NFL 2016 Game of the Week Preview, Week 16: Steelers vs Ravens

(photo credit: observer-reporter.com)

The Baltimore Ravens travel to Pittsburgh to take on their division rival, the Steelers, on Sunday evening in a matchup full of playoff implications.

Pittsburgh (9-5) currently leads the AFC North division, taking that spot in the midst of a five-game winning streak, tied with the New England Patriots for the longest current streak. Baltimore (8-6) is just one game behind. A Baltimore win would put both teams at 9-6, with Baltimore holding the head-to-head tiebreaker advantage. If Pittsburgh were to win, they would claim the division crown and the #3 seed heading into the playoffs. In that scenario, Baltimore losing coupled with a Miami Dolphins win would eliminate the Ravens from the playoffs.

In their first meeting this season, in Baltimore, the Ravens prevailed 21-14. In that game, Baltimore took a 21-0 lead with a 95-yard receiving touchdown by Mike Wallace, two Justin Tucker field goals, and a blocked punt return for touchdown. In the last nine minutes of the game, Pittsburgh managed two scores to make the final look more reasonable, but Baltimore's defense controlled the Steeler offense most of the game.

Of Pittsburgh's 277 yards of offense, 205 of them came in the fourth quarter. Pittsburgh had 12 possessions through the first three quarters and the start of the fourth. Eight of them ended in three-and-outs, one came at the end of the first half, one ended in an interception on the first play of the drive, and another resulted in the blocked punt. 

Fighting for their playoff lives, the Ravens will have to put up an equally-stellar defensive effort if they want to end the Steelers' winning streak. Pittsburgh's 4-2 record at home isn't notable exceptional, but for the fact that the two losses are to the Dallas Cowboys and New England Patriots, the two best teams in the league. 

NFL 2016 Game of the Week Preview, Week 15: Cowboys vs Buccaneers

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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-5) will travel to Dallas to take on the Cowboys (11-2) at AT&T Stadium on Sunday night. Dallas has already clinched a spot in the playoffs, but they still have to lock up the division, a first-round bye, and home-field advantage in the playoffs. Dallas has the best record in the NFC, and they’re tied with New England for the best record in the league.

Both of the Cowboys losses this season have come to the New York Giants. Last week, they were defeated by the Giants, 10-7. Rookie quarterback Dak Prescott has been fantastic all season long, but he’s struggled recently. Last week’s game was the first time Prescott threw multiple interceptions in the same game. The Mississippi State alum has failed to reach 200 passing yards in each of his last three games. Dallas has scored 24 points in their last two games.

The Cowboys backup is Tony Romo, but Head Coach Jason Garrett seems adamant about keeping Prescott in as the starter. The Cowboys magic number to secure the NFC’s number one seed is two with three games left. Under rookie Head Coach Dirk Koetter, Tampa has won five straight games. This is Tampa’s longest unbeaten streak since 2002. The resurgent Buccaneers are tied with Atlanta atop the NFC South. Tampa controls its own postseason destiny as they currently sit in the second wild-card spot. Tampa’s defense has gotten them to this point.

Tampa has given up a league-low 12.8 points per game since Week 10. The team has allowed the fewest touchdowns since Week 10 (6). The offense has struggled, as they’ve scored just six touchdowns in their last four games. Tampa defeated Dallas 10-6 last season in Tampa.

NFL 2016 Game of the Week Preview, Week 13: Saints vs Lions

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The Detroit Lions travel to New Orleans to take on the Saints in the Week 13 Game of the Week. Kickoff in the Louisiana Superdome is set for 1 p.m. ET.

Detroit (7-4) enters the game atop the NFC North division, one and a half games ahead of the Minnesota Vikings (6-6) and two games ahead of the Green Bay Packers (5-6). New Orleans (5-6) sits third in the NFC South, one game behind the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-5) and two games behind the Atlanta Falcons (7-4). The intensity that will be on display due to the playoff implications for both teams, plus the potential offensive firepower, make this game an entertaining option this Sunday.

New Orleans has one of the league's best offenses, with quarterback Drew Brees at the helm. He leads the league in passing completions (326), attempts (456), completion percentage (71.5) yards (3,587) and touchdowns (30) despite having just one receiver in the top 35 in receptions and none in the top ten in yards. Their defense, though, is one of the league's worst. They allow the sixth-most passing yards per game and the third-most points per game. Of their six home games, their opponents have scored at least 25 points four times, with the only exceptions being the mostly-inept Seattle Seahawks (20 points) and horribly inept Los Angeles Rams (21).

Detroit has had one of the most remarkable seasons in recent memory. The Lions have had a deficit in the fourth quarter of every game they have played this season. They have lost just four of them, and have come from behind to win in seven of them. Additionally, each one of their games have been decided by seven points or less. Essentially, watching a Lions game guarantees an exciting, close game.

The Saints want to earn a victory here because the Falcons have a solid chance of losing their matchup with the Kansas City Chiefs, and the Buccaneers play in San Diego against a potentially-dangerous Chargers team, so solid ground can be made up for them. The Lions can put some distance between themselves and Minnesota with a victory, giving them a two-game lead with just four weeks to go. A loss would increase the pressure on them the rest of the season.

The last five games in the New Orleans-Detroit matchup have all resulted in a victory by the home team, with the three contests played in New Orleans all combining for at least 48 points: 48, 72, and 77. Expect tons of offense, a thrilling ending, and a Saints victory this week in New Orleans.