NFL Week 16: 11 bold predictions

NFL Week 16 is upon us. Some great games and others that will play a large role in determining draft position.

There are games with a lot on the line in Week 16. And then there are the trio of games that will play a large role in determining who drafts when in 2020.

Bengals-Dolphins will be unwatchable, I

Philip G. Pavely-USA TODAY Sports

This game will hold the interest of Draftniks and not many other people. All Cincinnati has to do to assure itself of the No. 1 overall pick is lose to Miami. Talk about high stakes and intensity for a clincher. If Zach Taylor wants to be sure of getting the top pick, he should go back to Ryan Finley over Andy Dalton.

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Texans 100: Facts and Figures for Buccaneers: No. 1-25

The Houston Texans and Tampa Bay Buccaneers face off for a Week 16 Saturday tilt. Find out a few series facts and stats about QB Deshaun Watson.

The Houston Texans and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers meet for a Saturday afternoon showdown at Raymond James Stadium to kickoff NFL Network’s triple-header coverage. We start off our 100 facts with a look at the series history and then move on to quarterback Deshaun Watson.

series facts

throwback-thursday-texans-buccaneers-2011-lose-schaub — (Photo by J. Meric/Getty Images)

1. The Texans are 9-5 for the first time in franchise history. A win will be the third time in club history they are 10-5, though a loss will be the second time in club history they are 9-6.

2. Since 1990, when playoff formats were last reformatted, teams that started 82/85 teams that were 10-5 made the playoffs with 52/82 of those teams having won the division.

3. Since 1990, when playoff formats were last tinkered with, 70/107 teams that started 9-6 made the playoffs with 21 of them having won the division.

4. The Buccaneers are 7-7 for the fourth time in team history. All of those teams finished 7-9.

5. The previous 7-7 teams in Bucs history produced 12th, 15th, and 15th overall picks the following year.

6. The Texans are 3-1 against the Buccaneers with a 1-1 record on the road.

7. The Texans’ 1-1 record against the Buccaneers on the road is tied for their best against an NFC South opponent on the road:

Buccaneers: 1-1

Panthers: 1-1

Falcons: 0-2

Saints: 0-3

8. The Texans are 5-4 in Saturday games, including playoffs, with a 2-1 record in December.

9. The Buccaneers are 6-17 in Saturday games, including playoffs, with a 3-11 record in December.

10. The Texans are 34-45 in December with a 15-28 record on the road.

11. The Buccaneers are 66-108 in December, including playoffs, with a 43-49 record at home.

12. The Texans are 31-56 in the Eastern Time Zone with a 24-44 record in the early afternoon time slot.

13. The Buccaneers are 185-280-1 in the early afternoon time slot with a 111-122-1 record at home.

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Texans defense has to be mindful of Buccaneers receiver Breshad Perriman

The Houston Texans defense has to keep their eye on Tampa Bay Buccaneers receiver Breshad Perriman.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers receiver Breshad Perriman has had a resurgence with the NFC South club.

In Perriman’s first season, he has produced 24 catches for 409 yards and five touchdowns. In last week’s 38-17 win over the Detroit Lions, Perriman caught five catches for 115 yards and three touchdowns.

A former 2015 Baltimore Ravens first-round pick from Central Florida, Houston Texans defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel knows they can’t discount Perriman’s talent, even if he is on his fourth NFL team in three seasons.

“Perriman, he shows up on the tape,” Crennel told reporters. “As you’re looking at the tape, he’s got good size, got good downfield speed and they throw him the ball as well.”

Perriman will have to play a larger role now that receiver Mike Evans is on injured reserve and wideout Chris Godwin is out for Saturday’s game with the Texans.

“They had a good stable of receivers and I think probably his role will become more prominent without those guys around and so he’ll be the go-to guy and then we’re going to have to try to get something done about him.”

The Texans have a bevy of cornerbacks who should be able to stop Perriman in Johnathan Joseph, Bradley Roby, Gareon Conley, and former Buccaneer Vernon Hargreaves. Whoever is tasked with guarding Perriman, they will have to play sound, fundamental technique to shut down virtually the only option quarterback Jameis Winston has left with two weeks remaining in the regular season.

Ravens vs. Browns: ATS pick, props and betting preview for Week 16

The Baltimore Ravens take on the Cleveland Browns in Week 16 of the 2019 NFL season. Here is our betting preview for the game.

The Baltimore Ravens are on the road this week for a Week 16 meeting with the Cleveland Browns. The purple and black will be looking for some revenge as the Browns were the last team the Ravens lost to this season.

It was without a doubt the worst showing of the season for Baltimore. They entered the game as a seven-point favorite, but the Browns came into M&T Bank Stadium and looked like a team that could be a playoff hopeful. Baker Mayfield, Nick Chubb and Jarvis Landry all had terrific games, while the Ravens turned the ball over three times. With a loss to the Kansas City Chiefs the week prior, the Browns and Ravens each had a 2-2 record and it looked like the fight was on to decide the winner of the AFC North.

Fast forward 12 weeks later and the Ravens have not lost since. They have the MVP frontrunner, the NFL’s top rushing attack and sending a league-high 12 players to the Pro Bowl.

The Browns? They did not live up to the preseason hype and they’ll be home watching the playoffs. Just do not expect them to lay down in this one

The Ravens enter this meeting at FirstEnergy Stadium as a 10-point favorite and are 8-6 ATS this year after walloping the New York Jets last week. Should we back Baltimore again? Continue on for the best bets of Week 16.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

Browns +10

The Ravens have been nearly unstoppable since the start of this 12-game winning streak. They had the benefit of a mini bye with their last game being on Thursday. Cleveland is coming off a loss to the Arizona Cardinals. So why the Browns this week?

There has been a ton of talk coming out of Cleveland this week and most of it is not good. Landry and Freddie Kitchens got into it on the sidelines last week. Browns players are now asking their opponents to sign them in the offseason. Kareem Hunt was blunt when he said, “everybody didn’t leave their 110 percent out there.” Kitchens made headlines with his, “I don’t care about my future” quote. No one knows if Odell Beckham wants to be with them next season. Things look to be unraveling for a team many felt could compete for a Super Bowl.

The drama surrounding the team is drawing headlines, but the reality is the Browns have won four of their last six games and four in a row at home. A lot has changed since their last meeting, but Cleveland will rally the troops to give Baltimore all they can handle. They will not make the playoffs, but they would absolutely love to beat the Ravens twice this year. They won’t, but keep this game close and cover the spread. Kitchens’ job security could be in question otherwise.

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Ravens vs. Browns injury report: DT Brandon Williams given day off Thursday

The Baltimore Ravens saw the addition to defensive tackle Brandon Williams to the injury report against the Browns, but not with an injury.

The Baltimore Ravens have continued their run of good luck this week with injuries. After seeing no players actually miss Wednesday’s practice with an injury, Thursday was the same.

Defensive tackle Brandon Williams was added to the injury report but was listed with a non-injury related designation. Like the four players on Wednesday, Williams is typically given a day off each week to help keep him fresh this late in the season.

Take a look at the latest injury report for the Ravens and Browns in Week 16.

Baltimore Ravens injuries:

Player	Position	Injury	Wed	Thur	Fri	Game status
Mark Ingram	RB	NIR	DNP	FP
Jimmy Smith	CB	NIR	DNP	FP
Earl Thomas	S	NIR	DNP	FP
Marshal Yanda	G	NIR	DNP	FP
Chris Board	LB	Concussion	FP	FP
Ronnie Stanley	T	Concussion	FP	FP
Brandon Williams	DT	NIR	–	DNP

Cleveland Browns injuries:

Player	Position	Injury	Wed	Thur	Fri	Game status
Kendall Lamm	T	Knee	DNP	LP
Sheldon Richardson	DT	Back	DNP	DNP
JC Tretter	C	Knee	DNP	DNP
Odell Beckham Jr.	WR	Groin	LP	LP
Tae Davis	LB	Knee	LP	LP
Dontrell Hilliard	RB	Neck	LP	LP
Chris Hubbard	T	Knee	LP	LP
Jarvis Landry	WR	Hip	LP	LP
Eric Murray	S	Knee	LP	LP
Olivier Vernon	DE	Knee	LP	LP
Denzel Ward	CB	Ankle	LP	LP
Porter Gustin	DE	Neck	FP	FP

Key:

DNP – Did not participate
LP – Limited participation (anything below 100%)
FP – Full participation
NIR – Non-injury related

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Texans-Buccaneers final injury report: ILB Benardrick McKinney out

The Houston Texans released their last injury report for Week 16 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and inside linebacker Benardrick McKinney is out.

The Houston Texans released their final injury report ahead of their Week 16 encounter with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Saturday at noon CT at Raymond James Stadium.

Inside linebacker Benardrick McKinney and outside linebacker Jacob Martin were ruled out for the game, and did not participate in practice for the third day in a row.

Did not participate

ILB	Benardrick McKinney	Concussion	OUT
OLB	Jacob Martin	Knee	OUT

The Texans’ players that were listed as limited participants in Friday’s practice subsequently got the questionable designation..

Limited participation

WR	Will Fuller	Hamstring	QUESTIONABLE
RB	Carlos Hyde	Ankle	QUESTIONABLE
RB	Taiwan Jones	Hamstring	QUESTIONABLE
OLB	Brennan Scarlett	Achilles/shoulder	QUESTIONABLE
S	Jahleel Addae	Achilles	QUESTIONABLE

Full participation

Houston had some positive news with receiver DeAndre Hopkins and tight end Darren Fells listed as full participants, and both did not receive any designations for Saturday, which is as “probable” as it gets on a post-probable injury report.

WR	DeAndre Hopkins	Illness
TE	Darren Fells	Hand

For the Buccaneers, NT Beau Allen (ankle), WR Chris Godwin (hamstring), and TE Tanner Hudson (concussion) were limited participants and declared out for Saturday’s game.

CB Carlton Davis (ankle), OT Donovan Smith (ankle/knee), C Ryan Jensen (elbow), and QB Jameis Winston (right thumb/knee) were all listed as questionable.

For more information on Tampa Bay’s injuries, visit the Bucs Wire.

Texans’ Zach Cunningham is the inside linebacker that can do it all

Houston Texans defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel likes what he has seen from inside linebacker Zach Cunningham in his third NFL season.

Inside linebacker Zach Cunningham doesn’t just lead the Houston Texans with 128 tackles, but he is the top tackler in the AFC.

The third-year defender from Vanderbilt has grown since the Texans selected him in the second round of the 2017 NFL draft. With two games left in the regular season, defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel can properly evaluate that growth.

“He has really good ability, he has instincts, he has a knack for knowing when to go behind the block, when to go over top of the block and when to take on the block,” Crennel told reporters Wednesday. “He can do all of those very well and has been doing it very well, and that gets him to the football.”

With the way some 3-4 inside linebackers play, they are forced to take on a blocker and free up others to make plays, kind of like an extension of the interior line play. However, according to Crennel, Cunningham can do it all.

“Zach has the ability to do it all,” said Crennel. “Then, what that does is that causes the lineman who’s blocking him some indecision. ‘Is this guy going to go behind me, is he going to go over the top or is he going to hit me in the earhole?’

“You don’t know which one you’re going to get, but Zach has that instinct to make the right move.”

In addition to his 128 tackles, Cunningham has collected 2.0 sacks, seven tackles for loss, three quarterback hits, two fumble recoveries, and a pass breakup in his 14 starts.

On Tuesday evening, Cunningham was named a Pro Bowl alternate. Certainly Cunningham, along with the rest of the Texans, are hoping to use Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020 as a prep day for Super Bowl LIV in Miami Gardens, Fla., rather than play in the NFL’s all-star game.

Throwback Thursday: Texans beat Bucs in 2011, but lose Matt Schaub

The last time the Houston Texans faced the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on the road, they lost their starting quarterback.

Being in different conferences, the Houston Texans and Tampa Bay Buccaneers rarely get a chance to play. The last time they did so was in 2015, and the Texans vanquished the Bucs and rookie quarterback Jameis Winston 19-9 for Houston’s first win of the season in Week 3.

The Texans have not traveled to Tampa to face the Buccaneers since 2011. On that Nov. 13 for Week 10, Houston picked up their seventh win of the season as part of a 10-6 campaign that delivered the Texans their first AFC South crown and postseason berth.

In a blacked-out bout in the Bay, the Texans beat the Buccaneers handily, winning 37-9 in a game that was never in doubt.

Houston scored on long drives, with Arian Foster, Ben Tate and Derrick Ward each scoring rushing touchdowns. The Texans’ first three scoring drives spanned 80, 80 and 90 yards.

The Texans’ then-No. 1 ranked defense looked the part. In turn, promising young quarterback Josh Freeman did not. He threw three interceptions, recording a measly 33.7 passer rating in the process. A rushing attack led by LaGarrette Blount could not get anything going.

By all means, the Texans dominated the Bucs. They won the battles of first downs (21 to 12), total yards (420 to 231), turnovers (four to zero) and time of possession (35:06 to 24:54).

However, they lost.

In the win, the Texans witnessed the collapse of a promising season. Their quarterback, Matt Schaub, suffered a Lisfranc injury when the massive Albert Haynesworth landed on his foot, breaking it in the process.

Schaub’s season was done. Matt Leinart replaced him. The Texans sunk into oblivion. Haynesworth, meanwhile, failed to show remorse.

“You know me, I love to hit Schaub,” Haynesworth said, via The Tennessean.

Schaub had one good season after the injury. However, that 2011 season that showed a hint of promise for a Super Bowl ended in Tampa Bay.

On Saturday, the Texans are looking to prop-up this year’s Super Bowl run. Again, it will run through Tampa Bay. Luckily, Haynesworth does not reside on the opposite sideline.

Texans LT Laremy Tunsil accomplishes childhood goal with Pro Bowl selection

Houston Texans left tackle Laremy Tunsil accomplished a goal from his childhood when he made the 2020 NFL Pro Bowl on Tuesday evening.

Laremy Tunsil can take out a Sharpie, fly to Lake City, Fla. and cross out a life-long goal on a list that remains pasted on the wall of his parents’ house.

The Houston Texans left tackle earned his first Pro Bowl nod on Tuesday. In doing so, he accomplished one of the goals he had as a child,

“It’s been a goal since I was a kid, man, to be in the Pro Bowl, and I achieved it,” Tunsil said on Wednesday. “There’s always more goals to be achieved, and I want to be in as many Pro Bowls as I can, so I’ve got to keep putting the hard work in and keep going.”

In middle school — specifically seventh grade — Tunsil wrote down a list of goals that he wanted to accomplish in his football career, which included making the Pro Bowl, being drafted and earning a scholarship to play.

“I wrote down all my goals and I put on a sheet of paper and I glued it on my wall back in my hometown,” Tunsil said. “It’s still there. I should take a picture of it.”

It didn’t take long for Tunsil to accomplish many of his goals. A left tackle protigé coming into his Ole Miss career, the 25-year-old transitioned smoothly to the NFL

Following a season of playing left guard for the Miami Dolphins, Tunsil moved full-time to left tackle in 2017, where flourished. For two seasons, he gave South Beach consistent play at the position. The Texans noticed by deciding to mortgage their future in a trade to acquire him.

In Houston, Tunsil is now recognized as one of the NFL’s best with the Pro Bowl honor. Now, he’s making sure this isn’t the last time he accomplishes a long-standing goal.

“I want to be able to go to as many Pro Bowls as I can,” Tunsil concluded, “so I can’t be just stuck on this one.”

Texans win and they’re in: NFL playoffs scenarios for Week 16

The Houston Texans are in the playoffs if they beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. See the other NFL playoffs scenarios for Week 16.

In the penultimate week of the regular season, there are playoff scenarios aplenty. The fun part for the Houston Texans is that they are a part of the conversion as opposed to being apart from it.

houston texans

texans-get-run-game-going-again — Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

The Texans are in the playoffs by virtue of winning the AFC South if they beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Saturday at 12:00 p.m. CT at Raymond James Stadium.

Another scenario has the Texans winning the division if they tie with the Buccaneers and the Tennessee Titans tie with the New Orleans Saints on Sunday at Nissan Stadium.

Another scenario has the Texans winning the division if they lose and the Titans also lose.

The Texans can get a playoff berth, but not necessarily win the division, if they tie and the Steelers tie, or if the Steelers just flat out lose.

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