NFL Week 16 predictions, odds and betting tips: Allen on the run

Free American football tips, best bets and analysis for Week 16 of the 2021 NFL season.

Best bets

Under 43.5 points in Detroit Lions at Atlanta Falcons
6pm Sunday
1pt 4-5 Boyles

Josh Allen over 35.5 rushing yards
6pm Sunday
2pts 20-23 bet365

Ja’Marr Chase under 63.5 receiving yards
6pm Sunday
1pt 10-11 bet365

Detroit Lions at Atlanta Falcons

The Lions pulled off one of the upsets of the season when downing the Arizona Cardinals last Sunday but will be hard-pressed to make it back-to-back wins after losing first string quarterback Jared Goff to Covid protocols. Goff’s back-up Tim Boyle threw for 77 yards, zero touchdowns and two interceptions on his only other start this year and the Lions are expected to keep the ball out of Boyle's hands by adopting a run-first approach to offence in Atlanta.

Detroit’s defence was excellent against the Cardinals and could limit a Falcons team who have struggled to perform at home this year, losing five out of six in Atlanta. The Falcons have averaged fewer than 16 points per game on their own turf this year, helping the points total go under in all but two games in Georgia this season.

Buffalo Bills at New England Patriots

Josh Allen produced the performance of his career when he last visited New England and the Bills will need him to be superhuman again if they are to keep their playoff push on track. He threw for 320 yards and four touchdowns in a 38-9 thrashing of the Patriots, while also adding 35 yards rushing.

He looks a fair price to go one yard better than that rushing total on his return to Foxborough having eclipsed 35.5 yards in eight of Buffalo’s 14 games this season. He ran for 39 yards the last time the Bills and Patriots met and may well need to be on his toes to escape a New England defence who have a good record of pressuring opposition quarterbacks.

Baltimore Ravens at Cincinnati Bengals

Rookie wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase was named a Pro Bowler this week following a strong first season in the NFL. Chase’s standout performance this year came in Cincinnati’s last meeting with Baltimore when he had over 200 yards receiving in a 41-17 demolition of the Ravens. Since that Week Seven meeting, Chase’s role in Cincinnati’s offence has shrunk, registering less than 50 yards in five of his subsequent seven games.

Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow is no longer fixated on getting his old college pal the ball, spreading it about among a talented group of receivers which also features Tyler Boyd and Tee Higgins. Having been burnt by Chase once this year, the Ravens could decide to double up on the rookie and it could prove tough for him to eclipse his receiving line.

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