SportsPulse: USA TODAY Sports' NFL experts tell you who's going to win the biggest matchups of Week 16. USA TODAY Sports
A quick glance at items of interest as Week 16 commences in the NFL…
Who’s hot
Jimmy Garoppolo. In guiding the 49ers to victories in each of his three starts, Jimmy G. has proven that he is indeed the franchise quarterback worth trading for (sorry, Cleveland) rather than rolling the dice with some hotshot out of college. It’s not merely about the W’s, back-to-back 300-yard games or clutch comebacks. People within the 49ers’ organization maintain that Garoppolo -- trained by Bill Belichick, Tom Brady & Co. – has infused a certain vibe and energy that has been infectious. This is what you want from your franchise quarterback: a lightning rod leader who inspires everyone to raise their games. Garoppolo must still prove that he can remain durable over the long haul, and the toughest test yet comes on Sunday against Jacksonville and its No. 1 defense. Still, in sparking such a quick turnaround with San Francisco, Garoppolo, in the final year of his contract, has earned himself a lot of money as talks will heat up soon for the 49ers to secure him for the long term.
Pressure’s on
Ezekiel Elliott. The NFL’s reigning rushing champ is back from his six-game suspension, and word from Dallas is that he worked diligently during his layoff. Elliott shed excess weight and looks to be in tremendous shape. And obviously, his legs are fresh. But it might be a matter of too little, too late. The Cowboys will host Seattle while clinging to slim playoff hopes, needing way too much help. This is what happens when your best player is suspended for a significant chunk of the season. Dallas went 3-3 without Elliott. Ultimately the running game churned with Alfred Morris and Rod Smith, but it took too long to adjust. They will rue those lopsided losses against the Falcons, Eagles and Chargers – when the Cowboys scored a combined 22 points. Nonetheless, Elliott is poised to come back with a splash, looking to be fed. As Cowboys defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence put it, he’s ready to get “80 carries.” Too bad it might all add up to garbage time.
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Key matchup
Deion Jones vs. Drew Brees and Alvin Kamara. Maybe the most impactful player on the field for the Falcons when they defeated the Saints in Week 14 was Jones, the fast, second-year middle linebacker who happens to hail from…New Orleans. On the first series, Jones knocked Kamara, the likely NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, out of the game with a concussion. On the last series, with the Saints driving to win the game (if not tie it, and force overtime), he deftly dropped into coverage and intercepted Brees with a spectacular effort in the end zone. The rematch at the Superdome could determine the NFC South crown, with Kamara back in the rhythm of combining with Mark Ingram for the NFL’s best 1-2 running back tandem. Yet it will behoove the NFL’s No. 1-ranked offense to know where Jones – an emerging star named as a Pro Bowl alternate this week -- is positioned at all times.
Next man up
Sam Ficken. In a flash, the Rams have gone from having arguably the most reliable kicking game in the NFL to a major question mark as the playoffs loom. Greg Zuerlein is the NFL’s leading scorer with 158 points and was on pace to set the league’s single-season scoring record, but is now on injured reserve after surgery to repair a herniated disc. What a blow. Zuerlein has one of the NFL’s strongest legs and hit on 6 of his 7 field goal attempts of 50-plus yards. Ficken owns Penn State’s record for consecutive field goals, but heading into Tennessee – where the Rams can clinch the NFC West crown – he’s yet to appear in an NFL game.
Rookie watch
DeShone Kizer. Could this be the week? The Browns (0-14) head into Chicago trying to avoid becoming the second 0-16 teams in NFL history, while Kizer engages in a subplot with fellow rookie quarterback Mitchell Trubisky. While the Bears are committed to building with Trubisky, Kizer, the NFL’s lowest-rated passer (59.4), has a whale of a task in trying to convince new GM John Dorsey that he’s a viable long-term answer. Turnovers have been the most glaring issue. The second-round pick had three more last week against the Ravens, two the week before that. On the season: 9 TDs, 19 INTs, 6 lost fumbles. Sure, there’s hope. Look at the second-year improvement demonstrated by Jared Goff and Carson Wentz. Yet for the here and now, nothing would mark improvement for Kizer like winning a game.
Stomach for an upset
Chargers at Jets. After collapsing at Kansas City, L.A. still has a mathematical shot at the playoffs, but that would include getting past a pesky Jets squad (5-9) that has played hard all season for coach Todd Bowles. Remember the talk about tanking the season to get a high draft pick? In any event, a swing factor on Sunday could be New York’s ability to overpower the Chargers with the running game, which was part the Chiefs’ formula (in addition to turnovers). With Bilal Powell and Matt Forte, the Jets have rushed for more than 100 yards in five of their past seven games, while the Chargers will be missing their best run-defending linebacker, Denzel Perryman (hamstring). Not a great matchup for L.A.
If the playoffs were today…
The Lions (8-6) would miss out, barely, on claiming the final NFC wildcard slot. That could still be true after the smoke clears in Week 17, because Detroit loses head-to-head tiebreakers against the teams currently holding the wildcard slots – Carolina (10-4) and Atlanta (9-6). So how can the Lions make the playoffs? Win and pray. The Leos, at Cincinnati on Sunday and closing against the Packers (sans Aaron Rodgers) need some help in the form of the Falcons losing their final two games. Possible? Yes. Atlanta, at New Orleans on Sunday, closes at home against Carolina. But the Panthers can clinch a spot with a win this weekend against Tampa Bay and may lack incentive in Week 17. Got all that? It’s even messier for the Seahawks and Cowboys (both 8-6) who would need losses by Detroit and Atlanta to get in. One thing for sure: the loser at Dallas on Sunday is eliminated.
Did you notice?
With the NFL’s 27th-ranked offense, it’s striking that since Week 8, the Ravens rank third in the NFL (behind the Eagles and Rams) for points per game (30.7). They also lead the league during that span with a point differential of +107. This, without Joe Flacco having even a single 300-yard game this season. Sure, the running game has emerged with Alex Collins and Flacco is playing with better efficiency (5-1, TD-INT, the past 4 games). But the explosion of points is a testament to the big-play defense, too, as the Ravens rank second in the NFL to Jacksonville with 118 points off turnovers.
Stat’s the fact
With 101 yards at Houston on Monday night, Le’Veon Bell will become the fastest man in NFL history to reach 8,000 yards from scrimmage. The Steelers running back, with a league-high 1,849 yards this season, has gained 7,899 yards in 61 career games. At the moment, Hall of Famer Eric Dickerson holds the distinction as fastest to 8,000…in 64 games.
