Previews and predictions for all 16 games
Redskins (7-7) at Titans (8-6)
Time, TV: 4:30 ET Saturday, NFLN
Pregame.com line: Titans by 10 Titans’ keys: Keeping the momentum up on the both sides of the ball. They’ll want to keep Derrick Henry involved; he’s rushed for more than 400 yards in the past two games.
Redskins’ keys: They are going to need to keep quarterback Josh Johnson comfortable in the pocket and be careful with the ball and will want to keep rusher Josh Johnson, who had nine carries for 49 yards Sunday, going too.
Who wins? Tennessee is on a threegame winning streak and is playing in Nashville. Titans, 23-13
Ravens (8-6 ) at Chargers (11-3)
Time, TV: 8:30 ET Saturday, NFLN Line: Chargers by 41⁄ 2
Ravens’ keys: QB Lamar Jackson will need to take care of the football. Baltimore should be able to run with it, but that will not matter if Baltimore turns the ball over. Defensively, the Ravens must eliminate the big play.
Chargers’ keys: This will be a tricky matchup as the Ravens are stout on defense and have three players with seven or more sacks. Protecting QB Philip Rivers will be a must. Defensively, the Chargers must corral Jackson. Who wins? The Chargers’ defense is able to create a turnover to secure the win. Chargers, 23-21
Giants (5-9) at Colts (8-6)
Time, TV: 1 ET Sunday, CBS
Line: Colts by 9
Giants’ keys: WR Odell Beckham Jr. (quadriceps) will need to return, while RB Saquon Barkley must get the ground game going, after averaging 2.2 yards per carry in Week 15, and be involved in the passing game, which is a weakness for the Colts’ defense. Colts’ keys: They’ll want to lean on RB Marlon Mack against a defense allowing
128.4 rushing yards per game. QB Andrew Luck and WR T.Y. Hilton will want to continue connecting on big plays against a vulnerable secondary.
Who wins? The Colts, at home and fighting for a playoff spot, should handle the now-eliminated Giants. Colts, 28-17
Jaguars (4-10) vs. Dolphins (7-7)
Time, TV: 1 ET Sunday, CBS Line: Dolphins by 41⁄ 2
Jaguars’ keys: It’s crucial for them to get things going on the ground. Miami’s rushing defense hasn’t been great. Dolphins’ keys: Rookie RB Kalen Ballage could get a bigger role after rushing for
123 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries Sunday. RB Frank Gore (sprained foot) was put on injured reserve, and RB Kenyan Drake had one carry Sunday. Who wins? If the Dolphins can avoid mistakes and QB Ryan Tannehill has a clean pocket, they will have success moving the ball. Dolphins, 27-20
Falcons (5-9) at Panthers (6-8)
Time, TV: 1 ET Sunday, Fox Line: Falcons by 31⁄ 2
Panthers’ keys: Carolina needs someone to step up on defense outside of star LB Luke Kuechly. Offensive coordinator Norv Turner will need to add more wrinkles and mix things up.
Falcons’ keys: They’ll need WR Julio Jones to exploit a Panthers’ cornerbacks room that’s young and giving up a lot of big plays. On defense, the Falcons need to contain RB Christian McCaffrey, who posted 139 yards from scrimmage in Carolina’s Week 2 matchup win.
Who wins? All things being equal, the home team should have a slight advantage. Panthers, 23-20
Bengals (6-8) at Browns (6-7-1)
Time, TV: 1 ET Sunday, CBS Line: Browns by 9
Bengals’ keys: QB Jeff Driskel has protected the ball, but the passing game will have to hit on shots down the field to WRs Tyler Boyd and John Ross. Defensively, the Bengals will need to contain RB Nick Chubb with sound tackling. Browns’ keys: Since Freddie Kitchens took over as offensive coordinator, his creativity and willingness to let QB Baker Mayfield take calculated chances have resulted in several big plays, including deep shots to WRs Breshad Perriman and Antonio Callaway. Rookie Chubb is also good at flipping the field with 20-yard-plus runs. Who wins? Cleveland has too much firepower on both sides. Browns, 33-17
Buccaneers (5-9) at Cowboys (8-6)
Time, TV: 1 ET Sunday, Fox Line: Cowboys by 7
Cowboys’ keys: Dallas is 6-1 at AT&T Stadium. RB Ezekiel Elliott had just 25 touches in the shutout loss to the Colts, and Dallas would be wise to limit him again after he got 155 touches in the five-game winning streak. QB Dak Pres
cott will need to minimize turnovers; he has three interceptions in his last two games and four fumbles in his last four.
Buccaneers’ keys: They are in the spoiler role and have the offense to wreak havoc against an unprepared defense. For any chance, Tampa Bay will need to keep all of its possessions.
Who wins? Dallas wins and starts to look to the playoffs. Cowboys, 31-17
Vikings (7-6-1) at Lions (5-9)
Time, TV: 1 ET Sunday, Fox Line: Vikings by 6
Vikings’ keys: They have an advantage with WRs Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen versus a thin Detroit secondary, but the offensive line must give QB Kirk Cousins time to find the best matchup. Lions’ keys: They have to take shots with QB Matthew Stafford trying to establish the passing game down the field with WR Kenny Golladay. Winning the red-zone efficiency battle is imperative.
Who wins? The Lions don’t have the weaponry around Stafford to outscore Cousins and the Vikings. Vikings, 20-13
Bills (5-9) at Patriots (9-5)
Time, TV: 1 ET Sunday, CBS Line: Patriots by 13
Bills’ keys: The defense needs to have an outstanding game with physical and smart play. If the game feels unwatch-
able, it will likely be a good sign for Buffalo.
Patriots’ keys: New England is going to force Bills QB Josh Allen to throw the ball; it doesn’t want to give him the opportunity to use his feet to pick up first downs. New England might be wise to feed RB Sony Michel, with hopes he can find creases in Buffalo’s run defense.
Who wins? New England is the superior team and has been outstanding at home. Patriots, 27-17
Packers (5-8-1) at Jets (4-10)
Time, TV: 1 ET Sunday, Fox Line: Packers by 3
Jets’ keys: Green Bay has one of the NFL’s bottom run defenses, which could allow Jets RBs Elijah McGuire and Trenton Cannon to break out.
Packers’ keys: They do a much better job shutting down the passing game, so Green Bay needs to take Jets WR Robby Anderson away from QB Sam Darnold. The two have linked up in the end zone two weeks in a row.
Who wins? The Packers, like the Jets, aren’t having a great season but have a lot more talent. Packers, 30-21
Texans (10-4) at Eagles (7-7)
Time, TV: 1 ET Sunday, CBS Line: Eagles by 21⁄ 2
Eagles’ keys: Philadelphia comes into this matchup fighting for its playoff life against a Texans team looking to secure a bye and home-field advantage through the playoffs. Backup QB Nick
Foles will get a second start, and he’ll have to dial into that Super Bowl mojo if the Birds have any shot. The line must protect him from the ferocious pass rush of Jadeveon Clowney and JJ Watts.
Texans’ keys: They will have to stop Philly’s 28th-ranked run game, forcing the Eagles to be one-dimensional. Houston WR DeAndre Hopkins is coming off a monster game, hauling in 10 passes for 170 yards and two TDs.
Who wins? The Eagles put up a fight in their regular-season home finale, but QB Deshaun Watson and Hopkins are too much for Philadelphia’s embattled secondary. Texans, 35-28
Rams (11-3) at Cardinals (3-11)
Time, TV: 4:05 ET Sunday, Fox Line: Rams by 14
Rams’ keys: They just need to keep doing what they have done all season. Los Angeles needs to run the ball with RB Todd Gurley. The defense needs to get pressure on Arizona QB Josh Rosen. Cardinals’ keys: Arizona has to somehow protect Rosen, who was sacked six times by the Falcons and turned the ball over three times.
Who wins? The Rams’ offense will be workmanlike and efficient but not put up gaudy numbers. Rams, 27-13
Bears (10-4) at 49ers (4-10)
Time, TV: 4:05 ET Sunday, Fox Line: Bears by 41⁄ 2
Bears’ keys: All it will take to emerge victorious is a mistake-free game from QB Mitchell Trubisky. He needs to complete some third-down throws and ensure he doesn’t throw interceptions against a defense that has two all season. RBs Tarik Cohen and Jordan Howard should get plenty of work.
49ers’ keys: Keeping QB Nick Mullens upright is priority No. 1, and they need to get their run game going behind RBs
Matt Breida and Jeff Wilson to try to slow down the Bears’ pass rush.
Who wins? San Francisco’s defense isn’t good enough to get stops against the Bears’ offense. Bears, 27-9
Steelers (8-5-1) at Saints (12-2)
Time, TV: 4:25 ET Sunday, CBS Line: Saints by 6
Saints’ keys: Stopping the ground game with their NFL-best run defense and making Pittsburgh one-dimensional. When New Orleans has the ball, it must funnel touches through RB Alvin
Kamara and RB Mark Ingram, who have the athleticism to embarrass anyone on the Steelers’ defense.
Steelers’ keys: Keeping up on defense by forcing the Saints’ offense to make mistakes. Steelers LB T.J. Watt must continue his playmaking ways on the edge; he’s the only defender to log double-digit sacks, along with more than two takeaways. When Pittsburgh has the ball, it must find a way to remain balanced between passes and runs.
Who wins? The Saints simply field too much firepower for Pittsburgh to match on defense. Saints, 28-24
Chiefs (11-3 ) at Seahawks (8-6)
Time, TV: 8:20 ET Sunday, NBC Line: Chiefs by 21⁄ 2
Chiefs’ keys: Motivation to secure the AFC West title and home-field advantage in the playoffs. QB Patrick Ma
homes has put together an MVP-caliber season but now faces the Seahawks’ revamped Legion of Boom defense.
Seahawks’ keys: Trying to nail down the No. 5 seed and top wild-card spot, coach Pete Carroll will put together a solid game plan. The Seahawks will look to their defense to stop Mahomes and trot out the three-headed monster that is Seattle’s rushing attack.
Who wins? Both teams will put on a show, but the Seahawks thrive under the prime-time lights of CenturyLink Field. Seahawks, 23-21
Broncos (6-8) at Raiders (3-11)
Time, TV: 8:15 ET Monday, ESPN Line: Broncos by 21⁄ 2
Broncos’ keys: Denver needs to finish with two wins and will need help to sneak into the playoffs. The Broncos will need to limit turnovers. QB Case Kee
num has thrown 12 interceptions and has eight fumbles. On defense, they will need to stop Oakland TE Jared Cook, who is having a Pro Bowl season.
Raiders’ keys: The Raiders would love to defeat one of their biggest rivals. They’ll need to protect Derek Carr, who is one of the NFL’s better quarterbacks when he feels comfortable in the pocket.
Who wins? In the first matchup, it took a late TD by Denver to secure a onepoint win. But this is likely the last game at Oakland Alameda Coliseum for the Raiders. Raiders, 23-21