Our Top NFL Week 16 Parlay: Best Bets for Sunday's Games
Los Angeles Rams vs. Minnesota Vikings
Sunday, December 26, 2021 at 1 p.m. ET at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis
Key Star: Jalen Ramsey
Ram cornerback Jalen Ramsey is arguably the NFL's top cornerback.
He ranks eighth in pass breakups, has allowed one touchdown while he's intercepted three passes, and hasn't been burned a single time.
His resume is stellar: he limited Green Bay star Davante Adams to 48 yards receiving, performed even better against Tennessee's AJ Brown, Chicago's Allen Robinson, and the list continues.
The two-time All-Pro selection's presence will be significant for Sunday's game because Minnesota relies heavily on a single wide receiver, Justin Jefferson.
Jefferson has very nearly twice as many yards as any other Viking receiver. By a margin of 25, he leads the team in receptions.
But Ramsey will lock him down and Jefferson's reduced output will be significant because the Vikings failed to exceed 17 points in any game where Jefferson failed to reach 50 receiving yards.
Key Star: Aaron Donald
Largely because of multi-time Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald's disruptiveness in the interior, the Rams own the seventh best run defense as measured by opposing rushing yards.
His presence creates a bad matchup for a Viking offense that loves to lean on running back Dalvin Cook.
The Vikings are 0-4 ATS in games when Cook fails to reach 50 rushing yards. This trend includes the games Cook did not play in at all.
Ram Offense vs. Viking Defense
Despite renewed efforts to create balance in the offense by leaning on Sony Michel and/or Darrell Henderson in the run game, L.A. is a pass-heavy squad.
The Rams pass for the third-most yards per game partly because they own the nation's ninth-highest pass-play percentage.
With a gun-slinger in Matt Stafford, a historically elite, NFL-leading wide receiver in Cooper Kupp, and other pass-catching options, the Ram pass attack is stacked.
They will feast on a Viking defense that ranks 29th in limiting opposing yards as lesser guys like Steeler Ben Roethlisberger and Lion Jared Goff have produced strong performances.
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. New York Jets
Sunday, December 26, 2021 at 1 p.m. ET at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey
Jaguar Offense
Jacksonville has failed in eight consecutive games to exceed 20 points.
Nobody is going to pretend that the Jet defense is any good.
But the Jaguars have already had opportunities to show something against the league's worst defenses.
Emancipated from the strongly disliked Urban Meyer, the Jaguars were in a great spot against the Texans and against Houston's 29th-ranked scoring defense.
But the Jags still needed the help of a Texan interception that gave Jacksonville superb field position to reach 16 points.
With a struggling quarterback in Trevor Lawrence and lack of talent in the receiving crew, the offense poses a minimal threat.
Jacksonville's Improving Defense
For all of its woes, Jacksonville is still trying on defense.
After limiting the Titans to 20 points, the Jags held Houston's offense to 23 points.
23 points may sound like a lot, but the Texans boast a very strong receiver in speedster Brandin Cooks. His 4.33 speed makes him a viable deep threat, which is something that Jacksonville has struggled to contain.
But with Elijah Moore still on IR, the Jets lack this deep threat.
Without the dangerous ability of Moore, of guys like Cooks, Deebo Samuel, and so forth, the Jets resemble the other talent-deficient teams like Tennessee that struggled to reach 20 points against an improved Jaguar defense.
Despite possessing the ball for nearly 37 minutes and having a three-yard drive, the Titans couldn't accomplish more on offense than score 20 points.
A struggling quarterback and backup-caliber players at the skill positions fill out the Jet offense as it did the Titan offense.
The Verdict
L.A.'s pass-heavy attack will feast on a vulnerable Viking secondary while the Rams boast star power in the secondary and defensive line to limit Minnesota's key offensive weapons.
Meanwhile, atrocious Jaguar and Jet offenses will both fail to score on any consistent basis.
Best Bet: Rams -3 at -103 & Jaguars/Jets Under 41.5 at -108 at +280 odds with Heritage
Los Angeles Rams vs. Minnesota Vikings
Sunday, December 26, 2021 at 1 p.m. ET at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis
Key Star: Jalen Ramsey
Ram cornerback Jalen Ramsey is arguably the NFL's top cornerback.
He ranks eighth in pass breakups, has allowed one touchdown while he's intercepted three passes, and hasn't been burned a single time.
His resume is stellar: he limited Green Bay star Davante Adams to 48 yards receiving, performed even better against Tennessee's AJ Brown, Chicago's Allen Robinson, and the list continues.
The two-time All-Pro selection's presence will be significant for Sunday's game because Minnesota relies heavily on a single wide receiver, Justin Jefferson.
Jefferson has very nearly twice as many yards as any other Viking receiver. By a margin of 25, he leads the team in receptions.
But Ramsey will lock him down and Jefferson's reduced output will be significant because the Vikings failed to exceed 17 points in any game where Jefferson failed to reach 50 receiving yards.
Key Star: Aaron Donald
Largely because of multi-time Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald's disruptiveness in the interior, the Rams own the seventh best run defense as measured by opposing rushing yards.
His presence creates a bad matchup for a Viking offense that loves to lean on running back Dalvin Cook.
The Vikings are 0-4 ATS in games when Cook fails to reach 50 rushing yards. This trend includes the games Cook did not play in at all.
Ram Offense vs. Viking Defense
Despite renewed efforts to create balance in the offense by leaning on Sony Michel and/or Darrell Henderson in the run game, L.A. is a pass-heavy squad.
The Rams pass for the third-most yards per game partly because they own the nation's ninth-highest pass-play percentage.
With a gun-slinger in Matt Stafford, a historically elite, NFL-leading wide receiver in Cooper Kupp, and other pass-catching options, the Ram pass attack is stacked.
They will feast on a Viking defense that ranks 29th in limiting opposing yards as lesser guys like Steeler Ben Roethlisberger and Lion Jared Goff have produced strong performances.
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. New York Jets
Sunday, December 26, 2021 at 1 p.m. ET at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey
Jaguar Offense
Jacksonville has failed in eight consecutive games to exceed 20 points.
Nobody is going to pretend that the Jet defense is any good.
But the Jaguars have already had opportunities to show something against the league's worst defenses.
Emancipated from the strongly disliked Urban Meyer, the Jaguars were in a great spot against the Texans and against Houston's 29th-ranked scoring defense.
But the Jags still needed the help of a Texan interception that gave Jacksonville superb field position to reach 16 points.
With a struggling quarterback in Trevor Lawrence and lack of talent in the receiving crew, the offense poses a minimal threat.
Jacksonville's Improving Defense
For all of its woes, Jacksonville is still trying on defense.
After limiting the Titans to 20 points, the Jags held Houston's offense to 23 points.
23 points may sound like a lot, but the Texans boast a very strong receiver in speedster Brandin Cooks. His 4.33 speed makes him a viable deep threat, which is something that Jacksonville has struggled to contain.
But with Elijah Moore still on IR, the Jets lack this deep threat.
Without the dangerous ability of Moore, of guys like Cooks, Deebo Samuel, and so forth, the Jets resemble the other talent-deficient teams like Tennessee that struggled to reach 20 points against an improved Jaguar defense.
Despite possessing the ball for nearly 37 minutes and having a three-yard drive, the Titans couldn't accomplish more on offense than score 20 points.
A struggling quarterback and backup-caliber players at the skill positions fill out the Jet offense as it did the Titan offense.
The Verdict
L.A.'s pass-heavy attack will feast on a vulnerable Viking secondary while the Rams boast star power in the secondary and defensive line to limit Minnesota's key offensive weapons.
Meanwhile, atrocious Jaguar and Jet offenses will both fail to score on any consistent basis.
Best Bet: Rams -3 at -103 & Jaguars/Jets Under 41.5 at -108 at +280 odds with Heritage
