5 bold predictions for Ravens vs. Browns in Week 16

It’s the most important game of the season for the Baltimore Ravens. In Week 16 against the Cleveland Browns, the Ravens can clinch the No. 1 seed, which will come with a first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. As a rematch …

As a rematch of Week 4 — the last loss Baltimore had this season — it’s not going to be an automatic win. But the writers here at Ravens Wire believes Baltimore will still do plenty of big and bold things this week.

Take a look at our bold predictions for Week 16 when the Ravens take on the Browns.

Matthew Stevens:

The Ravens lose

This is all about bold predictions and what’s more bold for a team that has destroyed quality opponents than losing to a 6-8 team? But there’s a real reason to be concerned about this week, even if losing is considered shocking to some.

As we saw in Week 4, Cleveland has the defensive talent to limit Baltimore’s offense a little bit. And if the Browns can get out of their own way, their offense could arguably be one of the best in the league with deep talent at all the skill positions. They have all the right parts to deal the Ravens their first loss in 11 weeks but it’ll take Cleveland playing angry, physical and efficient football for all 60 minutes — something they haven’t done very often this season.

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Texans OC Tim Kelly thinks Deshaun Watson, DeAndre Hopkins perform on every stage

Houston Texans QB Deshaun Watson and WR DeAndre Hopkins are always performing at a high level, regardless of how many eyeballs are watching.

Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson and receiver DeAndre Hopkins have been stellar in all four of the team’s nationally televised games this season, posting a 3-1 record.

Watson has collected passer ratings of 114.3, 120.4, 104.6, and 140.7 in bouts with the New Orleans Saints in Week 1 on Monday Night Football, the Jacksonville Jaguars in London in Week 9, the Indianapolis Colts in Week 12 on Thursday Night Football, and the New England Patriots on Sunday Night Football in Week 13.

Week 16’s Saturday encounter with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is part of a nationally televised triple-header on NFL Network, which can only mean the tandem is set to have another explosive game. However, offensive coordinator Tim Kelly believes the two Pro Bowler perform at a high level regardless of the television audience.

“I think they’re good together in every game they play,” Kelly told reporters Wednesday. “They’re two great players that work hard to be on the same page and are able to go out there and make plays consistently.”

Hopkins caught eight passes for 111 yards and two touchdowns in Week 1, eight passes for 48 yards and a score in Week 9, six catches for 94 yards and two scores in Week 12, and five catches for 64 yards in Week 13, including a 6-yard touchdown pass to Watson.

Still, Kelly thinks every game matters to Hopkins and Watson; they don’t mean any more or any less.

Said Kelly: “I think every game they come out there and it’s the most important thing in the world for them to go out there and play well and win. I think those two guys are two of the more competitive players that I’ve ever been around and they come out and they fight to the very end.”

Watson, Hopkins, and the rest of the Texans will be fighting to the last whistle against the Buccaneers. A win over the 7-7 NFC South club will deliver Houston their sixth AFC South title in franchise history, and the second-most in the history of the division behind the Indianapolis Colts’ seven. More importantly, it will get the Texans in the tournament where anything can happen.

Start/bench list: Week 16

It’s title time! Utilize our Start/Bench list for setting your fantasy lineups in Week 16.

Player analysis and projections can be found in our Start/Bench Tool customized to your myHuddle league scoring and rosters.

All player listings by groups are in no particular order.

Key: Upgrade / Downgrade

QUARTERBACKS			RUNNING BACKS			WIDE RECEIVERS
Player	Opp		Player	Opp		Player	Opp
BEST BETS			BEST BETS			BEST BETS
Drew Brees	@TEN		Joe Mixon	@MIA		DeAndre Hopkins	@TB
Lamar Jackson	@CLE		Chris Carson	ARI		Courtland Sutton	DET
Deshaun Watson	@TB		C. McCaffrey	@IND		Michael Thomas	@TEN
GREAT STARTS			GREAT STARTS			GREAT STARTS
Jameis Winston	HOU		Marlon Mack	CAR		Tyreek Hill	@CHI
Ryan Tannehill	NO		Saquon Barkley	@WAS		Terry McLaurin	NYG
Drew Lock	DET		Nick Chubb	BAL		Will Fuller V	@TB
SOLID STARTERS			M. Gordon III	OAK		Davante Adams	@MIN
Jared Goff	@SF		Ezekiel Elliott	@PHI		Julio Jones	JAC
Russell Wilson	ARI		Raheem Mostert	LAR		Breshad Perriman	HOU
Kirk Cousins	GB		SOLID STARTERS			SOLID STARTERS
Patrick Mahomes	@CHI		Kareem Hunt	BAL		DJ Moore	@IND
Dak Prescott	@PHI		Alvin Kamara	@TEN		Christian Kirk	@SEA
Philip Rivers	OAK		Le’Veon Bell	PIT		James Washington	@NYJ
FRINGE FANTASY PLAYS			Austin Ekeler	OAK		Julian Edelman	BUF
Baker Mayfield	BAL		Derrick Henry	NO		Golden Tate	@WAS
G. Minshew II	@ATL		Dalvin Cook	GB		Stefon Diggs	GB
Matt Ryan	JAC		Tarik Cohen	KC		Adam Thielen	GB
Jacoby Brissett	CAR		Latavius Murray	@TEN		Keenan Allen	OAK
Sam Darnold	PIT		D. Washington	@LAC		DK Metcalf	ARI
Kyler Murray	@SEA		Todd Gurley II	@SF		A.J. Brown	NO
Carson Wentz	DAL		L. Fournette	@ATL		Robert Woods	@SF
Aaron Rodgers	@MIN		Kenyan Drake	@SEA		Darius Slayton	@WAS
M. Trubisky	KC		James White	BUF		Diontae Johnson	@NYJ
SIT ‘EM IF YOU GOT ‘EM			Phillip Lindsay	DET		Tyler Boyd	@MIA
R. Fitzpatrick	CIN		Miles Sanders	DAL		Cooper Kupp	@SF
Andy Dalton	@MIA		Aaron Jones	@MIN		Tyler Lockett	ARI
Jimmy Garoppolo	LAR		Adrian Peterson	NYG		Mike Williams	OAK
Tom Brady	BUF		Mark Ingram II	@CLE		Jarvis Landry	BAL
David Blough	@DEN		FRINGE FANTASY PLAYS			Amari Cooper	@PHI
Devlin Hodges	@NYJ		Chris Thompson	NYG		Jamison Crowder	PIT
Will Grier	@IND		Duke Johnson Jr.	@TB		Robby Anderson	PIT
Derek Carr	@LAC		David Montgomery	KC		DeVante Parker	CIN
Josh Allen	@NE		Devonta Freeman	JAC		A. Robinson II	KC
Dwayne Haskins	NYG		Ronald Jones II	HOU		FRINGE FANTASY PLAYS
Daniel Jones	@WAS		Boston Scott	DAL		Kelvin Harmon	NYG
Eli Manning	@WAS		Sony Michel	BUF		Brandin Cooks	@SF
TIGHT ENDS			LeSean McCoy	@CHI		Tre’Quan Smith	@TEN
TIGHT ENDS			D. Singletary	@NE		Deebo Samuel	LAR
Player	Opp		James Conner	@NYJ		Curtis Samuel	@IND
BEST BETS			Patrick Laird	CIN		John Ross	@MIA
Travis Kelce	@CHI		SIT ‘EM IF YOU GOT ‘EM			Willie Snead IV	@CLE
George Kittle	LAR		Peyton Barber	HOU		Tyrell Williams	@LAC
GREAT STARTS			Gus Edwards	@CLE		Cole Beasley	@NE
Zach Ertz	DAL		Mike Boone	GB		Justin Watson	HOU
Jared Cook	@TEN		Jordan Howard	DAL		Dede Westbrook	@ATL
SOLID STARTERS			Bo Scarbrough	@DEN		Zach Pascal	CAR
Mark Andrews	@CLE		Jaylen Samuels	@NYJ		Marquise Brown	@CLE
Kaden Smith	@WAS		Nyheim Hines	CAR		L. Fitzgerald	@SEA
Darren Waller	@LAC		Wes Hills	@DEN		Danny Amendola	@DEN
Tyler Higbee	@SF		Carlos Hyde	@TB		Emmanuel Sanders	LAR
Noah Fant	DET		David Johnson	@SEA		Sterling Shepard	@WAS
Jacob Hollister	ARI		Matt Breida	LAR		Kenny Stills	@TB
O.J. Howard	HOU		Darwin Thompson	@CHI		O. Beckham Jr.	BAL
FRINGE FANTASY PLAYS			Frank Gore	@NE		Chris Conley	@ATL
Hunter Henry	OAK		Qadree Ollison	JAC		Corey Davis	NO
Dallas Goedert	DAL		DEFENSIVE TEAMS			Michael Gallup	@PHI
Jason Witten	@PHI		DEFENSIVE TEAMS			Anthony Miller	KC
Jonnu Smith	NO		Team	Opp		Kenny Golladay	@DEN
Kyle Rudolph	GB		BEST BETS			T.Y. Hilton	CAR
SIT ‘EM IF YOU GOT ‘EM			Broncos	DET		SIT ‘EM IF YOU GOT ‘EM
Greg Olsen	@IND	Patriots	BUF	Ishmael Hyman	HOU
Jimmy Graham	@MIN	GREAT STARTS		John Brown	@NE
Mike Gesicki	CIN	Colts	CAR	Chris Godwin	HOU
Dawson Knox	@NE	Texans	@TB	J. Smith-Schuster	@NYJ
Darren Fells	@TB	Seahawks	ARI	DJ Chark Jr.	@ATL
Jack Doyle	CAR	SOLID STARTERS		J. Arcega-Whiteside	DAL
Gerald Everett	@SF	Steelers	@NYJ	Josh Reynolds	@SF
		Redskins	NYG	Greg Ward	DAL
		Falcons	JAC	Russell Gage	JAC
		Bills	@NE	Steven Sims Jr.	NYG
		Ravens	@CLE	Mecole Hardman	@CHI
		Chiefs	@CHI	Albert Wilson	CIN
		49ers	LAR	Marcus Johnson	CAR
		Rams	@SF	Randall Cobb	@PHI
		FRINGE FANTASY PLAYS		Sammy Watkins	@CHI
		Saints	@TEN	Allen Lazard	@MIN
		Cowboys	@PHI	Adam Humphries	NO
		Chargers	OAK
		Packers	@MIN
		Vikings	GB
		SIT ‘EM IF YOU GOT ‘EM
		Jaguars	@ATL
		Browns	BAL
		Bengals	@MIA
		Dolphins	CIN
		Buccaneers	HOU
		Panthers	@IND
		Titans	NO
		Lions	@DEN
		Bears	KC
		Cardinals	@SEA
		Eagles	DAL
		Raiders	@LAC
		Jets	PIT
		Giants	@WAS

How can the Texans take advantage of Buccaneers QB Jameis Winston’s penchant for picks?

Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB Jameis Winston leads the NFL in interceptions, and Houston Texans DC Romeo Crennel knows how to exploit that vulnerability.

Houston Texans defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel sees the whole package when looking at Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston.

The former 2015 first-round pick from Florida State has a penchant for a giveaway every game, as he leads the NFL with 24 interceptions. However, he did throw for 458 and 456 yards in his previous two outings.

“900 yards in two games is not bad,” Crennel told reporters Thursday. “Sometimes people can live with a pick or two if you can throw for 900 yards.”

Even if Buccaneers coach Bruce Arians and offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich can live with it, the fact is Winston’s play presents opportunities for defenses. With the Texans needing a win over Tampa Bay to clinch the AFC South, they will need to entice the Pro Bowler into throwing a few ill-advised passes.

“We look at it and see what we think the reason for the mishap is,” Crennel explained. “Sometimes, he and the receiver are not on the same page. He sees one thing, the receiver sees something else and then boom, the ball gets thrown and it gets intercepted. But generally, when he’s on the same page with the receiver, it’s a completion and so I don’t think that you can count on them not being on the same page.”

Winston could have to find a whole new book as top receivers Chris Godwin and Mike Evans were placed on injured reserve Wednesday. If Winston, who has thrown 10 interceptions over his last five games, is going to have the same issues with ball security, then the Texans defense will have to be on their game, especially given that they are tied for the fifth-fewest picks in the league with eight.

“You have to do your job, put yourself in position and then if it happens that you have the opportunity to make a play, you make a play,” said Crennel.

Texans’ Laremy Tunsil is everything you look for in a left tackle

Houston Texans left tackle Laremy Tunsil is everything you want in an offensive tackle, says offensive coordinator Tim Kelly.

In his fourth year in the NFL and his first with the Houston Texans, left tackle Laremy Tunsil made the Pro Bowl.

For offensive coordinator Tim Kelly, that should come as no surprise. Tunsil, who stands at 6-5, 315-pounds with 34-1/4-inch arms, is a prototype.

“He’s really athletic,” Kelly said on Wednesday. “He’s got great feet. He’s a physical player, and he’s got good length. He’s just really everything you’re looking for in a left tackle.”

To the rest of the NFL, Tunsil’s recognition as a Pro Bowler also doesn’t come as a surprise. Entering the NFL out of Ole Miss in 2016, he earned praise as the best overall prospect in his draft class.

A monumental blunder caused Tunsil to drop to the Miami Dolphins at No. 13, where he was considered a steal and instant franchise left tackle. For three years, he was just that, until the Texans came calling with a bundle that included two first-round picks.

The Dolphins struck a deal to send Tunsil to Houston and the rest is history. The 25-year-old is playing the part of one of the best in the NFL, carrying an outstanding 89.9 Pro Football Focus pass-blocking grade while also paving lanes for the NFL’s seventh-ranked rush offense.

Texans-Buccaneers Wednesday injury report: DeAndre Hopkins, Carlos Hyde not practicing

The Houston Texans released their Thursday injury report ahead of their game with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and DeAndre Hopkins did not practice.

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

The Texans had two prolific offensive players not practice in receiver DeAndre Hopkins and running back Carlos Hyde.

Did not participate

ILB	Benardrick McKinney	Concussion
OLB	Jacob Martin	Knee
RB	Carlos Hyde	Ankle/not injury related
WR	DeAndre Hopkins	Illness

The Texans did have some positive news as safety Jahleel Addae, who did not participate in Tuesday’s practice with an Achilles injury, was a limited participant on Wednesday.

Limited participation

TE	Darren Fells	Hand
WR	Will Fuller	Hamstring
RB	Carlos Hyde	Ankle
RB	Taiwan Jones	Hamstring
OLB	Brennan Scarlett	Achilles/shoulder
S	Jahleel Addae	Achilles

The Buccaneers announced that receivers Chris Godwin and Mike Evans would be placed on injured reserve, ruling them out for the Saturday contest with the Texans. For more information, visit the Bucs Wire.

Ravens vs. Browns injury report: Ravens as healthy as possible Wednesday

The Ravens are as healthy as any team could reasonably be in Week 16 against the Browns, seeing no players miss practice due to injury

The Baltimore Ravens are coming off a bit of a rest after playing the New York Jets on Thursday in Week 15. That’ll give them 10 days from last week’s game to this week’s matchup against the Cleveland Browns.

Thanks to that rest and a little bit of luck, Baltimore’s injury report to start this week is squeaky clean. Though four players did not practice on Wednesday, all were for non-injury reasons — likely a veteran’s day off to keep those specific players fresh for the postseason.

Let’s take a look at Wednesday’s injury report for the Ravens vs. Browns in Week 16.

Baltimore Ravens injuries:

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

It’s beyond rare for an NFL team to be this healthy at this point in the season and it’s something that could seriously benefit the Ravens in the playoffs. With a chance to clinch the No. 1 seed this week, Baltimore could have nothing to play for in Week 17 allowing them to rest their starters. And with a first-round bye, in that case, the Ravens could actually head into the playoffs with two weeks of rest to get even healthier.

Cleveland Browns injuries:

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

Key:

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

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Texans vs. Buccaneers: Time, TV schedule and streaming info for Week 16

The Houston Texans and Tampa Bay Buccaneers hook up for a Week 16 showdown on NFL Network. Find out how to watch the game here.

Win and they are in.

All the Houston Texans have to do to wrap up the AFC South is beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Saturday at 12:00 p.m. CT at Raymond James Stadium. By virtue of having a better division record than the Tennessee Titans, regardless of whether the Titans win out, the Texans would have the tiebreaker and take the division.

Quarterback Jameis Winston and the 7-7 Buccaneers stand in the way of the Texans. Winning five of their last six games, Tampa Bay is a potent offense that could put a Drew Lock-like beating on the Texans.

Week 16 could be a letdown for the Texans, or it could be a buildup for a playoff run. Nonetheless, the Texans are 1-2 against the NFC South this season and could finish with a .500 mark against the other conference for the second straight year.

As part of the hoopla of the game being part of tripleheader action on NFL Network, the game will feature a Next Gen Stats second-screen experience for fans at NFL.com/ngslive, which can be viewed on desktop and mobile.

According to NFL Media, “Next Gen Stats Live” will give fans access to tracking players live and allowing users to follow real-time location and participation on the field concurrent with the broadcast. Furthermore, fans will also have the customary unique player insights for passing, rushing, receiving, and a lot more.

To get ready for the Week 16 action here is important game day information so you can catch the game. Follow the @TheTexansWire and the crew (@therealmarklane, @averydduncan).

You can live stream the game on FuboTV (try it free).

Houston Texans at Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Saturday, Dec. 21 at 12:00 p.m. CT

TV channel: CBS (Rich Eisen, Nate Burleson, Joe Thomas)

Live stream: FuboTV (try it free)

Radio: Sports Radio 610 (KILT-AM), Mega 101 (KLOL-FM) (Marc Vandermeer & Andre Ware)

Location: Raymond James Stadium

Forecast: Cloudy, 74 degrees, 12 mph wind

Referee: Scott Novak

Odds: Texans -3.0

Is Cleveland imploding and other questions for Browns Wire in Week 16

The Baltimore Ravens get a chance for a little revenge in Week 16. They’ll take on the Cleveland Browns, the last team to beat them this season (back in Week 4). Not only can Baltimore right a wrong, but they can also clinch the No. 1 seed this …

With such an important game and one against a division rival currently in flux, I wanted to get some insider information on what’s going on. So I turned to Browns Wire managing editor Jeff Risdon to get the scoop on what Cleveland has going on this season and what they could be looking at this offseason.

1) Cleveland has been arguably the most inconsistent team in the NFL this season on both sides of the ball. Why is that?

It’s patently unfair to pin everything on Freddie Kitchens, but the rookie head coach has his tentacles in every level of the Browns’ failures in 2019. The team has the NFL’s best running back in Nick Chubb but Kitchens will go several series without using him. They have Jarvis Landry and Odell Beckham Jr. but throw more designed passes in the red zone to Demetrius Harris. They’re a poorly coached team far too often.

Defensively, injuries and the Myles Garrett suspension have definitely been factors. They played one week with just four of their Week 1 starters on the field and will be missing at least three this Sunday. The entire pass rush was built around Garrett and with him and Olivier Vernon gone, it’s fallen to pieces.

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Texans vs Buccaneers: Point spread, over/under for Week 16

The Houston Texans and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers meet for the first Saturday game in Week 16. The Texans are favored by -3.0.

The Houston Texans and Tampa Bay Buccaneers meet for the first game of Week 16 on NFL Network in a Saturday triple-header that kicks off at 12:00 p.m. CT.

For the Texans, a win means they get to take home their sixth division title, the second-most in AFC South history behind the Indianapolis Colts’ seven. Of course, it won’t be an easy task as they will face a Buccaneers squad led by quarterback Jameis Winston that has won five of its last six to sit at 7-7.

How do odds-makers see the game going?

According to BetMGM, the Texans are road favorites at -3.0, and those odds represent the fifth-slimmest odds of Week 16. Only the Miami Dolphins (-1.5), Dallas Cowboys (-2.5), Pittsburgh Steelers (-2.5), and New Orleans Saints (-2.5) have slimmer odds. Aside from the Dolphins, all of the other teams listed are also road favorites, same as the Texans.

In terms of over/under, the game is set at 49.0, which represents the fourth-highest point total of the week. Arizona-Seattle (50.5), New Orleans-Tennessee (50.5), and Baltimore-Cleveland (49.5) have higher over/unders.

In the series history, there has never been a game that went over the 50-point total for points combined. There have been two games that went past the 40-point barrier: Week 14 of 2007 (42) and Week 10 of 2011 (46). However, the other two games have been fewer than 40 points. Houston’s games have had a combined point total of 50-plus points six times in 2019. The Buccaneers’ games have exceeded the 50-point threshold 11 times this season.

For more information on the rest of the NFL and college football, please check out our sister site, the Sportsbook Wire.

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