The NFL returns to Saturday in this week to impact the final weekend of Christmas shopping. And for the first time this season, winter-type weather could impact multiple games on the schedule. 

The outcome of the late-afternoon game could well determine the winner of the AFC North – or push that outcome until the final week of the season. The Steelers visit Baltimore in hopes of continuing their inexplicable hex over the host Ravens.  

Week 16 of the NFL betting season features a full schedule, as there are no teams on the bye. 

RELATED: Super Bowl 59 Odds

The playoff picture should sharpen once the Saints and Packers hit the gun Monday night. Multiple teams can clinch playoff berths or see their fates sealed this week. The race for MVP appears to be Josh Allen’s to lose. But the chase for best record and home field will likely go into the New Year.

The week begins with the Broncos and Chargers in the hunt for an AFC wildcard spot on Thursday night. The early Saturday game has the Texans visiting Kansas City. CBS has the national doubleheader this week. The 49ers-Bills game should land in the key spot.  

2024 NFL Week 16 Best Bets: Odds & Picks

Now it’s on to our Week 16  NFL picks to back on your favorite sports betting app. 

2024 NFL Week 16 Best Bets: Game-By-Game Analysis

Thursday, December 19
Denver Broncos at Los Angeles Chargers, 8:15 p.m. (Amazon Prime)

Buzz: The 2 best teams in the AFC West not named the Chiefs both remain in the wildcard chase. Both have sneakily relied on their defense this season (and both nearly beat the Chiefs before losing on a last-second field goal make-or-miss).  The Broncos took advantage of the worst trick play of the season Sunday in their 31-13 win and over over the Colts. The Broncos are an NFL-best 11-3 ATS and have covered in 5 straight. The Chargers got smacked by the Buccaneers 40-17 at SoFi on Sunday. The Broncos are closing in on a playoff berth and the Chargers have begun their patented last-season swoon. They have lost 8 straight at home to teams with a winning record. 

Best Bet: Broncos +3 (-104) FanDuel   

Saturday, December 21
Houston Texans at Kansas City Chiefs, 1 p.m. (NBC/Peacock)

Buzz: Due to contractual arrangements – or emotional ones – expect Tay-Tay to attend this tilt at Arrowhead, especially since this game will be on national TV and be airing against Round 1 of the College Football Playoff. Both teams are divisional champions and could well meet in the playoffs. Patrick Mahomes' ankle injury will be a concern all week although the post-game X-Ray was negative. The Chiefs scored their first cover since October 20 with their 21-7 win over Cleveland Sunday. The Texans won the AFC South with their 20-12 win over Miami. It will be cold (high 20s) and windy at Arrowhead on Saturday. The Texans have played only 2 outdoor games this season - losing by 2 at Green Bay and winning by 3 at Jacksonville. Mahomes missed the cover the last time he was getting points (vs. Buffalo). But we're going back on the wagon here. And while the Chiefs have struggled on the line this season, they are on a 10-4 ATS run against teams with a winning record.

Best Bet: Chiefs +2.5 (-108) DraftKings

Pittsburgh Steelers at Baltimore Ravens, 4:30 p.m. (FOX)

Buzz: The Steelers continued their inexplicable defensive dominance over the Ravens when these teams met earlier this season. The Steelers won that game 18-16 thanks to 6 field goals off the golden toe of Chris Boswell. Pittsburgh has beaten Baltimore 6 straight times as underdogs. Mike Tomlin keeps working on his John Harbaugh hex doll. The Steelers now have an offense. At least on the digital stat sheet. The Steelers lost Sunday at Philly but still clinched a playoff berth. They're also still in control of the AFC North. The Ravens pulled off the -16.5 cover with a 35-14 win over Big Blue. A Steelers win could give them a 2-game lead and the tie-breaker over Baltimore with 3 games to play. The weather concern here will be the wind whipping off the harbor. Gusts are expected to hit over 44 mph with sustained winds of more than 15 MPH. And keep an eye out for snow. Can the wind stop Boswell? Not enough. 

Best Bet: Pittsburgh +6.5 (-110) bet365

Sunday, December 22
New York Giants at Atlanta Falcons, 1 p.m. (FOX)

Buzz: Big Blue may start Phil Simms at QB in this one. The 2-12 Giants pulled Tommy DeVito in their 35-14 loss to Baltimore in favor of Tim Boyle. The Falcons are in the midst of blowing another shot at the NFC South. They should flex this one to April.  

Best Bet: Under 42.5 Points (-110) ESPN BET        

New England Patriots at Buffalo Bills, 1 p.m. (CBS)

Buzz: Once upon a time, Tom Brady went 32-3 against the Bills as the quarterback of the Patriots. Josh Allen won’t match that as Bills QB against New England. But he and the Bills have beaten New England in 4 of 5 games. And the Bills have taken over as stewards of the AFC East. The 11-3 Bills have scored 90 points in the past 2 weeks against the Rams and Lions. They could hit 100 here but weather and a big second-half lead will limit the damage. The Patriots have fully reverted to their early 1990s form. Their best ally here will be the weather. Expect the full Orchard Park December package here. Feel-like temperatures in the single digits. Sustained winds around 15 MPH with gusts into the 30 MPH range. And - fingers crossed - lots of lake-effect snow. The last time New England played in Buffalo in these conditions in December, they ran the ball on 46 of 49 snaps and won. They might try that this week, as well. Or they could just punt on first down. They have covered in 8 of their last 11 games in Buffalo. 

Best Bet: Patriots +14.5 (-115) FanDuel

Detroit Lions at Chicago Bears, 1 p.m. (FOX)

Buzz: These teams met on Thanksgiving. The Lions won 23-20. The Bears nabbed the backdoor cover as 10-point underdogs. And Matt Eberflus is still holding on to his last time out. He was fired on Black Friday. The Bears haven’t won since the last-second Caleb Williams “Hail Mary” TD strike for Washington at Chicago’s expense in Week 7. The Lions need to win just to keep pace with the pesky Vikings in the NFC North. They could finish with the best record in the NFC, or end up with a home wildcard game before hitting the road for at least 2 weeks. Jared Goff hit on 38 of 59 passes for 494 yards and 5 TDs in their 48-42 loss to the Bills. And they'll need to run the ball for more than 15 yards this week. Expect typically cold and windy conditions by Lake Michigan on this Sunday. But nothing the Lions can't handle. They scored 24 straight points to beat Green Bay in the rain and wind of Lambeau Field on November 3. The Lions defense has been decimated by injury. Thankfully for Detroit, Chicago's offense has lost its way. 

Best Bet: Under 47 Points (-110) bet365

Cleveland Browns at Cincinnati Bengals, 1 p.m. (FOX)

Buzz: The Battle of Ohio has lost some of its zing. The Bengals remain mathematically alive in the AFC. The Browns remain an interception generation machine thanks to Jameis Winston. This one may evoke some memories of the infamous 1982 AFC Championship game - but temperatures won't be that low. As in the case with multiple games on the East Coast and Midwest this week - the wind will be the culprit. Between Winston's passes and winds gusting up to 30 MPH, the ball could land anywhere between the Browns' receiving corps and Louisville. Joe Burrow knows this weather well. The Bengals have covered 7 straight against teams with a losing record. They make it 8 here but beware of the hook on this number. 

Best Bet: Bengals -7 (-110) bet365

Tennessee Titans at Indianapolis Colts, 1 p.m. (CBS)

Buzz: We’d say: Only “pride is on the line” here. But that would be an insult to “pride.” Perhaps the Colts can work on their trick plays, this week. Tickets are $10 apiece and 2 for $5. 

Best Bet: Colts -4.5 (-110) ESPN BET        

Los Angeles Rams at New York Jets, 1 p.m. (CBS)

Buzz: The forecast calls for temperatures in the 20s and wind in the 10s. The Jets annual “Fan Paper Bag Head Day” returns for its annual late-December appearance at MetLife. Jets “Fan Plastic Bag Head Day” is scheduled for Week 18 at home against Miami. The Jets beat and covered against Jacksonville on Sunday. They're not in Jacksonville anymore. This one will be wicked for the Gang Green. The Jets are on an 0-7 run ATS against NFC teams. The Rams are on a tear and took over 1st place in the NFC West by beating the 49ers Thursday and then watching the Seahawks fall at home to Green Bay. Matthew Stafford played plenty of games in the cold at Green Bay as a member of the Lions. Look for lots of Kyren Williams here. And lots of frustrated Aaron Rodgers to go along with it. 

Best Bet: Rams -3 (-110) bet365

Philadelphia Eagles at Washington Commanders, 1 p.m. (FOX)

Buzz: The Eagles ice the NFC East with a win at Washington. Philly soared in its 27-13 win and cover against Pittsburgh. Jalen Hurts and A.J. Brown are BFFs again. Hurts threw for 290 yards against the Steelers. And Saquon Barkley's injury isn't considered serious. Philly (12-2) is off to its best start in franchise history, has won 10 straight, and covered in 5 straight games. The Eagles will be able to run the ball between Hurts and Barkley enough to counter those big wind gusts that will be blowing across Northwest Stadium. 

Best Bet: Eagles -3.5 (-110) FanDuel

Arizona Cardinals at Carolina Panthers, 1 p.m. (FOX)

Buzz: The number of RedZone subscriptions should skyrocket this week in Arizona and Carolina. The Panthers got raked by Dallas at home Sunday. Meanwhile, the Cardinals easily dispatched the Patriots. Can Kyler Murray and James Conner take their act on the road in an early East Coast game? Arizona is still in the playoff picture. The Cardinals had better be ready for unseasonably cold temperatures in Charlotte. Not to mention Carolina's pesky defense. 

Best Bet: Panthers +4.5 (-110) FanDuel

Minnesota Vikings at Seattle Seahawks, 4:05 p.m. (FOX)

Buzz: This could well be a first-round playoff matchup, as well. The Vikings are one game back in the NFC North. The Seahawks are barely holding on in the NFC West. The Vikings have home-field in the NFC in their grasp. But the Vikings face a big test here on the road in what will be - for them - hostile weather conditions of cold, wind, and rain. Not to mention the loud and boisterous "12s". The Seahawks had covered in 4 straight ahead of their 30-13 Sunday night loss to Green Bay. The Vikings offer more of the same - even in these conditions. 

Best Bet: Vikings -4.5 (-110) FanDuel

Jacksonville Jaguars at Las Vegas Raiders, 4:25 p.m. (CBS)

Buzz: Coach Doug Pederson might not make the return trip from Sin City if the Jaguars stumble badly off The Strip at Allegiant Stadium. This is the sort of game that could lead to sports betting being outlawed in Nevada. Hold your nose and back the under. 

Best Bet: Under 40.5 (-110) FanDuel

San Francisco 49ers at Miami Dolphins, 4:25 p.m. (CBS)

Buzz: The 49ers are the latest victim of the NFL’s merciless “We Lost The Super Bowl Hangover.” San Francisco is likely out of the postseason. The Dolphins hit some choppy waters in their 20-12 loss at Houston on Sunday. Miami needs a win here at home to stay playoff-viable. The 49ers are coming off the mini-bye. They're still alive in the NFC West, but we're not sure even Robert Oppenheimer could figure out the math there. Tua and the Dolphins finally drop the Big One at home. Each of their past 5 games at home has gone over the points total. 

Best Bet: Over 46 Points (-110) bet365

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Dallas Cowboys, 8:20 p.m. (NBC/Peacock)

Buzz: Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers finally get some prime-time love. Tampa Bay is on its way to a 5^th-straight playoff appearance. The Buccaneers zapped the Chargers defense in a 40-17 blowout Sunday. Mike Evans and Mayfield are the hottest QB-WR duo in the NFL right now and the Cowboys offer nothing to slow their roll. Especially while trying to stop Cade Otton, or Tampa's rushing game, at the same time. The Cowboys are on their way to another offseason of doubt and frustration.    

Best Bet: Buccaneers -3.5 (-120) FanDuel

Monday, December 23
New Orleans Saints at Green Bay Packers, 8:20 p.m. (NBC/Peacock)

Buzz: Christmas Eve Eve in Green Bay. We'll get plenty of colds here. Just give us some snow and a well-lubricated fan base. The 10-4 Packers just keep on winning and are on their way to the playoffs. Albeit as a wildcard. They delivered a dominant performance at Seattle in their 30-13 win and cover Sunday night. The Saints scored and covered on the final play of the game in their 20-19 loss at Washington. But they failed on the two-point conversion. This number is abnormally large, especially on a 42.5-point total. Given the Saints' lack of offense, the potential for rough weather, and Green Bay's stout defense, the under is the play here. 

Best Bet: Under 42.5 Points (-115) FanDuel