play1:42Do Packers have an excuse if they fail to reach SB? Stephen A. weighs inStephen A. Smith discusses whether the Packers’ injuries give the team an excuse if they don’t win the Super Bowl.
play0:50Is Quinshon Judkins a good fantasy play vs. Bills?Field Yates explains why Quinshon Judkins is outside his top 20 for fantasy running backs in Week 16.
play2:19Stephen A. reacts to Tua Tagovailoa being benched by the DolphinsStephen A. Smith explains why the Dolphins had to bench Tua Tagovailoa.
play1:38Why a full offseason could be key for Jaxson Dart’s growthJason McCourty and Jeff Saturday explain how the upcoming offseason will be important for Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart.
play1:09Can Trevor Lawrence keep up his hot fantasy play vs. Broncos?Tristan H. Cockcroft explains why Trevor Lawrence is outside the top 10 of his fantasy quarterbacks for Week 16 despite a stellar game vs. the Jets.
Stephen A.: The Eagles are not the best team in the NFC (0:50)Stephen A. Smith explains why he doesn’t believe the Eagles will come out of the NFC in the postseason. (0:50)
Do Packers have an excuse if they fail to reach SB? Stephen A. weighs inStephen A. Smith discusses whether the Packers’ injuries give the team an excuse if they don’t win the Super Bowl.
Stephen A. Smith discusses whether the Packers’ injuries give the team an excuse if they don’t win the Super Bowl.
Is Quinshon Judkins a good fantasy play vs. Bills?Field Yates explains why Quinshon Judkins is outside his top 20 for fantasy running backs in Week 16.
Field Yates explains why Quinshon Judkins is outside his top 20 for fantasy running backs in Week 16.
Stephen A. reacts to Tua Tagovailoa being benched by the DolphinsStephen A. Smith explains why the Dolphins had to bench Tua Tagovailoa.
Why a full offseason could be key for Jaxson Dart’s growthJason McCourty and Jeff Saturday explain how the upcoming offseason will be important for Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart.
Jason McCourty and Jeff Saturday explain how the upcoming offseason will be important for Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart.
Can Trevor Lawrence keep up his hot fantasy play vs. Broncos?Tristan H. Cockcroft explains why Trevor Lawrence is outside the top 10 of his fantasy quarterbacks for Week 16 despite a stellar game vs. the Jets.
Tristan H. Cockcroft explains why Trevor Lawrence is outside the top 10 of his fantasy quarterbacks for Week 16 despite a stellar game vs. the Jets.
play2:08J.J. Watt provides updates on T.J. Watt post-surgeryJ.J. Watt joins “The Pat McAfee Show” and provides updates on his brother T.J. after his surgery.
The Week 16 NFL schedule for the 2025 season should bring some intriguing matchups with playoff hopes and dreams on the line. The Lions want to grab a much-needed win over the Steelers, the Eagles have the chance to keep the Cowboys out of the postseason with a win Saturday, and the Buccaneers and Panthers are fighting for a chance to take a lead in the NFC South.
Let’s get into the Week 16 slate, which culminates with the 49ers playing the Colts on “Monday Night Football” on ESPN. (Game times are Sunday unless otherwise noted.)
Stat to know: After recording only three receiving touchdowns through the first nine games of the season, Eagles receiver A.J. Brown has four over his the past four games. — ESPN Research
What’s at stake: The Eagles can clinch the NFC East with a win or a Cowboys loss. Philadelphia could be the first repeat champion of the NFC East in 20 seasons. See Playoff Machine. — ESPN Research
Fantasy nugget: Eagles QB Jalen Hurts, RB Saquon Barkley, WR DeVonta Smith, TE Dallas Goedert and Brown all belong in lineups. Washington’s defense has given up the fourth-most fantasy points per game to QBs, the sixth most to RBs, the ninth most to WRs and the fifth most to TEs. Hurts has averaged 20.4 fantasy points per game against Washington in his career. View that as his floor, not his ceiling. See Week 16 rankings. — Moody
Betting nugget: The Commanders are 4-1 ATS (against the spread) in the past five meetings (overs: 4-1). Read more. — ESPN Research
Maldonado’s pick: Eagles 21, Commanders 17 Moody’s pick: Eagles 31, Commanders 10 Walder’s pick: Eagles 24, Commanders 17 FPI prediction: PHI, 67.6% (by an average of 6.8 points)
Matchup must-reads: Hurts bounces back as Eagles praise QB’s resolve … Commanders QB Daniels ‘super frustrated’ by 2025 season … Commanders find meaning in win at Giants
Stat to know: Williams needs 689 passing yards to break the Bears’ single-season record (Erik Kramer had 3,838 passing yards in 1995). — ESPN Research
Bold prediction: Packers S Xavier McKinney will record an interception. The Packers safety has a 33% hawk percentage — the rate of targets against him on which he recorded either a pass defensed or an interception — which is third highest among safeties with at least 250 coverage snaps. — Walder
What’s at stake: The winner of this game will clinch a playoff berth if the Lions lose. But neither team can claim the NFC North this week. See Playoff Machine. — ESPN Research
Do Packers have an excuse if they fail to reach SB? Stephen A. weighs in
Fantasy nugget: Packers WR Jayden Reed has produced 108 scrimmage yards off 10 targets since returning from injury two weeks ago. He should remain a key playmaker in the offense, especially with Christian Watson (chest) questionable. Reed faces a Bears defense that has allowed the fourth-most fantasy points per game to WRs. See Week 16 rankings. — Moody
Maldonado’s pick: Bears 20, Packers 10 Moody’s pick: Bears 24, Packers 23 Walder’s pick: Packers 27, Bears 24 FPI prediction: GB, 57.7% (by an average of 3.3 points)
What we’re hearing on the Chargers: QB Justin Herbert has thrown the third-most interceptions in the NFL this season (12) and the second most of his career. This comes a season after Herbert threw the fewest interceptions in the league and of his career (three). But he said the uptick in turnovers won’t change his play style. “Just because I’ve thrown one before doesn’t mean that I’m going to play scared or I can’t throw another one,” Herbert said. — Kris Rhim
Stat to know: Cowboys QB Dak Prescott is 69 passing yards shy of his fourth 4,000-yard season. That would tie Tony Romo for the most in franchise history. — ESPN Research
Bold prediction: Chargers CB Cam Hart will surrender at least 80 yards in coverage. Hart’s coverage numbers are poor this season, as he has allowed 1.6 yards per coverage snap, fourth most among outside corners with at least 200 coverage snaps. Against Cowboys WRs CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens, he could struggle. — Walder
What’s at stake: The Chargers can clinch a playoff berth with a win and a loss by either the Texans or Colts. They would be eliminated from AFC West title contention with a loss and a Broncos win. The Cowboys are eliminated from playoff contention with a loss or an Eagles win. See Playoff Machine. — ESPN Research
Fantasy nugget: Herbert hasn’t scored 20 or more fantasy points since Week 8. However, this matchup sets up as a clear bounce-back opportunity. Dallas’ defense has allowed the most fantasy points per game to QBs and to WRs. The Vikings’ J.J. McCarthy finished with a season-high 23.5 points against them last week. Herbert and WR Ladd McConkey could thrive. See Week 16 rankings. — Moody
Betting nugget: Overs are 9-2 in the Cowboys’ past 11 games, including three straight overs. Read more. — ESPN Research
Maldonado’s pick: Chargers 24, Cowboys 21 Moody’s pick: Chargers 23, Cowboys 20 Walder’s pick: Cowboys 24, Chargers 20 FPI prediction: LAC, 51.4% (by an average of 0.5 points)
Matchup must-reads: Chargers’ surging defense looks capable of carrying team … What is going on with Diggs and the Cowboys?
What we’re hearing on the Bills: QB Josh Allen, the reigning MVP, has firmly planted himself back in the awards conversation, but his focus is elsewhere. “I’m just trying to do my job, just trying to find a way to get in the playoffs here,” Allen said. The 29-year-old has a chance to make history Sunday. With just one more touchdown, Allen will become the youngest and fastest NFL player to reach 300 scores. — Alaina Getzenberg
Stat to know: Allen has had three passing touchdowns and no interceptions in each of his past two games. No Bills quarterback has ever had three straight games with three passing touchdowns. — ESPN Research
Bold prediction: Garrett won’t record a sack against Allen. I think Garrett will have to wait another week to break the record. Bills left tackle Dion Dawkins currently ranks second in pass block win rate at 95.3%. — Walder
What’s at stake: The Bills can clinch a playoff berth this week with a win and either a Texans or Colts loss. See Playoff Machine. — ESPN Research
Maldonado’s pick: Bills 34, Browns 10 Moody’s pick: Bills 24, Browns 13 Walder’s pick: Bills 31, Browns 10 FPI prediction: BUF, 80.4% (by an average of 12.8 points)
Matchup must-reads: Bills’ special teams playing key role in pursuit for playoffs … Optimistic QB Sanders believes nowhere to go but up for Browns … Tracking Garrett’s quest to break the single-season sack record
Stat to know: The Titans are 4-2 versus the Chiefs since Andy Reid became coach in 2013. Tennessee is one of four teams with a winning regular record versus Kansas City under Reid. — ESPN Research
Bold prediction: Chiefs DT Chris Jones will record multiple sacks. Since Week 12, Jones has led all players in pass rush win rate regardless of alignment. His 31% PRWR in that span was well ahead of the next-best player (Micah Parsons at 26%). — Walder
What’s at stake: Both teams are eliminated from playoff contention. The Titans have a 19.1% chance at the No. 1 pick in April’s draft, per ESPN Analytics. See Playoff Machine. — ESPN Research
Betting nugget: The Titans are 8-17 ATS as underdogs since the start of last season. Read more. — ESPN Research
Maldonado’s pick: Chiefs 20, Titans 16 Moody’s pick: Titans 17, Chiefs 14 Walder’s pick: Chiefs 20, Titans 17 FPI prediction: KC, 68.5% (by an average of 6.9 points)