The NFL Roundup 2018: Week 16

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Well, here we are my fellow football fanatics, the home stretch of the 2018 regular season. For in a couple of weeks, the playoffs and the fight for the Lombardi Trophy gets underway. But before that moment arrives, there are still a large slate of games to enjoy, and playoffs spots to be clenched and incredible storylines to be resolved. So, on that note, let’s get right to it today and highlight the top stories from the field and the most fascinating games to keep an eye upon in Week 16 in the NFL.
 
Can the Patriots win without Josh Gordon in the lineup?
Yesterday we learned that Patriots receiver Josh Gordon is stepping away from the game to work on his mental health and substance abuse issues and I certainly wish him the best when it comes to his recovery But his exit does present quite the conundrum for New England for Mister Gordon was brought in to help bolster an already thin wide receiving corps and without his contributions on the field, one has to wonder if the Pats can win without him and I think the short answer to that question is yes. Because the Pats host the Bills and the Jets at home respectively, so I’ll be shocked if they falter there. But, when the playoffs arrive, it’s a whole different story and losing a quality wide receiver such as Josh, and not having the foresight to add depth at this position may cost New England dearly in the postseason.
 
Will the Rams be able to get back on track after another tough loss?
They say in the NFL that winning fixes everything and there’s a lot of truth to that statement. But what we also often forget in this league is that losing engenders losing and mistakes made hang heavy over talented teams and their players and right now the Rams are in a tough place. After all, they’ve dropped two in a row, their star QB looks pedestrian at the moment and while they should beat the Cardinals this week since Arizona is an awful team, there is a chance they can lose this game as well if they let negativity and mistakes get the better of them. So, the answer to this question, is yes, provided the Rams slow things down a bit and work on execution and the next play and if they can do that, and get into a rhythm, they’ll be fine, but if not…expect more trouble for this talented team.
 
Will San Francisco play the spoiler again?
Say what you will about the San Francisco 49ers and their rough last couple of years, because in the here and the now, this team is starting to find its groove on both offense and defense that’s spelled trouble for teams that have faced them in the past few weeks since these guys have played the spoiler on several occasions now. And that little tidbit matters because this week, they face off against another quality team in the Chicago Bears and I am left wondering as to whether or not they will find a way to spoil Chicago’s magnificent season with an embarrassing loss as well and it is quite possible. Because if the Bears take the Niners for granted and don’t play them with intensity or heart, they’ll shock Chicago and walk away with a win. So, don’t be surprised if an upset occurs, because right now, San Francisco wants to end its season on the highest note possible. 

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The Most Fascinating Games to Watch This Weekend 

Pittsburgh Steelers (8-5-1) at New Orleans Saints (12-2)
Mercedes-Benz Superdome – New Orleans, LA
Sunday, December 23rd – 4:25 p.m. EST - CBS

This is a matchup that has my attention simply due to the fact that it might be one intense game. After all, the Steelers are riding high after defeating the New England Patriots last week and the Saints are a damn fine team that know exactly what’s at stake going forward, a shot at home field advantage. Which means this game has the makings of a shootout since it features two quarterbacks who love to sling the ball, but really, this game will come down to defense. For both of these teams also feature squads that play it loose on that side of the ball at times, which has cost them dearly this season. So whichever D decides to turn it on and make life hell for the QB they’re facing is likely the one to win this game and, in all honesty, I think the Saints walk away the winner in this one since I’m sure they would love to be at home during the playoffs. 

Houston Texans (10-4) at Philadelphia Eagles (7-7)
Lincoln Financial Field – Philadelphia, PA
Sunday, December 23rd – 1:00 p.m. EST – CBS 

It’s all about the potential for a good game when it comes to this matchup and this one has the makings of a back and forth classic for so many reasons. For starters, you know the Texans would like to solidify their playoff standing since a bye week is always welcome this time of year and the Eagles, well they are flying high after their surprise victory over the Rams last week and they would like to keep their playoff hopes alive at this point. Which means both of these teams are going to bring their A-game to the field come Sunday and that means this could either be a shootout, or a defensive struggle depending on how things go and when all is said and done, I honestly expect Houston to walk away the winner in this one, simply due to the fact that they are playing better football than Philly right now. 

Kansas City Chiefs (11-3) at Seattle Seahawks (8-6)
CenturyLink Field – Seattle, WA
Sunday Night Football – 8:20 p.m. EST – NBC

​This game is fascinating to me simply due to the fact that both of these teams are in a sour place since both of these teams lost to division rivals last week, which means they’re heading into this one hoping to punish their opponent and get their season back on track and well, this one is actually quite the toss-up. Because both of these teams are beatable, since they feature solid but not strong defenses and a pair of gunslinger quarterbacks. So, this one may quite literally come down to the old adage of ‘who wants it more’ since both of these teams have folded in the final seconds of the game or seen victories slip away due to a lapse in effort and while I haven’t a clue who is going to win in this one, I am expecting for this game to be an outright blast for fans to watch.