WEEK 16 Saturday game predictions

By: Grant Poarch

       

Although I hated seeing it, we started off the week 1-0 as the Rams handled the Saints. The score didn’t reflect how bad this game actually was for New Orleans as they couldn’t stop a nosebleed all game long. Today, there are two more games and I feel very confident that I will get them both right.

12/23 (Saturday Afternoon): Cincinnati Bengals (-3) @ Pittsburgh Steelers, O/U 37.5, 4:30PM EST, NBC

Pittsburgh is nowhere near what they used to be. They are absolutely pathetic on offense and their defense can only do so much with how poor their counterpart is. This week, the Steelers are starting Mason Rudolph as Kenny Pickett is still out with an injury and Mitch Trubisky has played awful in his recent opportunity. 

While I lean more towards Cincy here, this is going to be a tough game. Jamaar Chase will miss the game and Pittsburgh is never easy to play in. No doubt that this will be a low scoring affair as the Steeler offense less than 19 points in five straight games while they face the Jake Browning led Bengals. 

I don’t have a lot of faith in this game but I do have faith that the Steelers will struggle to score with Mason Rudolph leading the charge. Give me the Bengals in a ugly one.

Prediction: Cincinnati wins, Cincinnati covers -3

12/23 (Saturday Night): Buffalo Bills (-11) @ Los Angeles Chargers, O/U 42.5, 8:00PM EST, Peacock

The Chargers are officially a dumpster fire. After their embarrassing (to say the least) 63-21 blowout loss against the Raiders, the Chargers fired both head coach Brandon Staley and general manager Tom Telesco. Maybe that will motivate the Chargers to play well this week but without Justin Herbert this team is straight poverty.

To make things worse for LA, they are facing the Bills who might be the scariest AFC team as of the last few weeks. Baltimore may have more of a claim to that title but Buffalo is starting to give the league a run for its money. 

I have a hard time thinking that Josh Allen is not going to lead the Bills to a big victory here. At worst, they only win this one by 7-10 but I think it will be much more than that. Give me Buffalo big time here.

Prediction: Buffalo wins, Buffalo covers -11.5