Week 16 Games of the Week

Pittsburgh Steelers @ Baltimore Ravens

4:30 pm EST (Saturday) / FOX

The Reserves Picks

PIT: Dillon, Zach

BAL: Charlie, Adam, Jesse, Ian

It’s no news that the Steelers and Ravens sport one of the deepest rivalries in NFL history. If this isn’t enough to get you excited, consider taking into account that they are in the midst of the last remaining AFC Divisional race that hasn’t already been clinched. The Steelers currently lead the North by one game and hold the tiebreaker in the event of a Ravens win. In the previous matchup, it was a defensive showdown, where the Steelers edged it out by 2 points. The Ravens started off the year slow, but have been pretty hot since. Since the Steelers’ seemingly questionable move to bench QB Justin Fields in favor of Russell Wilson, they have taken things to another level. On both sides, we have legitimate MVP and DPOY candidates in QB Lamar Jackson and DE TJ Watt. 4 reserves experts choose the Ravens and 2 have gone with the Steelers. I fully expect this to be another close battle between these two highly talented teams. - Charlie Smythers

New York Giants @ Atlanta Falcons

1:00pm EST / FOX

The Reserves Picks

NYG: Zach

ATL: Charlie, Jesse, Adam, Dillon, Ian

It’s not every day that you see a team in the midst of one of the tightest divisional races in the entire NFL bench their quarterback in favor of a rookie. Nonetheless, on Sunday, the Falcons will send out controversial first-round pick QB Michael Pinnix Jr. to keep whatever playoff hopes alive, which interestingly enough takes the backseat when it comes to storylines. It’s not that Pinnix Jr. was a controversial pick in terms of talent, in all actuality, that was far from the truth. However, after signing Kirk Cousins to a massive offseason deal, spending the eighth overall pick on a rookie quarterback rightfully raises some questions. Especially now that reports are saying that the Falcons plan to release Cousins before part of his signing bonus is due. Nevertheless, Pinnix Jr. will certainly have some talented weapons at his disposal to use against a Giants team that might be in a tanking situation anyway. There’s always next year. Right, Ian? - Adam Houston

Cleveland Browns @ Cincinnati Bengals

1:00pm EST / FOX

The Reserves Picks

CLE: Ian

CIN: Charlie, Jesse, Adam, Dillon, Zach

Somehow… Some way… in true Bengals fashion, they find themselves in the playoff hunt after an abysmal (to say the least) start to the season. When looking where to place the blame it would be wise to look to the defense as QB Joe Burrow leads the entire NFL in passing yards and touchdowns, WR Ja’Marr Chase is comfortably in line for the receiving triple crown, RB Chase Brown has emerged as a talented lead back, and WR Tee Higgins has continued (when healthy) to looking like he would be a legitimate WR1 on most other offenses across the league. Cincinnati’s defense has been, for a lack of better terms, horrible. Swiss cheese doesn’t even begin to describe the situation. In fact, on the year, they trail only the Carolina Panthers in points allowed per game.

But yes, amidst the madness, the playoffs are very much within reach and the path is rather direct. The Bengals must win out and the Broncos must lose out and the Broncos are already one step ahead in this regard. What will the Bengals do with this opportunity? The cards are in their hands against a Browns team that is sending Dorian Thompson-Robinson out as their starting quarterback this week. - Adam Houston