NFL preview caps for Week 16

Published: Saturday, December 24, 2011, 7:02 AM

NEW YORK GIANTS (7-7) AT NEW YORK JETS (8-6)

1 p.m. Today

GIANTS: QB Eli Manning (4,362 yards) has carried his team, but he sputtered last week throwing three INTs. He will have a tough task against the Jets? seventh-ranked pass defense. ? Tom Coughlin?s team is averaging less than four yards per carry, but RBs Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs have improved that to 5.2 ypc. the last two weeks and should gash the Jets? 16^th-ranked run D. ? Look for TE Jake Ballard (604 yards, four TDs) to expose a soft middle and open the outside for WRs Victor Cruz and Hakeem Nicks. ? DE Jason Pierre-Paul has 13.5 sacks, fourth overall.

JETS: The key for QB Mark Sanchez is staying upright. He has been sacked seven times the last two weeks and has been sacked three or more times in six games this season. ? RT Wayne Hunter has been suspect and will be asked to block Pierre-Paul, the Giants best pass rusher. ? To keep the Giants rush at bay, RB Shonn Greene needs daylight. He has rushed for 941 yards this season and six scores. ? WRs Plaxico Burress and Santonio Holmes have been hit or miss at best, but they should be able to take advantage of CB Prince Amukamara and the Giants 29^th-ranked pass D.

THE PICK: This is not only the battle of Gotham, it?s a scrum featuring a pair of unpredictable teams. In these match-ups, we go with the best player on the field at impact positions and that?s Manning and Pierre-Paul. Giants win. New York Giants (+3) 23, New York Jets 17.

SAN DIEGO (7-7) AT DETROIT (9-5)

1 p.m. Today

CHARGERS: The Chargers are surging, and QB Philip Rivers has seven TDs to zero picks in three straight wins. ? RB Ryan Mathews has haken off his first-year blues to rush for 1,033 yards. He has ripped off 453 of those yards the last four games and will face a Lions defense that gives up 135.8 ypg. ? WR Vincent Jackson runs hot and cold, but he has 1,036 yards. WR Malcolm Floyd is back and averaging 21.1 ypc. They should test the Lions secondary. ? LB Takeo Spikes has 94 tackles for a defense that has held opponents to a total of 38 points in three weeks.

LIONS: QB Matthew Stafford tossed two TDs in the last five minutes to help the Lions sneak out a win in Oakland and has thrown 33 of his 52 career TDs this season. ? WR Calvin Johnson will be the focal point of the Chargers sixth-ranked pass defense. He has 81 catches for 1,335 yards and 14 scores. ? The Chargers allow 126.1 ypg. on the ground and could see plenty of RB Kevin Smith, who is averaging 5.7 ypc. in five games. ? DE Cliff Avril leads the team in sacks with 11 and needs to aid DT Ndamukong Suh and DE Kyle Vanden Bosch in putting pressure on Rivers.

THE PICK: Rivers might have done enough in recent weeks to save HC Norv Turner?s job, but this trip to the Motor City won?t be a holiday. The Lions play inspired on the verge of clinching their first playoff spot since 1999. Detroit (-2.5) 30, San Diego 21.

PHILADELPHIA (6-8) AT DALLAS (8-6)

4:15 p.m. Today

EAGLES: If HC Andy Reid hands RB LeSean McCoy the rock, the Eagles have a chance to win. McCoy set the franchise record for TDs (20) last week and has rushed for 1,274 yards. He torched Dallas for 185 in Week 8. ? QB Michael Vick tied a career high in INTs with 13 and has thrown a pick in four straight games. ? WRs DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin have opened holes for TE Brent Celek in the passing game. Celek had 156 yards receiving last week and should be a factor against a Cowboys LB corps that struggles in pass coverage. ? DE Jason Babin leads the NFL with 18 sacks.

COWBOYS: QB Tony Romo isn?t to blame for recent team failures. He has eight TDs to zero picks the last three games and has passed for 3,895 yards, 29 TDs and only nine INTs this season. ? RB Felix Jones has 214 yards the last two weeks in relief of injured RB DeMarco Murray. He should find lanes against the Eagles 17^th-ranked rush defense. ? WRs Miles Austin and WR Laurent Robinson should be factors with Eagles CB Asante Samuel (hamstring) out. TE Jason Witten can also expose a young Eagles LB corps. ? DeMarcus Ware (16 sacks) has to pressure Vick for the Cowboys to have a chance.

THE PICK: Both teams have struggled in big games, but the Eagles look like they have found their stride and new life. Rob Ryan?s battered and bruised defense doesn?t match up with the Eagles? playmakers, giving Jerry Jones every reason to worry. Philadelphia (+2) 28, Dallas 24.

ATLANTA (9-5) AT NEW ORLEANS (11-3)

8:30 p.m. Monday

FALCONS: The offense is clicking behind QB Matt Ryan, who has thrown 12 TDs to two INTs the last five games. The Falcons are 4-1 in the stretch. ? Beating the Saints requires running the ball. RB Michael Turner fit?s the bill with 1,129 yards this season, but he is nursing a groin injury. ? WR Roddy White is sure to be active against the Saints? 28^th-ranked pass defense. White?s had 120 yards in three of the last five games and averages 112.8 yards and has three scores in last four games against the Saints. ? HC Mike Smith hopes to have CBs Kelvin Hayden (toe) and Brent Grimes (knee) back in the lineup.

SAINTS: It?s all about QB Drew Brees, who needs 305 yards to break Dan Marino?s 1984 mark of 5,084 yards. He is a solid bet against the Falcons 17^th-ranked pass defense. ? RB Darren Sproles has been a free-agent steal. He has 1,155 all-purpose yards and seven scores. ? Brees has a bevy of receivers, but none has been bigger than TE Jimmy Graham. He has 87 catches, 1,171 yards and nine scores this season. ? DC Gregg Williams? unit gives up 366.1 ypg. (25^th overall) but has not allowed more than 24 points in the Saints? six-game winning streak.

THE PICK: The Falcons have to win one of their last two games to clinch a spot in the playoffs, but it will have to wait a week. Brees is the maestro of the league?s top offense and has 20 touchdowns in the Superdome where the Saints don?t lose. New Orleans (-7) 42, Atlanta 28.

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