NFL Week 16 picks include Chargers, Eagles and Panthers
Lorenzo Reyes explains why he’s picking two underdogs from Sunday’s slate of games.
The San Francisco 49ers look to continue their surge as they enter Week 16 on a four-game winning streak heading to Monday’s game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
The 49ers (10-4) cruised past the Tennessee Titans for a 37-24 victory in Week 15, led by quarterback Brock Purdy, who completed 23-of-30 passes and threw for 295 yards and three touchdowns. 49ers tailback Christian McCaffrey ran for 73 yards and a touchdown on 22 attempts.
The Colts (8-6) have experienced some bad luck, including the season-ending injury to quarterback Daniel Jones in Week 14 against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The team has since replaced Jones with Philip Rivers, who hadn’t played since 2020, unretiring to join the team as a starter.
Last week, Rivers went 18-of-27 for 120 yards, a touchdown and an interception in his first NFL start in five years. Rivers was named the starter for Monday’s game against San Francisco.
McCaffrey is on the verge of eclipsing 1,000 yards rushing and receiving with 922 yards on the ground and 820 yards through the air. He has 14 total touchdowns (nine rushing and five receiving).
49ers keys to victoryContinue to ride McCaffrey’s momentum as he continues to put up MVP-like numbers. He’s proven he can do it on the ground or catch passes, no matter if it’s from Purdy or Mac Jones, who’s started eight games this year.Contain the Colts’ run game with Jonathan Taylor, the NFL rushing leader through Week 16, who has ran for 1,443 yards and 16 touchdowns.How to watch 49ers vs Colts on Monday Night FootballDate: Monday, Dec. 22Start time: 8:15 p.m. ETLocation: Lucas Oil Stadium (Indianapolis)TV channel: ESPN, ESPN Deportes, ABCStream: Fubo49ers vs. Colts odds
Betting odds are provided courtesy of BetMGM, as of Saturday.
Spread:Â 49ers -5.5 (-118)Over/Under:Â 46.5 (O/U -110)Moneyline:Â 49ers -25049ers playoffs odds
The 49ers are in great shape to make another postseason run. They’re currently the No. 6 seed in the NFC but can still potentially reach the No. 1 seed by winning out.
The 49ers play the Seahawks in the final regular season game, which could have seeding implications.
Where they sit now, the 49ers have a 98% chance to make the playoffs. With a Monday win against the Colts that probability increases to 99%.
If they lose, their chances decrease but not by a lot. A loss would give the 49ers a 94% chance at making the playoffs.
49ers remaining schedule
The 49ers have the toughest remaining schedule, according to Tankathon. They will face playoff teams, or borderline playoff teams, each week through the remainder of the regular season.
San Francisco will go up against one AFC team and two NFC juggernauts in their final three games:
NFC West division standings
The NFC West is a close race at the top as the regular season begins to wind down. Here are the NFC West standings entering Week 16:
Overall NFC playoff pictureSeattle Seahawks (12-3; NFC West leaders)*Chicago Bears (10-4; NFC North leaders)Philadelphia Eagles (10-5; NFC East champs)*Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-7; NFC South leaders)Los Angeles Rams (11-4; wild card No. 1)*San Francisco 49ers (10-4; wild card No. 2)Green Bay Packers (9-5-1; wild card No. 3)
In the hunt:Â Detroit Lions (8-6); Carolina Panthers (7-7)
Eliminated: Dallas Cowboys (6-7-1); Minnesota Vikings (6-8); Atlanta Falcons (5-9); New Orleans Saints (4-10); Washington Commanders (4-10); Arizona Cardinals (3-11); New York Giants (2-12)
An asterisk (*) denotes teams that have clinched a playoff spot.
NFL playoff picture (if postseason started today)
If the playoffs started today, the Seahawks and Denver Broncos would have a first-round bye, as they hold the No. 1 seeds in the NFC and AFC, respectively.
In the NFC, the No. 2-seed Bears would host their rival, the No. 7-seed Packers. In the AFC, the No. 2-seed New England Patriots would play a home game versus the No. 7-seed Houston Texans.
San Francisco would earn a No. 6 seed and visit the No. 3-seed Philadelphia Eagles, while in the AFC the No. 3-seed Jaguars would welcome the No. 6-seed Buffalo Bills.
The No. 4 and 5-seed game in the NFC would pit the Tampa Bay Buccaneers against the Rams. In the AFC, the No. 4-seed Pittsburgh Steelers would play at home against the No. 5-seed Los Angeles Chargers.