NFL Betting Recap for Week 16
NFL Week 16 Betting Recap
The holiday season is nearly here so let’s get to recapping last week. Let’s go back and take a look at what happened in Week 16 of the NFL in terms of the lines, injuries, and playoff scenarios.
Thursday, Dec. 21
LA RAMS (-4.5) over New Orleans 30-22
The Rams jumped out in this game 30-7 and had to hold on. Matthew Stafford threw two TD passes to help the Rams improve to 8-7. Stafford threw for 328 yards and rookie Puka Nacua had 164 receiving yards. Derek Carr led the Saints with 319 yards passing, including three TDs to WR Chris Olave. Rams’ RB Kyren Wiliams added 104 yards and a rushing TD. The Saints fell to 7-8 with the loss, but are still in the playoff picture in the NFC.
Saturday, Dec. 23
PITTSBURGH (+2.5/38.5) over Cincinnati 34-11
The Steelers won’t go away as third-string QB Mason Rudolph threw two TD passes of 86 and 66 yards to George Picks to help Pittsburgh improve to 8-7. Pickens finished with four catches for 195 yards, while Rudolph went 17 of 27 for 290 yards. It was a rough day for the Cincinnati defense that allowed 421 yards. Jake Browning also struggled with three picks, though he did throw for 335 yards and a TD. The Bengals fell to 0-5 in the AFC North and 8-7 overall.
LA CHARGERS (+12.5/44.5) over Buffalo 22-24
The Bills needed a 29-yard field goal with 28 seconds left to beat a feisty Chargers team. Josh Allen rushed for two TDs and passed for one to lift a sloppy Buffalo team to a 9-6 record. Gabe Davis caught four passe for 139 yards and a TD for the Bills. Los Angeles was led by Cameron Dicker, who booted five field goals. QB Easton Stick was solid with 215 yards (23 of 33) as the replacement for Justin Herbert with no Keenan Allen (heel) to throw to. The chargers fell to 5-10 and lost for the sixth time in seven games.
Detroit (-2.5/47.5) over MINNESOTA 30-24
The Lions clinched the NFC North for the first time in 30 years as rookie RB Jahmyr Gibbs rushed for 80 yards and two TDs. QB Jared Goff threw for 257 yards and a TD to help the Lions improve to 11-4. Amon-Ra St. Brown caught 12 passes for 106 yards and a TD. Minnesota QB Nick Mullens threw for 411 yards and two TDs, but was also picked off four times. The Vikes fell to 7-8 on the season and will need to beat Green Bay on Sunday to keep their playoff hopes alive.
Sunday, Dec. 24
ATLANTA (-2.5/43.5) over Indianapolis 29-10
Atlanta kept their playoff hopes alive thanks to Taylor Heinecke completing 23 of 33 for 229 yards and one TD. The Falcons ran all over the Colts (177 yards) and improved to 7-8. Younghoe Koo kicked five field goals while rookie RB Bijan Robinson ran for 72 yards on 12 carries and caught seven passes for 50 yards. The Colts were held to just 262 yards and fell to 8-7. Gardn Minshew was ordinary with 201 yards passing and a pick. He missed WR Michael Pittman, who was out with a shoulder injury.
Cleveland (-2.5/39.5) over HOUSTON 36-22
Joe Flacco continued his “elite” play with 368 yards and three TDs. He helped the Browns win their third straight win and improve to 10-5. Amari Cooper was fantastic with 11 catches for 265 receiving yards to set a franchise record. Houston was playing with backup QB Case Keenum, who was picked off twice in place of injured rookie C.J. Stroud (concussion). The Texans fell to 8-7 on the season.
TENNESSEE (+3.5/41.5) over Seattle 17-20
The Titans are out of playoff contention and went back to veteran Ryan Tannehill at quarterback due to an injury to rookie Will Levis. Seattle (8-7) did find a way to get the win as Geno Smith tossed two TD passes in the fourth quarter. Derrick Henry ran for a TD and threw for one to lead the Titans (5-10), They were up 17-13 with 3:21 let after a Henry 2-yard TD run. Tannehill was 18 of 26 for 152 yards and was sacked six times.
Washington (+3.5/36.5) over NY JETS 28-30
The Jets blew a 20-point lead in the second quarter and a 17-0 lead, but won at the end and didn’t cover. Washington once again went back to backup QB Jacoby Brissett went helped them get cak in the game with a 100 yards passing and a TD. He replaced the ineffective Sam Howell, who went 6 of 22 for 56 yards and two picks. Breece Hall had 191 scrimmage yards and scored twice to lead the Jets. Trevor Siemian competed 27 of 49 for 217 yards with a TD and a pick. The Jets (6-9) needed a Greg Zuerlein 54-yard field goal with five seconds left to give New York the win.
CAROLINA (+3.5/39.5) over Green Bay 30-33
The Panthers had nothing to play for but gave the Packers a tough game. Green Bay (7-8) needed two TDs from Jordan Love and a rushing score to squeak by thanks to a 32-yard field goal from Anders Carlson with 19 seconds left. Rookie Bryce Young had a strong game for Carolina (2-13) with 312 yards passing (23 of 35). Love completed 27 of 28 for 219 yards.
TAMPA BAY (+2.5/43.5) over Jacksonville 30-12
Tampa Bay improved to 8-7 with a dominant win over the Jaguars as Baker Mayfield was once again outstanding. He competed 26 for 35 for 283 yards. That included seven receptions for Mike Evans for 86 yards. Jags quarterback Trevor Lawrence completed 17 of 29 for 211 yards with a TD and two pick I three quarters. He left the game with a right shoulder injury in the fourth quarter or C.J. Beathard. The good news for the Jaguars is that they are 8-7 and still tied with Houston and Indianapolis, who both lost this past week. The bad news is that Lawrence now has a shoulder injury to deal with. The Bucs are also 8-7 and lead the sorry NFC South
CHICAGO (-4.5/42.5) over Arizona 27-16
The Bears are playing pretty good football as they improved to 6-9 and won for the third time in their last four games. Justin Fields passed for a TD and ran for one to lead the Bears, who jumped out toa 14-0 lead. Kyle Murray completed 24 of 38 for 230 yards and two TDs. James Connor and Greg Dortch had one TD reception apiece for Arizona.
MIAMI (-1.5/48.5) over Dallas 22-20
This one of the best games of the weekend. Miami clinched a playoff spot after Jason Sanders nailed a 29-yard field goal as time expired to lead the Fins. Sanders booted five field goals, including three over 50 yards. Tua Tagovailoa added 293 yards passing and one TD. WR Tyreek Hill returned from a sprained ankle to catch nine passes for 99 yards. Miami improved to 11-4 with the win, while Dallas fell to 10-5 and 3-5 on the road. CeeDee Lamb caught six passes for 118 yards and a TD, while Dak Prescott threw two TDs for the Cowboys.
New England (+7.5/37) over DENVER 26-23
This was one of the shockers of the weekend. Chad Rylan kicked a 56-yard field goal with two seconds left to give New England (4-11) the shocking win. Bailey Zappe threw for 256 yards and two TDs. Both TD passes went to RB Ezekiel Eliott and TE Mike Gesicki. Denver fell to 7-8 and was a huge blow to their playoff hopes. Russell Wilson completed 25 of 37 for 238 yards with two TDs and a late rally. But he’ll be on the bench this week for former Patriots’ QB Jarrett Stidham, reportedly due to financial reasons.
Monday, Dec. 25
Las Vegas (+10.5/40.5) over KANSAS CITY 20-14
The Raiders pulled THE shocker of the weekend with a dominant defensive performance on the road. Jack Jones and Bilal Nichols helped put this game away in the second quarter with defensive touchdowns. RB Zamir White led the Raiders with 145 yards on 22 carries to help Vegas improved to 7-8. Malcolm Koonce also had a career-high three sacks for the Raiders, who played without star RB Josh Jacobs (quad). Kansas City started with -18 yards of offense in the first quarter. They fell to 9-6 as Patrick Mahomes completed 27 of 44 for 235 yards with a TD and a pick. He ran for 53 yards but the Chiefs dropped their third game in their last four.
NY Giants (+14/41.5) over PHILADELPHIA 25-33
This might be the end of Tommy DeVito’s run in New Jersey/New York. The Giants (5-10) fell but gave the Eagles a tough game as Tyrod Taylor started the second half and threw for 133 yards with a TD and a pick. DeVito was pulled after going 9 of 16 for 55 yards. Taylor will start the next game for the Giants. As for Philadelphia (11-4), they pulled ahead of the Cowboys. Jalen Hurts threw for 301 yards and was picked off once. D’Andre Swift gained 92 yards on 20 carries. A.J. Brown caught six passes for 80 yards and DeVonta Smith caught four passes for 79 yards and a TD.
Baltimore (+6.5/47.5) over SAN FRANCISCO 33-19
Lamar Jackson threw for 252 yards and two third-quarter TDs as the Ravens’ pulled a stunning road win against a 49ers’ team that fell to 11-4. Baltimore improved to 12-3 as Jackson moved ahead of Brock Purdy for the race of MVP. Purdy threw four interceptions against a Baltimore defense that was on form. Christian McCaffrey ran for 103 yards and a TD on 14 carries. But the Ravens defense was the story as they had five interceptions including a late one against Sam Darnold, who replaced Purdy (stinger). The 49ers need to win their last two games against Washington and the LA Rams to win the top seed in the AFC. The Ravens need to beat Miami on Sunday to clinch the top seed in the AFC.