It’s getting down to the nitty and gritty for NFL 2025. Three more weeks means only 48 regular-season games remain.
The playoff picture could become a lot clearer by the end of Monday evening’s clash between the 49ers and Colts. Nine more teams can join the Rams and Broncos in the postseason following the conclusion of that contest.
Perhaps there was too much boldness in last week’s picks. The Lions fell to the Rams, the Broncos rallied to beat the Packers, and the Cowboys not only failed to shut out the Vikings, the lost the game outright.
Here are 3 bold predictions for NFL Week 16
Titans stun Patrick Mahomes-less Kansas City Chiefs
For only the second time since Andy Reid took over the team in 2013, the Kansas City Chiefs won’t be going to the playoffs. Patrick Mahomes and company fell at home to the Chargers last Sunday, dropping to 6-8. The Chiefs’ talented quarterback went down with a knee injury and the team has been eliminated from postseason contention.
So what could happen this Sunday at Nashville, where the Titans have dropped 11 games dating back to Week 11 of 2024? Rookie signal-caller Cam Ward has been sacked 49 times, but the Chiefs’ pass rush (29 sacks) has been underwhelming. Tennessee’s defense gets after Chiefs’ backup Gardner Minshew.
Vikings’ QB J.J. McCarthy feels the heat from Giants’ OLB Brian Burns
The Purple Gang can still salvage a winning season if they can run the table in their final three games. Kevin O’Connell’s club has won two straight games behind a suddenly-effective J.J. McCarthy. He’s thrown a combined five touchdown passes (1 interception) and run for one score in conquests of the Commanders (31-0) and Cowboys (34-26), the latter last Sunday night at Arlington.
The Vikings now face a third straight NFC East foe in the Giants. Big Blue has dropped eight consecutive games, and only three teams have given up more points. Giants’ edge rusher Brian Burns has been held without a sack in his last three games after racking up 13.0 QB traps in his first 11 outings this season. That changes on Sunday as he harasses McCarthy into at least two costly turnovers in a Giants’ victory.
Jaguars claw and scratch their way to a win at Denver
Both of these teams have already totaled more wins than they did a season ago. For the Jaguars, it has been a dramatic turnaround as first-time NFL head coach Liam Coen has guided Jacksonville to a 10-4 mark and first place in the AFC South. The Jaguars were a 4-13 team in 2024, but are currently riding a five-game winning streak.
A season ago, the Broncos reached the playoffs for the first time since 2015. After 15 weeks, they currently own the best record in the league (12-2), have won 11 straight contests, and have already secured a postseason berth in 2025. Second-year quarterback Bo Nix has shown a knack for second-half heroics. On Sunday, the Broncos dig themselves another hole, only to see their comeback fall a bit short.