NFL week 16 open thread

Today, the Pittsburgh Steelers have one of two must-win games facing them, this one at home against the Baltimore Ravens.  The Steelers beat the Ravens earlier in Baltimore [Update: No, they didn’t], but the two teams have traveled diverging paths to struggle into the wild-card race.  Last week, the Steelers found a way to beat a good Green Bay team at home on a last-second TD.  This week, they face a tougher defense and a struggling offense.  Only the winner has any shot at the playoffs.  I’ll pick the Steelers to split the season series, 24-19, but they had better rediscover their running game and hope that Troy Polamalu has a miraculous healing this morning (he’s not expected to play).

Last week, I got below .500 for the first time in the season, going 2-4 to bring my season pick record to 55-29.  Let’s see if I can’t get back in the black with these picks:

• Minnesota at Chicago – Jay Cutler on national TV?  Even with Brett Favre and Brad Childress at odds with each other, expect the Vikings to get healthy again with a 35-14 win.  I’ll guess that Cutler throws five interceptions.
• Denver at Philadelphia – Brian Westbrook returns, and the Eagles beat the struggling Broncos at home, 27-20.
• NY Jets at Indianapolis – Indy’s still unbeaten, and as much as I like the Jets, they’re going to be 15-0 after this game when they win 31-10.
• Dallas at Washington – Washington comes back from a bye week against a division rival.  At least that’s what Redskins fans would like to tell themselves after one of the most embarrassing efforts by an NFL team last week against the Giants.  Don’t expect it to get any better against a hot Cowboys squad.  37-17, Dallas.
• Carolina at the NY Giants – Carolina surprised Minnesota last week at home.  Can they surprise the Giants on the road?   This may be one of the best games of the week.  I’ll pick Carolina to upset the Giants, 27-24.