Week 16 NFL Picks: Jockeying For Position 

In just three weeks of our end-of-the-season mini-pick-off, we’ve had 3 lead changes between myself and Michael Cellars. They are running out of time for mini-bragging rights.  Tom went just 8-8 (when will he learn to start picking against his beloved but pathetic Jets) and Michael went 10-6. Therefore, Michael retakes a one-game lead.

He is the first up on the tee this week as we unleash our NFL Picks for week 16:

Atlanta Falcons at Detroit Lions

MICHAEL: After blanking the defending champions 34-0 last week, I don’t see the Falcons having a let-down game against the Lions—they’re only gaining momentum for the playoffs. FALCONS 31-17

TOM: We had all become less enthusiastic about the Falcons after their hot, but often lucky, start. And because Roddy White’s 3 fantasy points was a huge factor in my playoff loss last week, I remain a little bitter. But I am big enough to admit the Falcons are world’s better than the Lions (Stafford also gave me but 3 points). FALCONS 28-10

Oakland Raiders at Carolina Panthers

MICHAEL: Sebastian Janikowski may kick another five field goals in this game, but the Panthers will put up five touchdowns. PANTHERS 35-15

TOM: Cam Newton, with two more great weeks, will put himself on the edge of that word-I’m-not-going-to-say level of quarterbacks in the NFL. But he’s clearly better than Flacco and Eli (regular season Eli that is), so when he scores 7 TDs and refuses to turn the ball over these two weeks, get ready for that discussion. PANTHERS 38-9

Buffalo Bills at Miami Dolphins

MICHAEL: The Dolphins are playing to gain momentum into next season. The Bills are playing for…well because it’s on the schedule. DOLPHINS: 20-10

TOM: At least put this game up north on the schedule. It’s football, not the Pro-Bowl. DOLPHINS, I guess: 9-8.

Cincinnati Bengals at Pittsburgh Steelers

MICHAEL: I’ve been sticking with the Bengals for the past month or so to make the playoffs, and they can do just that by winning this game. Though the slipping Steelers can make a statement by bouncing back in this game, I think the Bengals are the most red-hot team under the radar right now. BENGALS 23-17

TOM: This was the game that was going to get the Jets into the playoffs, but God doesn’t love Tebow anymore. I like the Bengals in this game, but something tells me to pull a Costanza – do everything opposite of the way I think I should.  STEELERS 27-24

New England Patriots at Jacksonville Jaguars

MICHAEL: There’s no better bounce back game for Tom Brady & Co. than against the 2-12 Jaguars in Jacksonville. PATRIOTS 41-10

TOM: Gee, home games against Houston and SF, and then an (easy) (warm) road game in December. I’m going to convince people yet that the Patriots write their own schedule.. PATRIOTS 62-3

Indianapolis Colts at Kansas City Chiefs

MICHAEL: Here’s the thing about this year’s Colts team: they beat the teams they should beat and lose to the teams they should lose to. In their past nine games they’re 7-2, with all seven wins coming against teams with losing records, and the two losses coming against the Patriots and Texans. COLTS 23-9

TOM: The Colts will never amaze you. But they do things right, even without their head coach. The Chiefs might give them a game, a last gasp if you will against a playoff team, but Indianapolis has Luck on its side. COLTS 28-17

New Orleans Saints at Dallas Cowboys

MICHAEL: The Saints have a chance to play spoiler here (though in the craziest of circumstances they could still make the playoffs) against a Cowboys team that has suddenly become clutch. This is a hard game to pick, but I’m rolling with the Saints for one reason: Drew Brees. SAINTS 34-24

TOM: This is the point of the season where the only thing I want is for the Giants’ season to end. It’s not healthy, I know, but it’s the way I am. Cowboys are home, with is probably a negative, but I like them here. COWBOYS 31-30

Washington Redskins at Philadelphia Eagles

MICHAEL: The Eagles have a chance to play spoiler here against their division rivals. But RG3 or Kirk Cousins, the Redskins seem unstoppable right now. REDSKINS 30-13

TOM: Redskins. All day. REDSKINS 38-13

St. Louis Rams at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

MICHAEL: The Rams have a pretty good secondary, whereas the Saints have none and shutout the Buccaneers last week. That’s good enough logic for me with this pick. RAMS 16-13

TOM: The Bucs are out of gas. Rams have some weapons. But pardon me if I don’t watch this game. RAMS 21-10

San Diego Chargers at New York Jets

MICHAEL: I think that the Jets will play with new life now that Greg McElroy will be the starter for this game. He may struggle, but it can’t be as bad as Mark Sanchez. JETS 24-16

TOM:  Here’s how this will work. McElroy will play like he’s the new Namath. Jets fans will get enthusiastic, the organization will see a way to save money and not draft a QB, thinking he can be the man. They get Vick and next season will be a slightly-lesser-cluster-f-bomb than this season. JETS 24-13

Tennessee Titans at Green Bay Packers

MICHAEL: A few weeks ago, Adrian Peterson ran for over 200 yards on the Packers defense. Though Chris Johnson could do the same thing this week, the Titans defense needs to discount double check who they’re playing against this week: it’s Aaron Rodgers, not Mark Sanchez. PACKERS 27-13

TOM: Packers are on their way to a bye, in my opinion. Aaron Rodgers can carry a banged-up team all the way into February, and he will. They begin to iron out any kinks this week. PACKERS 31-10

Minnesota Vikings at Houston Texans

MICHAEL: This is a real tough game to pick. The Texans have a great defense, especially front seven, that matches up well on paper against Adrian Peterson. But I’m going with the Vikings in an upset to keep their playoff hopes alive. Plus at this point, no one can stop, or even slow down, Peterson; he’s on a mission to set the single-season rushing record and possibly capture the MVP award. VIKINGS 24-20

TOM: Texans are going to make a statement that they are the team to beat in the AFC. Stopping AP in his tracks will get that done. Texans, all day. TEXANS 27-13

Cleveland Browns at Denver Broncos

MICHAEL: Peyton Manning and the Broncos have won nine straight games. Make that ten. BRONCOS 34-13

TOM: The Browns are not that bad. But they’re also not that good. Trent Richardson is good, but he’s not Peyton Manning good. BRONCOS 24-14

Chicago Bears at Arizona Cardinals

MICHAEL: The once 7-1 Bears, now 8-6, couldn’t ask for a better time for a bounce back game. In what would be a football fan’s dream with Brandon Marshall and Larry Fitzgerald playing on the same field, there’s only one receiver that will shine. I think we all know who I’m talking about. BEARS 27-10

TOM: The Bears are in bad shape. This looks like a respite game, but it could be a rock-bottom game. After a late-season collapse last year due to Cutler’s injury, the Bears will rally in this game for Lovie’s sake. But something’s not right. BEARS 17-10

New York Giants at Baltimore Ravens

MICHAEL: Tom and I like to go with the teams that are desperate for a win. Unfortunately, both of these teams are desperate—really, really desperate—for a win, which makes this a hard game to pick. It’s hard to see the Giants not bouncing back for a win, but it’s also hard to see the Ravens losing four straight, including three in a row at home. My gut-feeling tells me to go with the Giants, because of Tom Coughlin and Eli Manning. GIANTS 27-23

TOM: We do like desperate teams, but I’ve lost my feel for either one of these teams. The Ravens are safe for post-season play. The Giants, somehow, are in a dog-fight for January football. (This is how it happens folks. We dismiss the Giants and in February their fans tell us they win when it counts. It counts, starting now). GIANTS 24-23

San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks

MICHAEL: Another tough game to pick since both teams are on fire right now. But something I’ve noticed this year in the NFL is that big time wins are usually followed by slip-up losses. That’s what I think will happen to the 49ers in this one. Plus, I know the Seahawks want to make a huge statement to the rest of the league by winning this game, and I’m rolling with the team that exudes a confidence unmatched by any other squad in the league. SEAHAWKS 20-16

TOM:  I firmly love the Seahawks. They are like a solid National League team. Winning by taking one base at a time, not making errors, and jumping on your mistakes. They truly are a pleasure to watch. A late turnover by the ‘Niners dooms them. SEAHAWKS 17-14.