The Eagles have had two solid games in a row as they approach Week 17, and early reports are that the team expects to get both RT Lane Johnson and DT Jalen Carter back this week against the Bills. Getting both players back sooner rather than later will be beneficial. Fred Johnson has done a […] The Eagles have had two solid games in a row as they approach Week 17, and early reports are that the team expects to get both RT Lane Johnson and DT Jalen Carter back this week against the Bills. Getting both players back sooner rather than later will be beneficial. Fred Johnson has done a good job stepping in for Lane the past few weeks, but getting the All Pro back on the field will further help an Eagles offense that is finally clicking. The Eagles defense has continued to dominate, even without Jalen Carter on the field, but adding him back into the rotation will only help keep the other guys fresh. Brandon Graham had a lot of success moving inside and playing defensive tackle, recording three sacks in two games, but he was never intended to be Carter’s long term replacement. The Eagles have already clinched the NFC East with their win over the Commanders, but they won’t likely take their foot off the gas as they hope to keep some momentum heading into the postseason. See More:
2 Eagles starters expected to return from injury against Bills, per report
NY Giants-Vikings, NFL Week 16: Live in-game updates, scores, discussion
The 2-12 New York Giants try to snap an eight-game losing streak and avoid the possibility of the franchise’s first two-win season since 1974, when NFL teams played just 14 games, on Sunday. The 6-8 Minnesota Vikings will be the opponent at MetLife Stadium, with kickoff at 1 p.m. ET. The Giants will be 2.5-point underdogs, per FanDuel Sportsbook. The Giants currently own the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, and are 0-4 under interim head coach Mike Kafka. Fans long ago turned their attention to the draft, and to who will be the next permanent coach of the Giants. Players and coaches, though, just want to remember what it feels like to win. “I just want to win bad. I mean, that’s just really what it comes down to. We’re all eager, we just want that feeling again. So, we’re looking for it, we’re trying to find answers,” said quarterback Jaxson Dart. “And the biggest thing is just, like you said, try to keep the spirits up and encourage everybody in the locker room. And we still got three weeks left, so it’ll be really big for us to try to stack on this as a team. You only have so many opportunities with the guys in that locker room, so you definitely want to take advantage of it.” Can the Giants find it on Sunday? Keep it here for all of the updates and discussion. Come back after the game for all of the news, opinion, and analysis.
Matchups to target for NFL Week 16 betting
Over the years, PFF data scientists have conducted extensive studies to better understand and predict player performance. While many of these foundational works continue to shape discussions and influence analysis, the focus here is on identifying how those insights apply to specific weekly matchups and uncovering opportunities the betting market may have overlooked. Matchups to target for NFL Week 16 betting Get PFF+ for 30% off: Use promo code HOLIDAY30 to unlock the PFF Player Prop Tool, Premium Stats, fantasy dashboards, the PFF Mock Draft Simulator, industry-leading fantasy rankings and much more — everything you need to win your season. Over the years, PFF data scientists have conducted extensive studies to better understand and predict player performance. While many of these foundational works continue to shape discussions and influence analysis, the focus here is on identifying how those insights apply to specific weekly matchups and uncovering opportunities the betting market may have overlooked. Some bets will align with traditional markets, while others will explore more niche options to ensure we leverage the markets most suited to a given thesis or angle. The Colts have struggled to generate disruption The Colts have struggled to generate disruption as they have moved from a heavy zone-coverage team to one that plays a significant amount of man coverage. Sauce Gardner and Charvarius Ward remain out due to injury and will have been replaced by two cornerbacks ranked in the bottom 10 in PFF coverage grade, so the result has been minimal disruption overall. The Colts rank second-to-last in the NFL in disruption rate this season, disrupting only 40% of plays. Over the past month, that number has dropped to 36% as the struggles to disrupt have continued. For Brock Purdy and this 49ers offense, that is close to an ideal scenario. Purdy has been dominant when kept clean and undisturbed, ranking third in the NFL in EPA per play in these situations. That is especially notable, given this is a Colts offense led by a quarterback with a passing total of 150 yards. If the 49ers play from ahead, they should be able to operate efficiently and front-run this offense, putting Purdy in favorable game-state and matchup situations. I will be on the 49ers, Purdy overs and same-game parlays built around San Francisco’s efficiency against this defense. Kirk Cousins in a smash spot PFF has studied the importance of explosive plays and their role in driving offensive success. Simply put, drives without explosive plays are more likely to fail, while a single explosive play on a drive can significantly increase the likelihood of offensive success. The Cardinals, as they have struggled defensively, have been unable to contain explosive plays, allowing a 13% explosive pass rate over the past month. While Kirk Cousins’ EPA on deep passes has been well below average, that does not tell the full story. Cousins has been accurate on deep throws despite the results not fully materializing. Adding Drake London into the mix could change that outlook, as wide receivers largely dictate success on deep passes when throws are accurate. Likewise, Cousins has the lowest escapability of any quarterback, making him highly reliant on scheme and matchup advantages. Against a Cardinals defense near the bottom of the league in generating pressure, this sets up as a favorable spot for Cousins to excel. I will be on the Falcons team total overs, along with Cousins’ overs and same-game parlays.
Week 16 Bengals at Dolphins News and Pregame Thread
Bengals News Game Within The Game | Bengals Challenge Dolphins With Made In Miami Products How fast is the Made in Miami football brand? Intriguing Bengals & Titans history could repeat itself amid new NFL rumors Who’s going to be the Titans’ next head coach? Bengals hope fan favorite can fix Jessie Bates mistake in […] Bengals News Game Within The Game | Bengals Challenge Dolphins With Made In Miami Products How fast is the Made in Miami football brand? Intriguing Bengals & Titans history could repeat itself amid new NFL rumors Who’s going to be the Titans’ next head coach? Bengals hope fan favorite can fix Jessie Bates mistake in mock draft With the Cincinnati Bengals officially eliminated from playoff contention, mock drafts are going to be the big rage once again in Cincinnati as the team once again attempts to build a supporting cast on both sides of the football to help quarterback Joe Burrow. Bengals’ defense will have to finish the year without one of their youngest contributors following Zac Taylor’s announcement Cincinnati’s latest injury now opens the door for two players to play more often. AFC Team Reportedly Offered Draft Pick Haul For Joe Burrow Cincinnati didn’t engage in the trade talks. NFL News Examining coaching futures of NFL teams eliminated from 2025 postseason contention Thirteen teams are heading into their final three games of the 2025 NFL season already eliminated from postseason contention. So, how many of them could make big changes for 2026? T.J. Watt to miss second straight game after undergoing lung surgery, Steelers ‘hopeful’ for Week 17 returnWatt will be out for Sunday’s big showdown against the Lions Lions place All-Pro safety Kerby Joseph on injured reserve with nagging knee injury The Detroit Lions put All-Pro safety Kerby Joseph on injured reserve Saturday, ending hope he could come back from a knee injury that limited him to six games this season. The Chiefs’ Era of Inevitability Is Over. What Comes Next? With Kansas City out of the playoffs for the first time in a decade and Patrick Mahomes recovering from surgery, the Chiefs will face major questions this offseason.
With 2 shutout losses already, Las Vegas Raiders face No. 1 Houston Texans defense
The Las Vegas Raiders suffered two shutout losses already this season. Are the Houston Texans going to make that thrice, this Sunday? That’s certainly within the realm of possibility as the Week 16 matchup in NRG Stadium features the NFL’s best defense versus the league’s worst scoring offense. Producing just 196 points in 14 games […] The Las Vegas Raiders suffered two shutout losses already this season. Are the Houston Texans going to make that thrice, this Sunday? That’s certainly within the realm of possibility as the Week 16 matchup in NRG Stadium features the NFL’s best defense versus the league’s worst scoring offense. Producing just 196 points in 14 games this year, the Raiders are dead last, offensively. That sum is 29 less than the Tennessee Titans who are ranked 31st with a 225 total. Right above that squad are the Cleveland Browns and New Orleans Saints at 226. Thus, it’s no surprise each of the aforementioned teams are in the dumps like the 2-12 Raiders: Titans 2-12, Browns 3-11, Saints 4-10 overall. Flip the coin and the host Texans yield a league-low 228 total points. That sum is 33 less than the Denver Broncos who are ranked second in points allowed at 261. Right below them are the Kansas City Chiefs (268) and Philadelphia Eagles (271). Of those teams, the overall marks read: Texans 9-5, Broncos 12-2, Chiefs 6-8, Eagles 9-5. The last team on that list above — Philadelphia — is the squad that handed Las Vegas its second shutout defeat (31-0 last Sunday). So it’s only natural to contemplate if the Raiders can get on the scoreboard against the NFL’s top defense. It’s imperative Las Vegas start fast in Houston on Sunday. Geno Smith is slated to be back at starting quarterback. The veteran missed the Week 15 loss due to injury but Raiders head coach Pete Carroll noted the signal caller is all systems go to return as QB1 this week. The Raiders getting any semblance of a threatening ground game is going to be vital, even though the Texans have the third-stingiest run defense allowing just 1,298 total yards. If Las Vegas isn’t able to get any traction with a rushing attack featuring rookie running back Ashton Jeanty, a one-dimensional Raiders offense will put Smith right in the crosshairs of the Texans’ dynamic pass rush duo of Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson. Hunter, the veteran at 31 years old, leads Houston with 12 sacks while Anderson, the younger player at 24 years old, follows right behind with 10.5. That 1-2 punch is likely salivating over a matchup with a Las Vegas offense that surrenders a league-leading 54 sacks — Smith absorbing 49 of those hits (leads the league) while Kenny Pickett has taken five. The reason for a sense of urgency to get offensive success early is the fact the Texans defense gets stronger as games go on. The fourth-quarter touchdown Houston allowed to the Arizona Cardinals last weekend — an 11-yard touchdown pass from Jacoby Brissett to Michael Wilson — was the first final stanza end zone visit the Texans surrendered since a fourth-quarter touchdown pass against the Tennessee Titans back on Nov. 9, 2025. In total, of the 27 touchdowns Houston allowed so far, five have been fourth-quarter types. To compare, Las Vegas’ offense has a total of eight forth-quarter touchdowns in its total of 21. Of the 43 touchdowns given up by the Raiders defense, eight are of the fourth-quarter variety. We’ll see if interim offensive coordinator Greg Olson can dial up some quick developing plays to get the ball out of Smith’s hands quickly. And we’ll see if Smith and the rest of the offense can execute. The quarterback is likely weary of the amount of hits he’s taken this season as he’s been dropped 30 times since the onset of November to the Week 14 loss to the Broncos two weeks ago. Quote of Note “Yeah, I mean, where we’re at in the season right now, I think for playing the number of games that we’ve played, you better be up to NFL speed, and certainly they’re taking it to another level, and that’s a credit to their coaching staff and credit to their players, how fast that they play. They got a real good knowledge of their system, so they’re able to play fast, and that certainly helps. But they’re very talented, and we’ve got it here, for us offensively, certainly having someone like Maxx Crosby rushing from the other end gives us a good look as far as defensive ends, but you can’t scrimmage every day, so you got to fall back on your preparation from throughout the season and know what it’s like on game day to get up to that speed.” —Las Vegas Raiders interim offensive coordinator Greg Olson when asked about the physicality of the Houston Texans defense and how to prepare or counter it. Sunday’s tilt in Houston marks the 14th time the Raiders and Texans clash all-time. Houston leads the series 8-5 (7-5 in regular season play, 1-0 in the playoffs) but the most recent win in the series belongs to Las Vegas — a 38-20 victory back on Oct. 23, 2022. That was a contest that saw the Raiders score 21 fourth-quarter points for the win. The Texans, however, won the previous two matchups. One a 27-14 AFC Wild Card playoff game on Jan. 7, 2017. See More: Las Vegas Raiders Game Information
NY Giants-Minnesota Vikings inactives: Jon Runyan, Jalin Hyatt sitting
Starting left guard Jon Runyan is a surprise inactive for the New York Giants on Sunday as they will face the Minnesota Vikings in NFL Week 16. Runyan, who has started all 14 games for the Giants this season, was not on the injury report for New York this week. Runyan and his wife are expecting a child any time now, which is why Runyan will not play. The Giants have veteran Aaron Stinnie as a backup guard. Backup center Austin Schlottmann also has guard experience. The other possibility to replace Runyan is rookie fifth-round pick Marcus Mbow. Mbow played exclusively at tackle earlier in the season. Whether or not he is prepared to play guard is something we might be about to find out. Wide receiver Jalin Hyatt, a non-factor all season and blamed by some for running a poor route on an interception by Jaxson Dart last week against the Washington Commanders, is inactive. Hyatt has just five receptions in eight games. New York Giants inactive players DT Rakeem Nunez Roches | Ankle QB Russell Wilson | Emergency 3rd QB OLB Caleb Murphy WR Ryan Miller WR Jalin Hyatt ILB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles G Jon Runyan Minnesota Vikings inactive players DL Javon Hargrave | Thigh QB John Wolford LB Austin Keys T Walter Rouse See More: New York Giants roster
Minnesota Vikings at New York Giants: Inactive Lists for Both Teams
We are less than ninety minutes away from kickoff at MetLife Stadium, and both the Minnesota Vikings and New York Giants have released their inactive lists for this afternoon’s contest. Let’s take a look at who will be sitting this one out for both sides. Minnesota Vikings The Vikings only need to have four players […] We are less than ninety minutes away from kickoff at MetLife Stadium, and both the Minnesota Vikings and New York Giants have released their inactive lists for this afternoon’s contest. Let’s take a look at who will be sitting this one out for both sides. Minnesota Vikings DL Javon Hargrave LB Austin Keys OT Walter Rouse QB John Wolford (emergency QB) The Vikings only need to have four players on the inactive list because they only have 52 players on their 53-man roster. Why? I don’t know. . .they just do. Hargrave had been declared out on the final injury report, so no surprise there. Levi Drake Rodriguez will get the start in place of Hargrave, the first of his NFL career. Brian O’Neill, who had been listed as questionable on the final injury report, is active for this one and will start at his usual right tackle spot. New York Giants LB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles WR Jalin Hyatt WR Ryan Miller OLB Caleb Murphy DL Rakeem Nunez-Roches OL Jon Runyan QB Russell Wilson (emergency QB) Yes, Russell Wilson is the emergency quarterback for the Giants, behind Jaxson Dart and Jameis Winston. No big surprises for the Giants on their injury report. They placed Kayvon Thibodeaux on injured reserve yesterday, which is why you don’t see him listed above. Those are the inactive lists for today’s game, ladies and gentlemen. We have our first Open Thread of the day dropping at around 11:30 AM Central time, and we hope to see you there! See More:
Bengals vs. Dolphins inactive players: Tua Tagovailoa, Minkah Fitzpatrick out in Week 16
The Miami Dolphins made a major move late in the 2025 season, benching quarterback Tua Tagovailoa following a series of uninspired play. Tagovailoa not only lost his starting position on the depth chart, replaced by rookie Quinn Ewers for the team’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals, but he fell to the bottom of the chart. […] The Miami Dolphins made a major move late in the 2025 season, benching quarterback Tua Tagovailoa following a series of uninspired play. Tagovailoa not only lost his starting position on the depth chart, replaced by rookie Quinn Ewers for the team’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals, but he fell to the bottom of the chart. Tagovailoa was officially listed on the team’s inactive players list Sunday, with the Dolphins designating him as the emergency third-string quarterback. Tagovailoa will still dress for the game and could play if both Ewers and backup Zach Wilson were to be injured during the contest. Otherwise, Tagovailoa, the fifth-overall pick in 2020 and the 2023 NFL passing-yardage leader, will spend the day on the sidelines, watching as Ewers begins a three-week audition to take over as the starter in 2026. Also inactive for the game is safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, who was ruled out of the game with a calf injury he sustained during the team’s Week 15 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Miami will also be without wide receiver Nick Westbook-Ikhine, cornerback Isaiah Johnson, offensive lineman Kendall Lamm, wide receiver Tahj Washington, and defensive tackle Matthew Butler. The good news for Miami is linebacker Jordyn Brooks, who was questionable on Friday’s injury report with foot and knee issues, is active and should be ready to play. Brooks leads the league in tackles this season with 155, six more than the Las Vegas Raiders’ Devin White in second place. The Bengals’ inactive list includes quarterback Jake Browning, wide receiver Charlie Jones, cornerback Bralyn Lux, safety PJ Jules, defenisve end Joseph Ossai, tight end Noah Fant, and defensive tackle Jordan Jefferson. Fant, Jones, and Ossai had all been ruled out on Friday’s injury report with ankle issues. Jules is also dealing with an ankle injury and had been questionable, but now lands on the wrong side of the inactive list. Cincinnati will have wide receiver Tee Higgins, who was questionable, back from a concussion. See More:
Predicting NFL Week 16 winners: Odds, picks for Sunday
Week 16 continues on Sunday with 12 games on the schedule following a Thursday night and two Saturday games, and ahead of tomorrow’s Monday night contest. It is a Sunday slate full of playoff implications, draft position posturing, and roster changes to prepare for the 2026 season. The Week 16 schedule features some of the […] Week 16 continues on Sunday with 12 games on the schedule following a Thursday night and two Saturday games, and ahead of tomorrow’s Monday night contest. It is a Sunday slate full of playoff implications, draft position posturing, and roster changes to prepare for the 2026 season. The Week 16 schedule features some of the top teams in each conference facing off, as well as teams desperate to hold on to a playoff spot despite a string of rough outings and other teams making a charge. It is a fun weekend of football, and as always, we are back with our predictions for each game on the schedule. Below, you will find the latest odds for each of the Sunday games, as well as our straight-up winners predictions for each contest. You can also check out any picks we made against the spread or on the point total. New this season, you can also join in on the picks. All you have to do is hit the button the Tallysight widget below, and sign up. Can the The Phinsider community beat our contributors? Week 16 Schedule and Odds – Sunday games 1 p.m. Eastern Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-3) at Carolina Panthers Buffalo Bills (-10.5) at Cleveland Browns Los Angeles Chargers at (-1.5) Dallas Cowboys New York Jets at (-6.5) New Orleans Saints Minnesota Vikings (-2.5) at New York Giants Kansas City Chiefs (-3) at Tennessee Titans Cincinnati Bengals (-4.5) at Miami Dolphins 4:05 p.m. Eastern Atlanta Falcons (-2.5) at Arizona Cardinals Jacksonville Jaguars at (-3.5) Denver Broncos 4:25 p.m. Eastern Pittsburgh Steelers at (-7) Detroit Lions Las Vegas Raiders at (-14.5) Houston Texans 8:20 p.m. Eastern New England Patriots at (-3.5) Baltimore Ravens Week 16 Sunday Picks See More: NFL Game Picks
Steelers vs. Lions predictions: NFL expert picks for Week 16
An old nemesis returns. The Detroit Lions host the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 16 as Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers faces off against his old divisional rival, possibly for the final time. In their last matchup, the Lions sent Rodgers packing out of Green Bay, ending their playoff hopes in 2022. Since then, Rodgers has switched […] An old nemesis returns. The Detroit Lions host the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 16 as Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers faces off against his old divisional rival, possibly for the final time. In their last matchup, the Lions sent Rodgers packing out of Green Bay, ending their playoff hopes in 2022. Since then, Rodgers has switched teams twice and is now trying to lead the Steelers into the playoffs in 2025. With the Lions back up against the wall, they’re hoping to not only keep their playoff hopes intact but possibly send Rodgers into retirement with one more loss to Detroit. ”Steelers, man. Got a lot of respect for this team, got a lot of respect for Mike Tomlin, been doing it for a long time, heck of a coach,” said Lions head coach Dan Campbell. “Their brand of football, same style, always competitive. And once again, they’re in the race for this division over there. They do it the right way, they do it the hard way, and they make you try to earn it at the end of the game. So, we know this’ll be one of those physical battles. We’ve got to play smart, take care of the football, and be very efficient. But he’s always run a good program, and we know we’ve got our hands full.” Here’s a look at our Pride of Detroit staff picks for the Lions in Week 16: Brandon Knapp (9-5): Lions 31-20 (Scouting report, Bold prediction) Ryan Mathews (9-5): Lions 27-20 (5 Questions) Alex Reno (9-5): Lions 31-17 Ty Schalter (9-5): Lions 35-17 Zac Snyder (9-5): Lions 40-16 John Whiticar (9-5): Lions 35-30 Morgan Cannon (8-6): Lions 34-23 (Before the Roar podcast) Erik Schlitt (8-6): Lions 34-24 (Scheme breakdown, Honolulu Blueprint) Meko Scott (8-6): Lions 31-24 (Before the Roar podcast) Hamza Baccouche (6-5): Lions 30-28 Kellie Rowe (7-6): Lions 33-21 Jeremy Reisman (7-7): Lions 24-20 (On Paper) Max Gerber (6-7): Lions 21-17 (Before the Roar podcast) Al Karsten (6-8): Lions 35-16 (Key stats) For the rest of what the POD staff predicted for the NFL, look at our full Week 16 predictions: Moneyline, spread, and over/under. Now, it’s your turn to have your voice heard. Share what you think the game score will be in the comment section at the bottom of the page and vote in the poll directly below. Will the Lions keep their playoff dreams alive, or will Aaron Rodgers get the last laugh over Detroit before retirement? Use this link to vote: https://poll.fm/16264457/results See More:
