NFL Week 16 continues with three games for Christmas: Buccaneers and Dolphins continue their fight for the playoffs while Packers look to stay alive
Los Dolphins they must win at home against the inconsistent Packers so as not to lose distance in the fight for the wild cards in the AFC. Panthers y Saints with their Saturday victories they press on the NFC On and the Buccaneers they have no margin for error against the Cardinals.
These are days to share, and what better than with a weekend of NFL which continues in the middle of Christmas.
“Football Power Index” de ESPN: Dolphins 60 percent (by 3.0) | Caesars Sportsbook: Miami-4.5; high/low 46.5
Packers: They face week 16 with a 12% chance of reaching the playoffs according to ESPN Analytics; odds are projected to rise to 26% with a win and drop to 1.5% with a loss on Sunday (regardless of other results).
Packers: Eliminated from playoff contention with a loss and a Commanders win.
Packers: First trip to Miami since 2014; Aaron Rodgers he threw a game-winning TD in the final 10 seconds.
Rodgers (GB): 4-5 record, 13 TDs and 12 INTs in 9 games in Florida (1-0 with 3 TDs and 0 INTs in the only game of his career in Miami).
Aaron Rodgers (GB): 10 INT this season is the third most in his career (13 in 2008, 11 in 2010); he has shot 8 of 10 on the road.
Dolphins: they face Week 16 with a 75% chance of reaching the playoffs; the projected chances increase to 82% with a win and drop to 64% with a loss.
Dolphins: Lost 3 straight games for the second time this season (Weeks 4-6 with Tua Tagovailoa injured); the Dolphins’ longest losing streak under Tagovailoa is 4 straight last season.
Dolphins: 5-1 with 15.3 PPP allowed at home, second fewest PPP allowed at home this season (3-5 with 31.5 PPP allowed away, worst in the NFL); this will be the first home game for the Dolphins since November 27.
Tua Tagovailoa (MIA): Has completed an NFL-worst 49.5% of his passes in the last 3 weeks (had 2nd highest completion percentage through Week 12: 69.7%).
Tua Tagovailoa (MIA): Won 9 straight home starts, the longest active streak in the NFL and the longest since Aaron Rodgers won 15 from 2020-22; he has 7 TDs and 0 INT in 5 home starts this season.
“Football Power Index” de ESPN: Rams 53 percent (by 0.8) | Caesars Sportsbook: Denver -2; high/low 36.5
Both teams have been eliminated from playoff contention and neither has a first-round pick in 2023 (the Broncos traded the pick with the Seahawks as part of the deal for Russell Wilson; the Rams traded the pick with the Lions as part of the deal for Matthew Stafford)
Broncos: Have scored 20 points in consecutive games for the first time this season; 28 points in Week 14 and 24 points in Week 15. These are his 2 highest scoring totals of the season.
Russell Wilson: Did not play last week against Cardinals (concussion); Wilson is currently on a 5 game personal losing streak (the longest of his career). Russell Wilson (DEN): 8-13 in his career against the Rams (including playoffs), his most losses against any opponent.
Rams: 4-10 this season, tied for the most losses by a defending Super Bowl champion (1999 Broncos – 6-10)
Rams: Won 4 straight against Broncos; the Broncos’ last win against LA was in Week 1 of 2002 (QBs were Brian Griese and Kurt Warner).
Baker Mayfield (LAR): He is expected to get his first home start for the Rams and this will be his second straight year playing on Christmas Day (lost to Packers in 2021).
“Football Power Index” de ESPN: Buccaneers 72 percent (by 6.9) | Caesars Sportsbook: Tampa Bay -6.5; high/low 41.0
Buccaneers: Lead the NFC South at 6-8; 3rd team since merger to lead division through Week 15 with multiple games under .500 (2014 Saints, 2020 Washington).
Buccaneers: 76% chance to win the NFC South according to ESPN Analytics (will improve to 82% if they win on Sunday and drop to 61% if they lose).
Tom Brady (TB): Looking to avoid second 3-game losing streak this season (Weeks 6-8); prior to this season, he had not lost in 3 straight starts since 2002 (by far the longest streak for a QB since 1950).
Tom Brady (TB): 1st game at State Farm Stadium since Super Bowl XLIX, when he led the Patriots 24-14, down, to beat the Seahawks 28-24; this will be his first non-Super Bowl appearance at the stadium (he also lost to the Giants in Super Bowl XLII).
Cardinals: Lost 4 games in a row (second longest losing streak under Kliff Kingsbury – 6 in a row in 2019; looking to go 11 games on season for first time since 2018 (went 3-13).
Colt McCoy (ARI): Left Sunday’s game with concussion; Trace McSorley he’ll get his first career start if McCoy is out (the Cardinals haven’t started the season with 3 different QBs since 2017: Carson Palmer, Blaine Gabbert, Drew Stanton).
