NFL Predictions Week 16: Sky Sports Darts' John Part takes on Richard Graves

In Week 16, Sky Sports darts expert John Part is the challenger taking on Richard Graves in NFL predictions...

Graves comes into this one off the back of a 13-3 record last week, his best mark of the season. It was good enough to see him beat Nasser Hussain - who posted a respectable, but not good enough, 9-7 mark - and extend his eight-week unbeaten run.

Will Part be the man to end that streak? The three-time World Professional Darts Championship winner is no stranger to upsetting the odds - he is the only man to beat Phil 'The Power' Taylor in the PDC world final between the years of 1995 and 2006, with his 2003 win.

Here, massive New York Jets fan Part takes a break from covering Taylor's final World Championship tournament - which you can watch continued coverage of live on Sky Sports - to give his Week 16 NFL predictions.

"My dad was a Jets fan," Part explains. "I always loved Joe Namath - a great champion, leading us to our only ever Super Bowl win.

"He had a great attitude; the guy and the team that weren't supposed to be a champion but got it done. I can relate to that.

"They've actually done OK this year, particularly at home. They've stunk a bit on the road. Five wins is probably more than many expected this season but, that being said, if they hadn't messed up in a few close games, they could easily be above .500 and fighting for a playoff spot.

"So, in one way it had been a surprisingly good season but still 'Jet-ingly' disappointing."

Here's a look at Part's, and Graves' Week 16 picks...

Atlanta Falcons @ New Orleans Saints, NFL Sunday LIVE
Sky Sports Action (407), 5.30pm, Sunday

Graves: One of the biggest games of the weekend! The winner clinches a playoff berth, while the loser heads into the final week of the season knowing they'll have to win to ensure they are in the postseason. Expect the Superdome to resemble a playoff type atmosphere as this will be a fiercely-competitive game with high stakes being played for.

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When the Falcons and the Saints met two weeks ago, it was a thrilling game, littered with big plays, mistakes and drama before Deion Jones intercepted Drew Brees in his own endzone to pull out the win. This one may well come down to the running backs - Devonta Freeman had 194 total yards and a big game-clinching touchdown in Atlanta's narrow Monday night win over Tampa Bay, while Mark Ingram and Alvin Kamara have combined for 2,756 total yards this season for the Saints.

PICK: SAINTS

Part: I'm a Jets fan, and it looked like we were giving the Saints some trouble for large parts of our game last week. But, I still say they'll edge this one at home against the Falcons.

PICK: SAINTS

Jacksonville Jaguars @ San Francisco 49ers, NFL Sunday LIVE
Sky Sports Action (407), 9.05pm, Sunday

Graves: There's hope for the San Francisco 49ers! Just not in time to salvage this season. QB Jimmy Garoppolo has transformed this team and in three starts has yielded three straight wins! The priority for the 49ers now is to get a long term contract signed with their new signal caller.

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This week will be Garoppolo's biggest test since arriving in San Francisco, as he faces the best defense in the NFL. The Jaguars are number one overall, in points allowed (14.9), in sacks (51) and in passing yards allowed (168.9 per game).

PICK: JAGUARS

Part: Jacksonville are hot! And I think they'll stay that way heading into the playoffs. The 49ers are also on a good recent run but, with four wins - more than many people expected - it might be getting to the point where they now already have half an eye on building for next season.

PICK: JAGUARS

Pittsburgh Steelers @ Houston Texans, Monday Night Football
Sky Sports Action (407), 9.30pm, Monday

Graves: It has been an emotional week for the Steelers. It won't have been easy to move on from the controversial call which ruled out a touchdown reception which would have given them the win over the Patriots and home-field advantage throughout the postseason. Added to that, the loss of star receiver Antonio Brown at least until the playoffs with a torn calf. Now they have to dust themselves down and head to Houston, knowing with the Jaguars just one game behind them, they cannot afford any more slip-ups.

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The Texans are playing for nothing more than pride right now. Down to their third-string QB, this is a daunting task for them despite the Steelers' defensive problems. Last weekend the Texans were shredded by the Jaguars offense, shipping 45 points and only scoring seven in reply. With QB Ben Roethlisberger and running back Le'Veon Bell leading the Steelers offense, the Texans will have their hands full once again.

PICK: STEELERS

Part: Steelers in this one, for me, against a disappointing Texans team this year. Pittsburgh lost a tough one last week to the Patriots, but you can't measure things too much by that defeat - New England are a special side. The Steelers will bounce back here and will be eyeing up a rematch with the Patriots later down the road.

PICK: STEELERS

Oakland Raiders @ Philadelphia Eagles, Monday Night Football
Sky Sports Action (407), 1.15am, Tuesday

Graves: If ever one play summed up a season, it was surely Derek Carr's run and fumble though the back of the endzone on Sunday night. A play for the Raiders which, like their season, started with such high expectations but ultimately delivered nothing. Carr's fumble cost Oakland the game against Dallas and it effectively ended their playoff hopes.

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Now they have to travel to the East coast and face an Eagles team, playing for home-field advantage in the NFC. Nick Foles was impressive last week, throwing four touchdowns when starting in place of the injured Carson Wentz at QB. But, though they ultimately won, of more concern to the Eagles will be the play of their defense who allowed a Giants team which had scored 24 points in a game just once this season to score 29!

PICK: EAGLES

Part: Another tough one that again, on paper, looks pretty obvious. But, am I truly a believer in the Eagles? I'm not sure. Foles had a great first start of the season last week, but I just think another spoiler is on the cards here. I have a funny feeling about the Raiders.

PICK: RAIDERS

Indianapolis Colts 16-23 Baltimore Ravens

Graves: The Colts are left playing for nothing more than pride. A season which began with them hoping QB Andrew Luck maybe ready to play in Week One is going to finish without him playing a single snap.

By contrast, Baltimore are still alive in the push for a wild card spot in the playoffs. At 8-6, they're one of four teams vying for two places in the AFC. Their defense goes into this clash leading the NFL in takeways (33) and turnover differential (+17) and there is little reason to believe they won't feast on a depleted and deflated Colts outfit on Saturday night.

PICK: RAVENS

Part: It's got to be the Ravens at home, who are still in the AFC playoff picture and are going up against a pretty lame Colts team. I'm backing the Baltimore D to get the business done.

PICK: RAVENS

Minnesota Vikings 16-0 Green Bay Packers

Graves: The Packers have placed star QB Aaron Rodgers back on injured reserve, confirming they are shutting down their season. This will be the first time since 2008 that the Packers aren't in the playoffs. Rubbing salt into that wound are the Minnesota Vikings, heading to Lambeau celebrating victory in the NFC North.

Despite suffering a blip in Carolina, the Vikings roared back to form last week, demolishing the Bengals to seal the divisional crown and now seek to rubber stamp it with a win in Green Bay. This game will have a little added spice given it was Vikings linebacker Anthony Barr's hit which caused the original collarbone injury to Rodgers, and nobody in Green Bay has forgotten it.

PICK: VIKINGS

Part: It might not seem like it, with the Packers officially eliminated from playoff contention now, but I actually see this being a difficult one to call. Green Bay are at home, playing for some pride, and there will be some spoilers this weekend, it's just a case of which games. It's not necessarily a must-win game for the Vikings, and so I'm actually going to go for the Pack - even without Rodgers - to spring a surprise. I'm going for the upset.

PICK: PACKERS

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