Here we go folks. Christmas is just around the corner and the NFL is going to be a staple for your holiday viewing pleasure. With two games left on the schedule for every team, the stakes are huge for the playoff contenders. Today’s “No Huddle” is going to be looking at tonight’s game between the Giants and Eagles then I’ll be going over the three most important games of Week 16.

Tonight’s game definitely lacks a bit of luster with the Eagles slowly falling apart before our eyes, but if we know anything about rivalry games, you can throw the records right out the window. That being said, this is a matchup of teams clearly going in opposite directions. Philadelphia was officially eliminated from playoff contention last week while New York is looking like a serious contender in the NFC.

The rivalry factor in this game should make for a fun contest tonight. NFC East games tend to get a little crazy in late December. We have all seen how great the Giants defense has been in recent weeks, so the pressure will definitely be on Philadelphia to take care of the football on offense and to contain Odell Beckham Jr. on defense.

This game being in Philadelphia is certainly a factor too, but the best home wins for the Eagles were in September and October. The Eagles are not the same team that we saw at the beginning of the season. New York can’t afford to slip up tonight, especially with the NFC East title still up for grabs. A loss tonight would essentially give Dallas the division crown and all but guarantee a first-round bye for the Cowboys.

As for the pick tonight, I usually don’t like picking against the Eagles in Philadelphia considering that they have beaten playoff teams. However, the line is just right, I’m going with the New York Giants (+1.5) tonight.

Let’s move onto the most important games of Week 16. This is kind of an odd week for the schedule since the NFL is going with an all-out approach. Saturday has a full slate of games for Christmas Eve, while Christmas Day gets a double-dose of primetime games before getting the final Monday night game of the year. Unfortunately, Saturday is more quantity than quality but definitely keep an eye on Indianapolis-Oakland, Atlanta-Carolina, Green Bay-Minnesota, and Arizona-Seattle.

In terms of importance, it’s all about Sunday and Monday this week. We’ll start with the late afternoon game on Christmas day between Baltimore and Pittsburgh. The AFC North title will be at stake. Pittsburgh could clinch the division with a win while Baltimore can complete a season-sweep of the Steelers and give itself the inside track to clinch the AFC North next week.

Last time we saw these rivals squared off, Baltimore totally shut down Pittsburgh and benefitted from a 95-yard Mike Wallace touchdown before sealing the game late with a blocked punt returned for a touchdown. The Ravens defense was the star of the game holding Big Ben under 300 yards passing, Le’Veon Bell to 36 rushing yards, and Antonio Brown to 85 receiving yards.

The rematch is in Pittsburgh, and while I would expect to see another defensive clash, home-field advantage is a huge key to the game. In 2016, the Steelers are 4-2 at home while the Ravens are only 2-4 on the road. Baltimore is a much different team away from home. That is bad news for its playoff hopes because Pittsburgh looks ready for a playoff run right now.

Baltimore still sports one of the best defenses in the NFL but they will need to recapture the magic of the first matchup to win this game. As I’m writing this, I would give a slight edge to Pittsburgh in this matchup.

If Baltimore-Pittsburgh is the appetizer, the main course is definitely the Sunday night game between Denver and Kansas City. The first matchup between these AFC West rivals was a classic overtime thriller that came down to a game-winning kick by Cairo Santos as time expired.

Between both of the divisional games on Christmas, I think that Denver-KC is the one more likely to be a completely different type of game. Last game turned into a shootout by the end of the game, but a late December game in Kansas City isn’t exactly the formula for replicating the outcome of the first game.

I would expect to see a slow, methodical, and hard-hitting game. That type of game won’t swing the direction of the game one way or another because a defensive contest suits both teams.

Kansas City needs to win to stay within one game of the Raiders in the battle for the AFC West and the #2 seed in the AFC. Denver is in full desperation mode after losing to New England last week. Time is running out on the defending champs to get it together and get back into the playoffs.

I think the Chiefs are a more complete football team especially after news broke about the locker room screaming match in Denver last Sunday. This is the time of year where teams need to come together, but the champs might be falling apart at the seams. Either way this should be an absolute slugfest on Christmas night in Kansas City.

Now I usually save the Monday night game for my “Weekend Recap” but since this is a holiday weekend we’re going to talk Detroit-Dallas. The season finale for Monday Night Football gets the most important game of the week in the NFC. Dallas has been the darling of the NFL this season behind the rookie duo of Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliot while Detroit has been living on the edge all season but Matthew Stafford has been the (literal) saving grace of this team.

This has the makings to be a great one from AT&T Stadium. Dallas is all about ball-control on offense, and this defense has been a pleasant surprise in recent weeks. Defensive end David Erving is emerging as a dominant pass rusher for the Cowboys and you could make the argument that he won Dallas the game last week. Erving is potentially a one-man wreaking crew for this defense and he will be a huge key to stopping this quick-passing attack from Detroit.

I still haven’t quite figured out these Lions though, to be honest this team is an enigma. Detroit has been down in the fourth quarter of every single game this season (a feat only matched by the Cleveland Browns) but still stands at the top of the NFC North at 9-5.

Dallas could already have the NFC East and home-field advantage wrapped up by kick-off, so this could just be a playoff tune-up for them. Detroit, on the other hand, is trying to hold off the surging Packers in the NFC North. A wild card berth is still in play but obviously Detroit would rather not take its chances looking for help in the final week because it’s only a matter of time before its luck runs out.

Now its time for my game picks. I got humbled a bit last week, a good start led to calamity in the early afternoon games. 2-6 in that time slot is one of my worst stretches all season. Luckily I reeled off an unbeaten stretch the rest of the day. Monday night kept me from getting above .500 for a fourth consecutive week though. I’ll take breaking even considering how bad things looked early on Sunday. Here are my picks for all of Week 16 (Winners in Bold).

Last Week: 8-8         2016 Season: 123-100-1

Saturday

1:00 PM

Miami (+4.5) vs. Buffalo

NY Jets (+16.5) vs. New England

Tennessee (-5) vs. Jacksonville

Minnesota vs. Green Bay (-7)

San Diego (-5.5) vs. Cleveland

Washington (-3) vs. Chicago

Atlanta (-3) vs. Carolina

4:05/4:25 PM

Indianapolis vs. Oakland (-3.5)

Tampa Bay (+3) vs. New Orleans

Arizona (+8) vs. Seattle

San Francisco vs. Los Angeles (-4.5)

 

8:25 PM

Cincinnati vs. Houston (EVEN)

 

Sunday

4:30 PM

Baltimore (+5.5) vs. Pittsburgh

Sunday Night Football

Denver vs. Kansas City (-3.5)

 

Monday Night Football

Detroit (+7.5) vs. Dallas

 

Stay tuned to Shooting the Moon, I’m working on the championship edition of “Reality of Fantasy” and the Christmas preview for “Heat Check.” Both will be up by tomorrow at the latest, things get a little crazy this time of year. Follow me on Twitter @thereal_jmooney and go like the Shooting the Moon page on Facebook.