Cook’s 2021 NFL Gambling Picks: Week 16

Hi, hello & welcome to Week 16 of the National Football League. I’m pretty sure that every single matchup featured here had somebody on Twitter asking the NFL to move the game to Tuesday due to covid. That’s how things are going here in sports at the end of 2021. The NHL went on break. Most of the NBA teams aren’t playing. Louisville’s men’s basketball team had to shut down instead of playing Kentucky.

I have no idea what’s going to happen here. I think the 49ers & Titans will play on Thursday. Beyond that, I don’t have a clue. I consider it a miracle that I managed to go 8-8 last week given everything. I make no promises of replicating that, but I do promise to give it a try! Odds are provided by Vegas Insider, and they’ll fluctuate like crazy before game time.

Thursday, December 23

San Francisco (-3) at Tennessee

The @Titans and @49ers have been among the NFL’s top rushing teams in the past month. pic.twitter.com/I37blN5rcU

— Jim Wyatt (@jwyattsports) December 22, 2021

The 49ers just keep winning and insinuating themselves into the playoff chase. Meanwhile the Titans have struggled against teams that aren’t the Jacksonville Jaguars. The 49ers are missing some pieces, but the Titans are missing more. Should be a close one, but I think the 49ers take it.

Saturday, December 25

Cleveland at Green Bay (-7.5)

The Browns bitched and moaned to get their game pushed back. Lost, and now have a short week vs the Packers.

Should’ve just taken the L on Saturday 😭

— Kev 🎄 (@Kev_Gordy) December 21, 2021

Yeah, good luck Cleveland. You’re gonna need it on a short week against Aaron Rodgers & the Packers. The Browns have had a tendency of playing up to their competition, as we saw in their Week 1 trip to Kansas City. That was approximately five years ago, though. Packers have no problem here.

Indianapolis at Arizona

With how the NFL continues to remind us that we know nothing until watching the actual games, it's a perfect setup for the reeling Arizona Cardinals to trounce the streaking Indianapolis Colts by like 2 touchdowns right?

— Alex Clancy (@ClancysCorner) December 22, 2021

We have a good number of pick ems as I write this, which goes to show me that Vegas doesn’t know what’s going on either. It does seem like Colts vs. Cardinals would be tough to predict regardless of what’s going on. Two teams heading in opposite directions lately. The Colts have been super impressive with Jonathan Taylor running fools over, while the Cardinals have been anything but impressive and seem to have peaked too soon.

Logic tells me the Colts win, but the tweet above seems accurate to me considering how NFL business has gone this season. The Cardinals get back on track here because it’s the NFL where parity rules. Plus, if losing to the Lions doesn’t light a fire under your ass, I don’t know what will.

Sunday, December 26

Tampa Bay (-10) at Carolina

BREAKING: Panthers coach Matt Rhule said Cam Newton will start Sunday vs. Buccaneers and have a major role in the game, but that Sam Darnold will play at some point.

— Steve Reed (@SteveReedAP) December 22, 2021

The Buccaneers will be missing some key offensive pieces, but they still have to be the pick here given whatever they’re doing in Carolina. That thing is just a hot mess, and there’s no way I can pick them against Tom Brady. Especially Tom Brady coming off of a shutout loss & with his favorite wide receiver back.

While I’m thinking about it. Note to Bruce Arians: Just tell us you need AB back because there’s a sudden lack of wide receivers on your team. Don’t make up some shit about how he’s a better person now, nobody believes that. Just tell the truth.

NY Giants at Philadelphia (-10)

so the Eagles beat a depleted WFT on Tuesday and then a depleted Eagles team loses to the Giants on Sunday? pic.twitter.com/d9AxOaitTA

— Absolutely Hammered (@AH_Pod) December 17, 2021

Speaking of messes, the Giants are a mess even by their recent standards. Dan Patrick was talking the other day about how Russell Wilson could go to the Giants & contend again, and I was wondering which Giants team he meant. The baseball team? Maybe that’s it, Russ does have some baseball experience. The Eagles will contend with Jake Fromm instead of Russell Wilson here, so they should be ok.

LA Chargers (-10) at Houston

NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said there's been "No discussion" of moving Texans-Chargers game in the wake of 18 COVID-19 cases for Texans, and Chargers placing Austin Ekeler and Joey Bosa on reserve-COVID-19 list

— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) December 22, 2021

The Texans got a nice win over Jacksonville. That doesn’t mean we’re picking them against the Chargers, but it’s nice they’re still trying.

Detroit at Atlanta (-5.5)

Detroit Lions lead the Atlanta Falcons in their 38 meetings 25-13-0

I smell a winning streak coming on.

— 🦁 Brad Holmes Excuse My Optimism(2-11-1)🦁 (@DumasMike) December 20, 2021

It’s tempting to pick the Lions here since they just got a win and they always try hard, and the Falcons are one of the most forgettable teams in the league. Do you remember anything they’ve done this year? I sure don’t! One thing about the Falcons is they don’t do too well at home. Take the Lions and the points. Why not live a little?

Baltimore at Cincinnati (-3)

Real good news/bad news about Cincy from Joe Burrow 😂 pic.twitter.com/uX28vmyqzI

— Stadium (@Stadium) December 23, 2021

I mean…he ain’t wrong. I’ve been to St. Louis & Atlanta’s baseball parks in the last couple of months, and there was a stark contrast between the entertainment options around their parks & Cincinnati’s lack of such things. They’re trying to make it better, but it’s been almost twenty years and it’s still pretty bare. No, Burrow isn’t going to get any heat with Bengals fans over this.

The Ravens have a ton of people on the covid list, and Lamar Jackson is very questionable. That all being said, Tyler Huntley wasn’t terrible against the Packers and the Bengals have a way of making backup quarterbacks look good. I see the Ravens keeping this thing close somehow.

LA Rams (-3) at Minnesota

Watch the #Vikings beat the Rams by 30 because football is dumb.

— Purple FTW! Podcast (@PurpleForTheWin) December 22, 2021

All these dang Vikings games are close and this one will be no different. Rams are looking pretty good these days, but I’m liking the Vikings to keep it close like they always do.

Jacksonville at NY Jets

Normally, a game between the No. 1 and No. 2 overall QBs taken in the past draft would be must-watch television.

This year though, people are only going to be watching the Jaguars and the Jets because they lost some sort of bet.

— Kyle Yates (@KyleYNFL) December 22, 2021

Jets? Sure, why not.

Buffalo at New England (-2.5)

Bills-Patriots next week is going to be HUGE. The Bills would get the tiebreaker over NE due to division record.

If the #Bills win out (NE, ATL, NYJ), they clinch their second straight division title. pic.twitter.com/Jjt2gHxpwt

— Nick Veronica (@NickVeronica) December 19, 2021

Bill Belichick is PISSED OFF, and the Patriots sure seem to have Buffalo’s number. Josh Allen & the Bills have missed a few opportunities to take this division, and aren’t going to get it at the end of the day.

Chicago at Seattle (-6.5)

Bears-Seahawks a potential snow game? https://t.co/UssTIdF4Na

— Field Gulls (@FieldGulls) December 20, 2021

Thank goodness I won’t be asked to watch this one is all I can say about it. I’ll take the Seahawks at home, though it might be a low-scoring game due to that snow. Also due to the offenses involved.

Pittsburgh at Kansas City (-10)

refreshing my memory on the 2018 Chiefs-Steelers game and the QB stat lines are crazy.

Ben Roethlisberger had three TDs and a rushing TD and threw for 452 yards, but Mahomes had SIX touchdowns and 326 passing yards — in his second week as the Chiefs' starting QB. pic.twitter.com/4UenIjVzXU

— Brooke Pryor (@bepryor) December 22, 2021

The Chiefs have been looking good lately, but have a covid situation with a couple of Patrick Mahomes’ best targets. That’s not good, especially against a Pittsburgh team that’s been rebounding lately. Give me the Steelers if you’re going to give me that number.

Denver at Las Vegas

Zay Jones might be the second-best fantasy option at WR in this week's Broncos/Raiders game.

— Mike Clay (@MikeClayNFL) December 22, 2021

Two fairly interesting AFC West teams that I consider quite evenly matched. No wonder Vegas made this thing a pick em. Should be a pretty low scoring game where the first team to two touchdowns might win. I’ll roll with the Raiders due to their homefield advantage.

Washington at Dallas (-11)

On Sunday, Washington will be bringing their own HEATED benches to Dallas. On a day where the low is 60, the high is 83, and the game will be played indoors with the roof closed in a climate controlled environment.

— Cowboys Nation (@CowboysNation) December 21, 2021

How bout dem Cowboys? They’re getting things done, the Football Team isn’t, and this should clinch the NFC East for the Cowboys.

Monday, December 27

Miami at New Orleans (-3)

The Saints are really the Dolphins of the NFC South for the Patriots. Not only do they give Brady fits, they celebrate like they won a Super Bowl after and are often headed towards a non playoff season

— Ian Glendon (@iglen31) December 20, 2021

In fairness, the Saints have at least won something in the last twenty years. It’s funny though, as those of us who were around in 2006 remember when the Dolphins & the Saints were the two main teams considering signing Drew Brees. The Dolphins passed due to concerns over Brees’ shoulder and traded for Daunte Culpepper instead. The Saints signed Brees, and finally attained relevancy.

Miami has mostly been irrelevant since then. They won a division title in 2008 and have made two playoff appearances in the years after passing on Brees. It seems like they might be on the road to a third, but they’re going to need to keep winning now that they’re playing some good teams. The Saints are really good sometimes, and pretty blah other times. Which team shows up here will tell the tale. I’m thinking the good team shows up, and the Saints take care of business.

Week 15 Results: 8-8

Overall Results: 104-116-4