With the NFL playoff picture cloudy with just two weeks left, winning in week 16 action is essential for the playoff contenders. NFL action expands to 4 games this week: Panthers – Steelers on Thursday, Cowboys – Cardinals Saturday, 13 games on Sunday and a great NFC matchup on Monday with the Saints against the Falcons.

Here are the spreads and predictions against-the spread (ATS) for Week 16 of the NFL season.

NFL THURSDAY, December 23, 2010
Panthers (+15) over STEELERS (Over/Under: 37)
A 15-point spread in an NFL game is just too much, especially when the favorite has already sewn up a playoff spot.
Take the Panthers and the points

NFL SATURDAY, December 25, 2010
Cowboys (-7) Over CARDINALS (Over/Under: 45)
With both teams out of the playoff picture, this game is big for Dallas’ interim coach Jason Garrett, who is trying to prove he has what it takes to be the Cowboys new head coach. Arizona is 1-4 ATS in their last five games.
The underachieving Cowboys should win by 10

NFL SUNDAY, December 26, 2010
Lions (+3.5) Over DOLPHINS (Over/Under: 41.5)
The Dolphin offense and QB Chad Henne have just been atrocious lately.  The Lions are coming off a 2 game win streak. The Lions are 1-4 ATS and 8-4 ATS as the away underdog. The Dolphins are 2-5 ATS at home and 1-5 ATS as a home favorite.
The Lions have gained confidence and will fry the Fish.

JAGUARS (-7) Over Redskins (Over/Under: 46)
In Week 15, the Redskins replaced QB Donovan McNabb with Rex Grossman but it still wasn’t enough to beat the NFC East, last place, Cowboys. The Jaguars are 4-0 as the ATS favorite and 4-0 ATS as a home favorite.
Go with the trend and the Jaguars

RAMS (-2.5) 0ver 49ers (Over/Under: 39.5)
Can you believe that a divisional leader has a 6-8 record? Well, that’s the story in the NFC West where the Rams and Seahawks share that record and the lead. The trends show the 49ers have the advantage, going 8-2 within the division while the Rams are 1-9 in December.
With the NFC Division title within grasp, you gotta go against the trends and take the Rams.

Patriots (-9) Over BILLS (Over/Under: 44)
In week 15 action, the Patriots needed a 4th quarter TD to get past the Packers. The Pats are assured at least a playoff spot but a win this week secures them the AFC East championship. After an 0-8 start, the Bills are 4-2. Straight up, the Bills are 1-18 in their last 19 meetings with the Patriots. The Patriots have lost their last two ATS.
Look for the Patriots to win big and on the winning side ATS.

Jets (+1) Over BEARS (Over/Under: 36.5)
The Bears are the NFC Division champs after Monday night’s blowout of the Packers (40-14). You can throw out all the trends and statistics in this one; the Bears can afford to rest their starters and the Jets need a win.
Take the Jets, period.

Ravens (-4) Over Browns (Over/Under: 39.5)
With the Pittsburgh Steelers assured a playoff spot, the Ravens need a win to stay in the AFC playoff picture. The Browns are 5-9 in 2010 and out of the playoffs. Expect the Ravens to stay on the ground and live off Rice (RB Ray Rice) this Sunday.
Take the Ravens – forget the points.

CHIEFS (-5) Over Titans (Over/Under: 42)
The Chiefs are 6-0 at home (SU) in 2010 and KC is a tough place to play. The Chiefs are better in the turnover department (+.03 vs .- 07) and the Titans are penalty prone. In addition, the Chiefs control their own destiny in the AFC West playoff race. A Chiefs (10-4) win combined with a San Diego loss (9-5) spells a divisional title for KC.  KC QB Matt Cassel is back in form after an appendectomy.
Expect the Titans to have an “add-a-loss-to-me” this week ATS.

Texans (-3) Over BRONCOS (Over/Under: 48.5)
Neither of these two are in the AFC playoff picture and both teams have had a disappointing and underachieving year. The Texans are 4-9 ATS and the Broncos 4-10 ATS in 2010 – tough one to pick with nothing on the line.
Take the Texans giving 3.

Colts (-3) Over RAIDERS (Over/Under: 47)
The Colts, once again, find themselves in need of a win to stay in the NFL playoff race.  The Raiders, for the first time in many years, have a chance (although very slim) in December of making the playoffs. Even with favorite WR Austin Collie on IR (concussion), never go again Peyton Manning with his back against the wall.
Take the Colts ATS to stay in the AFC playoff race

Chargers (-7.5) Over BENGALS (Over/Under: 44)
It seems that the Bengals have been out of the playoff picture for months.  The surging Chargers still have chance at the playoffs with a few wins and a big slip up by the Chiefs
7 ½ points seems like a lot but not for Rivers and the hot Chargers.

Giants (NL) Over PACKERS (Over/Under: NL)
The Giants gotta be burning inside after theirs colossal collapse (forget the Joe Pisarcik – Eagles game) in the Meadowlands last week against the Eagles (L 38-31). Regardless of that outcome, the Giants control their own destiny in the NFC playoff race.
Doesn’t matter what the spread is in this game – the Giants win big and redeem themselves after their worst loss in team history.

EAGLES (NL) Over Vikings (Over/Under: NL)
Michael Vick’s performance against the Giants in week 15 is enough to make this game the lock of the week, regardless of the spread, especially after the Vikings getting routed by the Bears on Monday night (40-14).
Is Michael Vick the NFL MVP? Doesn’t matter in this contest – take the Eagles.

MONDAY, December 27, 2010
FALCONS (-3) Over Saints (Over/Under (48.5)
What a great Monday night game, and absolutely the best NFL matchup of week 16. Even though the Falcons are guaranteed a playoff spot, don’t expect a letup in their play.Simply, take the Falcons and QB Matt Ryan.

HOMETEAM IN CAPS

NL = No Line on the spread as of press time (espn, bodog.com, sportsinteraction.com, 5dimes.com, sdgglobal)  SU = Straight Up  ATS = Against the spread

Spreads as/of Wed. 12/22/10 12:00 pm EST

The results of Week 16 NFL action set the scene for the final NFL playoff picture.

Sources: bodog.com ,espn.com

The Atlanta Falcons made believers out of many with a 28-24 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers down in Florida in NFL Week 13 football action. Atlanta’s impressive win gives them the #1 seed in the NFC playoff race.

Right behind the Falcons are the Chicago Bears (9-3), Philadelphia Eagles and (8-4) and the St. Louis Rams (6-6). The New Orleans Saints (9-3) and the New York Giants (8-4) follow with the best chance at the 2 NFC wildcard spots. Other NFC teams with a good chance at the NFC wildcard are the Green Bay Packers (8-4) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-5).

The NFL playoff race continues in week 14 with the Colts taking on the Titans on Thursday, Dec 9.

The complete NFC playoff picture as it stands heading into Week 14 of the NFL football season is as follows:

2010 NFL WEEK 14 NFC PLAYOFF RACE
Seed	Team	Division	Record
1	Atlanta Falcons	South	10-2
2	Chicago Bears	North	9-3
3	Philadelphia Eagles	East	8-4
4	St. Louis Rams	West	6-6
5	New Orleans Saints	South	9-3
6	New York Giants	East	8-4
STILL ALIVE
7	Green Bay Packers	North	8-4
8	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	South	7-5
9	Seattle Seahawks	West	6-6
10	Minnesota Vikings	North	5-7
11	Washington Redskins	East	5-7
12	Dallas Cowboys	East	4-8
13	San Francisco 49ers	West	4-8
14	Arizona Cardinals	West	3-9
ELIMINATED
15	Detroit Lions	North	2-10
16	Carolina Panthers	South	1-11

Check out the Week 14 AFC Playoff Race

sources: cbssports.com, foxsports.com, New York Daily News

http://thenflthisweek.com/2010-nfl-football-week-14-afc-playoff-race/

With the New England Patriots dismantling the New York Jets (45-3) on Monday night, the AFC Playoff race becomes a little clearer.

Holding first place in their respective divisions are the New England Patriots (10-2), Jacksonville Jaguars (7-5), Pittsburgh Steelers (9-3) and Kansas City Chiefs (8-4). The Baltimore Ravens (9-3) and the New York Jets (9-3) hold the advantage for the wildcard hunt.

The Oakland Raiders, San Diego Chargers, Indianapolis Colts and Miami Dolphins are still alive with the identical record of 6-6. The Houston Texans, Cleveland Browns and Tennessee Titans statically are still alive with 5-7 records. Only 3 teams have been eliminated from the AFC playoff race in the 2010 NFL football season.

The AFC playoff race continues in week 14 with the Colts taking on the Titans on Thursday, Dec 9.

The AFC Playoff picture as it stands heading into Week 14 of the 2010 NFL football season:

2010 NFL WEEK 14 AFC PLAYOFF RACE
Seed	Team	Division	Record
1	New England Patriots	East	10-2
2	Pittsburgh Steelers	North	9-3
3	Kansas City Chiefs	West	8-4
4	Jacksonville Jaguars	South	7-5
5	New York Jets	East	9-3
6	Baltimore Ravens	North	8-4
STILL ALIVE
7	Oakland Raiders	West	6-6
8	San Diego Chargers	West	6-6
9	Indianapolis Colts	South	6-6
10	Miami Dolphins	East	6-6
11	Houston Texans	South	5-7
12	Cleveland Browns	North	5-7
13	Tennessee Titans	South	5-7
ELIMINATED
14	Denver Broncos	West	3-9
15	Buffalo Bills	East	2-10
16	Cincinnati Bengals	North	2-10

Check out the Week 14 NFC Playoff Race

source: cbssports.com, foxsports.com, New York Daily News