USA TODAY Sports' Week 16 NFL picks

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SportsPulse: USA TODAY Sports' NFL experts tell you who's going to win the biggest matchups of Week 16. USA TODAY Sports

Happy Holidays!

The NFL is in a giving mood with Week 16 games on Saturday, Christmas Eve (Sunday) and two more on Christmas.

It's possible that 11 of the 12 playoff berths will be sewn up by Monday night, perhaps with each conference's No. 1 seed also on lockdown.

This weekend also marks the return of Dallas Cowboys tailback Ezekiel Elliott from suspension as his team and Sunday afternoon's opponent, the Seattle Seahawks, desperately try to remain on the fringe of the NFC wild-card chase.

PHOTOS: NFL power rankings heading into Week 16

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NFL Week 16 Power Rankings

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32. Browns (32): New GM John Dorsey ripped his predecessors last week and quality of roster he inherited. Then winless team went out and proved him right. Again.  Ken Blaze, USA TODAY Sports

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31. Giants (31): Though rookie TE Evan Engram clearly wasn't a need pick, ousted GM Jerry Reese at least scored a good player who will be a building block.  Brad Penner, USA TODAY Sports

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30. Bengals (28): Leave it to curmudgeonly Marvin Lewis and this franchise to completely botch what really ought to be an amicable divorce.  Sam Greene, USA TODAY Network

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29. Texans (30): So if Blake Bortles is "trash," as Houston's Jadeveon Clowney alleges, what does that make Houston's defense? A mountain of used Pampers maybe?  Phelan M. Ebenhack, AP

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28. Colts (29): Frank Gore is 207 yards shy of his tenth 1,000-yard season. Hey, gotta have some kind of goal the whole team can rally around in garbage time.  Brian Spurlock, USA TODAY Sports

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27. Bears (27): So who's this team's MVP? Cast our vote for underappreciated Akiem Hicks, who's got eight sacks from the pits while shutting down RBs.  Paul Sancya, AP

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26. Jets (25): Hackenberg! Hackenberg! Hackenberg! (Kirk Cousins!) Hackenberg! Hackenberg! Hackenberg!  Brad Penner, USA TODAY Sports

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25. Broncos (24): (Another) tough break for Trevor Siemian, but this franchise really did need the opportunity to get an extended look at Paxton Lynch.  Thomas J. Russo, USA TODAY Sports

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24. Dolphins (23): So they've established that RB Kenyan Drake is right guy to anchor run game in future, and Jay Cutler is wrong guy to trigger passing game.  Mark Konezny, USA TODAY Sports

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23. Buccaneers (22): Jameis Winston turned in a strong effort in Monday night’s loss, but he still hasn’t eaten a W since Oct. 1.  Jasen Vinlove, USA TODAY Sports

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22. Cardinals (19): In "what could have been" season, Chandler Jones has "what could still be" shot to be NFL sack king if he fends off ex-mate Calais Campbell.  Mark J. Rebilas, USA TODAY Sports

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21. 49ers (26): So will the '72 Dolphins uncork champagne bottles Sunday if Jacksonville manages to deal an elusive defeat to the Garoppolo Niners?  Kyle Terada, USA TODAY Sports

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20. Raiders (21): Even if he's pressing at this point, we admire Derek Carr's accountability. But expect questions about his ability to follow him into offseason.  Cary Edmondson, USA TODAY Sports

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19. Redskins (20): Hey, Jay Gruden, did you know no coach has reached a fifth season since Dan Snyder bought the team? Might want to have that resume polished.  Geoff Burke, USA TODAY Sports

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18. Packers (13):Atlanta’s win Monday night eliminated them from playoff race. Time now to showcase Brett Hundley and protect valiant Aaron Rodgers.  Jim Matthews, USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin

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17. Titans (15): Sunday's home date with Rams will conclude a three-week NFC West gauntlet that appears likely to prove fatal to Tennessee's season.  Sergio Estrada, USA TODAY Sports

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16. Bills (17): They need a pass defense that's given up league-low 11 TD passes to show up in a big way Sunday at Foxborough in order to maintain playoff dream.  Timothy T. Ludwig, USA TODAY Spor

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15. Lions (16): Remember "The Lion Sleeps Tonight"? We're dating ourselves? Anyway, everyone seems to be sleeping on the Lions, who have a great shot to be 10-6.  Tim Fuller, USA TODAY Sports

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14. Cowboys (14): Zeke who? Run game last three weeks actually better than Dallas' overall season average. But we'll venture they're happy to have Elliott back.  Tim Heitman, USA TODAY Sports

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13. Chargers (11): A run defense that's been susceptible all season broke down at worst time – on a night when Philip Rivers also failed to protect ball.  Denny Medley, USA TODAY Sports

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12. Seahawks (9): Amazing how quickly they've imploded on field and in locker room, though LB Bobby Wagner has every right to be miffed at FS Earl Thomas.  Joe Nicholson, USA TODAY Sports

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11. Chiefs (18): Credit the much-maligned defense for Kansas City's revival. It's allowed just 28 points the past two weeks while forcing seven turnovers.  LARRY W. SMITH, EPA-EFE

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10. Ravens (12): Offense is averaging 31 points since Week 10 bye. The biggest problem is Cleveland, which is killing Baltimore in strength of victory tiebreaker.  Ken Blaze, USA TODAY Sports

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9. Falcons (8): They’re not nearly as potent as 2016 version, but they’ve managed to beat all the teams chasing them for final NFC wild-card berth.  Jasen Vinlove, USA TODAY Sports

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8. Eagles (10): Though focus is currently on substitute QB Nick Foles, what's up with the substitute defense, which has allowed 29.3 points per in last three games.  Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY Sports

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7. Jaguars (7): Still don't believe in Blake Bortles? His numbers during Jags' 3-0 December (71.4% completion rate, 903 yards, 7 TDs, 0 INTs, 128.6 QB rating).  Kim Klement, USA TODAY Sports

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6. Panthers (6): They could be Super caliber. Sadly, Jerry Richardson's fall adds to franchise's inordinate number of off-field scandals in less than quarter century.  Jim Matthews, USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin

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5. Saints (5): If they were looking past the sputtering Jets toward Week 16's matchup with the Falcons ... well, who could really blame New Orleans?  Scott Clause, The Advertiser-USA TODAY NETWORK

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4. Rams (4): Was there a more impressive win league-wide this season than issuing Seattle the worst loss of the Pete Carroll regime in the NFL's toughest venue?  Troy Wayrynen, USA TODAY Sports

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3. Vikings (3): Was there a more heartwarming moment league-wide this season than the way Minnesota's fans officially welcomed Teddy Bridgewater back to action?  Brad Rempel, USA TODAY Sports

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2. Steelers (1): Now in danger of losing that first-round bye, they may need it more than ever to give Antonio Brown maximum opportunity to recover for January.  Philip G. Pavely, USA TODAY Sports

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1. Patriots (2): They've certainly proven to be beatable lately. But they're also most deserving of this top spot and sure to be favored in AFC bracket.  Philip G. Pavely, USA TODAY Sports

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