Week 16 NFL panel picks: Steelers, Packers both popular plays

Throughout the 2021 season, a panel of Sportsnet’s NFL contributors will preview each week’s slate of games from a gambling perspective. Staff writer/host Donnovan Bennett, staff writers Emily Sadler and Mike Johnston, plus fantasy writers Andy McNamara and Matt Marchese will pick one FAVOURITE, one UNDERDOG, one OVER, one UNDER, including their personal LOCK, as they attempt to beat the odds

The Buccaneers didn’t score a single point? Lions beat the Cardinals and it wasn’t really that competitive? Sure, the 2021 NFL season has been a bizarre one, but Week 15 really took the cake in terms of unpredictable results.

Unders went 10-6 last week and Week 16 features a slate with mostly low totals. Only three games have totals of 46 or more points and none were listed higher than the 49.5 in Rams-Vikings as of Wednesday evening.

The Sportsnet.ca panel is coming off five consecutive winning weeks as a collective unit. Below are the Week 16 picks.

Donnovan Bennett, staff writer/host
2021 record: 35-25-0
Last week: 2-2-0
Locks: 9-6-0

🏈 Ravens at Bengals OVER 44.5
🏈 Washington at Cowboys UNDER 47.5
🏈 Jaguars (+2.5) at Jets
🔒 Packers (-7) vs. Browns

The Jets are missing 15 people due to health and safety protocols, including head coach Robert Saleh. The Jaguars are bad, but they aren’t that bad.

Emily Sadler, staff writer
2021 record: 32-27-1
Last week: 2-2-0
Locks: 7-8-0

🏈 Raiders (-1) vs. Broncos
🏈 Steelers (+8.5) at Chiefs
🏈 Colts at Cardinals OVER 49.5
🔒 Bills at Patriots UNDER 43.5

Defence wins championships. In the case of this Bills-Patriots rematch, it also wins the AFC East.

Mike Johnston, staff writer
2021 record: 28-32-0
Last week: 2-2-0
Locks: 8-7-0

🏈 Lions at Falcons OVER 43
🏈 Buccaneers at Panthers UNDER 44
🏈 49ers (-3.5) at Titans
🔒 Colts (+1) at Cardinals

I don’t know much, but for some reason I know this Colts team. I’ve bet on them nine times ATS this season and I’m 8-1 on those picks. Am I nervous that 60 per cent of the public also likes the Colts this week? Yes. Am I dipping into this well too often? Probably. But, if the Lions were able to run on Arizona without D’Andre Swift last week, just imagine what the Colts should be able to do on the ground with Jonathan Taylor following that o-line? Arizona is not a good home team and Kliff Kingsbury is liable to get outcoached any given week. Locking in Indy once again as the team seems to be in decent shape COVID/injury-wise (although as I typed that I realized the jinx is now confirmed).

Wishing everyone a merry Christmas and happy holidays.
Yours truly,
The Colts Whisperer

Andy McNamara, analyst/fantasy sports writer
2021 record: 37-23-0
Last week: 2-2-0
Locks: 7-8-0

🏈 Chargers at Texans OVER 45.5
🏈 Bills at Patriots UNDER 43.5
🏈 Buccaneers (-10.5) at Panthers
🔒 Steelers (+8.5) at Chiefs

The Chiefs will likely be without superstar playmakers Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce when they square off against Pittsburgh Sunday afternoon. The NFL could move this game of course, and it’s important for sports bettors to track all league news often. Undermanned Kansas City plus Pittburgh’s good-enough offence should keep this one closer than normal. Chiefs win, but Pittsburgh covers. LOCK it in!

Matt Marchese, radio host/producer/fantasy football writer
2021 record: 26-34-0
Last week: 3-1-0
Locks: 7-8-0

🏈 49ers at Titans OVER 44.5
🏈 Jaguars at Jets UNDER: 41.5
🏈 Steelers (+8.5) at Chiefs
🔒 Packers (-7) vs. Browns

The Packers are rolling, they’re in the driver seat for the top spot in the NFC and they get a Browns team plagued by question marks. Aaron Rodgers is playing at an MVP level again and has something to prove. All that plus Green Bay is 3-0 against the spread versus Cleveland in their last three matchups.

BONUS STAT: It’s weird for me to pick the Steelers here, but it’s a weird year, so sue me. The Steelers are 3-1 in their last four ATS versus the Chiefs and there’s still a chance that we don’t see Tyreek Hill or Travis Kelce.

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