Last week came right before and after Friday the 13th, so we knew the NFL results might be scary and brutal. And they were. A ton of stunning upsets peppered the scoreboard, which means we just need to try again to navigate through our NFL picks and predictions against the spread for Week 16.
There are only two weeks left in the regular season, or 32 more matchups to prognosticate. With coaches and players fighting to keep jobs for 2020, and with plenty of playoff implications left for 2019, projecting the remaining games is a welcome-but-difficult challenge.
Without further ado, here's our latest fearless forecast for upcoming NFL results. All odds are courtesy of SportsInsider.com.
MORE: Get the latest NFL odds & betting trends from Sports Insider
NFL Week 16 picks, predictions against the spread
- Game of the Week: Dallas Cowboys (-2 1/2) at Philadelphia Eagles
Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET, Fox
The Cowboys' and Eagles' offenses are operating at two different speeds. Dallas is loaded with skill players around Dak Prescott, and Philadelphia will have trouble containing them. The Eagles are operating with a compressed attack around Carson Wentz, which plays into the Cowboys' bend-but-don't-break mentality. Dallas won the first matchup 37-10 and is the better, healthier team. The Cowboys can carry their momentum from the Rams win while the Eagles run out of luck after escapes against the Giants and Redskins.
Pick: Cowboys win 27-20 and cover the spread.
- Upset of the Week: Green Bay Packers (+4 1/2) over Minnesota Vikings
Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN
The Packers are being dismissed as overrated because Aaron Rodgers hasn't put up gaudy numbers. But their defense and running game have consistently delivered as they've embraced a more hard-nosed, physical attitude. The Vikings have been up-and-down defensively but have been clean and efficient offensively, led by Kirk Cousins' finest season. A healthy Dalvin Cook would help, but this season, the Packers are more of the grinding team, which is why they have emerged as NFC North favorites. Rodgers won't miss his chance to wrap up the division against his rivals on the road, while Cousins' big-game woes will cost his team.
Pick: Packers win 23-20.
- Lock of the Week: New England Patriots (-6) over Buffalo Bills
Saturday, 4:30 p.m. ET, NFL Network
The Patriots wouldn't lose to the Bills at home and drop three out of four games, would they? (Of course they wouldn't.) New England survived the first matchup in Buffalo 16-10 and got well in Cincinnati last week — especially with the running game, defense and special teams — just in time for the rematch. Look for the Pats to stay grounded, as the backs have become the new focal points of the offense. The Bills have a tough pass defense, but the Patriots will get James White and Julian Edelman into the right matchups. Josh Allen's passing also hasn't been as strong against good defenses. Buffalo has won some big road games to get into the playoffs, but this won't be another one. New England will clinch another AFC East title.
Pick: Patriots win 23-13 and cover the spread.
- Houston Texans (-2 1/2) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Saturday, 1 p.m. ET, NFL Network
The Texans have Deshaun Watson with his main receiving weapons healthy. The Buccaneers have a red-hot Jameis Winston despite being down Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. Neither pass defense is good, so Watson and Winston will turn this into a matinee shootout. Houston has a lot more at stake with the AFC South title on the line, while Tampa is playing for a playoff-less second place finish in the NFC South. The Bucs are bound to cool off a little, and Watson is overdue for a monster game. He will pull of one of his dazzling comebacks to save the Texans (again).
Pick: Texans win 34-31 and cover the spread.
- Los Angeles Rams at San Francisco 49ers (-6)
Saturday, 8:15 p.m. ET, NFL Network
The Rams' offense has found some answers with Todd Gurley and Tyler Higbee, which has opened up both their running and passing games. But it's still Jared Goff in a tough road environment for a second straight game. The 49ers' defense is depleted for the moment, and there are many places where it can be attacked through the air. The 49ers won the first meeting in Los Angeles 20-7; this one will be a little closer and higher scoring, but on a short week, Jimmy Garoppolo will allow the hosts to survive with a stellar second half.
Pick: 49ers win 31-27 but fail to cover the spread.
- New Orleans Saints at Tennessee Titans (Pick 'em)
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, Fox
The Saints usually don't fare as well outdoors, but some of their best wins this season have come away from the Superdome. Their run defense strength has been weakened, which isn't good against Derrick Henry. But their downfield passing and power running games can do more damage than expected. In a way, this version of Drew Brees and Sean Payton's team is better suited to perform in the elements, and this will be a good pre-playoff road test. Ryan Tannehill has played well to get the Titans to this point, but the other side of the ball will cost them.
Pick: Saints win 24-21.
- Baltimore Ravens (-10) at Cleveland Browns
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS
The Ravens are well aware their worst loss of the season came to the Browns at home. At that time in late September, it looked like the teams might be headed in different directions in the AFC North. Now the Ravens are more about domination, and the Browns are all about dysfunction. Lamar Jackson is set to wrap up his MVP case, because once Baltimore wins to take the No. 1 seed, you can bet they will rest their indispensable leader for Week 17. He wants to make amends for his worst game, and he will need to, as the Browns will try to win again with plenty of Nick Chubb, their one reliable offensive force. Jackson can pick apart a reeling defense that couldn't stop a versatile running game and mobile QB in Arizona.
Pick: Ravens win 31-24 but fail to cover the spread.
- Pittsburgh Steelers (-3) at New York Jets
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS
The Steelers have another quarterback quandary as their offense continues to be capped, with the running game not taking enough pressure off or facilitating the downfield passing. Either Duck Hodges or Mason Rudolph isn't in a great spot on the road against a team that can stop the run and blitzes to get after young passers. With that said, the Steelers can squash the Le'Veon Bell revenge game narrative in a hurry and get in the face of Sam Darnold just as often. It won't be easy, but the Steelers will make a few key pass plays that the Jets won't make against the better, deeper secondary.
Pick: Steelers win 20-10 and cover the spread.
- New York Giants at Washington Redskins (-2)
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, Fox
Dwayne Haskins is showing he has the goods late in his rookie season, and the Giants' defense doesn't have answers for his best skill support, rookie wide receiver Terry McLaurin and venerable running back Adrian Peterson. The Redskins got blasted in the first matchup on the road, 24-3, when Haskins was getting his feet wet and a healthy Daniel Jones was more polished on the other side. Washington's defense isn't good on the back end, but it will hang tough up front while the Giants wilt a little more.
Pick: Redskins win 20-17 and cover the spread.
- Carolina Panthers at Indianapolis Colts (-6 1/2)
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, Fox
The Panthers' run defense is atrocious. The Colts have a terrific offensive line and will be relentless with Marlon Mack and their ball-control approach to set up favorable play-action for Jacoby Brissett. The Panthers also are set to turn to rookie Will Grier for his first career start. He will keep getting the ball in the hands of Christian McCaffrey and D.J. Moore on a fast track indoors while he works to avoid the turnovers that cost Kyle Allen. Indianapolis will grind away to a lead and hold it late by forcing a big mistake from Grier.
Pick: Colts win 27-17 and cover the spread.
- Jacksonville Jaguars at Atlanta Falcons (-7)
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, Fox
Dan Quinn's defense has found a new gear in the second half of the season despite more injury issues, as the Falcons are playing hard and flying around to the ball. The Jaguars showed some fight in Oakland last week but still not a lot of offense. Atlanta will be looking to run heavily with Devonta Freeman and will have success doing so. There will be some defensive surprises waiting for Gardner Minshew as he tries to match Matt Ryan.
Pick: Falcons win 24-14 and cover the spread.
- Cincinnati Bengals at Miami Dolphins (-1)
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS
The Bengals don't have much working offensively beyond running back Joe Mixon. The Dolphins have been lighting things up with DeVante Parker as the go-to for former Bengal Ryan Fitzpatrick. Brian Flores' defense is weak, but he is doing his best to put his strongest players in position to make timely plays off mistakes, which Andy Dalton is making at a rapid rate. The grittiness of Fitzpatirck and Parker getting downfield is a boon for the home team. This game is no longer for the No. 1 draft pick, so the Dolphins might as well deliver with some pride in their home finale.
Pick: Dolphins win 23-20 and cover the spread.
- Detroit Lions at Denver Broncos (-6 1/2)
Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET, CBS
Drew Lock and David Blough, the rookie quarterbacks in this game, tangled in a high-scoring thriller in college last September. That won't be the case in their rematch as pros. Lock will have success working off the running game and throwing downfield to Courtland Sutton. Blough will be under heavy pressure on the road and forced into more mistakes with no running game and a limited receiving corps. Expect former Bronco Matt Prater to do most of the scoring for the Lions back at a Mile High.
Pick: Broncos win 20-6 and cover the spread.
- Oakland Raiders at Los Angeles Chargers (-5 1/2)
Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET, CBS
The Raiders have hit a wall. Derek Carr and the offense continue to leave points on the table, and their defense takes turns struggling against the pass and the run. Philip Rivers is coming off another turnover meltdown, which is what happened to him in the first Raiders game this season. Rivers needs to save some face should this be the end of his run in LA, and Gordon needs to audition for his next team. The stars that will get it done, however, are Keenan Allen, Austin Ekeler and Mike Williams.
Pick: Chargers win 24-17 and cover the spread.
- Arizona Cardinals at Seattle Seahawks (-9 1/2)
Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET, Fox
The Seahawks are trying to establish themselves as the best team in a loaded NFC playoff field. To do that, they can make a statement at home against an inferior team. The Cardinals had a day against the Browns to get a much-needed win, but Kyler Murray, even with some playmaking pop against an injury-riddle Seattle defense, is stepping into a hostile environment. The Seahawks won't look ahead to the 49ers game by remaining steady with Chris Carson and Russell Wilson.
Pick: Seahawks win 31-24 but fail to cover the spread.
- Kansas City Chiefs (-5) at Chicago Bears
Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC
The Chiefs have their division wrapped up, and now they have a chance to remind everyone they are a serious threat to win the Super Bowl. Patrick Mahomes looks fully healthy, and even though the big points aren't there, they don't need them with the defense and special teams playing so well. Style points aren't needed against former Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy and the Bears, who again will be cruelly reminded that Mahomes was drafted after Mitchell Trubisky.
Pick: Chiefs win 24-20 but fail to cover the spread.
Stats of the Week:
Week 15 record straight up: 9-6
Week 15 record against the spread: 5-9
Season record straight up: 147-75
Season record against the spread: 117-97
Upsets of the Week: 8-7
Locks of the Week: 8-7
