The games are ticking down, with just three weeks left in the NFL’s regular season. 12 NFL teams, including the surprise Kansas City Chiefs, have all been eliminated from playoff contention. The Rams and Broncos have locked up their spots, while the remaining 18 teams are battling it out for the final 12 spots. Let’s jump in and set our Week 16 NFL confidence pool picks.
The Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks kick things off on Thursday Night Football. The winner takes control of the NFC West and the #1 seed in the NFC playoff race. Don’t forget there are two NFL games on Saturday this week, as the Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Commanders square off. Followed by a stellar NFC North battle between the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers. This is another tough week to pick, with some very good teams matched up against each other. As well as some very bad teams matched up against each other.
Week 16 NFL Confidence Pool Picks
High Confidence
1.Texans Over Raiders
2.Bills Over Browns
3.Eagles Over Commanders
4.Lions Over Steelers
5.Chiefs Over Titans
Texans good, Raiders bad. It’s really that simple in this first matchup. The Texans have made a great comeback to put themselves in playoff position, and can’t drop easy games like this. They should roll in this one.
The Buffalo Bills are coming off a big comeback win over New England, and now they get Shedeur Sanders. Don’t let one decent game against the Titans fool you. Fade Cleveland.
Philadelphia righted the ship against the Raiders; they get a familiar foe in the Commanders. The Eagles need to get fine-tuned heading into the playoffs, and this is a great game to do so.
The Steelers got the job done on Monday Night, but now they face a much superior Lions team. Even if they drop this one, the Steelers look fine in the playoff race, and this is close to a must-win for the Lions. Give me Detroit all day.
Gardner Minshew and the Kansas City Chiefs. Yep, it sounds weird to say. But at least for his first game, he’s got an easy matchup. They don’t have anything to play for but pride. Minshew will ball out, and the coaching difference here is miles apart.
Confident Picks
6.49ers Over Colts
7.Patriots Over Ravens
8.Chargers Over Cowboys
9.Saints Over Jets
10.Vikings Over Giants
Philip Rivers almost got it done in his first game back, and this Colts defense deserves a lot of props. But Monday Night could send Rivers back into retirement with everyone watching. Give me the better team in San Francisco.
New England proved a lot of good things last week. It was a loss in the end, but they’ll bounce back in a big spot on Sunday Night Football against a Ravens team that has struggled overall.
The Cowboys have had some good games lately and are in the mix to win any week. But Jim Harbaugh and this Chargers team seem to be the real deal, and they need this win to keep in the playoff race, which the Cowboys are virtually eliminated from.
The New Orleans Saints on the confident list? That shows two things. First, this Jets team is horrible. Secondly, this Saints team has made something of themselves, and possibly found their quarterback for next year? The Jets are starting Brady Cook again, and the Saints are the better team.
This Vikings and Giants game just sneaks into the confident picks, despite my overall feelings for NINE (JJ McCarthy). Minnesota is still the better team here, and if McCarthy can not throw it away, they should take home the win.
Toss-Ups
11.Cardinals Over Falcons
12.Dolphins Over Bengals
13.Buccaneers Over Panthers
14.Jaguars Over Broncos
15.Rams Over Seahawks
16.Bears Over Packers
The Atlanta Falcons have quickly become one of the worst teams in football, and Jacoby Brissett is playing well for the Cardinals. That’s the decider in this toss-up for me.
The Dolphins are turning things over to Quinn Ewers, the rookie from Texas. That could go either way, but this Dolphins team has been playing well, winning four of their last five games. Joe Burrow seems checked out, flirting with retirement? Who knows. Give me Miami in this one.
The Buccaneers-Panthers game in Week 16 has massive significance, is probably not something many of us had on our bingo cards. Honestly, you can’t trust either of these teams, but I believe in Baker Mayfield more than Bryce Young.
If you don’t know about the Jaguars by now, they’ve treated us very well this season in this article. I’m not going to stop riding Duuuval now!
The Thursday Night game is splitting hairs, but I do believe the Los Angeles Rams score the victory in this one.
The Bears-Packers game was a very close one just two weeks ago. We’re likely in for that again, give me the Bears to come out on top in Week 16 at home.
