NFL Week 16 Pick’em Pool Predictions (2024)
Just three weeks remain in the NFL regular season. Teams are fighting to keep their postseason hopes alive. Others are fighting to secure at least one home game come January. Five games have point spreads of three points or less, while four teams are favored by more than a touchdown.
Here is our best NFL pick’em advice for Week 16.
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NFL Week 16 Pick’em Pool Predictions
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Commanders
After a three-game losing streak to end November, the Commanders have rattled off two consecutive wins to stay in playoff position. This week, they host the Eagles, as they look to avenge a 26-18 loss from earlier in the season. While the Eagles led 26-10 with just seconds remaining in that game, the Commanders led 10-6 entering the fourth quarter.
While the Commanders will likely be a popular upset pick this week, this is the Eagles' game to lose. The Eagles are allowing the fewest passing yards per game this season. They held Jayden Daniels to just 191 yards in the first meeting between these two teams.
Offensively, the Eagles will be able to execute their plan just like they did in the first meeting when Saquon Barkley ran for 146 yards and two touchdowns. The Commanders are allowing 132.1 rushing yards per game, which plays right into the strength of the Eagles. The Commanders could spring an upset since they're the more desperate team, and they're playing at home, but this is a bad matchup for them.
Pick: Eagles
Minnesota Vikings vs. Seattle Seahawks
Can the Vikings' pass defense slow down Geno Smith? The Vikings are allowing the fourth-most passing yards per game this season, while the Seahawks are averaging the fifth-most per contest. Last week, Smith went down with a knee injury, but tests show no structural damage and early reports out of Seattle indicate he will play this week.
While the Vikings have won seven in a row, they haven't beaten a team with a winning record during that stretch. Only two of their 12 wins this season have come against teams above .500.
The Vikings have looked dominant over the last two weeks, winning each game by at least 18 points. But both of those games were played at home. They've won two of their previous three road games by five or fewer points, and those victories came against the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Chicago Bears. Smith will throw all over the Vikings and end their seven-game win streak.
Pick: Seahawks
San Francisco 49ers vs. Miami Dolphins
Two teams coming off losses that all but ended their playoff hopes will meet in Miami on Sunday afternoon. The Dolphins have lost two of their last three games. Tua Tagovailoa threw three interceptions in last week's 20-12 loss. Meanwhile, the 49ers have lost four of their last five games and failed to score a touchdown last week.
While the Dolphins' performance last week was disappointing, it was their first truly bad game since Tagovailoa returned from injury. Even playing terribly, they still only lost by eight. The 49ers, on the other hand, have scored 10 or fewer points in three of their last four games, and the offense looks lost without Christian McCaffrey.
When it comes to total defense, the Dolphins rank sixth in the NFL. They're allowing just 308.6 yards and 22.3 points per contest. Even with Tagovailoa not playing great last week, I trust the Dolphins' offense much more than the 49ers' offense right now. In a low-scoring game, I'll back the home team.
Pick: Dolphins
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Dallas Cowboys
This is a deceptively tricky game. The Buccaneers have won four games in a row, and they look poised to take the NFC South. They just defeated the Los Angeles Chargers by 23 points in L.A., and they became the first team to score more than 30 against them this season.
But the Cowboys are suddenly playing good football. They've won three of their last four games, and had it not been for a fluke play on a blocked punt against the Cincinnati Bengals, they may be sitting at 7-7 right now. Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers offense have been incredible this season, but the Cowboys' defense is getting healthy at the right time. They're allowing just 20.3 points per game over their last three.
The Bucs defense is allowing 247.7 passing yards per game. Cooper Rush has played well over his last four games. I don't see the Bucs shutting down the connection between Rush and CeeDee Lamb, as the Cowboys sneak away with the victory to keep their very faint playoff hopes alive.
Pick: Cowboys
Phil Wood is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from Phil, check out his archive and follow him @Phil_Wood_Jr.