For the fourth straight year, the NFL’s Week 16 slate of games will include a Christmas Day contest. This year, three games will be played on December 25 – including an even-rarer late season matchup pitting the leading teams from each conference. Let’s unwrap this week’s odds like a kid on Christmas morning!
New Orleans Saints at Los Angeles Rams (-4) Thursday 8:15pm
Week 16 kicks off with a battle of 7-7 teams as the New Orleans Saints face the Los Angeles Rams. New Orleans has won two straight outings, including a 24-6 beatdown of the New York Giants Sunday. Los Angeles was victorious in its last outing as the Rams beat the Commanders 28-20 in Week 15. This game’s over/under total is set at 46.5 points.
Cincinnati Bengals (-1.5) at Pittsburgh Steelers Saturday 4:30pm
An AFC North battle for last place occurs when the Cincinnati Bengals (8-6) face off against the Pittsburgh Steelers (7-7) Saturday afternoon. Cincinnati has found life under QB Jake Browning, winning their past three contests. Pittsburgh looks lifeless without QB Kenny Pickett, dropping their last three games. Oddsmakers have assigned an over/under total of 37 points for this game.
Buffalo Bills (-10.5) at Los Angeles Chargers 8pm
The reinvigorated Buffalo Bills (8-6) face the Los Angeles Chargers (5-9) in Saturday’s nightcap. Buffalo has won two straight, including a 31-10 walloping of the Cowboys last week. Now, the Bills face a Chargers team that just fired its head coach and will potentially start its third different QB in the past three weeks. This contest’s over/under total is starting at 44 points.
Detroit Lions (-3) at Minnesota Vikings Sunday 1pm
The battle between the top two NFC North teams occurs Sunday when the Minnesota Vikings (7-7) battle the Detroit Lions (10-4). Minnesota lost their last outing, a 27-24 overtime defeat against Cincinnati. Detroit hammered the Denver Broncos at home, and now the Lions take to the road to clinch their playoff berth. This contest’s over/under total is starting at 46.5 points.
Washington Commanders at New York Jets (-3) 1pm
The Commanders (4-10) are on a five-game losing skid, having last defeated the Patriots back in early November. Now, Washington enters their Week 16 contest against the New York Jets (5-9) looking like a team that will soon need a head coach. New York is not in the same boat as QB Aaron Rodgers – knowing the Jets are eliminated from playoff contention – could get the nod to tease fans of what might have been this season. This game’s over/under total is set at 37 points.
Green Bay Packers (-4.5) at Carolina Panthers 1pm
Although Green Bay can still make the NFC playoffs, the Packers (6-8) cannot afford to lose another game. They’ll take that win-or-go-home mentality into Carolina to face the Panthers (2-12) this week. Carolina is fresh off its second victory of the season, upending NFC South rival Atlanta 9-7 in Week 15. With two teams that struggle to score, oddsmakers have fittingly put this Week 16 contest’s over/under total at 36.5 points.
Cleveland Browns at Houston Texans (-2.5) 1pm
Two teams fighting for playoff positioning collide when the Cleveland Browns (9-5) invade Houston to face the Texans (8-6) Sunday. Cleveland currently would be the fifth seed in the AFC as it owns the best record of any team that is not a divisional leader. Houston, meanwhile, is in a three-way tie atop the AFC South, and a win would maintain that spot for another week. This game’s over/under total is starting at 42.5 points.
Indianapolis Colts at Atlanta Falcons (-1.5) 1pm
The Colts (8-6) are tied atop the AFC South standings, a far cry above expectations after rookie QB Anthony Richardson was lost for the season earlier this year. Now, Indianapolis travels to Atlanta to face the Falcons (6-8). Atlanta dropped their second-straight game Sunday, an embarrassing 9-7 loss to the Panthers. This game’s over/under total is set at 44 points.
Seattle Seahawks (-2.5) at Tennessee Titans 1pm
Seattle kept their playoff hopes alive Monday night when the Seahawks (7-7) upset the Eagles. Now, Seattle continues that push against the Tennessee Titans (5-9), a team that has lost two of their past three games in overtime. Oddsmakers have this contest’s over/under total starting at 41.5 points.
Jacksonville Jaguars at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-1.5) 4:05pm
The Jacksonville Jaguars (8-6) once had a three-game lead in the AFC South, but three straight losses leaves them in a three-way atop the division with Houston and Indianapolis. Tampa Bay – the Jaguars opponent this week – understands their misery. The Buccaneers (7-7) are tied atop the NFC South with the Saints. A win for either team will keep them atop their division for another week. This game’s over/under total is set at 43.5 points.
Dallas Cowboys at Miami Dolphins (-1.5) 4:25pm
A pair of 10-4 teams atop their divisions square off when the Miami Dolphins host the Dallas Cowboys Sunday afternoon. Miami spanked the Jets 30-0 Sunday while AFC North foe Buffalo dispatched the Cowboys 31-10. Both teams need wins to continue their quest for the top playoff seed in their conference. This game’s over/under is starting at 51.5 points, the highest total points for Week 16.
Arizona Cardinals at Chicago Bears (-4.5) 4:25pm
A game featuring two teams with 20 combined losses occurs in Week 16 when the Arizona Cardinals (3-11) travel to Chicago to face the Bears (5-9). Both teams enter this game off a loss: Arizona fell to divisional rival San Francisco 45-29 while Chicago dropped a game against Cleveland 20-17. The Bears must win to avoid being eliminated from the 2023 playoffs. This game’s over/under total is starting at 44.5 points.
New England Patriots at Denver Broncos (-6.5) 8:15pm
The Sunday primetime game features the New England Patriots (3-11) against the Denver Broncos (7-7). New England showed signs of life against the Kansas City Chiefs before falling 27-17 last week. Denver – a team that had stitched together a five-game winning streak earlier this year – showed little signs of life against the Lions in a 42-17 loss. This game’s over/under total is starting at 34 points, the lowest point total in Week 16.
Las Vegas Raiders at Kansas City Chiefs (-10) Monday 1pm
Either the Las Vegas Raiders (6-8) or the Kansas City Chiefs (9-5) will pick up their third Christmas Day victory when the two teams meet Monday. Las Vegas is undefeated on Christmas and will enter the game fresh off a 63-21 thrashing of the Chargers. Kansas City remained atop the AFC West by beating the Patriots 27-17 in Week 15. This game’s over/under total is starting at 41.5 points.
New York Giants at Philadelphia Eagles (-11.5) 4:30pm
The New York Giants (5-9) will play in their first-ever Christmas Day game, traveling to Philadelphia to take on the Eagles (10-4) Monday evening. New York’s three-game winning streak was snapped Sunday, falling 24-6 to the Saints. The Eagles are 2-0 on Christmas Day. This contest’s over/under total is 42.5 points.
Baltimore Ravens at San Francisco 49ers (-5) 8:15pm
A rare NFL matchup of the two teams atop both conferences occurs Monday night to cap off Week 16. The Baltimore Ravens (11-3) and the San Francisco 49ers (11-3) are the current top seed for their respective conference, and a win for either team will cement that status. Baltimore is 1-1 on Christmas Day while the 49ers are 0-1 playing on December 25. This contest’s over/under total is set at 46.5 points.
