Spencer Hesseltine’s Week 16 NFL Pick’em – We Are Nearing Playoffs

Playoffs are in sight and only 7 teams have clinched a playoff berth, the two upcoming weeks are going to be very interesting. Here are some of my thoughts about this weeks games along with a weekly pick’em image from NFL.com.

NFC:

Seattle (who ripped my Cardinals a new one a few weeks ago) have been scoring machines! Offense, defense and special teams have all been showing up to play good football the last few weeks. The Seahawks (9-5) are sitting in a wildcard spot currently along with Minnesota (8-6) breathing down their necks shooting it out for a playoff spot with Adrian Peterson running 100+ yards a game in the last 3 games.

The NFC playoff picture is not yet as clear as the AFC; Bears (8-6), Cowboys (8-6), Giants (8-6), Rams (6-7-1) and Saints (6-8) are all still in the hunt to grab a wildcard spot. I can see only 3 of the 5 teams in the hunt are going to win this week. New Orleans and St. Louis will be the only teams that win (and maybe Chicago if someone other than cheerleaders show up for Arizona this Sunday).

Atlanta, San Francisco and Green Bay have all clinched playoff berths while Redskins need to pull off a W this week to clinch but they are still a leader with a division record of 3-1.

AFC:

Indianapolis Colts (9-5) and the Cincinnati Bengals (8-6) are currently sitting in a wildcard spot where as Pittsburgh (7-7) and Miami (6-8) are still in the hunt if they can get wins this week.  Big Ben is facing off against an increasingly tough Bengals defense and Cincinnati knows that if Pitt pulls off a win, they could beat out the orange and black from playoffs. Bengals will be playing their heart out this Sunday; I’m giving them the W.

Andrew Luck is leading the Colts into a hopeful 10-5 record and with another conference win over Kansas City (2-12) this week, it will put them 7-4 in conference wins and reserve them a wildcard spot for sure.

Miami has a pretty good run defense so I wouldn’t be surprised if the Bills RB, CJ Spiller has a disappointing fantasy output this week. On the flipside, Stevie Johnson should put out 10+ fantasy points this week. I am taking Buffalo on this one.

Houston, Denver, New England and Baltimore have all clinched playoffs. Peyton Manning and the Broncos are making a run for the Superbowl!

HERE ARE MY WEEK 16 PICKS: