Christmas Day NFL is one of the annual highlights on the calendar and this year is no different! 11 games make up the slate this Sunday and as always, we have you covered with a brief preview for every matchup below.
NFL Week 16 Sunday Betting Tips
Las Vegas Raiders at Pittsburgh Steelers
Sunday 12.15pm
The headline game on the Christmas Day slate sees the Steelers hosting the Raiders from 12.15pm. The Raiders captured a miracle win over the Patriots in Week 15 to keep a glimmer of life in the race for a AFC Wildcard berth. They will be back on the road on Sunday though, where they are just 2-6 straight up on the season and 3-5 against the spread.
The Steelers are 6-8 on the season and captured a good win in Week 15 over the Panthers. They are all but out of the playoff race but will want to end the season in a flurry with two big divisional games following this Christmas Day clash. The Steelers have won three of their last four games, covering the spread in each of those wins, all on the road to the Colts, Falcons and Panthers.
Like the Raiders here as road underdogs. The Steelers have been decent against the spread on the road this season but are just 2-3-1 ATS at home, coming undone multiple times when they have been favoured. The Raiders have so much more to play for with their season on the line and I think their offence will be too strong here.
Other Tips
New York Giants at Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings recorded one of the most miraculous comebacks in NFL history in Week 15 but rarely does a team back it up the next week after a performance like that. They are four games clear at the top of the NFC North, so don’t really have a lot to play for either, unlike the Giants, who are right in the heat of the battle for a wildcard spot in the NFC. Back the Giants to cover here.
Giants +3.5 ($1.90 at Ladbrokes)
New Orleans Saints at Cleveland Browns
The Saints were the only team in the NFC South to win on the weekend, which makes the battle for the division extra spicy with three games to go. The whole division is separated by just one game, meaning the Saints will be leaving it all on the line in the run home. Like them to cover the spread on the road here.
Saints +2.5 ($1.90 at Ladbrokes)
Detroit Lions at Carolina Panthers
The Lions captured another fantastic win in Week 15 to move to 7-7 on the season. They are a full 4 games behind the Vikings, so can no longer compete for the NFC North, but they are right in the mix for a wildcard spot in the NFC, so should comfortably beat the struggling Panthers in on Xmas.
Lions -2.5 ($1.90 at Ladbrokes)
Cincinnati Bengals at New England Patriots
The Patriots resurgence came to a crashing halt in stunning fashion on the weekend as they went down to the Raiders after an embarrassing blunder on the final play. They are not out of the playoff hunt just yet, but will likely need to win their remaining games to qualify. As good as they have been at home over the Belichick tenure, 3.5 points is not enough against this red hot Bengals team.
Bengals -3.5 ($1.90 at Ladbrokes)
Buffalo Bills at Chicago Bears
The Bills have won five on the trot and are absolutely rolling at the moment. They still have a lot to play for if they want to win home field advantage over the Chiefs and Bengals. In that five game winning streak, they are just 1-3-1 against the spread due to some massive lines. I don't think 8.5 is big enough here though.
Bille -8.5 ($1.90 at Ladbrokes)
Houston Texans at Tennessee Titans
A fourth straight loss for the Titans on the weekend means that it’s the AFC South is now back up for grabs. They sit just one game above the Jags but have the benefit of facing the 1-12 Texans on Xmas. Unders look the play here between two bottom 10 offences in the league.
Under 37.5 ($1.88 at Ladbrokes)
Seattle Seahawks at Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs offence has been firing on all cylinders of late but their lacklustre defence has been keeping opposition in games over the last few weeks. They have won four of their last five games but have failed to cover the spread in all of those games. Unsure about this 9.5 point line, but love the overs here.
Over 48.5 ($1.88 at Ladbrokes)
Atlanta Falcons at Baltimore Ravens
This is arguably the most interesting matchup of Xmas Day NFL as both the Ravens and Falcons sit one game behind their respective division leaders. Both are absolutely desperate for a win, which makes me think this will be played in a pretty defensive manner. Back the unders here.
Under 37.5 ($1.88 at Ladbrokes)
Washington Commanders at San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers are absolutely rolling at the moment and this one seems an easy pick. Their offence has put up 28 points per game over the last five. Should be too much at home for the Commanders.
49ers -7.5 ($1.90 at Ladbrokes)
Philadelphia Eagles at Dallas Cowboys
Monster NFC East matchup here to round things out. The Eagles can wrap up the NFC East with a win here, but they’ll have to do so without star quarterback Jalen Hurts, who will miss some time with injury. With Hurts out, I think the 46.0 total is a little high here.
Under 46.0 ($1.88 at Ladbrokes)
