Previewing Week 16

Last week's predictions: 9/16
Season tally: 150/223, 67%

Carolina Panthers (-8.5) @ Oakland Raiders
Buffalo Bills @ Miami Dolphins (-4.5)
St. Louis Rams @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-3)
San Diego Chargers @ New York Jets (-2.5)
These are the truly meaningless games of the week. With nothing but draft position on the line, losing is ... more than acceptable, shall we say.
The picks: Panthers, Dolphins, Buccaneers, Chargers.

Washington Redskins (-6.5) @ Philadelphia Eagles
New Orleans Saints @ Dallas Cowboys (-3)
Believe it or not, if the Cowboys beat the Saints, and then the Redskins in Week 17, they would win the division. That Dallas-Washington matchup will be massively important anyway, especially with the Skins unlikely to lose at Philadelphia.
The picks: The NFC East holds serve. Redskins and Cowboys.

Indianapolis Colts (-7) @ Kansas City Chiefs
It's simple for the Colts: win and they're in. Lose and it gets way more complicated, although failing to beat the Chiefs would make them unworthy of the playoffs anyway.
The pick: Colts.

Chicago Bears (-5.5) @ Arizona Cardinals
Like the Colts, the Bears have been gifted an easy Week 16 opponent. On the other hand, their outlook is much bleaker thanks to the three teams still alive in the NFC East competing for the wild card spots. A win keeps Chicago alive, at least.
The pick: Bears.

Atlanta Falcons (-3.5) @ Detroit Lions
The Falcons are one win away from clinching the NFC's #1 seed throughout the playoffs ... which will invariably lead to them resting their starters in a meaningless Week 17 game, sitting out the first week of the playoffs thanks to a bye, and suffering a quick, painless, second-round exit.
The pick: Falcons.

Minnesota Vikings @ Houston Texans (-8)
It's amazing that the Vikings have probably the worst starting quarterback in the NFL yet would make the playoffs if the season ended today. In other news: has a set of #1 seeds ever inspired less confidence than Houston and Atlanta?
The pick: Texans.

Green Bay Packers (-13.5) @ Tennessee Titans
New England Patriots (-14.5) @ Jacksonville Jaguars
Cleveland Browns @ Denver Broncos (-13)
It's hard to imagine any of these huge favorites losing, but they'll all need help to stay in the hunt for home-field advantage in the playoffs. The Pats and Broncos are still jockeying with each other for a first-round bye, with Denver currently in the lead.
The picks: Packers, Patriots, Broncos.

New York Giants (-2.5) @ Baltimore Ravens
The Giants are eliminated from playoff contention if they lose, and the Redskins, Cowboys, and Seahawks all win. The Ravens clinch the division with a win. Neither of those things happen.
The pick: Giants.

Cincinnati Bengals @ Pittsburgh Steelers (-3.5)
The Steelers are technically still in contention for the division title (if they win their final two games and the Ravens lose out). But a loss hands Cincinnati their most realistic shot at the playoffs. The Bengals have been able to hide Andy Dalton's recent struggles against some bad teams. This won't work against the Steelers.

San Francisco 49ers (-1) @ Seattle Seahawks
It's hard to picture the 49ers producing a more entertaining game than last week's win at New England, but this one could top it. The Seahawks are the hottest team in football, they're at home, and they're just as good as the 49ers in every facet of the game. Russell Wilson gets his chance to win the Rookie of the Year award on a national stage.
The pick: Seahawks.