PREVIEW - WEEK SIXTEEN

Indianapolis Colts @ Jacksonville Jaguars
Line: Colts -6.5
O/U: 44
Linebuster!
The Jags are down, the Colts are up. A win by Indy would ensure them of a playoff spot, even with Tennessee coming up to finish off the season. Trust me, the Colts do NOT want the Titans game to be a must-win. They'll be playing hard.
Colts -6.5. Indy runs away with it 31-14.

Baltimore Ravens @ Dallas Cowboys
Line: Cowboys -4
O/U: 39.5
Call it wishful thinking, but I'm still not convinced the Cowboys are "back". Before the season, they were expected to easily roll into the playoffs, yet we're in week 16, and they could still miss the postseason entirely. Much like the Colts, the Cowboys don't want their fate to come down to week 17, especially when their matchup with the Eagles could be a playoff game for Philly, too. One more loss could mean no playoffs for the Ravens, too. But I think Dallas has more talent.
Cowboys -4. Dallas wins it 24-16.

Pittsburgh Steelers @ Tennessee Titans
Line: Steelers -2
O/U: 44.5
The Steelers are favored AT Tennessee? Yikes. I was ready to pick Pittsburgh because I'm just not sure the Titans can run the ball that well against the Steelers, and I can't guarantee that Tennessee's pass rush will be very good without Haynesworth...but after such a good start, the Titans are desperate to show that it wasn't a fluke. I'm sure they're also not happy to be underdogs at home in a game that will determine the #1 seed in the AFC. Plus the Steelers are too relaxed, having already shored up a first-round bye. They're not as desperate. I like the Steelers, but I'm not sure they're a 1-seed.
Titans +2. Even with the injuries, the Titans win 17-13.

Miami Dolphins @ Kansas City Chiefs
Line: Dolphins -4
O/U: 40
Miami knows that if they win, they could be playing the Jets next week for a spot in the playoffs. Though they generally play down to the competition, there is no way that the importance of this game is lost on them.
Dolphins -4. Miami keeps the dream alive 27-14.

Arizona Cardinals @ New England Patriots
Line: Pats -8
O/U: 45
Well, I see Vegas has caught on to the Cards' troubles in the East. This is an awfully big spread. Of course, the Pats have a ton of experience, and really want to make the playoffs, so they're playing somewhat desperate, knowing that the Jets hold the tiebreaker over them. I'll take the desperate Pats against the Easternly-hapless Cards.
Pats -8. New England pushes the Cards to 0-5 in the East 34-20.

Cincinnati Bengals @ Cleveland Browns
Line: Browns -3
O/U: 33.5
Does anyone care about these teams anymore? There are so many great, important games this week that the Browns/Bengals game will get lost in the shuffle. Ken Dorsey gives the Bengals a shot at a win, and maybe a little more respect.
Bengals +3. Cincinnati gets the meaningless W 17-13.

Philadelphia Eagles @ Washington Redskins
Line: Eagles -5
O/U: 38.5
Some people are saying that the Eagles are playing the best football in the whole NFL right now! They'll need to win out to have a shot at the postseason, and this is the easier of the two games. Washington is on the down-swing, and Philly should handle them.
Eagles -5. Philly sets up a pre-playoff playoff game against Dallas in week 17. 27-12.

San Francisco 49ers @ St. Louis Rams
Line: 49ers -5.5
O/U: 44
Yet another meaningless game. Haslett is trying to impress the Rams so that they'll give him the full time job next year, and I'd expect him to have his players ready to go. I'm not saying they'll win, but they should keep it close.
Rams +5.5. San Fran wins by a field goal, 27-24.

Atlanta Falcons @ Minnesota Vikings
Line: Vikings -3
O/U: 44
After the way Tarvaris Jackson played last week in Arizona, how can I go against him at home? Both teams are playing for playoff spots, and a Minnesota win would lock them in as NFC North Champs. Atlanta probably needs to win out to make the postseason, so they have to be playing desperate. Unfortunately for them, Minnesota's Run D will make things tough for Michael Turner, and put a ton of pressure on Matt Ryan to perform. He's a great young QB, but this is a tough situation for him. I hope he succeeds, but I wouldn't bet on it.
Vikings -3. Minnesota wins 27-20.

New Orleans Saints @ Detroit Lions
Line: Saints -7
O/U: 50.5
With only 2 games separating the Lions from 0-16, they're playing desperate. New Orleans has nothing left to play for, is without Reggie Bush, and just lost its offensive coordinator, who took the head coaching job at Syracuse. Detroit has to know this is their shot.
Lions +7. Detroit will win one, just to piss me off...21-17.

New York Jets @ Seattle Seahawks
Line: Jets -4.5
O/U: 44.5
Linebuster!
It would be very fitting for the Jets to blow their shot at the playoffs by losing in Seattle. They lost in San Diego, Oakland, and San Fran. All bad teams, but all long road trips. The difference with this game? There is A LOT on the line for New York, and they are well aware that they've been playing like crap out west. They'll change their routine a bit, prepare hard, and be ready for an underperforming Seahawks team.
Jets -4.5. New York finally pulls off a west coast victory 34-17.

Houston Texans @ Oakland Raiders
Line: Texans -7
O/U: 44
The Texans have been playing well, and deserves to have at least a .500 record at season's end. The Raiders have been very inconsistent...always bad, but inconsistently bad...you don't know if they'll lose by 4 or 40! Last week they lost by a ton. This week, at home, I don't think they'll lose by as much.
Raiders +7. Houston still wins 24-21.

Buffalo Bills @ Denver Broncos
Line: Broncos -7
O/U: 44
Linebuster!
The Bills D should be able to control Denver at least a little bit, and if the Bills can score on any defense in the league, it's Denver's. I'd love to see the Bills win to set up a one-game playoff scenario for the AFC West title between Denver and San Diego next week. I don't think they will, but I also doubt they'll get blown out.
Bills +7. Denver wins it late. Classic Buffalo-Denver Battle. 24-22 Broncs.

San Diego Chargers @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Line: Bucs -3.5
O/U: 42.5
Linebuster!
Again, I want to see that Denver-San Diego game mean something next week. Garcia is questionable for Tampa, and though the Bucs need 2 wins to all-but guarantee a playoff spot, one win would be enough if the Falcons lose to Vikings and the Eagles lose to the Cowboys. So there is some desperation, but a loss wouldn't eliminate them. I'm not sure San Diego will win, but Tampa rarely wins by more than a field goal, so I feel very safe going against the spread.
Chargers +3.5. San Diego wins 27-23.

Carolina Panthers @ New York Giants
Line: Giants -3
O/U: 37.5
Linebuster!
The Giants have lost two in a row, and I just can't picture them losing three. Carolina's run game will have a hard time with the Giants' D, and Eli Manning will step up and have a huge game. Plus the Giants absolutely deserve home-field after the way they've played this season in defense of their title.
Giants -3. New York shows who's boss 31-21.

Green Bay Packers @ Chicago Bears
Line: Bears -4
O/U: 41
The Packers have nothing to play for, although these NFC North rivalries generally bring out the best in everyone. The Bears, however, must win or they are done. If the Vikings win on Sunday, though, the Bears are done anyway. So as of right now, there is no way to guarantee that Chicago will be playing with desperation. Here's hoping...
Bears -4. Chicago should win even if the game doesn't matter. Bears 27-20.