Santiago Leon and Ray Sherrod preview the 2023 NFL Week 16 games.
Contributors
Santiago Leon – @sleon
Ray Sherrod – @ray3474
The Los Angeles Rams defeated the New Orleans Saints 30-22
The Rams’ Matthew Stafford passed for 328 yards and two touchdowns, while rookie Puka Nacua had nine catches for 164 yards and a score.
The loss ended the Saints’ two-game winning streak and dropped them to 7-8. However, the Rams’ fifth win in their last six games put them much closer to a postseason berth.
The Florida State board of trustees voted unanimously Friday to file suit against the ACC to challenge the legality of both the league’s grant of rights and $130 million withdrawal fee, a necessary first step to plot its future and potential exit from the conference.
“I believe this board has been left no choice but to challenge the legitimacy of the ACC grant of rights and its severe withdrawal penalties,” board chairman Peter Collins said. “None of us like being in this position. However, I believe that we have exhausted all possible remedies within the conference and we must do what we believe is best for Florida State not only in the short term, but in the long term.”
Warrioprs in a three game winning streak, beat the Nets, Balzers and Celtics
next up Wizards
Nuggest for christmas
Bengals (8-6) at Steelers (7-7)
Saturday, 4:30 p.m. ET | NBC | Spread: CIN -3 (38.5)
The Steelers and Bengals have trended in opposite directions since the Steelers won the first meeting a month ago, with the Bengals going 3-0 since and the Steelers in an 0-3 spiral. Earlier this week, Pittsburgh wide receiver Diontae Johnson said the team that wins the line of scrimmage will win the game. Considering the Bengals have averaged 115.7 rushing yards per game since putting up only 25 against the Steelers, while the Steelers have averaged 95 per game since recording 153 vs. the Bengals, the ground game figures to dictate the outcome of this rematch.
RS: Bengals
Bills (8-6) at Chargers (5-9)
Saturday, 8 p.m. ET | Peacock | Spread: BUF -12.5 (43.5)
Despite their issues this season — which resulted in the firing of coach Brandon Staley and general manager Tom Telesco last Friday — and the Bills’ recent resurgence, the Chargers have won four of their past five games against Buffalo dating to 2011 and have dominated the all-time series with a 25-13-2 record. This game will be something of a reunion for Chargers safety Dean Marlowe, who played for the Bills from 2018-2020. –
RS: BILLS
Lions (10-4) at Vikings (7-7)
1 p.m. ET | FOX | Spread: DET -3 (47.5)
While most eyes have been focused on how Lions quarterback Jared Goff will fare against the Vikings’ blitz packages, the game could turn on how well the Lions do — or don’t — run against the Vikings’ defense. The Lions enter the game with the NFL’s second-most rushing yards (1,973), while the Vikings’ defense has limited opponents to the league’s fifth-fewest rushing yards (1,288). It’s hard to imagine the Lions losing if the Vikings can’t stop their rushing attack.
RS: DET
Colts (8-6) at Falcons (6-8)
1 p.m. ET | FOX | Spread: ATL -2.5 (44.5)
Both teams will start quarterbacks they had no intention of starting at the beginning of the season — Taylor Heinicke makes his third start this year for Atlanta in place of Desmond Ridder and Gardner Minshew makes start No. 11 for the Colts in place of Anthony Richardson. Heinicke and Minshew have similar paths — go from team to team, come in and play well when called upon as a backup to the starter. “I feel like we would be pretty close as friends,” Heinicke said. “I just think he looks like he has a lot of fun out there, he has a lot of passion for the game, and it looks like he’s a kind of wild-spirited guy and I think I feel like I would gravitate towards that.”
RS: COLTS
Seahawks (7-7) at Titans (5-9)
1 p.m. ET | CBS | Spread: SEA -3 (41.5)
Titans running back Derrick Henry’s 16 carries for 9 yards last week was his worst performance ever as a starter. Despite having a down year, Henry is still on pace for 1,073 yards this season. The Titans need to get Henry back on track in order to win. He should get plenty of opportunities against a Seattle defense that is allowing 127.3 rushing yards per game.
RS: SEA
Commanders (4-10) at Jets (5-9)
1 p.m. ET | CBS | Spread: NYJ -3 (37.5)
The Jets’ quarterback carousel is spinning once again, as Trevor Siemian is expected to replace Zach Wilson (concussion). Siemian will be the Jets’ fourth different starter, the first time since 1989 they’ve had that many in one season. All told, the Jets’ quarterbacks have a league-low nine touchdown passes, 10 fewer than Commanders QB Sam Howell, who was replaced late in last week’s loss to the Rams.
RS: WAS
Packers (6-8) at Panthers (2-12)
1 p.m. ET | FOX | Spread: GB -5 (37.5)
This is a must-win game for the Packers, who have seen their playoff hopes drop with consecutive losses. You’d think the Panthers would be a favorable matchup, as they haven’t scored an offensive touchdown the past two games and haven’t scored an offensive first-half touchdown in seven games, but in a key way, it’s not. Carolina has committed to the run the past three games and averaged 155.3 yards on the ground. Green Bay, ranked 30th in the NFL against the run, has given up 158.5 yards rushing per game the past six games, twice allowing more than 200 yards.
RS: GB
Browns (9-5) at Texans (8-6)
1 p.m. ET | CBS | Spread: CLE -2.5 (39.5)
This matchup features some of the best cornerback play in the NFL. The Browns’ cornerback trio of Martin Emerson Jr. (42.9), Denzel Ward (45.3) and Greg Newsome II (66.4) allow a passer rating of 66 or lower when targeted, all ranking in the top 12 in that category. The Texans’ cornerback duo of Steven Nelson (67.9) and Derek Stingley Jr. (58.9) are in a similar tier. Expect some tough sledding for quarterbacks throwing to wide receivers.
RS: HOU
Jaguars (8-6) at Buccaneers (7-7)
4:05 p.m. ET | CBS | Spread: TB -3 (41.5)
The Bucs’ three-game win streak propelled them to the top of the NFC South, while the Jaguars are on a three-game losing streak and hoping to hold on to the AFC South, which is immersed in a three-team tie. Much rides on Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence’s status in the concussion protocol — if he isn’t cleared, it would mark the first missed game of his NFL career.
RS: TB
Cardinals (3-11) at Bears (5-9)
4:25 p.m. ET | FOX | Spread: CHI -4 (43.5)
The Bears return home to Soldier Field, where they’ve won their past three games, after a blown double-digit fourth-quarter lead (their third of the season) in Cleveland all but wiped out their playoff hopes. Both teams are in position to start thinking about 2024 with three games remaining and questions as to whether their current starting QBs — Justin Fields and Kyler Murray — will remain in those positions next season. They are both in play for a top-two pick in a draft likely topped by quarterbacks Caleb Williams and Drake Maye.
RS: CHI
Cowboys (10-4) at Dolphins (10-4)
4:25 p.m. ET | FOX | Spread: MIA -1 (49.5)
Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill, who returned to practice Thursday after missing last week’s game because of an ankle injury, needs to average 152.6 receiving yards over his next three games in order to become the first player in NFL history to break the 2,000-yard barrier. That might prove difficult against a Cowboys defense that has not allowed a 150-yard receiver since 2021 and has allowed the fourth-fewest passing yards per game in the league this season.
RS: MIA
Patriots (3-11) at Broncos (7-7)
8:15 p.m. ET | NFL Network | Spread: DEN -7 (34.5)
How committed are the Broncos to their run game against a Patriots defense that is No. 2 in the league against the run, is No. 1 in fewest rushing yards allowed per play and will spend plenty of resources trying to keep the ball out of Broncos receiver Courtland Sutton’s hands? Nobody is advocating the veer, and the Broncos’ loss in Detroit showed they need to possess the ball. Otherwise a Denver defense that has looked tired from all the heavy lifting it has done to get the team out of its 1-5 start could be exposed. It’s time for the offense to pull the Broncos through, especially on the ground.
RS: DEN
Santiago Leon is the Founder and CEO of the Sports Cast. He covers NFL, NBA, and world soccer. He’s also founder of sleon productions, which he specializes in technology and serves clients with solutions to make their business grow.
