NFL Week 16: Full schedule, top matches of the weekend, and top picks

In the final stretch of the regular season, there are lots of appetizing games on the schedule. The NFL week 16 offers up a handful of those with playoff consequences. The Chargers and Broncos meeting is the prime-time event of the week, and others like Ravens – Steelers, Commanders – Eagles are crunch encounters you won’t want to miss. Here’s a look at all the top events of the NFL week 16 and some expert picks and predictions.

Broncos at Chargers

The NFL recently flexed the Chargers-Broncos game into the Thursday Night Football prime-time slot. The Chargers have proven to be strong on the defense and offense, with Quentin Johnston erasing any doubt about his abilities as an NFL-caliber wideout. Rookie quarterback Bo Nix and the Broncos will be just as incentivized to secure their precarious wild card playoff spot.

Steelers at Ravens

The Steelers beat the Ravens 18-16 in Week 11, showcasing a stellar defense capable of shutting down the offenses led by top quarterbacks like Lamar Jackson. Steelers now sit atop their Conference division, with the Ravens trailing behind. This re-match has the makings of a classic showdown. The Ravens will not just want their revenge. They’ll be battling to stay in the playoff picture or, better still, claim the top spot from Pittsburgh.

Eagles at Commanders

The Commanders lost 26-18 to the Eagles in Week 11. While the Eagles are sitting nicely in a playoff slot that looks secure, the Commanders are in a tight race for a wild card spot in the NFC. Will they fall to Philadelphia once again, or will they be able to stun their opponents this time around?

Other games that could be decisive for playoff rankings include Texans at Chiefs, Vikings at Seahawks, 49ers at Dolphins, and Saints at Packers.

The complete Week 16 schedule

Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024

● Denver Broncos at Los Angeles Chargers – 8:15 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024

● Houston Texans at Kansas City Chiefs – 1 p.m.

● Pittsburgh Steelers at Baltimore Ravens – 4:30 p.m.

Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024

● New York Giants at Atlanta Falcons – 1 p.m.

● New England Patriots at Buffalo Bills – 1 p.m.

● Arizona Cardinals at Carolina Panthers 1 p.m.

● Detroit Lions at Chicago Bears – 1 p.m.

● Cleveland Browns at Cincinnati Bengals – 1 p.m.

● Tennessee Titans at Indianapolis Colts – 1 p.m.

● Los Angeles Rams at New York Jets 1 p.m.

● Philadelphia Eagles at Washington Commanders 1 p.m.

● Minnesota Vikings at Seattle Seahawks – 4:05 p.m.

● Jacksonville Jaguars at Las Vegas Raiders – 4:25 p.m.

● San Francisco 49ers at Miami Dolphins – 4:25 p.m.

● Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Dallas Cowboys – 8:20 p.m.

Monday, Dec. 23, 2024

● New Orleans Saints at Green Bay Packers – 8:15 p.m.

Best bets and team picks

The NFL has always delivered dramatic wins, unexpected upsets, and embarrassing fails. This season has had its fair share, but the rankings are not too far from what was expected at the start of the season. The Chiefs, Bills, and Lions are leading, and others like Steelers, Vikings, and Packers are performing at a high level. The best odds on all Week 16 matches are available on bet365. A joining offer is available at this site when you use SportyTrader’s promo code; you receive up to €30 in free bets with no wagering requirements.

For many teams, how they fare in Week 16 will be crucial for their postseason positioning, and it’s expected that almost every side will bring their top game. This means there’ll be lots of action, whether you’re simply watching the game or putting down your cash.