NFL Week 16 Preseason Preview: Saturday Games Begin
Four Days of Football as Stretch Run Begins

NFL Week 16 Matchups & Calendar
The 16th week of the 2024 NFL season marks the start of the end-of-season Saturday games and has some decent matchups.
The majority of games on the slate should have some sort of NFL playoff implications, with teams jockeying for position. We’ll run down the week’s slate in NFL Week 16 preseason preview.
Browns vs Bengals 
⏰Day/Time: Thursday, Dec. 19, 8:15 p.m. ET
Odds: Cincinnati -3.5
Total: 45.5
- The week opens with a solid AFC North matchup between Cleveland and Cincinnati. The teams first met in Week 7 and have split their games the last two seasons.
There has been 45 or fewer points scored in the last five meetings between the NFL teams. This game has the potential to shake up the 2024 NFL playoff picture, as both teams are expected to be fighting for postseason spots. The under appears to be the safest wager in this game.
Texans vs Chiefs 
⏰Day/Time: Saturday, Dec. 21, 1:00 p.m. ET
Odds: Kansas City -4.5
Total: 47
The Saturday NFL schedule starts off strong, with CJ Stroud and the Texans visiting the Chiefs. The game features two of the marquee NFL 2024 QBs, and the game will likely be billed as such.
The Texans have a home Christmas game with Baltimore on Wednesday, while Kansas City plays Pittsburgh next week.
At least the the four teams playing Christmas are playing today, to get them an extra day of rest and no team will have a big scheduling edge.
Kansas City hasn’t always been the best of home favorites this season, but the Chiefs should be better on both sides of the ball. Kansas City has the lowest Super Bowl 2024 odds for a reason. Have to give the early edge to Kansas City.
Kansas City #Chief QB Patrick Mahomes on Houston #Texans CJ Stroud being one of his THREE favorite QB’s to watch in the #NFL:
“I like watching CJ Stroud a lot now, he’s been out there and making plays happen.”
Week 16 Matchup 👀🔥🍿 pic.twitter.com/9YZNRFT7q7
— PakiTexan (@Mirza12Pokeball) May 23, 2024
Steelers vs Ravens 
⏰Day/Time: Saturday, Dec. 21, 4:30 p.m. ET
Odds: Baltimore -6
Total: 42.5
The late game on Saturday isn’t a bad AFC North matchup, featuring the NFL division favorites in Baltimore hosting Pittsburgh.
The Steelers swept the series last year and have won seven of the last eight games. The two met in Pittsburgh in Week 11, so the Ravens had a chance to make amends for last season already.
Winning and covering a 6-point spread are two different things, however. The game should be meaningful to the Ravens, while Pittsburgh is hopeful the game will still have postseason implications.
Pittsburgh is 5-19 straight-up and 11-13 as an underdog of six or more points under Mike Tomlin. You can make a slight case for the Steelers if you really want to play the game.
Lions vs Bears 
⏰Day/Time: Sunday, Dec. 22, 1:00 p.m. ET
Odds: Detroit -1 (-105)
Total: 47
The Lions enter the game as the slimmest of favorites. Detroit should be a major factor in the NFC North, which Chicago’s a little more hit and miss.
The Bears have tended to play Detroit tough, going 6-4 straight-up the last five seasons. The teams played in Detroit on Thanksgiving and wrap-up the season series with this game.
- The Lions were 5-1 ATS as an away favorite last year and were favored by 3.5 points or less in all six games. The NFL Vegas odds Week 16 are a bit low here and will lean with Detroit.
Rams vs Jets 
⏰Day/Time: Sunday, Dec. 22, 1:00 p.m. ET
Odds: New York -3
Total: 47.5
The NFL Week 16 preseason preview has another decent early game on Sunday. Both teams should be in the mix for a playoff berth, provided they can stay healthy. The Jets do have Buffalo up next, but being this late in the season shouldn’t be looking ahead.
Weather can always play a factor at this time of year in New York, especially when a warmer-weather team like the Rams are involved. Would lean towards an NFL Week 16 over under play here and take the under.
Titans vs Colts 
⏰Day/Time: Sunday, Dec. 22, 1:00 p.m. ET
Odds: Indianapolis -4
Total: 45.5
The NFL Week 16 points spreads have the Colts favored by 4 with a total of 45 against Houston.
The Colts have an outside shot at the playoffs, but they’ll likely come up short. You have three teams in both the AFC East and AFC North fighting for the postseason.
Indianapolis-colts
The line might be a shade high in this one, although Tennessee was a dismal 2-5 ATS as an away underdog last year. The Titans didn’t score a lot of points last season and probably won’t this year, either. This one looks to be a decent wager on the under.
Eagles vs Commanders 
⏰Day/Time: Sunday, Dec. 22, 1:00 p.m. ET
Odds: Philadelphia -3 (-120)
Total: 45
- An NFC East rematch of the Week 11 game, Philadelphia is just favored by 3 (-120) at Washington.
The line seems light at first glance, although the Eagles are coming off Pittsburgh and have Dallas up next.
Still, it’s a game the Eagles need to win for playoff positioning. Even if Philadelphia is locked into the postseason, a win can’t hurt when it comes time to seeding.
Washington’s fortunes are going to be tied to Jayden Daniels. No matter how much talent he has, there are going to be some rookie mistakes.
The Eagles have won five of the last six games between the two, with four of those spreads seven points or higher. The NFL Week 16 odds suggest a play on the Eagles.
Cardinals vs Panthers 
⏰Day/Time: Sunday, Dec. 22, 1:00 p.m. ET
Odds: Arizona -1
Total: 45.5
Arizona finds itself in the rare role of road favorite in this game, something that last happened in 2022. It’s hard to argue the Cardinals shouldn’t be favored here, but it’s not exactly easy to lay money with them in this role.
Carolina was just 3-4-1 as a home underdog last season, which probably isn’t all that bad considering their record. This is one of the least exciting of the NFL Week 16 matchups, but the game may be a little better than it looks on paper.
Kyler Murray can still make some things happen and Bryce Young should be a better a quarterback. The over isn’t the worst of plays you can make.
Patriots vs Bills 
⏰Day/Time: Sunday, Dec. 22, 1:00 p.m. ET
Odds: Buffalo -8.5
Total: 44.5
With the NFL Week 16 spreads showing Buffalo -8.5, you already know the Bills are going to be a huge teaser play this week. You can move the line down to Bills -2.5 and just need Buffalo to win by a field goal or more.
The Bills are coming off a game with Detroit and have the Jets up next, so they’ll have to stay focused. That could be determined by how they’re faring in the NFL standings.
It’s almost impossible to play New England here, at least until Drake Maye has some game action under his belt.
Giants vs Falcons 
⏰Day/Time: Sunday, Dec. 22, 1:00 p.m. ET
Odds: Atlanta -4.5
Total: 44.5
The NFL Week 16 preseason preview has the Giants taking to the road to visit the Falcons. This is the largest favorite Atlanta is all season, although that could certainly change depending on how well Kirk Cousins fits in.
The Giants shouldn’t be quite as bad as they were a year ago, although with Dallas and Philadelphia in the division, it’s tough.
The Commanders should be an improved team, so New York’s biggest challenge could be escaping the basement.
- The Falcons were just 2-5 as a home favorite last year, but have upgraded at QB. Tough game to call right now.
Broncos vs Chargers 
⏰Day/Time: Sunday, Dec. 22, 4:05 p.m. ET
Odds: Los Angeles -4
Total: 43
Justin Herbert will probably be popular in the NFL player props throughout the season if he’s underrated based on what he did last year.
Some improvement is expected out of Herbert, although it could be a little bigger than anticipated. The Chargers are battling for a wild card spot, as nobody in the AFC West is going to challenge Kansas City.
The Broncos are well-coached and have some talent. Their best days are in the future, however, and this could be a tough season. The NFL Week 16 lines sound pretty close to what is expected here, but it’s hard not to lean to the Chargers.
Vikings vs Seahawks 
⏰Day/Time: Sunday, Dec. 22, 4:05 p.m. ET
Odds: Seattle -2
Total: 45.5
Minnesota travels to Seattle in a late-season matchup between two teams the oddsmakers are quite sure what to expect from.
The Vikings have questions at quarterback, but have decent receivers and a defense that’s not bad. Seattle has Geno Smith to throw the ball, but he needs help.
The line dictates a teaser play on Minnesota, although you’d like to see the quarterback situation a little more settled. If JJ McCarthy or Sam Darnold give Minnesota above average play, the Vikings could be one of the 2024 NFL best bets to make the playoffs at generous odds.
This is one of the more intriguing NFL matchups this week and can see the point in taking the Vikings in a teaser.
49ers vs Dolphins 
⏰Day/Time: Sunday, Dec. 22, 4:25 p.m. ET
Odds: San Francisco -1
Total: 49
This one is one of the better games on the NFL Week 16 schedule, as San Francisco visits the Dolphins. The game is likely to be more important to Miami than it is to San Francisco for playoff purposes.
The 49ers should be in pretty good shape for the postseason, while Miami has more of a battle to make the playoffs. San Francisco was 7-2 straight-up and 6-3 against the spread as away favorites last season.
Expect to see the 49ers taken in a fair number of NFL Week 16 expert picks straight-up selections. Miami’s defense makes it a little nerve-wracking to take the Dolphins against good teams.
Jaguars vs Raiders 
⏰Day/Time: Sunday, Dec. 22, 4:05 p.m. ET
Odds: Jacksonville -1 (-105)
Total: 45.5
Depending on the Raider quarterback situation, Gardner Minshew could get to play against his former team, as the Jags visit Las Vegas. Regardless of who is playing for the Raiders, this is probably going to be a bigger game for the Jaguars.
- Jacksonville isn’t going to have it easy to get back to the playoffs. The AFC East and North are loaded with talent. That’s going to make sneaking in as a wild card a tall order.
The Raiders played well at home last season and there’s nothing to indicate they won’t do so this season. The NFL Week 16 betting lines are solid on this game, but wouldn’t be surprised to see the game land over the total.
Buccaneers vs Cowboys 
⏰Day/Time: Sunday, Dec. 22, 8:20 p.m. ET
Odds: Dallas -4.5
Total: 46.5
The Buccaneers visit Dallas in the Sunday night game, and the NFL spreads for Week 16 seem a little bit low here.
Tampa Bay could be a slight surprise this season, as most people are predicting the Falcons to win the division. Tampa Bay needs to pick it up a little bit on defense.
The Cowboys have the Eagles on deck, so this isn’t really a great spot for Dallas. The potential for looking ahead is certainly there. Tampa Bay gets an early lean in this one.
Saints vs Packers 
⏰Day/Time: Monday, Dec. 23, 8:15 p.m. ET
Odds: Green Bay -5
Total: 45
The NFL Week 16 preseason preview shows New Orleans and Green Bay closing out the week in a fair match-up. Surprisingly, the Packers were only favored in three home games all of last season, going 2-1 ATS.
The Saints were 2-1 as a road underdog last season. New Orleans could easily be a little better than expected this season. The Packers have high expectations, although they won’t be sneaking up on anybody this season.
The early lean goes to New Orleans, who have the potential to pull off one of the NFL upsets this week.
For NFL betting news, odds analysis, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.
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