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We don’t know if it is a coincidence that in the four games we’re going to explore here, there are five coaches who could find themselves out of a job at season’s end:
Let’s see… we have Vic Fangio (Denver), Rich Bisaccia (Las Vegas), Matt Nagy (Chicago), David Culley (Houston) and Matt Rhule (Carolina). Rhule may be the surprise in that group. Actually, two of these coaches (Fangio and Bisaccia) may be able to save themselves if they can make the playoffs, which is altogether possible in this wide-open year in which there are three wild card spots in each conference.
But they can all take some solace in the fact that they outlasted Urban Meyer.
Broncos at Raiders Team Totals for Week 16
Time: Sunday, December 26 @ 4:25 PM ET
Team Totals Odds: Las Vegas Raiders — Over 20.5 Points (-115) / Under 20.5 Points (-115)
The Play: RAIDERS UNDER 20.5 POINTS (-115)
These two teams are among NINE in the AFC that are battling it out for the three wild card spots.
And Las Vegas has been faltering, regardless of their win against Cleveland on Monday. Hunter Ranfrow is having a great season for the Raiders. But this team lacks a consistent deep threat since the Henry Ruggs incident. DeSean Jackson has seen only eleven targets since his arrival. Las Vegas has scored more than 16 points just once in the last seven games. There is a reason Denver has played to the “under” in seven of its last eight. It’s because they are able to milk the clock with their ground game.
And even though Vic Fangio may be in the final stages of his head coaching tenure, don’t underestimate his ability to throw a few curveballs at Derek Carr here. The Broncos did a pretty good job of taking Cincinnati’s receivers out of play last week, as Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase combined for just 26 yards. Maybe Josh Jacobs (just 3.7 ypc) can carry a load for the Silver and Black. But if Darren Waller, who has knee and back injuries, can’t make it, this puzzle becomes a lot easier to solve.
Bears at Seahawks Team Totals for Week 16
Time: Sunday, December 26 @ 4:05 PM ET
Team Totals Odds: Chicago Bears — Over 17.5 Points (-110) / Under 17.5 Points (-120)
The Play: BEARS UNDER 17.5 POINTS (-110)
The Seahawks have allowed just over 15 points per game over the last eight. That makes us surprised that they couldn’t keep themselves in the playoff race.
Seattle’s defense is still #1 in the NFL in yards per point. And the Bears’ offense ranks 28th in that category on offense and 29th in yards per game.
Justin Fields hasn’t been shy at all about throwing it down the field. As I’m sure we have talked about here before, he is the only starting quarterback in the NFL to average ten or more Intended Air Yards per attempt. And the Seahawks’ stop unit is tops in the league in Explosive Play Rate. So those doors might be shut to him.
Chargers at Texans Team Totals for Week 16
Time: Sunday, December 26 @ 1 PM ET
Team Totals Odds: Houston Texans – Over 17.5 Points (-110) / Under 17.5 Points (-120)
The Play: TEXANS OVER 17.5 POINTS (-110)
Yes, the Texans are playing out the string. But at least they can tell their grandchildren that they swept the Jacksonville Jaguars this season.
I imagine that when Davis Mils, who started a handful of games at Stanford, was drafted in the third round, he never figured he would be the team’s starting quarterback. Whatever role he has going forward is probably going to be determined in these remaining games.
Tua Tagovailoa leads the NFL in completion percentage at 69.9%. In the games he’s started, Mills has completed 68.2% of his passes. And in two of his last four starts, he’s topped 300 yards. He also has arguably the best receiver on the field in Brandin Cooks.
The Chargers have allowed 21 points or more in ten consecutive games. And that is kind of surprising, considering head coach Brandon Staley came to the job with a reputation as a young defensive guru.
Buccaneers at Panthers Team Totals for Week 16
Time: Sunday, December 26 @ 1 PM ET
Team Totals Odds: Carolina Panthers — Over 16.5 Points (+100) / Under 16.5 Points (-130)
The Play: PANTHERS UNDER 16.5 POINTS (-130)
Most people were kind of optimistic about the Panthers at the start of the season, and especially when Sam Darnold quarterbacked the team to three victories to start the campaign.
But things got bad in a hurry, to where this has become a lost season.
It’s gotten to the point where they sought out Cam Newton for relief. And while he does add something to the offense, he doesn’t necessarily make them more dangerous through the air, and he apparently wasn’t a good match with offensive coordinator Joe Brady, who got fired.
Newton will start Sunday, but head coach Matt Rhule has made it clear that Darnold is going to play as well. When Darnold is in the game, the Panthers will lose their top rushing threat (Newton had 71 yards vs. Buffalo). Christian McCaffrey is out for the season, and Chuba Hubbard has 111 yards over his last five games. None of this sounds like a formula for much offense.
The Panthers are 26th in the NFL in points scored per drive and 31st (next to last) in yards gained per drive.
