Phil's Week 16 Picks
THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL
Steelers (9-5) @ Rams (3-11)
Home teams are typically favored in Thursday night contests, but Pittsburgh has the better team here.
PICK: STEELERS
Zach's thought: The Steelers are not playing well, but then, they've had a tough schedule. Steelers

SATURDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL
Cowboys (12-2) @ Panthers (6-8)
Dallas fans hold their collective breath that Tony Romo's thumb injury is not going to affect his play the rest of the season.
PICK: COWBOYS
Zach's thought: Jessica Simpson probably won't be there. So, Jessica, if you're free, my cell is ... Cowboys

SUNDAY GAMES
Giants (9-5) @ Bills (7-7)
This game looked like a gimmie for New York about a month ago.
PICK: GIANTS
Zach's thought: Luckily for New York, the game is in Buffalo. Giants.

Packers (12-2) @ Bears (5-9)
Brett Favre vs Kyle Orton might be the biggest quarterback mismatch of the year.
PICK: PACKERS
Zach's thought: The Bears are the biggest disappointment this season. Packers.

Browns (9-5) @ Bengals (5-9)
A win puts Cleveland back into the playoffs for the first time since 2002.
PICK: BROWNS
Zach's thought: By 1 or 30, I don't care. Just get it done Browns. Browns.

Chiefs (4-10) @ Lions (6-8)
At least Kansas City won't quit on the season. Detroit was just pitiful last week.
PICK: CHIEFS
Zach's thought: Well, Detroit is at home. Lions.

Texans (7-7) @ Colts (12-2)
Locked into the second playoff seed in the AFC, the Colts will not play a meaningful game for the next three weeks.
PICK: COLTS
Zach's thought: And they'll still be better that most opponents. Colts.

Eagles (6-8) @ Saints (7-7)
New Orleans can still make the playoffs, which is remarkable after their 0-4 start.
PICK: SAINTS
Zach's thought: Philadelphia can't string anything together. Saints.

Raiders (4-10) @ Jaguars (10-4)
Can someone explain how Jacksonville had nobody elected as a Pro Bowl starter?
PICK: JAGUARS
Zach's thought: No. Jags.

Falcons (3-11) @ Cardinals (6-8)
Season just can't end fast enough for Atlanta this year.
PICK: CARDINALS
Zach's thought: Or for Arizona, for that matter. Cardinals.

Buccaneers (9-5) @ 49ers (4-10)
Let's see how Shaun Hill fares against a quality defense.
PICK: BUCCANEERS
Zach's thought: I'll take the Buccaneers, because I think they are not playing Saturday night. Buccaneers.

Jets (3-11) @ Titans (8-6)
Does it even matter who plays quarterback for the Jets at this point?
PICK: TITANS
Zach's thought: A Jets win here could send the Browns to the playoffs. As if it's ever that easy. Titans.

Dolphins (1-13) @ Patriots (14-0)
Don't bet on Miami making it two wins in a row.
PICK: PATRIOTS
Zach's thought: Wouldn't it be nice if the Pats were older, and we didn't have to wait so long, to see if a team could just beat them, and send them back where they belong? Patriots.

Ravens (4-10) @ Seahawks (9-5)
Wonder if Ravens owner Stephen Biscotti wants to rescind his statement that Brian Billick will be back as Baltimore's head coach for next year?
PICK: SEAHAWKS
Zach's thought: Maybe the Ravens will just skip this one. Seahawks.

SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL
Redskins (7-7) @ Vikings (8-6)
Critical game for the NFC wildcard race.
PICK: VIKINGS
Zach's thought: Thanks to whomever thought it was a good idea to put the Redskins on TV so much. Vikings.

MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL
Broncos (6-8) @ Chargers (9-5)
San Diego is peaking just at the right time.
PICK: CHARGERS
T'was the night before Christmas, and all through the deal, LT was running through the Denver backfield. Chargers.

LAST WEEK: 11-5 Z: 10-6
OVERALL: 149-75 Z: 145-79

PLAYOFF UPDATE

AFC

1. Patriots - Clinched the AFC East and homefield advantage in the AFC Bracket

2. Colts - Clinched the AFC South and first round bye

3. Chargers - Clinched the AFC West

NFC

1. Cowboys - Clinched the NFC East and first round bye

2. Packers - Clinched the NFC North and first round bye

3. Buccaneers - Clinched the NFC South

4. Seahawks - Clinched the NFC West