NFL Week 16 Picks: Cleveland Browns vs. New York Jets Predictions

Cleveland Browns vs. New York Jets Predictions

• The Browns have failed to cover the spread in 8 of their last 9 road games against AFC opponents

Oh Jets. Sunday night’s 23-20 victory over the Los Angeles Rams was arguably one of the NFL’s worst ever wins, upsetting and humiliating both Rams fans and Jets fans, who had already locked on to Trevor Lawrence as the team’s saviour.

Ultimately that result could reshape the NFL for the next decade, because if both the Jets and Jags lose out from here, it’ll leave the first overall pick, likely Trevor Lawrence, in Jacksonville’s hands. While that result will still give Jets fans nightmares, it does show, especially when combined with some impressive performances (in part) recently, that this is a team with guts and determination. There’s actually a lot to like about this team, their offensive line has improved, Denzel Mims looks like he could be a diamond in the rough, and Quinnen Williams should have been given a Pro-Bowl nod, given how well he’s performed this year.

They now welcome the Browns in MetLife, the only other franchise in the sport who can share their pain. Things have changed for Cleveland though, their fans optimistic and excited for postseason football, and even the possibility of a divisional title. Things change quickly in the NFL and we need to be reminded of that.

The Browns are 9 points favorites for good reason, they’re 10-4 and closing fast on the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC North. Over the past few weeks there has been a huge improvement, with the returns of Nick Chubb and Wyatt Teller, then Baker Mayfield’s star turn against the Titans. This is a serious football team, and they’re going to win on Sunday in New York.

While they might win, they won’t cover. The Browns’ Wyatt Teller is “week to week” and if he doesn’t play it’ll be a huge loss. The other thing going against them here is the Jets will to win. For all the talk of tank, they’ve shown us one intangible element of football, desire. They’re going to end this season off with fight and battle in every single game. I can’t believe I’m doing this, and it might be the first time this season, but I’ll be taking the Jets to cover.

NFL Expert Picks

1u – Jets +9 @ -105

NFL Free Picks

It's a festive week and we have plenty of football to get stuck into. There's no Thursday Night Football this week but we have the Vikings travel to New Orleans to face the Saints on Christmas Day. Saturday gives us a triple threat of football to wager on. The Bucs can secure playoffs if they beat the Lions. Elsewhere the Dolphins face the Raiders and the 49ers play the Cardinals.

Sunday sees a number of matches with playoff implications, the Rams @ Seahawks being the most important. We'll also see the Jets and Jaguars play, with fans of the New Yorkers praying that Jacksonville wins and puts them back in the hotseat for Trevor Lawrence. The Titans face the Green Bay Packers on Sunday Night Football. Monday's game is a dead rubber in all reality, as the Bills travel to play the Patriots, with New England officially out of playoff contention.

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