NFL: Week Sweet 16 Christmas Picks + Who is On the Firing Line

LATE BREAKING NEWS: Sunday Night's Vikings-Eagles game has been postponed to Tuesday night at 8PM, because of the weather.

Twas the Weekend of Christmas and all through the house, there were 16 games stirring up a rouse.

Week 16 Top Eight:
1) New England Patriots (12-2)
2) Atlanta Falcons (12-2)
3) Philadelphia Eagles (10-4)
4) Chicago Bears (10-4)
5) Baltimore Ravens (10-4)
6) New York Jets (10-4)
7) Pittsburgh Steelers (10-4)
8) New York Giants (9-5)

Week 16 Bottom Four:
32) Carolina Panthers (2-12)
31) Cincinnati Bengals (3-11)
30) Denver Broncos (3-11)
29) Arizona Cardinals (4-10)

WEEK 16 PICKS:
Marquee Pick of this Christmas Weekend:
New Orleans Saints (10-4) at Atlanta Falcons (12-2)- 8:30PM EST at the Georgia Dome (Atlanta)- ESPN

The 41st Season of Monday Night Football comes to a close as the Falcons aim to close the door on the NFC South with a win over their rivals, the New Orleans Saints. The Falcons can clinch Home Field Advantage throughout the NFC Playoffs as well. The Falcons are flying high and are Dallas-bound come February 6.
Pick: Atlanta 31-23

Thursday Night Football:
Carolina Panthers (2-12) at Pittsburgh Steelers (10-4)- 8:20PM EST at Heinz Field (Pittsburgh)- NFL Network
Carolina got a gift-win, because West Coast teams suck at 1:00 games on the East Coast, especially Arizona last week. The Steelers are in with a win.
Pick: Pittsburgh 31-7

Christmas Night Football:
Dallas Cowboys (5-9) at Arizona Cardinals (4-10)- 8:20PM EST at University of Phoenix Stadium (Glendale, AZ)- NFL Network
Tony Romo was officially placed on injured reserve this week, weeks after we assumed he was placed there. It won't really matter as the Cowboys are a different team under Jason Garrett as Head Coach, and Arizona has taken two gigantic steps backward, two years removed from Super Bowl XLIII. Dallas couldn't win on Thanksgiving, but Santa will make it up for America's Team on Christmas Night.
Pick: Dallas 41-10

SUNDAY AFTERNOON GAMES:
"The Battle of the Browns"- Baltimore Ravens (10-4) at Cleveland Browns (5-9)- 1PM EST at Cleveland Browns Stadium (Cleveland)- CBS
This could be Eric Mangini's final home game as Head Coach of the Clowns, as the Clowns host the real Cleveland Browns (the Ravens), who also knocked off New Orleans this year (in a 30-24 win last week, the Clowns did it 30-17 back in Rocktober). Last week, the Clowns couldn't get past the Bengals weak defense, and this week, they have to put up with Ray Lewis, Jarrett Johnson, and Ed Reed (and next week- James Harrison and Friends). Colt McCoy may want the number of that truck.
Pick: Baltimore 34-7

Tennessee Titans (6-8) at Kansas City Chiefs (9-5)- 1PM EST at Arrowhead Stadium (Kansas City)- CBS
Kansas City needs a win to stay in control of the AFC West, because one slip up this late in the season will put the ball in San Diego's hands. With Matt Cassel back, there will be a massive oil spill on the Titans sidelines.
Pick: Kansas City 27-17

New England Patriots (12-2) at Buffalo Bills (4-10)- 1PM EST at Ralph Wilson Stadium (Orchard Park, NY)- CBS
New England clinches Home Field and the AFC East with a win over the Bills.
Pick: New England 42-3

San Francisco 49ers (5-9) at St. Louis Rams (6-8)- 1PM EST at Edward Jones Dome (St. Louis)- Fox
This would normally be a snoozefest. However, the NFC West is STILL at Stake, and the 49ers could turn the table if they win out. However, the Rams want to close the lid on the NFC West.
Pick: St. Louis 20-10

Detroit Lions (4-10) at Miami Dolphins (7-7)- 1PM EST at SunLife Stadium (Miami Gardens, FL)- Fox
Last week, the Detroit Lions snapped a 26-game road losing streak with an overtime win in the state of Florida (a 23-20 win over Tampa Bay). Can Detroit make it two in a row in the Sunshine State? It is possible, as Miami lost to Buffalo last week. Buffalo? Come on.
Pick: Detroit 24-13 (Upset Pick of the Week)

Washington Redskins (5-9) at Jacksonville Jaguars (8-6)- 1PM EST at EverBank Field (Jacksonville, FL)- Fox
The Donovan McNabb era in Washington is over, and Jacksonville doesn't care. All they want to do is win and hope that Indianapolis slips up.
Pick: Jacksonville 31-24

New York Jets (10-4) at Chicago Bears (10-4)- 1PM EST at Soldier Field (Chicago)- CBS
Both teams can clinch playoff berths with wins; Chicago can clinch the NFC North with a win. Last week, they buried Minnesota after being pummeled by the Patriots at home.
Pick: Chicago 28-23

Houston Texans (5-9) at Denver Broncos (3-11)- 4PM EST at Invesco Field at Mile High (Denver)- CBS
Gary Kubiak returns to Denver, for perhaps the last time as the Texans head coach.
Pick: Houston 31-10

San Diego Chargers (9-5) at Cincinnati Bengals (3-11)- 4PM EST at Paul Brown Stadium (Cincinnati)- CBS
This could be the last Bengals home game for Chad Ochocinco and Cedric Benson, and most importantly Head Coach Marvin Lewis. Last week, the Bengals snapped a ten-game losing streak as the Bengals flushed the Cleveland Browns down the Ohio River in a 19-17 squeaker. This week, they'll be lucky to even get in the end zone. (Really?) Let me put it this way to a little ditty that never gets old...With Thunderbolts and Lightning, We'll Light Up the Sky; San Diego Super Chargers, San Diego Chargers, San Diego Super Chargers, San Diego Chargers, CHARGE!!!
Pick: San Diego Super Chargers, San Diego CHARGERS, San Diego Super Chargers, San Diego CHARGERS, CHARGE!!! 34-0

Indianapolis Colts (8-6) at Oakland Raiders (7-7)- 4PM EST at Oakland Coliseum (Oakland, CA)- CBS
This is do or die for Oakland...and for the Colts, as well.
Pick: Oakland 17-13

Seattle Seahawks (6-8) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-6)- 4:15PM EST at Raymond James Stadium (Tampa)- Fox
Last week, Tampa lost in OT to a 3-10 team. They won't make the same mistake with the Seahawks.
Pick: Tampa Bay 23-13

New York Giants (9-5) at Green Bay Packers (8-6)- 4:15PM EST at Lambeau Field (Green Bay, WI)- Fox
Last week, the Giants had a huge 4th-quarter meltdown. Up 24-10 after three quarters, you would assume that the Giants would have this game wrapped up, right? WRONG. The Giants built it to 31-10, but it was all downhill from there, as The Michael Vick Show hijacked the Meadowlands, as the Eagles scored three touchdowns to tie the game at 31. And just when you thought that the game was headed into overtime, GUESS AGAIN. The Giants punt the ball on the last play of regulation, when DeSean Jackson muffs the punt, and then picks it up at the Eagles 35-yard line with seven seconds left, and Jackson keeps running, and he ran for a mere 65 yards on the punt, as the Eagles won the game on the final play, 38-31. The Packers almost beat the Patriots in Foxborough, but blew it on the final drive. Can the Giants win in the cold? Can the Packers win, possibly without Aaron Rodgers?
Pick: NY Giants 16-7

TUESDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL:
Minnesota Vikings (5-9) at Philadelphia Eagles (10-4)- 8:20PM EST on NBC
If Favre is not playing, NBC should have flexed the Jets-Bears game instead of this potential snoozefest episode of The Michael Vick Show. LATE BREAKING NEWS: This game has now been postponed to Tuesday night at 8PM, because of inclement weather and a State of Emergency in Philadelphia.
Pick: Philadelphia 35-0

MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL SEASON FINALE:
New Orleans Saints (10-4) at Atlanta Falcons (12-2)- 8:30PM EST on ESPN
I've seen the Falcons beat boxing on that NFL Play 60 commercial, and they'll beat box Drew Brees, as this sports institution wraps up its 41st season.
Pick: Atlanta 31-23

THE FIRING LINE:
Black Monday (the day after the Regular Season wraps up) is a dreaded day for NFL coaches. However, three coaches (Wade Phillips- Dallas, Brad Childress- Minnesota, and Josh McDaniels- Denver) were beaten to the punch by being fired in the middle of this season. However, on January 3, there could be more NFL Head Coaches joining them.

VERY LIKELY TO BE FIRED:
Carolina Panthers- John Fox: Carolina had big dreams of making it to the playoffs; However at 2-12, Fox's contract expires at the end of the season, and Carolina is looking to move on.
Cleveland Browns- Eric Mangini: Mike Holmgren gave the BoyGenius a year to figure things out. Mangini did improve things, by utilizing Peyton Hillis. But not even Hillis can save Mangenius's job, as losses to Buffalo and Cincinnati (and impending sweeps by Baltimore and Pittsburgh) could be the knockout punch for Holmgren, who built winning teams in Green Bay and Seattle, and wants to do the same as the Clowns' President.
Houston Texans- Gary Kubiak: In nine years, the Houston Texans have NEVER made the playoffs, and just got their first (and so far only) winning season last year at 9-7. This year, they took a huge step backward.
San Francisco 49ers- Mike Singletary: The 49ers of the Bill Walsh/George Seifert/hell, even Steve Mariucci days are a distant memory. Joe Montana, Steve Young, Jerry Rice, and T.O. have now become Troy Smith and Ted Ginn Jr. (ring a bell, folks?). The DiBartolo-Yorks want to see the Niners return to those glory days of the '80s and early '90s, and if the Niners don't win out (they have a slim shot at being the first losing team ever to win their Division), Singletary is screwed.
Tennessee Titans- Jeff Fisher: The current longest-tenured coach in the NFL is on the hot seat, thanks to the soap opera involving him and his star quarterback (Vince Young).

VERY LIKELY TO BE FIRED OR QUIT:
Cincinnati Bengals- Marvin Lewis: Lewis's contract expires at the end of the season, and the Cincinnati Bengals are a complete mess, as Terrell Owens explained on The T.Ocho Show. In 20 years, Mike Brown has shattered this team as the Owner/GM of the Bengals. Unless Mike Brown fires himself as GM, Marvin Lewis will have coached his final game as Bengals head coach next Sunday in Baltimore.

POSSIBLY COULD GET FIRED:
Arizona Cardinals- Ken Whisenhunt: Two years after making the Super Bowl, and then losing the man who got you there (Kurt Warner retired) is one factor blowing win in Whisenhunt's face.
Buffalo Bills- Chan Gailey: It is possible, but not really likely...at least not this year.

VERY LIKELY TO BE HIRED:
Dallas Cowboys- Jason Garrett (interim coach)- Garrett has gotten the job done since taking over for Wade Phillips as Head Coach. If Garrett gets the job, look for Dallas to make a deep playoff run in the next year or so.

PLAYOFF PICTURE
AFC
1) New England (12-2)- CLINCHED Playoffs; Clinches AFC East + # 1 seed with win
2) Pittsburgh (10-4)
3) Kansas City (9-5)- beat San Diego in Week 1
4) Indianapolis (8-6)- better conference record than Jacksonville
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5) Baltimore (10-4)- beat the Jets in Week 1
6) NY Jets (10-4)

STILL IN: San Diego (9-5), Jacksonville (8-6), Oakland (7-7)
ELIMINATED: Miami (7-7), Tennessee (6-8), Cleveland (5-9), Buffalo (4-10), Denver and Cincinnati (3-11)

NFC
1) Atlanta (12-2)- Clinched Playoffs; Clinches NFC South + # 1 seed with Win
2) Chicago (10-4)- beat Philadelphia in Week 12
3) Philadelphia (10-4)
4) St. Louis (6-8)
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5) New Orleans (10-4)
6) NY Giants (9-5)

STILL IN: Green Bay (8-6), Tampa Bay (8-6), and dare I say it...Seattle (6-8) and San Francisco (5-9)
ELIMINATED: Dallas, Minnesota, and Washington (5-9), Detroit and Arizona (4-10), Carolina (2-12)

What 10-6 or 11-5 team will most likely NOT make the playoffs? Find out next week as we predict all 16 of Next Sunday's Games in the Regular Season Finale.