GERRY DULAC’S WEEK 16 FORECAST
LAST WEEK’S RECORD: 8-8 (.500) • SEASON’S RECORD: 140-84 (.625)
Cleveland Browns (9-5) at Houston Texans (8-6): 1 p.m. … The Texans might still kick themselves over their 30-6 loss to the Jets, but they bounced back to win in Tennessee to keep them in the hunt for a division title and/or wild-card spot. Joe Flacco vs. Case Keenum (maybe). Who woulda thunk? Prediction: Browns, 24-20 Indianapolis Colts (8-6) at Atlanta Falcons (6-8): 1 p.m. … The Steelers made the Colts look like a playoff team even without Jonathan Taylor and after losing Michael Pittman Jr., their top offensive players. The Falcons have lost two in a row and five of seven and have just one division game left. Prediction: Colts, 27-23 Green Bay Packers (6-8) at Carolina Panthers (2-12): 1 p.m. … The Packers have lost their past two after putting themselves in a nice position for a wild-card spot. The Panthers don’t have to worry about fighting to get the No. 1 pick in the draft. They don’t have it after using it to get Bryce Young. Prediction: Packers, 24-13 Detroit Lions (10-4) at Minnesota Vikings (7-7): 1 p.m. … This is the first of two meetings in the final three weeks for the top two teams in the NFC North, The Lions can clinch the division with a victory vs. the Vikings, who have lost three of four games but still cling to one of the wild-card spots. Prediction: Lions, 23-20 Washington Commanders (4-10) at New York Jets (5-9): 1 p.m. … It didn’t take long for the offensively inept Jets to fall back in line. One week after putting up 30 vs. the Texans, they were shut out by MIanmi. The Commanders have allowed 37.3 points the past four games. That might help. Prediction: Commanders, 24-12
Seattle Seahawks (7-7) at Tennessee Titans (5-9): 1 p.m. … The Seahawks kept themselves in the hunt for a wild card with their last-minute victory vs. the Eagles. Not even wearing the Luv Ya Blue uniforms and Mike Vrabel sporting the Bum Phillips Stetson could help the Titans vs. Houston. Prediction: Seahawks, 20-18 Jacksonville Jaguars (8-6) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-7): 4:05 p.m. … All of a sudden, after losing three in a row to AFC North teams (not the Steelers), the Jaguars have all but lost control of their hold on the AFC South. The Buccaneers are holding on to a tenuous division lead, as well. Prediction: Jaguars, 27-24 Arizona Cardinals (3-11) at Chicago Bears (5-9): 4:05 p.m. … The Bears have won their past three home games and had the Browns on the ropes until they got Flacco-ed in the final minutes. The Cardinals have two wins since September, and one of them was against the Steelers. Prediction: Bears, 19-15
Dallas Cowboys (10-4) at Miami Dolphins (10-4): 4:25 p.m. … The Cowboys are unbeatable at home (7-0), averaging 41 ppg, but they are a different team on the road. They proved it again last weekend in Buffalo. The Dolphins, who are 6-1 at home, still don’t have a signature win. Maybe this is it. Prediction: Dolphins, 30-28 New England Patriots (3-11) at Denver Broncos (7-7): 8:15 p.m. … If Sean Payton can scream and yell at his star QB during a game, why can’t a recalcitrant wide receiver get the same treatment from his head coach for his lazy behavior? The Broncos’ schedule should keep them thinking postseason. Prediction: Broncos, 19-11 Las Vegas Raiders (6-8) at Kansas City Chiefs (9-5): 1 p.m. Monday … One week after being shut out and four games after averaging 11.5 points, the Raiders put up 63 points against the Chargers. Typically, they would need that many against the Chiefs. Not anymore. Prediction: Chiefs, 28-16
New York Giants (5-8) at Philadelphia Eagles (10-4): 4:30 p.m. Monday … After losing three in a row, the Eagles would like nothing more at Christmas than a victory. But the division title is still very much in their grasp because they get the Giants twice and Arizona in the final three weeks. Prediction: Eagles, 27-13 Baltimore Ravens (11-3) at San Francisco 49ers (11-3): 8:15 p.m. Monday … These are the best teams in each conference,. The Ravens have scored at least 31 points in six of the past eight games. The 49ers have averaged 34.5 points during their six-game win streak. Prediction: 49ers, 35-31