Week 16 NFL Game Previews: Who's Still Standing?

Game of the Week: Cincinnati Bengals at Denver Broncos, 8:30 ET (Monday), ESPN

Two backup quarterbacks enter, one leaves with his team's playoff berth basically ensured. This is a scenario the Broncos weren't supposed to be in a few weeks ago, when they had just destroyed the Patriots' perfect season and were riding high.

When there's this much upheaval on a couple rosters, as with the Broncos, all we really need to do is look at the other units. Denver's defense had some problems against Pittsburgh, but every defense has problems against Pittsburgh. Otherwise, when DeMarcus Ware is healthy and in the lineup, they've left destruction in their wake. They can push the pocket and cover quick routes.

Weird as it may seem at this point, this feels like a get-well game for Denver. The Bengals are starting a rookie quarterback with little ability to make plays downfield. Tyler Eifert is expected to be out with a concussion. The Broncos have their own quarterback problems, of course, but any reading of this year's results will tell you that Brock Osweiler has been better than A.J. McCarron.

This would have been a great game five weeks ago. Now? Injuries suck.

Pick: Denver 29, Cincinnati 16

Game of the Week II: Green Bay Packers at Arizona Cardinals, 4:30 ET, FOX

Likewise, Arizona was in a terrific situation last week and now finds itself a bit shaken up after losing Tyrann Mathieu. Fortunately for the Cardinals, Green Bay faces their own injury problems. The offense has never really recovered from losing receiver Jordy Nelson in the preseason. The guy who should be able to burn Arizona in the slot, receiver Randall Cobb, has played with a bum shoulder all season.

On the other side of the ball, the Cardinals have unleashed David Johnson on the league the past few weeks. The Packers, a decent pass defense, have been amenable to giving up some big games against the run.

What looks like a potentially great matchup on paper instead comes down to how far you trust Aaron Rodgers to bring the Packers. We've got a Hail Mary win against the Lions. We've almost seen him lead a comeback against the Panthers. If Rodgers can overcome this roster and give Green Bay a chance at a first-round bye, he'll have interjected himself into the MVP discussion. Again.

Pick: Arizona 33, Green Bay 24

Such Playoff Importance Game of the Week: Washington Football Guys at Philadelphia Eagles, 8:30 ET (Saturday), NFL Network

Washington can clinch a division title this week. It's not a pretty division. It may not even be as good as the AFC South. But a division title means Washington can sell hope to its fans, which is something they haven't actually been able to do the past few listless years.

The Washington run defense won't have to deal much with DeMarco Murray, basically deposed after racking up -32 DYAR in 176 carries. That may be a blessing in disguise for Philadelphia, as Ryan Mathews has always been a preferable fit to run the outside plays in Chip Kelly's scheme.

The Eagles have a soft run defense of their own, however. Jordan Reed is on fire, and DeSean Jackson has a score to settle. Bad divisions are often lost, not won. Since Philadelphia's defense has been AWOL for four of the past five games, I'm struggling to find anything that makes me want to pick them. They've got the home field, and they've got the fact that the NFC East is a quagmire.

But if there's one thing Washington has proved under Dan Snyder, it's that they know how to run a quagmire.

Pick: Washington 22, Philadelphia 21

Football Nerd Game of the Week: Carolina Panthers at Atlanta Falcons, 1 ET, FOX

Look, there's nothing particularly compelling about this game. The last time we previewed it, the Panthers rolled out to a 28-0 lead by halftime. Maybe Carolina lets their foot off the gas a little more here. Maybe Cam Newton has a bad day. Maybe Jonathan Stewart is absent again and hurts Carolina's defense.

The reason you watch this game is because the Panthers are 14-0. You want to be able to tell your children about the most memorable teams in football, right? Well, it doesn't get much more memorable than a perfect regular season. Carolina is just a pair of mercy killings away from it.

In Atlanta, general manager Thomas Dimitroff is somehow still in line to keep his job, per SI's Don Banks. Let's come up with a compelling list of things that happened after the Julio Jones trade that are evidence that he deserves the job. I'll write mine, you write yours. OK? Go.

(Break.)

So I've got down "Drafted Vic Beasley and Desmond Trufant." You come up with anything else? Well, noodle it over during the game. I'm sure you'll have some free time to think.

Pick: Carolina 26, Atlanta 14

Denting Playoff Hopes Game of the Week: New York Jets at New England Patriots, 1 ET, CBS

The Jets aren't currently in line for a playoff spot, but they are in line for a much more coveted title: Miss Playoff Outrage 2015!

New York has just a 19.7 percent chance, per Football Outsiders, to make the dance this year. They could end the season 11-5. The Texans, by virtue of playing in the AFC South, have an 85 percent chance to make the playoffs. They could end the season 7-9. We've seen the NBA distance themselves a bit from home field to division winners recently. Would a Jets media pity party be enough to get NFL folks talking about this?

On the one hand, we've all seen what happens when Ryan Fitzpatrickian quarterbacks get in the playoffs. On the other, the NFL does love a good controversy over stupid shit that barely matters. I can picture the Roger Goodell presser now: "The Jets have been left out, and this is unfair, so we're adding a seventh playoff team and several million dollars keeping the sanctity of our divisions intact."

The Pats don't have a reason to help Roger Goodell, do they?

Pick: New England 28, New York 19

Prime-Time Game That Shouldn't Be: New York Giants at Minnesota Vikings, 8:30 ET, NBC

The Giants hung on to their playoff hopes by the slimmest thread last week. This Sunday night, with no Odell Beckham (suspended), has all the makings of a Tom Coughlin funeral. The Giants can't stop the run. The Vikings have Adrian Peterson. Minnesota's pass defense has been stopping every quarterback not name Russell Wilson since the bye. Eli Manning's No.1 target for this game is Rueben Randle.

I can picture it now. A Bob Costas sermon about what an unthinkable act of sportsmanship Odell Beckham broke in his fight against Panthers cornerback Josh Norman. A weasely Tony Dungy quote about how it was wrong, followed by praise for Coughlin. Rodney Harrison somehow pretending he has a moral ground to stand on about on-field fighting. This is what you're signing up for if you turn on this game. Three hours of outrage porn about a fight while we watch at least six injury timeouts put a player in a tough situation.

Meanwhile, inside the ring, the refs will probably be blowing New York's season dead. That's an actual punishment for the way Beckham acted. Good luck finding it through all the smugness.

Pick: Minnesota 27, New York 10