The NFL Roundup - Week 16

Written by John Edward Betancourt​

(Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)

Two weeks. That's all that remains in the NFL regular season and that means this weekend's slate of games are going to be outright incredible, filled with captivating stories and stunning play as teams make their final push to either secure a spot in the playoffs, or finish the season with pride. So without further ado, let's take a look at the stories that are looming large over Week 16 in the NFL. 

Can the Miami Dolphins continue their playoff push?
Miami has been quite the pleasant surprise this season, coming together as a team after a rocky start, winning games when it matters most and it has them in prime position to make the playoffs. They simply have to keep winning and well, I don't see that being a problem for them considering the fact that they're playing the Buffalo Bills this weekend. Sure, there's some talent on the Bills, but they're a team without direction or focus right now and that will only be compounded by the talk that Rex Ryan is on his way out as Head Coach. So as long as the Dolphins play their game, there is a good chance they will walk away from this game as the victor and in fine control of their playoff destiny.

Can the Denver Broncos come together as a team and win?
Whether they want to admit it or not, the Denver Broncos are a team divided, with a defense that knows they are elite and that they have to carry the weight for a listless and downtrodden offense. It's already led to one big argument in the locker room and unfortunately this divide has come at exactly the wrong time, mere days before they face off against the mighty Chiefs in Kansas City, which begs the question...can this team finally find unity in order to win another important game? Honestly...I simply don't know. The offensive line is a disaster, and it's not getting any better and unless some sort of incredible inspiration strikes this team out of the blue to allow for that line to finally give Siemian and the tailback-of-the-week a chance to score, then it's going to be business as usual in this game and a decisive victory for the Chiefs.

Will Tom Savage lead the Texans to victory once again?
Coach Bill O'Brien made one gutsy call last Sunday by benching Brock Osweiler in favor of Tom Savage and it's one that paid off in spades. While Savage didn't exactly go all Peyton Manning during his time on the field and drop touchdowns left and right...he didn't turn over the ball, he managed the game nicely and walked away with the win and the nod to start against Cincinnati this weekend, which begs the question...can he lead them to victory once again? Absolutely. All he has to do is repeat that stellar  performance and not turn over the ball and he will do just fine against a depleted Bengals defense, and as an added bonus...if he wins this game, you know darn well that the Texans will keep him at the helm for the rest of the season...and likely the playoffs.

Can the Steelers win the AFC North?
Sunday features a huge game between two bitter AFC North rivals when the Baltimore Ravens head to Heinz Field to take on the Pittsburgh Steelers and for Pittsburgh, this game is for all the AFC North marbles. A win and they're into the playoffs and they secure the division. However, a win won't come easy, because Baltimore is still in the hunt for a Wild Card spot and a win here, and a win over Cincinnati next week would net them the North and a home game come Wild Card Weekend. So you know this one is going to be an absolute Battle Royale through and through. But when all is said and done, I think Pittsburgh will indeed claim the AFC North once again simply because they have been in tough games like this before, heck just look at last week, and there are vulnerabilities when it comes to  Baltimore that  they can exploit to their advantage...

Will the Detroit Lions rebound against the toughest team in the NFC?
Monday night features one incredible matchup between the Lions and Cowboys and this may well turn out to be the game of the week simply because there's so much on the line for both teams going into this one. Detroit needs to rebound from an ugly loss so they can work toward locking up the NFC North and Dallas...well they want home field advantage throughout the playoffs. But...can Detroit bring down this juggernaut of a team? It is possible, if they study what the Giants did closely. But truth be told, as much fun as the Lions are to watch this year, they're no match for the Dallas offense and I fully expect the Cowboys to roll over the Lions on their way to the playoffs.

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