NFL Week 16 preview: It’s crunch time for playoff hopefuls
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Antonio Brown (left), Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers face the Chiefs in Week 16.
A look at the NFL Week 16 games.
Records: Eagles 9-5 (8-6 vs. spread), Redskins 3-11 (4-10 vs. spread).
Comments: Nick Foles (broken collarbone) is not ready to return, so it’s Mark Sanchez vs. Robert Griffin III, who has yet another chance to prove he is a backup (1-4 as a starter this season) . . . Sanchez is 3-3 as Philly’s starter . . . Eagles defeated Redskins at home in Week 3, 37-34 . . . Player to watch: Eagles RB LeSean McCoy, who only gained 22 yards on 19 carries in the teams’ first meeting.
Records: Chargers 8-6 (6-8 vs. spread), 49ers 7-7 (6-8 vs. spread).
Comments: The Jim Harbaugh watch continues. The 49ers coach seems destined to jump off the sinking San Fran ship . . . Niners have nothing to play for; the Chargers are in the hunt in the AFC, but they need help to get a wild-card spot . . . Like the Abominable Snowman without his choppers, 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick (16 TD passes, 10 picks) is not as frightening without room to run . . . Player to watch: San Diego’s Antonio Gates, one of the great post-up tight ends of all time. He already has 10 TDs; his career best is 13, in 2004 (when he was 24).
Philadelphia at Washington
Time: 4:30 p.m., NFL Network Line: Eagles by 7½.Records: Eagles 9-5 (8-6 vs. spread), Redskins 3-11 (4-10 vs. spread).
Comments: Nick Foles (broken collarbone) is not ready to return, so it’s Mark Sanchez vs. Robert Griffin III, who has yet another chance to prove he is a backup (1-4 as a starter this season) . . . Sanchez is 3-3 as Philly’s starter . . . Eagles defeated Redskins at home in Week 3, 37-34 . . . Player to watch: Eagles RB LeSean McCoy, who only gained 22 yards on 19 carries in the teams’ first meeting.
San Diego at San Francisco
Time: 8:25 p.m., CBS, NFL Network Line: 49ers by 1.Records: Chargers 8-6 (6-8 vs. spread), 49ers 7-7 (6-8 vs. spread).
Comments: The Jim Harbaugh watch continues. The 49ers coach seems destined to jump off the sinking San Fran ship . . . Niners have nothing to play for; the Chargers are in the hunt in the AFC, but they need help to get a wild-card spot . . . Like the Abominable Snowman without his choppers, 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick (16 TD passes, 10 picks) is not as frightening without room to run . . . Player to watch: San Diego’s Antonio Gates, one of the great post-up tight ends of all time. He already has 10 TDs; his career best is 13, in 2004 (when he was 24).
Atlanta at New Orleans
Time: 1 p.m. Line: Saints by 6.
Records: Falcons 5-9 (7-7 vs. spread), Saints 6-8 (6-8 vs. spread).
Comments: Falcons lead series, 47-43, and beat the
Saints, 37-34, in OT in Week 1 . . . New Orleans QB Drew Brees is 7-1 at
home vs. Atlanta with a 103.8 rating. Brees has thrown for 4,000-plus
yards for his NFL-record ninth straight season . . . Atlanta QB Matt
Ryan has thrown for 4,000-plus yards in his fourth consecutive campaign
. . . Saints LB Junior Galette has 15 sacks in his last 18 games . . .
Atlanta’s Steven Jackson has 7 TDs in last eight games vs. Saints . . .
Player to watch: Nawlins TE Jimmy Graham has a TD grab in 7 of 8 vs.
Falcons and 16 total TDs in last 16 at Superdome.
Key injuries: FALCONS: QUESTIONABLE: G Jon Asamoah
(back), WR Julio Jones (hip), S William Moore (foot). PROBABLE: WR Harry
Douglas (foot), WR Roddy White (knee), CB Josh Wilson (hand). SAINTS:
QUESTIONABLE: T Terron Armstead (neck), DE Akiem Hicks (ankle), S
Jamarca Sanford (hamstring).
Indianapolis at Dallas
Time: 4:25 p.m., CBS Line: Cowboys by 3.
Records: Colts 10-4 (10-4 vs. spread), Cowboys 10-4 (8-5-1 vs. spread).
Comments: Dallas QB Tony “Smiling” Romo has won four
straight vs. the AFC and has a 112.3 passer rating with 17 TDs and 2
INTs in last eight vs. AFC . . . Indy QB Andrew Luck’s 12,688 passing
yards are most of any Super Bowl-era QB in his first three seasons . . .
WR T.Y. Hilton has six 100-yard games and 7 TDs in his past 11 games.
He needs 55 yards to become third Colts WR to post a 1,400-yard season
(Marvin Harrison, Reggie Wayne) . . . Dallas TE Jason Witten has at
least 50 receptions in 11 straight seasons . . . Player to watch: Indy
LB D’Qwell Jackson has a team-high 120 tackles.
Key injuries: COLTS: OUT: T Gosder Cherilus (groin), G
Joe Reitz (ankle), G Hugh Thornton (knee). QUESTIONABLE: CB Vontae Davis
(groin), WR T.Y. Hilton (hamstring). PROBABLE: WR Josh Cribbs (not
injury related), LB D’Qwell Jackson (not injury related), LB Erik Walden
(knee), WR Reggie Wayne (not injury related). COWBOYS: OUT: DT Josh
Brent (calf, not injury related), LB Dekoda Watson (hamstring).
DOUBTFUL: T Doug Free (ankle). QUESTIONABLE: G Zack Martin (ankle), RB
DeMarco Murray (hand). PROBABLE: S Jeff Heath (thumb), LB Rolando
McClain (knee), CB Tyler Patmon (knee, ankle), QB Tony Romo (back), DE
George Selvie (thumb), QB Brandon Weeden (not injury related).
Seattle at Arizona
Time: 8:30 p.m., NBC Line: Seahawks by 8.
Records: Seahawks 10-4 (8-6 vs. spread), Cardinals 11-3 (10-4 vs. spread).
Comments: Seahawks beat Cardinals, 19-3, in Week 12 and
have won 3 of 4 in series. They’ve also won 7 of 8 overall . . .
Cardinals are 7-0 at home . . . Seattle bruiser Marshawn “Skittles”
Lynch has 19 TDs in his last 18 games . . . Ryan Lindley (he’s the
Arizona QB for the non-fantasy geeks in the audience) has four career
starts (1-3) . . . Seattle’s Russell Wilson has 34 wins, most by a QB in
his first three seasons . . . Player to watch: Cardinals LB Alex Okafor
has 6 sacks and a pick in his last five home games.
Key injuries: SEAHAWKS: OUT: T Russell Okung (chest).
DOUBTFUL: DE Demarcus Dobbs (ankle), C Max Unger (ankle, knee).
QUESTIONABLE: TE Tony Moeaki (shoulder). PROBABLE: TE Cooper Helfet
(ankle), RB Marshawn Lynch (back), WR Paul Richardson (hamstring), G
J.R. Sweezy (ankle). CARDINALS: OUT: G Jonathan Cooper (wrist).
DOUBTFUL: QB Drew Stanton (knee). QUESTIONABLE: WR Jaron Brown (toe).
PROBABLE: LB Lorenzo Alexander (knee), DE Calais Campbell (hip), S Chris
Clemons (knee), G Paul Fanaika (ankle), WR Larry Fitzgerald (knee), LB
Larry Foote (knee), S Tyrann Mathieu (thumb), T Jared Veldheer (ankle),
RB Kerwynn Williams (knee).
Denver at Cincinnati
Time: Monday, 8:30 p.m., ESPN Line: Broncos by 3.
Records: Broncos 11-3 (7-7 vs. spread), Bengals 9-4-1 (7-7 vs. spread).
Comments: Cincy rookie RB Jeremy Hill is averaging 108
yards from scrimmage with 5 TDs over his last seven games and leads all
rookies with 877 yards and 8 TDs . . . Denver QB Peyton Manning is in
the midst of his NFL-record 14th 4,000-yard season. He is 8-0 vs. the
Bengals with 2,118 yards and 20 TDs . . . Player to watch: Broncos WR
Demaryius Thomas has 1,248 yards and 10 TDs in last 11 games.
Key injuries: BRONCOS: DNP: T Paul Cornick (toe), LB
Brandon Marshall (foot). LIMITED: T Ryan Clady (thigh), RB Ronnie
Hillman (foot), QB Peyton Manning (thigh), C Will Montgomery (knee), RB
Juwan Thompson (hip, knee), CB Kayvon Webster (shoulder). FULL: RB C.J.
Anderson (ankle), T Chris Clark (back), WR Cody Latimer (concussion), TE
Jacob Tamme (ribs), WR Demaryius Thomas (ankle), TE Julius Thomas
(ankle). BENGALS: DNP: LB Emmanuel Lamur (hamstring), WR Brandon Tate
(illness), T Andrew Whitworth (not injury related), WR James Wright
(knee). LIMITED: DE Carlos Dunlap (calf), CB Dre Kirkpatrick (Achilles).
FULL: WR A.J. Green (toe), TE Jermaine Gresham (toe), DE Margus Hunt
(ankle), CB Terence Newman (ankle), G Mike Pollak (knee).
Green Bay at Tampa Bay
Time: 1 p.m. Line: Packers by 10½.
Records: Packers 10-4 (6-8 vs. spread), Buccaneers 2-12 (6-8 vs. spread).
Comments: Tampa Bay’s Mike Evans has an NFL-rookie-high
11 receiving TDs, including 9 in his last seven games . . . Packers QB
Aaron Rodgers’s 111.2 rating leads the league and he is aiming to become
first player in history with six straight 100-plus seasons . . .
Buccaneers’ Doug Martin rushed for a season-high 96 yards last week
. . . Green Bay CB Tramon Williams has an INT in three straight vs.
Tampa . . . Player to watch: Eddie Lacy is first Packer with seven
straight games of at least 100 yards from scrimmage.
Kansas City at Pittsburgh
Time: 1 p.m. Line: Steelers by 3.
Records: Chiefs 8-6 (10-4 vs. spread), Steelers 9-5 (7-7 vs. spread).
Comments: Pittsburgh’s Antonio Brown (NFL-high 115
catches) is fourth NFLer with back-to-back 100-catch seasons (Jerry
Rice, Cris Carter, Wes Welker) . . . Chiefs QB Alex Smith has thrown for
2,497 yards and 17 TDs in his past dozen games. He has 5 100-plus
passer ratings in that stretch. His teams are 22-1-1 when he posts a
100-plus . . . KC’s Jamaal Charles has 14 total TDs in his last 11 games
. . . Player to watch: Steelers’ LeVeon Bell is 22 rushing yards shy of
becoming fourth player with 1,300 rushing yards and 750 receiving yards
in same season (Steven Jackson, Marshall Faulk, Brian Westbrook).
Key injuries: CHIEFS: QUESTIONABLE: WR Dwayne Bowe
(illness), LB Tamba Hali (knee). PROBABLE: DE Allen Bailey (concussion),
RB Jamaal Charles (knee, ankle), TE Anthony Fasano (knee), G Zach
Fulton (toe), CB Phillip Gaines (concussion), DT Jaye Howard (illness,
shoulder), LB Josh Mauga (oblique), LB Joe Mays (knee), CB Chris Owens
(knee), CB Sean Smith (groin). STEELERS: DOUBTFUL: S Troy Polamalu
(knee), CB Ike Taylor (shoulder, forearm). QUESTIONABLE: TE Matt Spaeth
(elbow). PROBABLE: CB William Gay (not injury related), T Marcus Gilbert
(ankle), LB James Harrison (knee), NT Steve McLendon (not injury
related), TE Heath Miller (not injury related), S Mike Mitchell (groin),
C Maurkice Pouncey (ankle), QB Ben Roethlisberger (not injury related),
WR Markus Wheaton (illness).
Baltimore at Houston
Time: 1 p.m. Line: Ravens by 5.
Records: Ravens 9-5 (8-6 vs. spread), Texans 7-7 (8-6 vs. spread).
Comments: If you can throw a tight spiral and know what
a button hook is, call Texans coach Bill O’Brien for a tryout . . . You
may get to pass to Andre Johnson, who is 5 catches shy of 1,000 . . .
Houston will start Case Keenum or Thad Lewis (fantasy stars they ain’t)
at QB . . . Ravens QB Joe “Cool” Flacco has thrown for 1,127 yards and 7
TDs in his last five games . . . Baltimore’s Justin Forsett (208
rushes, 1,128 yards) leads NFL at 5.4 yards per tote . . . Player to
watch: Ravens speed burner Torrey Smith as 8 TDs in his last 11 games.
Detroit at Chicago
Time: 1 p.m. Line: Lions by 9.
Records: Lions 10-4 (7-7 vs. spread), Bears 5-9 (5-9 vs. spread).
Comments: Lions thumped Bears, 34-17, on Thanksgiving
but Bears lead series, 98-68-5 . . . Jay Cutler has won 4 of last 5
home starts vs. Lions but he gives way to Jimmy Clausen (who is 1-9 in
10 career starts) . . . Detroit QB Matthew Stafford is 203 yards shy of
fourth straight 4,000-yard season . . . Unless he wakes up with the
sniffles, Lions RB Reggie Bush will shoot for third straight 100-yard
game vs. Bears . . . Player to watch: Detroit’s Ndamukong Suh has 5
sacks in last five vs. Chicago.
Key injuries: LIONS: OUT: DT Nick Fairley (knee).
QUESTIONABLE: CB Mohammed Seisay (hamstring). PROBABLE: S Don Carey
(ankle), WR Calvin Johnson (ankle), DE George Johnson (illness), DT C.J.
Mosley (not injury related), LB Ashlee Palmer (quadriceps), G Rob Sims
(illness). BEARS: OUT: S Chris Conte (back), K Robbie Gould (right
quadriceps). QUESTIONABLE: CB Tim Jennings (ankle), G Kyle Long (hip),
DT Jeremiah Ratliff (knee), DT Will Sutton (illness). PROBABLE: CB Kyle
Fuller (hand), LB Shea McClellin (ankle).
Cleveland at Carolina
Time: 1 p.m. Line: Panthers by 3.
Records: Browns 7-7 (8-6 vs. spread), Panthers 5-8-1 (6-8 vs. spread).
Comments: Last time the Browns visited the Panthers
(10/8/06), Keyshawn Johnson led the hosts to a 20-12 win . . .
Cleveland’s Johnny Manziel gets his first road start . . . Carolina RB
DeAngelo Williams is 154 yards shy of the 7,000 mark . . . Browns rookie
RBs Terrance West (579) and Isaiah Crowell have combined for 1,125
yards (a mere 982 more than fellow rook Manziel’s passing yardage) . . .
Player to watch: Carolina WR Kelvin Benjamin is second among rooks with
952 yards and 9 TDs.
Key injuries: BROWNS: OUT: S Tashaun Gipson (knee), CB
K’Waun Williams (hamstring). QUESTIONABLE: TE Gary Barnidge (rib), LB
Karlos Dansby (knee), CB Joe Haden (shoulder), WR Marlon Moore (knee),
CB Robert Nelson (hamstring), LB Jabaal Sheard (foot). PROBABLE: WR
Andrew Hawkins (illness). PANTHERS: QUESTIONABLE: CB Carrington Byndom
(hamstring), LB A.J. Klein (ankle), G Amini Silatolu (knee), RB DeAngelo
Williams (hand). PROBABLE: LB Thomas Davis (knee), S Roman Harper
(thigh), QB Cam Newton (back).
Minnesota at Miami
Time: 1 p.m. Line: Dolphins by 6½.
Records: Vikings 6-8 (9-5 vs. spread), Dolphins 7-7 (8-6 vs. spread).
Comments: Dolphins’ Ryan Tannehill has thrown 18 TD
passes and 9 INTs in his last 11 games. He leads AFC QBs with 316
rushing yards . . . Minnesota rookie QB Teddy Bridgewater is 5-6 as a
starter with 11 TDs and 10 INTs . . . Miami’s Lamar Miller has piled up
547 yards from scrimmage and 3 TDs in his last six home games . . .
Vikings DE Everson Griffen has 10 sacks in his last 10 games . . .
Player to watch: Dolphins’ Mike Wallace leads AFC receivers with 45 TD
catches since 2009 and has one in four straight vs. NFC foes.
Key injuries: VIKINGS: OUT: LB Anthony Barr (knee), G
Charlie Johnson (ankle). DOUBTFUL: TE Kyle Rudolph (ankle, knee).
QUESTIONABLE: S Robert Blanton (ankle, knee). PROBABLE: RB Matt Asiata
(foot), DT Sharrif Floyd (knee), LB Chad Greenway (not injury related),
WR Greg Jennings (hamstring), DT Linval Joseph (illness), C Cullen
Loeffler (illness), CB Xavier Rhodes (wrist), DE Brian Robison (ankle), S
Andrew Sendejo (thumb). DOLPHINS: OUT: G Nate Garner (illness).
DOUBTFUL: G Dallas Thomas (foot), RB Daniel Thomas (knee). QUESTIONABLE:
LB Jelani Jenkins (foot), S Don Jones (shoulder), CB Jamar Taylor
(shoulder). PROBABLE: TE Charles Clay (hamstring, knee), CB Cortland
Finnegan (ankle), LB Jonathan Freeny (hamstring), LB Chris McCain
(ankle), LB Koa Misi (hamstring, knee), LB Jordan Tripp (foot).
New York Giants at St. Louis
Time: 4:05 p.m., Fox Line: Rams by 5½.
Records: Giants 5-9 (5-8-1 vs. spread), Rams 6-8 (8-6 vs. spread).
Comments: The Rams haven’t allowed a TD in three
straight games . . . Giants footballer Odell Beckham Jr. (which Spice
Girl is he married to again?) had 12 catches for 143 yards and 3 TDs
last week . . . Rams’ Tre Mason leads NFC rookies with 661 rushing yards
. . . St. Louis DE Robert Quinn has 4 sacks and 2 forced fumbles in
last four home games . . . Rams DT Aaron Donald has an NFL-rookie-high 8
sacks . . . Player to watch: Jints’ Eli Manning is 3-0 with 9 TDs and 1
INT vs. St. Louis.
Key injuries: GIANTS: OUT: RB Rashad Jennings (ankle).
PROBABLE: LB Jameel McClain (knee). RAMS: PROBABLE: G Davin Joseph (not
injury related), DE Chris Long (ankle), C Scott Wells (not injury
related).
Buffalo at Oakland
Time: 4:25 p.m. Line: Bills by 5½.
Records: Bills 8-6 (8-6 vs. spread), Raiders 2-12 (6-7-1 vs. spread).
Comments: Attention Patriots Nation, Buffalo’s defense
is nastier and more aggressive than you think . . . Bills have a
league-high 49 sacks, led by Super Mario Williams’s 13 . . . Oakland TE
Mychal Rivera has 14 catches for 148 yards and a score in last two games
. . . Raiders’ Charles Woodson is 1 INT shy of 60 . . . Buffalo’s Sammy
Watkins leads AFC rookies with 850 receiving yards and is second with
59 catches and 5 TDs . . . Player to watch: Bills QB Kyle Orton has
thrown for 604 yards and 2 TDs in last two vs. Raiders. He is 3 TD
passes shy of 100.
Key injuries: BILLS: PROBABLE: K Dan Carpenter (right
groin), RB Boobie Dixon (chest), CB Stephon Gilmore (shoulder), TE Chris
Gragg (knee), S Da’Norris Searcy (hamstring), RB C.J. Spiller
(shoulder), WR Marcus Thigpen (foot), S Duke Williams (concussion), DE
Jarius Wynn (knee). RAIDERS: OUT: CB Tarell Brown (foot), WR Vincent
Brown (groin), CB Chimdi Chekwa (hamstring), TE Brian Leonhardt
(concussion), WR Denarius Moore (knee, ankle), T Menelik Watson (foot,
ankle). QUESTIONABLE: CB DJ Hayden (back), DT C.J. Wilson (knee).
PROBABLE: QB Derek Carr (right thumb), CB TJ Carrie (ankle).
New England at NY Jets
Jim McBride can be reached at james.mcbride@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @globejimmcbride.More in Sports
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