Each week Swinging Johnson delivers his NFL picks and predicts the score for each game on the NFL slate.
Let’s see how he does this time around as we head into Week 16 and see what Swinger thinks of this week’s upcoming games.
Swinger’s 2021 Pick All Record (50-40 ATS)
San Francisco 49ers vs. Tennessee Titans
Thursday, December 23, 2021 – 08:20 PM EST at Nissan Stadium
The Titans are at home, we'll be seeing one of their most lethal offensive threats returning in receiver A.J. Brown, and we'll be getting three points to boot against the San Francisco 49ers.
What’s not to like?
Score Prediction: Titans 24 – 49ers 23
NFL Pick: Titans +3 (-103) at Heritage Sports (visit our Heritage Sports Review)
Cleveland Browns vs. Green Bay Packers
Saturday, December 25, 2021, 4:30 PM EST at Lambeau Field
The Packers are coming off of a 31-30 win over the Ravens in a game in which they nearly let a 14 fourth-quarter lead turn into a regrettable loss. And now they must entertain the Browns, a team getting all their troops back after watching them set due to COVID protocols.
This is a game the Browns need much more than the Packers and should be able to hang within the generous margins.
Score Prediction: Packers 26 – Browns 23
NFL Pick: Browns +7½ (-107) at Bovada (visit our Bovada Review)
Indianapolis Colts vs. Arizona Cardinals
Saturday, December 25, 2021 – 08:15 PM EST at State Farm Stadium
The media is pumping the Colts’ tires and the public is buying in, which means the top sportsbooks are taking the temperature and delivering a diagnosis reflecting public sentiment. And because of that, we see the Cardinals as mere one-point favorites in the desert.
And while the Cards will miss DeAndre Hopkins in this one, they could be getting their starting center back after he was absent due to COVID which will smooth out the issues Murray had last week with the backup. Cardinals get back on track after a humiliating loss to the Lions last week.
Score Prediction: Cardinals 26 – Colts 20
NFL Pick: Cardinals -1 (-110) at Bovada
Detroit Lions vs. Atlanta Falcons
Sunday, December 26, 2021 – 01:00 PM EST at Mercedes-Benz Stadium
While it seems ludicrous to lay 5½ to 6 with the Falcons, we will begrudgingly do just that as Detroit’s Jared Goff is out due to COVID and many of their offensive weapons will lie dormant like T.J. Hockenson who is also out with a thumb injury.
A bad team getting worse due to injury is one bet I can’t make so let’s flip it around and back Atlanta.
Score Prediction: Falcons 24 – Lions 16
NFL Pick: Falcons -5½ (-108) at Heritage Sports
Baltimore Ravens vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Sunday, December 26, 2021 – 01:00 PM EST at Paul Brown Stadium
This is one of Swinger’s Picks this week and the Bengals should roll as easily as they did the last time they faced the Ravens when Cincinnati dominated from start to finish in a 41-17 thrashing in the Ravens’ sandbox.
The venue will shift to Cincinnati where the Bengals and Joe Burrow will devour Baltimore’s lousy pass defense and sweep the series going away.
Score Prediction: Bengals 36 – Ravens 21
NFL Pick: Bengals -2½ (-120) at BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review)
Los Angeles Rams vs. Minnesota Vikings
Sunday, December 26, 2021 – 01:00 PM EST at U.S. Bank Stadium
The Rams are coming off of a very short week after defeating the Seahawks, 20-10, on Tuesday night. This should bode well for a Vikings upset here especially if Adam Thielen can get back on the field.
Expect the Rams to be gassed and the Vikings offense ready to take advantage.
Score Prediction: Vikings 23 – Rams 21
NFL Pick: Vikings +3 (-110) at BetOnline
Buffalo Bills vs. New England Patriots
Sunday, December 26, 2021-1:00 PM EST at Gillette Stadium
The Patriots won the first meeting during the monsoon inside Highmark Stadium because they ran the ball all night long and the Bills couldn’t stop them.
Expect more passing from Mac Jones this time around (it couldn’t be less) but another healthy dose of the Pats dominating the trenches and controlling the clock will win the day for New England.
Score Prediction: Patriots 31 – Bills 27
NFL Pick: Patriots -2½ (-108) at Heritage Sports
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. New York Jets
Sunday, December 26, 2021 – 01:00 PM EST at MetLife Stadium
Here’s a pick your poison game between two of the league’s dregs.
I realize people are excited that the Jags have a shiny new outlook now that Urban is gone but they’re still the Jags and I can’t possibly bet them to win at home, let alone, on the road even against the equally dismal Jets. The venue talks in this one.
Score Prediction: Jets 19 – Jaguars 14
NFL Pick: Jets -1 (-110) at Bovada
New York Giants vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Sunday, December 26, 2021 – 1:00 PM EST at Lincoln Financial Field
The Giants beat the Eagles, 13-7 about a month ago and now the oddsmakers are giving them a 10-point head start.
While it is true Philadelphia will be more motivated as they are still in playoff contention, the Giants match up well enough in this spot to hang and get the cover.
Score Prediction: Eagles 29 – Giants 23
NFL Pick: Giants +10 (-107) at Bovada
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Carolina Panthers
Sunday, December 26, 2021 – 01:00 PM EST at Bank of America Stadium
If you saw Tom Brady slamming his tablet in frustration last week when the Bucs dropped a 9-0 decision to the Saints then you’re probably thinking what I’m thinking – he’s going to be itching to take out his anger on someone and the Panthers fit the mold perfectly.
Although Goodwin is out with a torn ACL and Fournette will be sidelined as well, Antonio Brown returns and Le’Veon Bell will play backup to Ronald Jones running the rock. The champs roll here.
Score Prediction: Buccaneers 34 – Panthers 16
NFL Pick: Buccaneers -10 (-108) at Heritage Sports
Los Angeles Chargers vs. Houston Texans
Sunday, December 26, 2021 – 01:00 PM EST at NRG Stadium
The Chargers roster is a bit of a mess headed into this one and it could see even more absences come Sunday. Austin Ekeler could miss and the Bolts’ defensive line will see some starters out for this one so don’t expect as much heat to be generated against the Texans’ backfield.
The smoke will need to clear before we see this one fully but right now the points are looking good against an undermanned Chargers’ squad.
Score Prediction: Chargers 26 – Texans 18
NFL Pick: Texans +10 (-110) at Bovada
Chicago Bears vs. Seattle Seahawks
Sunday, December 26, 2021- 4:05 PM EST at Lumen Field
Justin Fields is coming off a 285-yard passing performance and is starting to look more comfortable under center at the next level.
Meanwhile, the Seahawks are all but mathematically eliminated from the postseason after last week’s 20-10 loss to the Rams and could be disinterested in this matchup. They are also working on five days rest. Grab the points.
Score Prediction: Seahawks 21 – Bears 17
NFL Pick: Bears +6½ (-110) at Bovada
Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Sunday, December 26, 2021- 4:25 PM EST GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium
The Chiefs’ defense has come alive down the stretch and the entire team is now clicking on all cylinders.
The Steelers are lucky to be at 7-6-1 and will be exposed as the paper tiger they truly are when they take a beating at Arrowhead this Sunday.
Score Prediction: Chiefs 38 – Steelers 20
NFL Pick: Chiefs -9½ (-108) at Heritage Sports
Denver Broncos vs. Las Vegas Raiders
Sunday, December 26, 2021- 4:25 PM EST at Allegiant Stadium
This was the game in which Doug Upstone and I debated in our Point/Counterpoint feature this week. Although Doug is big on the Raiders, I can’t see it and believe the Broncos will walk away victors in this divisional showdown.
Score Prediction: Broncos 24 – Raiders 20
NFL Pick: Broncos +1 (-110) at BetOnline
Washington Football Team vs. Dallas Cowboys
Sunday, December 26, 2021 – 08:20 PM EST at AT&T Stadium
The NFL odds are showing the Cowboys as nine-point home chalk in this one and it’s easy to see why. Dallas should dominate in the trenches and make life miserable for the Washington backfield.
Factor in a big performance by Dak Prescott against a Washington team that played on Tuesday night and this has all the makings of a blowout.
Score Prediction: Cowboys 34 – Washington 13
NFL Pick: Cowboys -9 (-110) at BetOnline
Miami Dolphins vs. New Orleans Saints
Monday, December 27, 2021 - 08:15 PM EST at Caesars Superdome
The Saints are coming off of an enormous win over the Bucs so it wouldn’t surprise me one iota to see them still basking in the afterglow of that victory and overlooking the Fish here.
The Dolphins have been doing nothing but winning lately and a mild upset down on the bayou wouldn’t surprise us one bit.
Score Prediction: Dolphins 27 – Saints 24
NFL Pick: Dolphins +3 (-105) at BetOnline
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.
