NFL picks against the point spread, Week 16

My first losing week last week but still not terrible as I went 6-9-1 and really mis-read a few games, specifically the Chiefs-Ravens game and the Giants game. I wanted to make it a whole season without a losing week, but that didn't happen. Oh, well.  This week hopefully I'll bounce back but full disclosure I think games at the end of the season are just harder to predict because sometimes it's less about the match-up and more about who actually shows up and who knows they are playing for lame duck coaches.

San Diego Chargers (+5.5)  at Oakland Raiders

I think the Raiders are an ascending team and a team that should be playoff bound next year they are a team that is starting to fade a bit with their young talent and their defense can't overcome some of it's injuries. They need some more depth acquisition and another year of seasoning in my opinion The Chargers are not great, but their QB is and this is a bad defense they are playing so I think it'll be close if they don't win outright.

Pick: Chargers

Washington (+3) at Philadelphia Eagles

Who are the Eagles? I still don't know. I think  I know who the Redskins are earlier in the season I said they are not a good team, but they are a tough team. And they are still a tough team, but now their offense is improving by the week and they aren't a great team, but they are a good one, especially at home. The Giants need the Eagles to win here, but I think the matchups favorite the Redskins who have enough players that they can create some problems for the Eagles (DeSean Jackson/Jordan Reed) and the Eagles lack the kind of outside play-makers that give the Redskins problems.

Pick: Redskins win outright

New York Giants (+5.5) at Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings are very good at not beating themselves as opposed to the Giants, who are. Did you see what Lamar Miller did to the Giants in a few carries? Thankfully, the Dolphins went away from him for whatever reason. The Vikings won't do that. Adrian Peterson could torch the Giants. And then the Vikings have a very good solid defense and the Giants without OBJ are seriously lacking play-makers. The Vikings also have some speed on the outside which always gives the Giants problems, even though Mike Wallace as done virtually nothing this year he's nearly a lock to have a 50+yard touchdown this week. I'm not a sky is falling type guy and I hope the Giants can find a way to win and they always can because No. 10 will be suiting up, but I don't love the match-up for them just because the Vikings are very, very solid and the Giants do everything they can to lose games

Pick: Vikings

Chicago Bears (+3) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

I think the Bears are the better team, but not by much , but they are getting poiints Jay Cutler is a media punching bag, but this year he's been playing good solid football all year. I think the Bears win outright.

Pick: Bears

Carolina Panthers (-7) at Atlanta Falcons

The Panthers are a tough match-up for the Falcons, who will have trouble handling Kawann Short and Star Lotuelelei, plus they are getting very close to going undefeated which I think is a mission now They also have the drama surrounding last week and sometimes teams can really come out firing when there is an us vs them mentality. Now Ron Rivera could blow all this by deciding to coast but I think the Panthers beat them down pretty good.

Pick: Panthers

Dallas Cowboys (+6) at Buffalo Bills

The Bills are the more talented team on both sides of the ball, but the Cowboys are a team that hangs with most teams because they are talented. I think 6 points is too much against an inconsistent Bills team.

Pick: Cowboys

Jacksonville Jaguars (+3.5) at New Orleans Saints

The Jaguars might actually be the better offense between these two teams (24.5 ppg. vs 25 ppg. -- but the Jaguars didn't get to hang 52 on the Giants) . The Jaguars also have the games best offensive weapon in the very good, but still very underrated Allen Robinson. Straight beast . The Saints also are not unbeatable at home anymore as they have lost home games to the Buccaneers, Lions, and  even the Titans this year.

Pick: Jaguars

San Francisco 49ers (+9.5) at Detroit Lions

The Lions are playing much better and the 49ers are terrible. 9.5 feels like too much, but I'm going to go with the Lions.

Pick: Lions

Cleveland Browns (+11) at Kansas City Chiefs

The Patriots, Panthers, Cardinals, Seahawks, Bengals, and the Chiefs are the only teams in the league with a 100+ net points this year. The Chiefs are very good, they started 1-5 and now they are 9-5. They should win  by more than 11 and they might be the most dangerous team in the league right now.

Pick: Chiefs by more than 11

Indianapolis Colts (+2.5) at Miami Dolphins

The Colts have something to play for, not only for the divison, but also for a coach who by all accounts is well liked. The Dolphins don't. The Colts lack talent, but I think they'll play with more heart in this one.

Pick: Colts

New England Patriots (-3) at New York Jets

Can't pick against Brady when the spread is 3 or less.

Pick: Patriots

Houston Texans (+4.5) at Tennessee Titans

Texans are the better team who are getting better by the week. The Texans are actually now fourth in the league in defense.

Pick: Texans

Green Bay Packers (+4.5) at Arizona Cardinals

Will Tryann Mathieu's lose cost the Cardinals? In the end, I believe it could. But the Packers don't have the kind of weapons to make the Cardinals pay for that injury alone.

Pick: Cardinals

St. Louis Rams (+13) at Seattle Seahawks

The Rams seem to always play tough in the division. Seahawks are rolling, but I don't quite fully believe in their offense yet  and the Rams defense can cause some teams problems

Pick: Rams

Pittsburgh Steelers (-10) at Baltimore Ravens

Steelers are rolling and Jimmy Clausen and the Ravens are terrible.

Pick: Steelers

Cincinnati Bengals (+3.5) at Denver Broncos

I think the Bengals are actually the better team and are getting points .

Pick: Bengals

Week 1: 9-6-1
Week 2: 7-7
Week 3: 9-7
Week 4: 11-4
Week 5 : 7-7
Week 6: 9-4-1
Week 7: 8-6
Week 8: 6-6-2
Week 9: 7-5
Week 10: 9-5
Week 11: 8-5-1
Week 12: 7-7
Week 13: 10-6
Week 14: 9-7
Week 15: 6-9-1

Overall: 121-91-1