Check out the result of this entertaining Thursday Night Football Week 16 clash between the Rams and Saints, which makes the playoff picture far more tense. We'll take a look at some key events in the game and break down what happened in this close matchup.
You'll also discover some NFL Week 16 betting tips for the spread and over/under, in addition to player props that could earn you a solid reward. Get all your NFL betting tips and advice right here!
Thursday Night Football Week 16 Highlights
There was certainly a strong chance of a fairytale comeback here when the New Orleans Saints were close, but in the end, it just wasn't quite enough with the L.A. Rams holding on for a 30-22 victory.
Saints' QB Derek Carr made two touchdown throws in the span of three minutes to help the Saints have a chance of victory. And this was when New Orleans was down 7-30. The Rams' hero was Puka Nacua, who intercepted an onside kick, then also stole a pass that led to an L.A. crucial first down that sealed the game. This was certainly a big football highlight in the NFL on Thursday.
Nacua is the rookie breakout star for Los Angeles and had a game that couldn’t be ignored, catching nine receptions for 164 yards, including the opening score of the matchup.
Nacua wasn’t alone, as the Rams had great contributions from running back Kyren Williams and QB Matthew Stafford, which all helped to get the win and help L.A. move to 8-7. This puts the team 6th in the NFC and gives them a strong playoff hope.
The Saints dropped to 9th in the NFC and are 7-8 for the season. It was a shame they made things so close, only to get a loss, but L.A. deserved the win and were outstanding on defense. Although Carr looked solid with 319 passing yards, he hindered the Saints with several poor mistakes and an absent running game (35 yards on 16 carries).
Stafford put up yet one more impressive performance for Los Angeles on Thursday Night Football, going for three TDs, 24 of 34 throws, and 328 yards. After five appearances, Stafford is averaging 67% of his throws for scores for a total of 14 touchdowns and only one interception. L.A. is now 4-1 in their last five games!
NFL Week 16 Predictions & Bets
When examining the Week 16 NFL spreads, a few games stick out over the rest. We'll discuss the major games and specific player props that might result in healthy returns this week.
Cincinnati Bengals at Pittsburgh Steelers
Moneyline: Vikings -130 / Steelers +110
Spread: Bengals -2.0
Over/under: 37.0
Pittsburgh will run now its offense with Mason Rudolph, after QB Mitch Trubisky has failed to deliver wins and the Steelers are falling out of the playoff possibility. Rudolph is talented and experienced enough to pull a win here and boost the offense, as this Bengals defense gives up 7.5 yards per pass attempt (31st in the league).
As well, Cincinnati is struggling with big injuries to wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase and defensive tackle D.J. Reader, which is going to hurt the whole team chemistry. The Bengals aren’t quite as good as the record says, as they needed overtime to get the win in two games. When it comes to this NFL Week 16 prediction, choose the Steelers and pick the under here.
Buffalo Bills at Los Angeles Chargers
Moneyline: Bills -800 / Chargers +550
Spread: Bills -12.0
Over/under: 44.0
One of the greatest losses in recent history occurred last Thursday night when the Chargers fell to the Raiders, 63-21. Coach Brandon Staley was let go as a result of the humiliating performance, but the Chargers are also missing QB Justin Herbert to injury.
Through the last fortnight, the Bills have destroyed both Dallas and Kansas City in a convincing fashion. More significantly, Buffalo has prevailed in each of those contests without QB Josh Allen having to lift the squad. If the Bills keep playing the way we've seen them lately, then the Chargers will certainly lose heavily again. Bet on the Bills and choose the over.
Indianapolis Colts at Atlanta Falcons
Moneyline: Colts +100 / Falcons -120
Spread: Falcons -1.0
Over/under: 44.5
The Falcons have a feisty team that never wants to quit, but the benching of QB Ridder for Heinicke is a curious move that provokes more questions than answers. The Falcons are a tough team to watch at times and rarely do what you expect.
The Colts are usually trustworthy and are still somewhat underestimated. The squad is coached well, plays hard, and QB Gardner Minshew did well to fight back out of a potential loss last week. Bet on the Colts and choose the over.
NFL Week 16 Must-Know Player Prop Bets
These are some solid player prop bets with more Week 16 NFL predictions.
Dalton Kincaid (Bills) Over 3.5 Receptions: +130
This is going to be an exciting bet, primarily because of the terrible Chargers' defense that can't stop anything in the middle of the field. A mix of coaching staff and poor player performance is to blame here, but all that is great for Buffalo. The Bills will capitalize on the Chargers' iffy defense.
Kincaid is catching at least five passes in 7 out of 8 recent games, and Josh Allen can easily help him to reach over 3.5 receptions. A rolling Bills team mixed with a failing Chargers defense will make Kincaid look amazing.
Joe Mixon (Bengals) Over 47.5 Rushing Yards: -120
This is a pretty safe bet, considering how good Mixon has looked this season. As Chase will be out for the Bengals, the team will likely rely more on the running game than passing game this week. This means Mixon will be very important in the game plan.
The Steelers simply don't play well versus the run game. They are ranked 22nd in terms of surrendered running yards and 20th in terms of yards per carry. Expect Mixon to have one of his best games this season.
That concludes Thursday Night Football Week 16 action. To optimize your profits this NFL season, read our website's numerous other betting suggestions, including where to bet on the NFL.
