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Scott Garceau: NFL's Best Of Week 16

For fantasy football players this is championship week for real football players this is a week that will help determine the road to Super Bowl XLIX (that's 49). I'm about done with scenario city "a this team win coupled with a that team loss or tie will mean blah, blah, blah." Put your slide rules away, it's crunch time! It's time to get it done the old fashioned way with blocking and tackling.

(Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

BALTIMORE RAVENS (9-5) AT HOUSTON TEXANS (7-7)

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It's not real complicated for the Ravens, win the next two games and they're in. That's all they can control, beat the Texans and the Browns and play post-season football for the sixth time in 7 years, simple as that. All that's standing between the Ravens and the playoffs are quarterbacks Case Keenum, Thad Lewis and Johnny Manziel I like Baltimore's chances. The Ravens are 6-1 against Houston. Here are some of the best games of week 16.

(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

ATLANTA FALCONS (5-9) AT NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (6-8)

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Welcome to the dumpster fire known as the NFC South. I like to call it the Stuart Smiley division, repeat after me boys "I'm good enough, I'm smart enough, and doggone it, people like me." One of these under-achievers will host a playoff game and it'll likely be the winner of this one. Atlanta beat the Saints in week 1 when Matt Ryan threw for 448 yards and 3 TD's. Hard to get a handle on the Saints they've lost 4 straight at home but have won 3 in a row on the road. I like the Saints to end the home skid and they're my pick to win the Stuart Smiley Division.

(Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (10-4) AT DALLAS COWBOYS (10-4)

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Two 10-4 division leaders meet at Jerrry's house. The Cowboys are coming off a big win in Philadelphia and the NFC East is theirs for the taking. They won't make you forget Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith and Michael Irvin but the Cowboys triplets of Tony Romo, DeMarco Murray and Dez Bryant are a potent bunch and the 'Boys offensive line might be the best in the NFL. The Colts have the best young QB in the game and Andrew Luck gives you a chance to win every time he takes the field. Both teams have some holes in their defense but turnovers could decide this one; the Colts are minus 4 in turnover ratio and maybe that's why I like the Cowboys to win the game.

(Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)

DENVER BRONCOS (11-3) AT CINCINNATI BENGALS (9-4-1)

Monday Night
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If the Ravens win Sunday and Denver wins Monday night Baltimore has a legit shot to win the AFC North. The Bengals are coming off a 30-0 win over Cleveland but it'll be Peyton Manning not Johnny Manziel throwing the football against them this week. Less Manning has been more in the Denver offense recently. Denver has won 4 straight but Manning has only throw 20 passes in each of the last 2 games and hasn't thrown for 260 yards in any of the 4 wins. In his last 3 games a pedestrian total of 3 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. The Broncos may have a different recipe but they're still cooking and are my pick to win Monday night.
 


 

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