Author: nfltalk

Just three weeks remain in the 2023 regular season and the Week 16 was packed with high-profile matchups that’ll certainly shake up the playoff picture — with three more remaining on Christmas Day. Division titles and playoff spots were up for grabs over the course of the holiday weekend — the Lions and Dolphins punched their tickets on Sunday — and we’ll cap it off with a potential Super Bowl LVIII preview between the Baltimore Ravens and San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium Monday night.

As we do every week, we’ve collected all of the best picks and gambling content from CBSSports.com and SportsLine and put them in one place, so you can get picks against the spread from our CBS Sports experts as well as additional feature content for each game, including plays from top SportsLine experts and the SportsLine Projection Model, best bets from our staff, survivor picks and more. Ready? Let’s jump in.

All NFL odds via SportsLine consensus odds.

Which picks can you make with confidence in Week 16? And which Super Bowl contender goes down hard? Visit SportsLine, as its incredible model simulates every NFL game 10,000 times and is up well over $7,000 for $100 players on top-rated NFL picks since its inception.

Monday’s Christmas Day games

Raiders at Chiefs

Time: Monday, 1 p.m. ET (CBS), stream on Paramount+ (click here) 
Open: Chiefs -10, O/U 42.5

Featured Game | Kansas City Chiefs vs. Las Vegas Raiders

“The Chiefs got back on track last week against the Patriots and now can push to get the top seed. They beat the Raiders earlier this year on the road, but the Raiders are a better…

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The Dolphins defense didn’t make Dak Prescott’s life easy in Week 16. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)

Five things I care about

Cowboys’ pass protection

This was always going to be a tough matchup for the Dallas offense. The Dolphins defense ranked first in success rate allowed since Jalen Ramsey returned to the lineup. The Cowboys have struggled against good teams on the road all season. There were plenty of reasons for Week 16’s end result but the most significant factor in the loss had to leave Dallas feeling troubled going forward.

Despite missing its best pass rusher, Miami was able to get pressure on Dak Prescott early and often Sunday afternoon. To his credit, Prescott handled the heat well. He was able to escape rushers often and got rid of the ball in the face of what would have been devastating sacks. High-quality quarterbacks can make it work in these types of adverse conditions and to his credit, outside of a few low moments, Prescott generally put the team in a good position.

The Cowboys came into this game without starting left tackle Tyron Smith and Zack Martin nursing a thigh injury that cost him most of Week 15’s loss in Buffalo. The left tackle spot was particularly troublesome. Chuma Edoga let up a ton of blindside pressure and routinely forced Prescott off his spot.

Pressure is bad for any offense but for this unit in particular, it is a huge stumbling block. The West Coast offense is predicated on timing and rhythm. Prescott has played his best football when he can hit the top of his drop and push the ball to open receivers on time. When he has pressure in his face, it ruins the whole plan. Even when Prescott made plays in this game, it came on tight-window throws, showing that the route timing was disrupted.

The Cowboys have the potential to be a great offense but the way they’re set up it takes just a small grain of sand to grind the gears to a stop. Look no further if you’re searching for a reason why this team can’t deal with…

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Week 16 in the NFL got off to an early start with three games played before a short Christmas Eve slate. Fourteen teams will play on the national television stage thanks to the Christmas holiday, with plenty of games having an effect on the AFC and NFC playoff races. 

The Saturday slate featured the Pittsburgh Steelers hosting the Cincinnati Bengals and the Buffalo Bills heading to southern California to face the Los Angeles Chargers. Three of the four teams will be shaking up the AFC playoff picture, starting with Pittsburgh’s win over Cincinnati. 

With the Saturday slate of games going on, it’s never too early for overreactions to either game. 

Mason Rudolph should start for the Steelers for rest of year 

Overreaction or Reality: Overreaction

The Steelers decided to go with Rudolph over Mitchell Trubisky as the starting quarterback this week while Kenny Pickett has been out with an ankle injury. Naturally, Rudolph goes 17 of 27 for 290 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions (124.0 rating) as the Steelers score 34 points in a blowout victory over the Bengals. 

The 34 points for the Steelers were the most points in a game since Week 11 of the 2021 season and the Steelers haven’t scored 30 points in a win since the 2020 season. Pittsburgh averaged 13.7 points per game and 265.7 yards per game in its previous three games, all losses. The Steelers put up 34 points and 397 yards against the Bengals. 

George Pickens actually looked like an elite receiver, catching four passes for 195 yards and two touchdowns — both touchdown catches over 60 yards. Rudolph had something to do with that right? 

The Steelers aren’t going to bench Pickett when he returns, but they can “make sure he’s 100%.” Perhaps Rudolph gets another start while they figure things out. 

Bengals playoff chances are dashed

Overreaction or Reality: Reality

The Bengals couldn’t afford to lose this game to…

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The Colts will have running back Jonathan Taylor back for Sunday’s game against the Falcons, but they won’t have their other key running back.

Zack Moss has been downgraded from questionable to out with his forearm injury.

The move is not entirely a surprise, as Moss did not practice all week.

In 13 games with eight starts, Moss leads the team with 764 yards rushing and five rushing TDs. He’s also caught 27 passes for 192 yards with two touchdowns this season.

Taylor is returning from a thumb injury. In seven games with five starts this year, he’s recorded 414 yards rushing with four touchdowns along with 16 catches for 137 yards with one TD.

Additionally, Indianapolis has elevated receiver Ethan Fern and offensive tackle Jared Veldheer from the practice squad to the active roster for Sunday’s contest. Veldheer, 36, is set to make his first appearance since playing for the Colts in 2020.

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