The Touchdown Three: Week 16

Well that was better wasn’t it? 2-1 this week, and if it wasn’t for the Cowboys remembering they were talented it might have been a perfect week.  We are in the final stretch now and every pick counts if I want to make sure I finished with a winning record, so no time to waste let’s get to the NFL Week 16 picks!

Week 15: 2-1-0

Overall Record: 22-21-2

Bills +6.5 @ Patriots

What a great victory for the Bills and all their fans this week. They now have 10 wins for the first time since 1999 when their head coach was Wade Phillips and their QB was Doug Flutie (look it up). This team seems to be on the up, and although I don’t think they can win the division there is a changing of the guard feel to the AFC East.

The Patriots got back to winning ways last week but it was far from convincing. At this point, the offense maybe broken beyond repair and while this is going to cause issues, their defense can hold teams scoreless, no matter how good they are, which can bail them out. I think there needs to be major offensive changes in the offseason if they want to make the most of the finals years of Brady.

I may be mad but I really like the Bills in this spot. Ok, they may not win but I don’t see the Pats being able to score enough to cover the points. Take the Bills here

Cowboys @ Eagles +2.5

The Cowboys woke up last week and destroyed the Rams. They finally looked like the team they should be and that should give the team confidence. The issue is Dak Prescott, he has a shoulder injury and won’t throw until game day. This could be a major issue for the Cowboys if they aren’t able to take advantage of the terrible Eagles secondary.

Ok, somehow the Eagles have got here. Not exactly decisive victories against the Giants and Washington, but they won and now have an NFC East decider this week. Wentz has not been at his 2017 MVP form, but there were good signs in the 2nd half against Washington, so it seems he is getting on form at the right time.

If recent history has taught us anything, it is to trust the Eagles and distrust the Cowboys the later into the season you get. With this in mind take the Eagles to be the team to get Garrett fired (finally)

Packers @ Vikings -5.5

Every week I watch the Packers and think this is the week they convince me they are a good team, and every week I am less convinced. I know you can only beat the teams in front of you but I just thought I would have been wowed more by a team that has 11 wins already.

Do you know who are money? The Vikings at home! They are 6-0 at home with the average margin of victory being over 2 TD’s. I really think the Vikings are the best team in this division and when they make the playoffs they will give some teams a real scare. They aren’t perfect but I think they have a chance to make a deep run this postseason.

It would be easy to get lazy take and say Cousins is playing Monday night so take the Packers, but I don’t believe that to be true. The Vikings are great at home and I expect them to win this comfortably. Take the Vikings

If you do like the ideas from this column and decide to use some of your hard earned cash to try and make some money, please remember that thetouchdown.co.uk takes no responsibility if you lose. Also please do gamble responsibly.

Paul Mainwaring

NFL Analyst

A former UKEndzone writer, Paul has been dragged out of an enforced retirement to give his thoughts on the NFL and anything else  he can slide past the editorial team.

Paul is most famous (infamous?) as Mainz one half of Waxing Lyrical. alongside his Partner in Crime Neil ‘Dutts’ Dutton.

Find him @Mainzey7 where all manner of sports are on the menu.

Image credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports, Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports, Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports