Week 15 within the NFL was a tough week for a lot of. Not solely did we see a number of stars go down with accidents, similar to Patrick Mahomes, Micah Parsons and Davante Adams, however we additionally witnessed a few notable groups be eradicated from playoff rivalry, such because the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs and Cincinnati Bengals.
Week 16 options some unbelievable matchups, because the Inexperienced Bay Packers and Chicago Bears face off for the second time in three weeks, the destiny of the NFC South is on the road with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Carolina Panthers, and the New England Patriots look to rebound from their loss to the Buffalo Payments towards Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens.
Which groups must you choose this weekend, and which must you fade? CBS Sports activities writers Jordan Dajani and Jared Dubin are right here to interrupt down the most important video games of the weekend.
For readability, strains for these matchups are as of Thursday morning at DraftKings Sportsbook.
Inexperienced Bay Packers (-1.5) at Chicago Bears (Saturday)
Dajani (Bears +1.5): Caleb Williams was one good throw away from making the primary matchup vs. Inexperienced Bay much more attention-grabbing. I believe he’ll study from that have. Plus, this Bears group is using excessive following a 31-3 dismantling of the lowly Cleveland Browns. It was the Bears’ largest win in 5 years, and the protection pressured three turnovers. That makes it now 30 takeaways for Chicago on the 12 months, which in fact leads the NFL.
The Packers, then again, are … not using excessive. Not solely did they collapse down the stretch in Denver, however Micah Parsons can be executed for the 12 months with a torn ACL. I believe the Bears take it. Prediction: Bears 23, Packers 17
Dubin (Packers -1.5): This line is begging everybody to take the Bears after the way in which the sport went two weeks in the past and the accidents to Micah Parsons and Christian Watson, and I am simply not snug with it. It seems like a entice. I believe the Packers can nonetheless transfer the ball on Chicago right here, and that the protection can cling on with out Parsons, even when it will not be the really elite unit that he can flip it into. Prediction: Packers 23, Bears 20
NFL Week 16 Energy Rankings: Two performs could have simply modified the Packers’ season and the NFC playoff race
Pete Prisco
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-3) at Carolina Panthers
Dajani (Buccaneers -3): You by no means know what you are going to get with the Panthers. Bryce Younger may throw for 400 yards in an upset victory or look utterly helpless. The Buccaneers are on a horrific skid, having misplaced 5 out of their previous six video games.
Nonetheless, I will take Tampa Bay right here for 2 causes: One, I believe the Bucs are merely the higher group. Carolina has a -3.8 factors per sport differential this season, which ranks worst within the NFL amongst groups .500 or higher. Plus, this Carolina protection simply allowed the New Orleans Saints to rack up 337 yards and struggled to get Tyler Shough and Co. off the sector. Two, Baker Mayfield has his full solid of playmakers again with Bucky Irving, Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and Jalen McMillan. Prediction: Buccaneers 26, Panthers 20
Dubin (Buccaneers -3): I am using with the Bucs for largely the identical causes as Dajani. I belief Tampa’s offense extra with the reintroduction of Baker Mayfield’s playmakers. The Panthers can run the ball decently, however no one actually runs it on the Bucs. It’s important to beat them by means of the air. And I simply do not suppose Bryce Younger is constant sufficient for me to guess on that occuring. Prediction: Buccaneers 24, Panthers 17
Dajani (Chargers +2.5): The Cowboys printed money for several weeks, including when they upset the Philadelphia Eagles and Chiefs in the span of five days. Then, they were blown out by the Detroit Lions and upset by J.J. McCarthy and the Vikings. It’s tough to gauge where this team is with their backs up against the wall, especially with them facing a stout Chargers team. L.A. is actually allowing just 242.3 total yards per game and 17.3 points per game during this 6-1 stretch. Give me the underdog. Prediction: Chargers 30, Cowboys 24
Dubin (Chargers +2.5): Why exactly is Dallas favored here? The defense has taken a significant step backward since that first game post-trade deadline against the Raiders. It’s basically the same unit it was before the deadline. The offense can obviously move the ball against pretty much anyone, but the Chargers aren’t just anyone. As Dajani mentioned, they’re shutting down just about everybody in recent weeks. Prediction: Chargers 27, Cowboys 23
Jacksonville Jaguars at Denver Broncos (-3)
Dajani (Jaguars +3): The most underrated storyline in the NFL over the past couple weeks has been the reemergence of Trevor Lawrence. He accounted for 381 total yards and six touchdowns against the New York Jets last week, and before you say, “So? It was the Jets,” I thought Lawrence played one of his best games of the season the week prior against the Indianapolis Colts in a rainstorm. He’s playing with confidence and has found a rhythm when it comes to throwing the ball down the field.
Jakobi Meyers has been a big part of this turnaround, as Lawrence actually leads the NFL in yards per attempt since Jacksonville made that trade. I mean, the Jaguars are averaging 33.3 points per contest in the six games since the trade deadline. That ranks second in the NFL behind the mighty Rams. The elite Broncos defense hasn’t allowed many quarterbacks to look good this season, but I’m going to go out on a limb and say the Broncos’ 11-game win streak ends this week. Prediction: Jaguars 27, Broncos 23
Dubin (Broncos -3): I’m very excited to see whether Trevor Lawrence can keep up his recent run of production, against a quality defense. I’ve been reluctant to buy into the Broncos all year and they just keep proving me wrong by winning games in spots I expect them to lose. Now that I’m finally in, they’ll probably prove me wrong again and lose here. Especially because I’ve also been reluctant to buy in on the Jaguars and am remaining so here because of concerns that this run they’ve been on has mostly come against some poor opponents. Prediction: Broncos 20, Jaguars 16
Dajani (Lions -7): The Steelers are feeling good following their blowout victory over the Miami Dolphins, but good luck outscoring the Lions. This unit leads the NFL with 30.6 points per game and averages 91.8 more yards per game than Pittsburgh. Aaron Rodgers‘ offense ranks last in the NFL in time of possession (27:26) and offensive plays run per game (55.7).
Meanwhile, this Steelers pass defense ranks bottom six in the NFL, so Jared Goff could have a field day. The Lions are desperate for a win, as they would be eliminated from playoff contention with a loss. Prediction: Lions 30, Steelers 20
Dubin (Lions -7): I feel the same way about this game as Dajani does. I just don’t think the Steelers can score enough to keep up with the Lions — even against an injury-ravaged Detroit defense. You can run on the Steelers, as we have seen in recent weeks, and this feels like a game where Jahmyr Gibbs gets back on track in a big way after he struggled to run the ball against the Rams last week. Unless an offensive explosion comes out of nowhere for Pittsburgh, I like the Lions to win big. Prediction: Lions 31, Steelers 17
New England Patriots at Baltimore Ravens (-3) (SNF)
Dajani (Patriots +3): I wasn’t incredibly impressed by the Ravens’ win over the hapless Bengals. Sad boy Joe Burrow played the second-worst game of his NFL career in front of his home fans as he potentially mulls either retirement or a trade request.
While the Patriots blew a 21-0 lead to Buffalo, it was about time they found the loss column. It had been almost three months since their last loss, and now they have the opportunity to reset, refocus and rebound. The Patriots are 6-1 SU and ATS in their last seven road games, while Drake Maye is 3-0 SU and ATS in prime-time games. On the flip side, the Ravens are 5-9 ATS on the year, which is tied for the worst mark in the NFL. Prediction: Patriots 28, Ravens 21
Dubin (Ravens -3): I’m sort of wondering why the Ravens are even favored in this game considering the context of these two teams’ seasons, and that has me thinking Vegas knows something about the matchup that we don’t. Baltimore’s defense has played better since recovering from the early-season injuries, and it may be tough for Drake Maye and Co. to have a huge game here. Couple that with New England’s own backslide against the run defensively, and I’m going with what I think is maybe an upset but the fine folks at DraftKings apparently do not. Prediction: Ravens 24, Patriots 20
Dajani (49ers -6): Grandpa Rivers did a pretty solid job in his return to the field last week against Seattle. It’s almost embarrassing that the Seahawks needed a game-winning field goal to win. I imagine Lucas Oil Stadium is going to be rocking for this prime-time matchup, but the difference in this game is going to be the 49ers offense vs. the Colts defense.
The versatile Christian McCaffrey has been one of the best players in the entire NFL this season, George Kittle has crossed 65 yards receiving in five straight games, Jauan Jennings caught two touchdowns last week and Brock Purdy has found a rhythm. With the number under a touchdown, I have to roll with the 49ers. Prediction: 49ers 24, Colts 16
Dubin (49ers -6): Count me among those that did not actually think that Philip Rivers‘ return to the field was at all impressive. He looked like a 44-year-old grandfather who can’t really throw the ball. Seemingly everyone can throw on the 49ers, so maybe he gets going here, but I doubt it. On the other side of the ball, I think San Francisco can get something going against the Indianapolis defense. Even potentially without Ricky Pearsall, there are just too many weapons for them to get shut down, especially if Sauce Gardner is not going to be out there. Prediction: 49ers 27, Colts 16
