NFL Week 16 predictions - do you agree with our picks?

Richard Graves is revitalised from his pre-Christmas break so here are his latest predictions for Week 16.

San Diego Chargers @ Oakland Raiders

Neither side can reach the play-offs but don't underestimate the pride at stake for these divisional rivals. The Chargers proved they're still up for the fight by demolishing the Dolphins last weekend as Danny Woodhead had a career-best game, while the Raiders' postseason hopes were extinguished by the Packers.

Ultimately it's been a disappointing season for both. San Diego have been ravaged by a crippling injury list. Oakland flattered to deceive - after a promising start, they've lost five of their last seven games. It's a credit to quarterback Philip Rivers that the Chargers have the league's sixth ranked offence. It's a more telling stat, that they only average 20 points per game!

Oakland are a middle of the pack team on both sides of the ball but have shown more than enough flashes this season to suggest they'll be serious players in 2016.

Pick: Oakland Raiders

Washington Redskins @ Philadelphia Eagles  

Who would have thought this game would carry so much significance at this stage of the season? I'm guessing even fewer would have thought it would be an opportunity for the Redskins to eliminate the Eagles from play-off contention to their own advantage!

Do not expect a classic contest but do expect a tight, hard fought encounter. In a division where no one appears to want to claim the title, it'll come as no surprise if the Eagles can eke out the win but I don't believe that will happen. The Redskins are a better team. They have the better offensive playmakers in wide receiver DeSean Jackson and tight end Jordan Reed and quite simply, it's easier to trust quarterback Kirk Cousins to look after the ball than it is Sam Bradford.

Pick: Washington Redskins

Carolina Panthers @ Atlanta Falcons  

The Panthers just keep getting better! Quarterback Cam Newton has been outstanding all year long and it's tough to see anyone rivalling him for the NFL MVP award this season. Even when a team comes roaring back at them, as did the Giants last weekend, this team is unflappable. They remain undefeated, they now have the NFL's top ranked scoring offence, averaging 32.1 points per game. They lead the league in turnover differential (19) and can clinch the No 1 seed in the NFC with victory in Atlanta.

In contrast the Falcons finally snapped a six-game losing streak last weekend with a win in Jacksonville. Wide receiver Julio Jones - unstoppable in the first month of the season - found his way to the end zone for the first time in four games last Sunday. A divisional rivalry should never be overlooked but this is a mismatch in all areas of the field. Oh....and Julio Jones has to go against cornerback Josh Norman this weekend - a player who has shut down every receiver he has gone up against this season.

Pick: Carolina Panthers

Dallas Cowboys @ Buffalo Bills

Two teams who began the year with such high hopes but now find themselves playing to decide which position they'll be drafting in next April.

While the Cowboys will feel injuries to Tony Romo and Dez Bryant robbed them of a much better year, the truth is their issues run deeper than that. The Bills have flashed moments of promise but ultimately underachieved and that is highlighted in their defence. A unit of whom much was expected under head coach Rex Ryan but ranks a lowly 21st in the NFL.

Karlos Williams will likely start at running back after LeSean McCoy sustained a knee injury in the defeat at Washington. While Dallas give a first start to Kellen Moore at quarterback - he'll be their fourth different starter at that position this season!

Pick: Dallas Cowboys

San Francisco 49ers @ Detroit Lions

It has not been a good year for either side but there's more to be positive about in the second half of the season in Detroit. The 49ers are what their record says they are - a bad team. They have the 27th ranked defence, worst ranked offence, and worst ranked scoring offence. Now they have to go on the road, across the country and win in Detroit? That's not going to happen.

Pick: Detroit Lions

Cleveland Browns @ Kansas City Chiefs

The Browns have looked a little better with Johnny Manziel at quarterback. The Chiefs are one of the hottest teams in the NFL. They've reeled off eight straight wins and know if they win out, they could still beat Denver to the AFC West title. The Chiefs have the second best turnover differential in the league (+15) and returned two more for touchdowns last weekend. They have the NFL's eighth ranked defence and third ranked scoring defence - giving up just 18 points per game.

Pick: Kansas City Chiefs

Indianapolis Colts @ Miami Dolphins

The Dolphins' play-off hopes were long since extinguished but the Colts are now fighting for their play-off lives. While the hapless Dolphins were being humbled in San Diego, the Colts were forced to replace the bruised and battered Matt Hasselbeck with Charlie Whitehurst at quarterback and ultimately lost 16-10 to the Texans. Indianapolis's play-off aspirations are no longer in their own hands.

Miami appear to have given up on their season and that maybe the Colts' best hope but if that Dolphins defensive line led by Ndamukong Suh gets a taste for the pass rush, the Dolphins will take the Colts down with them.

Pick: Miami Dolphins

New York Giants @ Minnesota Vikings

This clash throws together two teams with post-season aspirations. The Vikings are already there by virtue of holding the tie-breaker over the Atlanta Falcons but they can still win the NFC North. Meanwhile the Giants are chasing top spot in the NFC East. The key to this game will be the running game. The Giants aren't very good at stopping it - they have given up an average of 114.6 yards per game. The Vikings have the NFL's leading rusher - Adrian Peterson has a total of 1,314 yards this season. Despite picking up an ankle sprain in the win over Chicago, the team insist he'll be good to go on Sunday. Throw into the equation the fact that the Giants are missing their biggest playmaker, wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr, and this may well be the end of the line for Big Blue!

Pick: Minnesota Vikings

 Jacksonville Jaguars @ New Orleans Saints

A disappointing season for the Saints appears set to get worse after it was revealed quarterback Drew Brees suffered a foot injury. At the time of writing his status for the rest of the season is uncertain but it's the same injury that has sidelined Peyton Manning since Week 10. If he is ruled out, former Packers back-up Matt Flynn will step in. The Jaguars can still win the AFC South but their porous defence has been an issue all season long. They concede 27 points per game. The same can be said of the Saints who have the worst scoring defence in the league - conceding an average of nearly 31 points per game! Jacksonville are the more healthy team but if Brees is ruled out for the season, it's difficult to make any case for the Saints at all.

Pick: Jacksonville Jaguars

New England Patriots @ New York Jets

This might be the game of the week - a huge AFC East clash! If New England win they secure home field advantage through the play-offs. If the Jets win, they maintain their advantage in a three-team scrap for just two wild card places. Patriots head coach Bill Belichick has said he'll consider resting players; however, it'd be a shock if that applied to this game. New England have won nine of their last 10 meetings with the Jets and while there's plenty at stake for them, they also know a win could deal a fatal blow to the Jets play-off hopes. If the Jets can't find a way to stop Rob Gronkowski, they won't find a way to win this game.

Picks: New England Patriots

Chicago Bears @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers

There'll be no post season football for either of these teams this year. Tampa Bay have all the makings of a play-off team for years to come with big receiving threats, a rookie quarterback who appears to be quickly grasping the requirements of an NFL and a running back, Doug Martin, who is second only behind Adrian Peterson in rushing yards this season.

The Bears, under head coach John Fox, are also a team in transition. Dogged by injuries all season, they've had to play games without Jay Cutler, Matt Forte and Alshon Jeffrey amongst others. The Buccaneers go into this contest the healthier of the two teams and have home field advantage which may just see them edge out the Bears.

Pick: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Houston Texans @ Tennessee Titans

A miserable season is going to end on an equally miserable note for the Titans after rookie quarterback Marcus Mariota was ruled out for the remainder of the year with an MCL sprain. They have managed to win just three games in 2015, fired their head coach and are vying with the Browns for the No 1 pick in next year's draft. Incredibly the Texans hold the outright lead in the AFC South after last weekend's win in Indianapolis. The Texans' limited success this season has been built around a defensive unit which ranks fourth overall and is conceding an average of just 21.5 points per game. Wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins has shown a tendency for making big plays at big moments for them and that should be enough to see them past the hapless Titans.

Pick: Houston Texans

Green Bay Packers @ Arizona Cardinals

This is a mouth-watering clash in the desert. The Cardinals, NFC West champions, with the league's No 1 ranked offence, looking to secure a first round bye in the play-offs against the NFC North leading Packers, led by Aaron Rodgers and a spluttering offence. If Green Bay are to win this game they have to get their running game going. The Packers wide receivers have struggled to beat press coverage all season and Arizona's secondary will like this match-up. The problem for Green Bay may well be keeping pace with the Cardinals offence. They average nearly 32 points per game and despite losing running back Chris Johnson for the year, rookie David Johnson was mightily impressive last weekend - racking up 187 rushing yards and three touchdowns. On the road this is a tough assignment for the Packers and given their misfiring offence, it would be a surprise if they get the win.

Pick: Arizona Cardinals

St Louis Rams @ Seattle Seahawks

Quarterback Russell Wilson has been simply outstanding in the last month. He has thrown at least three touchdowns and zero interceptions in five straight games - the first quarterback in NFL history to do so. In that period he has accrued a total of 19 touchdowns, no interceptions and has a QB rating of 143.6. Even without running backs Marshawn Lynch and Thomas Rawls, the Seahawks haven't missed a beat and it'll be Christine Michael who gets the start this weekend. The Rams ' rookie running back Todd Gurley is heading to the Pro Bowl after passing 1,000 rushing yards and quarterback Case Keenum has won four of his five starts this season. Even so, there's no way the Rams go into the Pacific North West and sweep the Seahawks.

Pick: Seattle Seahawks

Pittsburgh Steelers @ Baltimore Ravens

For many years this was a marquee match-up but it's hard to believe any team has been plagued by injuries to the extent the Ravens have. Ultimately it has been too much to overcome and that's reflected in their 4-10 record. Pittsburgh's offence is red hot at the moment and the way they roared back from a 17-point deficit to defeat the Denver Broncos and their No 1 ranked defence was hugely impressive. Even so, the Steelers find themselves on the outside, looking in on the play-offs. The Steelers' offence is now ranked No 2 overall and are fourth in scoring, averaging 27 points per game. The Ravens offence is scoring six points per game fewer and will be led by either Jimmy Clausen or Matt Schaub this weekend.

Pick: Pittsburgh Steelers

Cincinnati Bengals @ Denver Broncos

The AFC North leading Bengals travel to Mile High to face the AFC West-leading Broncos. Denver have now lost two successive games and it remains unclear whether quarterback Peyton Manning will suit up on Monday night as he tries to come back from injury. At the time of writing, this remains Brock Osweiler's team. The problem is, the Broncos haven't scored a single point during the second half of any of their last three games. Should Manning be passed fit to play, the stage appears set for him to return. On the road, this isn't a good matchup for Cincinnati. Regardless of Denver's own issues at quarterback, their defence will do enough to pull them through.

Pick: Denver Broncos