2012 NFL Predictions: Regular Season Week 16

Week 15 was a solid week for me. With two weeks left I’m almost guaranteed to reach 160 wins, but now I’m eyeing 165 or so, which is only 11 correct picks per week, so I’ve got a solid shot.

	Game	Puff’s Pick
Sat., 8:30 pm	Atlanta at Detroit	Atlanta Falcons
Sun., 1:00 pm	Oakland at Carolina	Carolina Panthers
	Buffalo at Miami	Miami Dolphins
	Cincinnati at Pittsburgh	Cincinnati Bengals
	New England at Jacksonville	New England Patriots
	Indianapolis at Kansas City	Indianapolis Colts
	New Orleans at Dallas	New Orleans Saints
	Washington at Philadelphia	Washington Redskins
	St. Louis at Tampa Bay	Tampa Bay Buccaneers
	San Diego at NY Jets	San Diego Chargers
	Tennessee at Green Bay	Green Bay Packers
	Minnesota at Houston	Houston Texans
Sun., 4:05 pm	Cleveland at Denver	Denver Broncos
Sun., 4:25 pm	Chicago at Arizona	Chicago Bears
	NY Giants at Baltimore	New York Giants
Sun., 8:20 pm	San Francisco at Seattle	San Francisco 49ers

	Puff on the NFL
Week 16 Record	12-4
Current Season Record	155-84-1

Games to Watch (Predicted winners in Bold)

Sunday, Dec. 23, 2012, 1:00pm – Cincinnati Bengals @ Pittsburgh Steelers

The Bengals are in a tough spot, having to face both Pittsburgh and Baltimore in their final two weeks. This is the more favorable matchup with them needing to win at least one of those two games to clinch a playoff birth. Pittsburgh, on the other hand, is facing elimination. There is a lot on the line for these two teams, and in a rivalry game we can expect emotions to run even higher than usual.

Sunday, Dec. 23, 2012, 1:00pm – New Orleans Saints @ Dallas Cowboys

The Saints are playing the role of spoiler, and I can’t think of a team better qualified to play the part. They have an offense that has quietly been as prolific as ever and a defense that, while inconsistent, has played better in the second half of the season and just shut out the Buccaneers. The Cowboys, meanwhile, are fighting for a chance to play Washington for the NFC East Championship in Week 17.

Sunday, Dec. 23, 2012, 1:00pm – Minnesota Vikings @ Houston Texans

The Vikings are still trying to clinch a playoff spot. If the season ended today, they would be in, but it doesn’t end today and they are playing one of the best teams in the NFL this year. The Texans aren’t playing for anything, you say? Wrong. They’re still looking to clinch home field advantage.

Sunday, Dec. 23, 2012, 4:25pm – New York Giants @ Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens have been struggling lately. The Giants have been struggling, then rolling, then struggling again. The Giants are coming off a terrible game against Atlanta, I think they’ll bounce back as they have the last two times they lost. But maybe the Ravens will find a little mojo this week as they look to lock up the AFC North.

Sunday, Dec. 23, 2012, 8:20pm – San Francisco 49ers @ Seattle Seahawks

The Seahawks still have an outside shot at winning the NFC West, but I doubt the 49ers are too worried about that considering all they would have to do is beat the Cardinals in Week 17 and it won’t matter if Seattle wins this weekend. That said, San Francisco still wants a first round bye, and the Packers are right on their heels.

Stay tuned for recaps of this week’s games. Thanks for reading and enjoy the sixteenth week of the season!