recent weeks, and both franchises just need to hit the reset button in a big way, to put it plainly. The Bengals lost Joe Burrow for a large chunk of the season due to a turf toe injury.
Burrow returned to the lineup, but it was not enough, as the Bengals are heading toward a losing season, and the veteran QB really hasn’t been all that good when he’s played this year. Joe Burrow will suit up for the Bengals’ remaining games, so I guess that’s something.
If you ask me, the Bengals need to bring in a new coaching staff and focus their entire offseason on bolstering the defense and fixing the offensive line. If they can do that, they’ll be back as a contender in 2026 like we know they can be.
The Miami Dolphins are now 6-8 on the season and out of the playoffs, and it is not clear how the future looks for the team’s QB position, as it’s clear that Tua Tagovailoa is just not going to last much longer as the team’s starter. He’s been a winning QB during his time in Miami, but he’s really nothing been more than average.
Miami and Cincy need to blow their operations up and start fresh, and with the Dolphins’ QB uncertainty looming large here, I believe the Bengals win this one. The offense in Cincy can be great at times, and Miami’s defense is just OK.
For both teams, a loss really isn’t the worst thing, as they’d be in a better position when the 2026 NFL Draft rolls around in April. We’re to the point in the season where many of these games are with two teams that are out of the playoff picture.
Prediction: Bengals win 27-24
New York Jets @ New Orleans Saints
Sunday, December 21st, 1:00 PM ET
This game is… something. The New York Jets and New Orleans Saints are both out of the playoffs and have been two of the very worst teams in the league this year. The Jets have really had nothing go their way this year. They are still without an interception and just recently fired defensive coordinator Steve Wilks, so that’s where the Jets are at.
The biggest thing this team did was trade both Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams for multiple first-round draft picks, so GM Darren Mougey at least signaled that his team is going to be building for the future, which is the right move, as this Jets’ team is truly horrendous, and I am not sure Aaron Glenn will get into 2026.
The New Orleans Saints at least have seen rookie QB Tyler Shough play quite well this year, all things considered. Shough seems to have some ‘it factor’ about him that the Saints can absolutely begin building around in 2026 and beyond.
I am not sure I would continue to trust Mickey Loomis, but his job does not appear to be at risk. This game is in New Orleans, and with the Saints having the better QB here and simply being the better team, they should win this one.
It does feel like New Orleans may have gone backwards into a franchise QB. We are still a little ways away from truly seeing if Shough can be that guy, but the arrow is pointing up. He should be able to have a strong day against a very bad Jets’ secondary. This could be a career-best performance early in Shough’s career.
The Saints are in a good position to get their fifth win of the year and third in a row.
Prediction: Saints win 28-17
Minnesota Vikings @ New York Giants
Sunday, December 21st, 1:00 PM ET
Another game between two teams eliminated from the playoff hunt, the New York Giants host the Minnesota Vikings in a battle of two young quarterbacks who have shown flashes this year. For the Vikings and Giants, this is the main thing they are going to take into the offseason.
The Vikings have largely had a season to forget, as this team won 14 games in 2024 with Sam Darnold at quarterback and obviously let him leave in free agency. Since handing the reigns over to JJ McCarthy, he’s battled injuries, again, and some horrendous play besides his previous two starts.
All of a sudden, the second-year QB has shown some promise, and if he keeps that up as the regular season ends, the Vikings could be in great shape in 2026, as the defense is very good, and when healthy, the offensive personnel are great, so there is light at the end of the tunnel.
The New York Giants may have someone special in Jaxson Dart, but he has simply taken way too many hits and has been evaluated for a plethora of concussions this year, which is far from ideal.
If the next Giants’ coaching staff can’t teach Dart to protect himself more, his career is going to be short. Both teams are out of the playoffs but definitely want to see more growth from their young QBs, so that’s what these final few games are going to be about.
I would give the nod to the Giants in this one. They are at home and have a very talented defensive line, and McCarthy has still largely been bad in 2025, so his two strong starts in a row don’t mean that’s going to keep up here in Week 15.
At the end of the day, though, this game is largely meaningless, as harsh as that might sound.
Prediction: Giants win 23-20
Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Carolina Panthers
Sunday, December 21st,1:00 PM ET
A huge matchup for both teams here in Week 16, the Carolina Panthers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers will play each other two times over the final three games of the season, and both teams have had very interesting seasons to say the least.
The Panthers are 7-7 and have alternated wins and losses since Week 7, and with the Panthers losing in Week 15, I guess they are supposed to win now! Carolina simply isn’t good as the record indicates, but the defense is finally playing reasonably well, and Bryce Young has been solid.
Overall, this team needs to strongly consider finding an upgrade at QB, as I am not sure Young’s ceiling is high enough for this team to go anywhere, but one huge positive is that Dave Canales, their head coach, appears to be the man for the job.
The Buccaneers likely had already hoped to put the NFC South away, but they are also 7-7 and were 5-1 at one point earlier this year. They have since gone 2-5 and have collapsed. Battling injuries and overall regression, Tampa is clinging to life in the NFC South.
The good thing here though is that the winner of this division is going to host a playoff game, whether they truly deserve it or not. The Bucs are probably better than Carolina and should be able to win this one, but the back-and-forth Panthers are consistent if nothing else, as they have responded from bad losses with good wins, and vice versa.
This is honestly one of the hardest games to pick, as I see a strong argument for both teams to win this one, but I am actually going to pick the home team in a bit of an upset in Week 16.
Prediction: Panthers win 26-23
Jacksonville Jaguars @ Denver Broncos
Sunday, December 21st, 4:05 PM ET
Maybe the best game of the Week 16 slate, the Jacksonville Jaguars, winners of five games in a row, are visiting the Denver Broncos, who have won 11 games in a row and are currently 12-2 on the season. Both quarterbacks in this matchup have been heating up the past month, and both defenses are quite stingy.
The Jaguars have probably been one of the best stories in the NFL this year, as they were a team constantly in the abyss, but first-year head coach Liam Coen has made quick work of this turnaround, as the Jags are primed to win the AFC South this year as long as they can fend off the surging Houston Texans.
Trevor Lawrence has been on fire recently, and the Jags can not only run the ball, but they can stop the run, which is a recipe for success. The Broncos have seen second-year QB Bo Nix take off in previous weeks. He had what could be his best career performance in Week 15, a win over the Green Bay Packers.
Denver is a juggernaut and owns the best record in the NFL. They also became the first team in the AFC to clinch a playoff spot and could not only clinch the division, but also clinch the no. 1 overall seed with a win and a few other things going their way in Week 16.
The Broncos are the best team in the league - while some people might want to doubt Bo Nix, he has continually come through in tough situations, and while the Jaguars are a very good team, Denver is better and has not lost at home in over a calendar year.
Denver wins another close game and gets one step closer to that no. 1 overall seed in the AFC. The last time they had that was 2015, and they won the Super Bowl that year.
Prediction: Broncos win 24-21
Atlanta Falcons @ Arizona Cardinals
Sunday, December 21st, 4:05 PM ET
Both Arizona and Atlanta are eliminated from playoff contention, so both teams are surely wanting to just get to the offseason so they can begin fixing their issues. The Falcons were 3-2 at one point, and the arrow was pointing up in a crucial 2025 season.
They have since bottomed out, and Michael Penix Jr has been out with a knee injury, so the injury-prone factor has unfortunately followed him into the NFL. The Falcons, on paper, can be a great team, but the coaching has really been the primary issue for the Falcons.
Raheem Morris is probably not getting the 2026 season, as I believe the Falcons could totally clean house, including GM Terry Fontenot. For the long-term, Atlanta has to decide whether Penix is going to be their guy or not, and also decide on the long-term futures on key young players like Drake London and BIjan Robinson.
With Atlanta not having a first-round pick in 2026, I could see one of those high-end players being traded. The Cardinals have been worse. They have gone 1-11 after an encouraging 2-0 start. Kyler Murray is likely to be cut or traded this coming offseason as well, so the Cardinals are set to undergo some major change.
Right now, I believe the Falcons have the advantage here, as backup QB Kirk Cousins has played reasonably well, and there is a chance that, with a strong finish, Raheem Morris could be brought back for 2026.
The Falcons have a better roster than the Cardinals, and the forgettable 2025 season continues for Arizona. Both teams expected a lot more this year, but it just has not gone that way. Give me the Falcons in a relatively boring game in Week 16.
Prediction: Falcons win 25-21
Pittsburgh Steelers @ Detroit Lions
Sunday, December 21st, 4:25 PM ET
Both Pittsburgh and Detroit probably need to win out at this point. The Steelers made waves this past offseason when they signed Aaron Rodgers and loaded up the roster with other players. Thus far, it’s not really worked out super well, but they are now 8-6 on the season and in control in the AFC North, having beaten the Miami Dolphins on Monday Night Football.
While Pittsburgh might make the playoffs this year, they don’t do anything overly well and do not have much of an identity, so they are going to be one-and-done in the postseason if they are able to get there this year.
The Lions are 8-6, but a different type of 8-6. The Lions have battled injuries for multiple years now on the defensive side of the ball, and it seems like injuries and Aaron Glenn leaving have had a huge impact on that side of the ball, as it’s not been good this year, but the offense has still been quite good.
Detroit gets this one at home and is actually 5-0 after losing this year, which I find interesting - if nothing else, the Lions know how to respond after a loss. That is a huge testament to Dan Campbell and the culture he has established.
I am also not sure the Steelers have nearly enough talent in the secondary to keep this Lions’ passing attack at bay. Jared Goff has been sensational this year and can pick apart many defenses from the pocket.
Detroit ranks first in the NFL in points scored, and they are going to put up a ton of points in this one. With the Lions still being alive in the NFC North race but being on the outside of the NFC playoff picture, they play a complete, perhaps desperate game and get to 9-6, making things very interesting in the NFC.
Prediction: Lions win 34-23
Las Vegas Raiders @ Houston Texans
Sunday, December 21st, 4:25 PM ET
I honestly feel bad for the Las Vegas Raiders. I am not sure Vegas is going to put up a single point in this one, and if that is the case, they would be shut out for the second game in a row, which feels fake, but it’s not.
The Raiders traded legitimate NFL Draft capital for Geno Smith and also hired Pete Carroll. It was clear what this team was trying to do this year, and I understood it a bit, as they took Ashton Jeanty in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Vegas wanted to get competent QB play from Smith and run the heck out of the ball, perhaps being able to establish some competency in the process, but the complete opposite has happened, as the decision-makers in Vegas overrated the roster and probably overrated Geno Smith and Pete Carroll, who are both extremely bad at their respective jobs at this point.
Houston, on the flip side, has gone 9-2 since a brutal 0-3 start. The Texans are seeing a top-tier defense play well most weeks, and the offense has begun to come alive. This game should be over before the first half is over.
CJ Stroud is going to dice up the Raiders’ secondary, and Vegas may struggle to cross midfield. The Raiders are last in points scored and have hit the 20-point mark just five times this year. They have scored single-digit points in five games and have been shut out twice.
This could be a bloodbath, and I think the Texans’ defense is going to hold the Raiders scoreless in this one. Give me the Texans in a drubbing. Could Pete Carroll be one-and-done in Vegas? It feels like that will be the case.
Prediction: Texans win 31-0
New England Patriots @ Baltimore Ravens
Sunday, December 21st, 8:20 PM ET
The Sunday Night Football game in Week 16 is a massive one, as both New England and Baltimore have a ton to play for. The Patriots saw their winning streak come to an end thanks to a 21-point comeback by the Buffalo Bills.
Drake Maye simply wasn’t good enough for the Patriots, but that does not erase how awesome he’s been this year. The second-year QB could receive a ton of MVP votes, and as a whole, the Patriots have been sensational in 2025 under Mike Vrabel.
Vrabel coached the Tennessee Titans for years and had a lot of success, so he’s been around the block and has made quick work with the Patriots. New England’s defense is stingy, and they can throw the ball down the field at a high level.
The Baltimore Ravens are 7-7 and have had a season to forget. Lamar Jackson has not played well, but Baltimore did start 1-5, so I guess them getting to 7-7 is a plus. The Ravens have to keep stacking wins here, as the Pittsburgh Steelers are 8-6 and a game ahead.
And this late in the season, the experience might prevail for Baltimore, even with the Patriots being the more consistent team. It would be kind of unheard of to not have an AFC playoffs with Lamar Jackson, Joe Burrow, and Patrick Mahomes.
I think the Ravens get really desperate in this game and find a way to win, saving their season and keeping their hopes alive for the AFC North division title. The Patriots will have then lost two games in a row, leaving the door wide open for the Buffalo Bills to retake the AFC East lead, a division they have won each year since 2020.
Prediction: Ravens win 26-20
San Francisco 49ers @ Indianapolis Colts
Monday, December 22nd, 8:15 PM ET
The final game of Week 16 sees the San Francisco 49ers visiting the Indianapolis Colts. Both San Fran and Indy are neck-deep in a playoff run right now, but this season has totally gone off the rails for the Colts.
The team brought Philip Rivers back out of retirement. The 44-year-old actually played quite well all things considered in Week 15 versus the Seattle Seahawks. Rivers still knows how to play the position, and the Colts are actually a great spot for him.
They had a top-tier offensive line and a plethora of weapons, and with the 49ers not having a good pass rush, Rivers could actually have some time to throw. He’s going to throw his receivers open, and the Niners just do not have a ton of talent who can match up with Indy’s weapons.
San Francisco is 10-4 on the season, largely due to a soft schedule. This is one of the most ‘good’ teams in the NFL - they don’t do anything overly well but are well-coached. Both Indy and San Fran are still very much alive in their respective divisional races as well, which is interesting.
In this primetime showdown, I am actually going to pick the Colts to win this one. Rivers is going to thrive in this specific matchup and will be able to move the ball efficiently. The Colts also have Jonathan Taylor, so that’s always a plus.
The 49ers are going to put up a good fight, but we did just see the Colts nearly beat the juggernaut Seahawks in Seattle. I believe Indy wins this game and keeps their faint playoff hopes alive.
What a season it has been for the Colts. They get to 9-6 with a huge primetime win.