NFL Week 16 preview

Saturday, 4:30 p.m. ET (NFL NETWORK)

Derrick Henry is on a roll at the best possible time for the Titans. Henry's 170-yard, two-touchdown performance against the Giants made him the fifth running back since 2002 to record back-to-back games with at least 170 yards and two scores, joining LaDainian Tomlinson, Deuce McAllister, Clinton Portis and Ricky Williams in that elite company. Tennessee likely needs to win out to make the playoffs, but this is the less important of its two remaining games. If the Titans get in, their passing offense won't scare anyone, but the combination of Henry and their pass defense could make them a tough out. As for Washington? Josh Johnson is playing quarterback and the run defense, after being a stout force for the first half of the season, has hemorrhaged yards in each of the team's last seven contests. That seems like a bad recipe against Henry, but if Washington turns it around, wins this week and next, and the Lions beat the Vikings, the Redskins would somehow make the playoffs. 

Saturday, 8:20 p.m. ET (NFL NETWORK)

Steelers fans will be watching this game with great interest because a Baltimore win would make things considerably more difficult for Pittsburgh. The Ravens almost came up with a shocker in Kansas City last week, but their relative inability to pass the ball, combined with Patrick Mahomes' improvisational brilliance, caused them to come up short. Their test will be different this week, as they face a Chargers team that is arguably the most balanced in the AFC, if not the entire NFL. Philip Rivers has had perhaps his best season as a pro at age 37. Rivers' 112.4 passer rating is third best in the NFL, and the fact that he was able to engineer a win over the Chiefs despite being without Melvin Gordon for the whole game and Keenan Allen for most of it was a shining example of how great he's been this year. Los Angeles' only marginal vulnerability is up the middle on defense, and Baltimore's run-heavy offense could take advantage, but it'll still likely need to win a shootout with Rivers, which might be tough.

Sunday, 1 p.m. ET (CBS)

The Browns have an outside shot at the playoffs, still, but they'll need miracles to make that happen. Cleveland might be the only middling team in the league for whom a winning season would mean more than a spot or two in the draft. But for a few bad breaks in the kicking game early in the season, Cleveland would be a much more serious playoff contender and would have an interesting mix of factors working in its favor to make this team a dangerous opponent. One of those factors is safety Jabrill Peppers, whose sack of Case Keenum functionally ended Cleveland's 17-16 win over Denver last week. Peppers, whose only real bad game came against the Chargers, is one of many promising young playmakers on a defense that serves as the perfect complement to Baker Mayfield and an improving offense. The Bengals? They have the appearance of a team that just wants the season to end with no further damage to their offensive skill players. To that end, Tyler Boyd is likely out for this one, and Cincy may consider not playing Joe Mixon either.

Sunday, 1 p.m. ET (FOX)

The Cowboys had a chance to seal up the NFC East last week against Indianapolis and instead laid an egg. This week, the stakes are the same for Cowboys, but they're back home against a Buccaneers team that put forth a valiant effort against Baltimore but fell short in the end. Tampa Bay's defense has been surprisingly good over the last four games, with only the Saints topping 21 points and only doing so after trailing 14-3 at the half. The Bucs have forced 10 turnovers in those four games, which has helped them to a 2-2 mark during that time. That could be bad news for a Cowboys team that hasn't been a model of ball security in its last three, with seven turnovers in that stretch. The key, as it almost always is for Dallas, is whether or not it can get Ezekiel Elliott going early. If that happens things will open up in the passing game, and it will be tougher for the Buccaneers to force Dak Prescott into uncomfortable throws. If Tampa holds firm, this game could be uncomfortably close well into the second half.

Sunday, 1 p.m. ET (FOX)

The Vikings righted themselves with a 41-17 thumping of Miami after back-to-back losses to New England and Seattle. Dalvin Cook ran for two scores and combined with Latavius Murray to form a dominant rushing attack. There's no reason why Minnesota can't replicate that success against Detroit, as the Lions' run defense is middle of the pack in every way. Balance obviously helps Kirk Cousins, but the Vikings quarterback has to be a major threat in his own right if Minnesota is to make any noise in the NFC playoffs — assuming it gets there. The Vikings' chances of making it are greatly enhanced if they win this game — in fact, if they win and the Eagles lose, they're in, and if they win out, they are assured a spot no matter what. Detroit is left lamenting another lost season, one in which Matt Patricia's team too often struggled to forge an offensive identity despite having Matthew Stafford at quarterback. At this point, the Lions' major goal is trying to establish what they're going to be heading into next season.

Sunday, 1 p.m. ET (CBS)

Are the Patriots done? It's a question being asked around the league after they were mostly silenced by a Steelers team that they've mostly owned during the Tom Brady era. The answer is deceptively simple: New England isn't the fearsome outfit that most expect it to be year-in and year-out, but the Pats are still a handful at home. Brady and Rob Gronkowski appear to have slowed a step, but all that means is that the Pats need to find another go-to target. Josh Gordon seemed like the perfect choice for that role, but now that he's stepped away from the team, with another indefinite suspension looming, someone else will have to fill that role. If no one does, New England could be in real trouble. In Buffalo, Josh Allen is showing some signs at quarterback, but most of those are on the ground. Allen is in fact the Bills' leading rusher on the season. In four of Buffalo's five wins, the Bills have played turnover-free football. That might be a tough task in Foxborough.

Sunday, 1 p.m. ET (FOX)

Two teams going nowhere are doing battle here, and while that might not be surprising at all where the Jets are concerned, it's certainly a shock with regard to the Packers. Aaron Rodgers has to be frustrated watching another season of his prime disappear, and while the Packers know they are on the clock in terms of Rodgers' career, the Jets are just beginning the Sam Darnold era. New York needs to surround its young signal-caller with young talent at the skill positions, and Darnold needs to prove that he can take care of the football, as his 15 interceptions are tied for most in the league. This is one of only two matchups all week where neither team has a chance at the playoffs, but if your fantasy football team is still in play, Rodgers and Davante Adams could have a field day with a mediocre Jets defense. Otherwise, avoid this one at all costs, unless schadenfreude is your thing.

Sunday, 1 p.m. ET (CBS)

It's December, and Nick Foles is doing it again for the Eagles. With Carson Wentz sidelined with a back injury, Foles stepped in against the Rams and led the Eagles, a 13.5-point underdog, to a shocking 30-23 victory that kept alive their playoff hopes. Two Eagles wins plus a Lions win this week would give Philly a playoff berth. If they do indeed go 2-0 and finish 9-7, it's likely that Alshon Jeffery will be a big reason why. No player has benefited more from Foles' presence under center than Jeffery. While Zach Ertz is Wentz's favorite target, Jeffery is a guy Foles clearly trusts. Jeffery caught all eight of his targets for 160 yards against the Rams and was Philly's most consistent offensive force. The Houston defense, for all its up-front might, does not feature a particularly dynamic secondary, so if the Eagles can protect Foles, they should be able to produce points. The Texans have plenty riding on this game — if they win, they clinch the AFC South. If they win and the Bills upset the Patriots, the Texans assure themselves of a first-round bye in the AFC playoffs. 

Sunday, 1 p.m. ET (FOX)

Cam Newton, whose shoulder is clearly compromised, is done for the year for Carolina, and the fact that Ron Rivera doesn't feel compelled to try and forge an 8-8 season by playing Newton in more or less meaningless games (the Panthers are still technically alive but need plenty of help) suggests that he already knows his fate, one way or another, for next season. As much as Carolina's six-game losing streak has been a bitter pill for Panthers fans to swallow, Atlanta's total cratering this season is even worse. The Falcons flashed a glimpse of what they should have been this season in pasting the Cardinals last week, but dominant offensive performances have been few and far between for Atlanta this year. There's nothing really at stake in this one, but Newton's absence, in theory, should make this a game that the Falcons can win — not that such an outcome will be any kind of tonic for their fans, 30,000 of whom apparently had better things to do than watch the Arizona game.

Sunday, 1 p.m. ET (CBS)

Two Indy wins sandwiched around a Ravens loss in Los Angeles would put the Colts in the playoffs, but the burden is most definitely on the Colts. A home date against the Giants, at least in theory, should be a winnable game, especially after Saquon Barkley was silenced against the Titans. Marlon Mack keyed a rushing attack that rolled over the Cowboys en route to a 23-0 shutout, a result that was one of Week 15's most surprising, if for no other reason than its one-sided nature. Mack rushed for 139 yards and two touchdowns against Dallas, and he may find things similarly favorable against a New York defense that ranks 28th in the league against the run. The most intriguing angle for the Giants is whether or not Barkley rebounds from the worst game of his professional career with a big outing. His chance at breaking Eric Dickerson's rookie record for yards from scrimmage is all but gone, but a monster outing would at least make things interesting for Week 17. 

Sunday, 1 p.m. ET (CBS)

The Dolphins still have an outside shot at a playoff berth, but even winning out will likely not be enough. There are simply too many teams in the AFC that they would need to jump. That's probably as it should be, too, because Miami is statistically unimpressive in virtually every way. Frank Gore is done for the year, but the game is at home, which means that "good" Ryan Tannehill should show up. Tannehill's home/road splits are striking. At home, he is 4-0, has 11 touchdowns against just three interceptions and plays like one of the best quarterbacks in the league. On the road? Well, let's just say it's a different story. He might find the going tough against the Jaguars, though that's only if the Jags defense hasn't completely checked out for the year. Jacksonville is still  impressive statistically against the pass, but its offense is so bad that it almost doesn't matter. The Dolphins' faint playoff hopes should be motivation enough for this one, but that doesn't mean it won't be ugly.

Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET (FOX)

What's going on with the Rams? Todd Gurley's knee is less than 100 percent, Jared Goff suddenly looks mortal, and Los Angeles seems a little bit lost without its big-play capability, which opponents have managed to take away. Even Sean McVay has acknowledged that the Rams need to get their act together — and do so in a hurry. A good plan would be to get back to basics and to give Gurley the ball if he's healthy. The Rams still have something to play for, as they need a win and a Bears loss to clinch a first-round bye. Given the way that L.A. performed in the cold against the Bears, said bye would seem crucial if tit wants to avoid an early playoff exit. Arizona should, in theory, provide only token resistance and might give the Rams a chance to get some of their swagger back. Gurley has topped 20 touches only twice in the last six weeks, and while McVay would doubtless like to keep his star fresh for the playoffs, there might be such a thing as too little work for a player of his caliber.

Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET (FOX)

The Bears are NFC North champions, and they are still alive for a first-round bye, though Los Angeles has a good chance at going 2-0 and securing the No. 2 seed. Still, Chicago has the look of a team no one wants to play in large measure because of its opportunistic defense, which both gets after the passer and forces turnovers with equal aplomb. Khalil Mack is the fearsome pass rusher, and Eddie Jackson the ball-hawk on the back end. Jackson's six interceptions are good for only second on the team, as Kyle Fuller has seven, but Jackson has taken two of those picks back for touchdowns. He intercepted Aaron Rodgers last week, and while that was the only turnover Chicago forced on the day, it pushed the Bears' league-leading total to 35 on the year. The Niners gutted out a surprising overtime win against Seattle last week and have won two in a row behind Nick Mullens, who has played well in both wins. This week will be a major test of his mettle, but San Francisco does have the feel of a dangerous opponent this week.

Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET (CBS)

Jaylen Samuels was a revelation in his second pro start, shredding New England's defense for 142 yards rushing on only 19 carries and catching a crucial third-down conversion late in Pittsburgh's final scoring drive of the game. Samuels' rushing performance was even more stunning given the fact that he had never carried the ball 19 times in a game in high school, let alone college. New Orleans will provide a much stiffer test, as the Saints are the best in the league against the run and are eighth in yards gained on the ground. The Saints went 2-1 during a three-game road gauntlet, and a win would give them home field throughout the NFC playoffs. Their dominance at home, and their reputation for enormous point totals inside the Superdome would make them a prohibitive favorite to reach the Super Bowl, should the road to get there run through New Orleans. Pittsburgh saved its season and got the New England monkey off its back last week; a win in the Big Easy would get the Steelers on everyone's radar as a truly serious threat, and were it coupled with a Ravens loss, would give Pittsburgh the AFC North crown.

Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET (NBC)

Damien Williams was good in his first major action for the Chiefs this season, rushing for 49 yards and two touchdowns and catching six passes for 74 yards. Williams figures to get plenty more touches even if Spencer Ware is back in the lineup, and if he can replicate his performance, the Chiefs may be able to get a win in a tough place to play. Both teams have plenty to play for, as Kansas City would clinch both the AFC West title and a first-round bye with a win and a Chargers loss, and Seattle would clinch a playoff berth with a win and either a Redskins or Vikings loss. The Seahawks, despite a surprising loss against San Francisco last week, still seem to have plenty of qualities that would make them a tough out in the NFC, not the least of which are Russell Wilson's overall excellence and Chris Carson's abilities on the ground. Carson ripped through the 49ers for 119 yards on the ground, and he spearheads the best rushing attack in the league. This has the potential to be an intense, excellent game.

Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Von Miller became the Broncos all-time sack leader against Cleveland, notching his 98th career takedown, but Denver lost the game and in the process essentially eliminated itself from playoff contention. There isn't anything other than pride on the line in this game, which doubtless annoys the brass at ESPN. But if you're interested in seeing premium pass rushing, this should be a fun outing. Miller and Bradley Chubb are great cornerstones for Denver's defense, but the team needs better, more consistent play from Case Keenum if it's going to make any noise next year. The most interesting thing that can be said about the Raiders is that Jon Gruden just signed Nathan Peterman to his practice squad, which immediately touched off an avalanche of jokes and also got some people to wondering whether or not Gruden could work a miracle with one of the league's most maligned signal-callers. As has been the case for weeks now, a loss would be better than a win for Oakland.