Nat Coombs' NFL Week 16 Tips Including Patriots @ Ravens

The battle for play-off places continues this weekend as the NFL season reaches Week 16.

Thirteen teams have been eliminated, which leaves 19 left to finish the season as high as they can in their respective conference seeding.

Nat Coombs, who will be in the FIVE studio for Sunday night's game between the Steelers and Lions, is sharing three more tips for this weekend's contests, using the latest odds from BetMGM.

* Our free to play Cosmo Spins game has blasted off and the Prize Wheel prizes include 5k in Cash! Click the banner below to play. Terms and conditions and location restrictions apply.

Nat Coombs' NFL Week 16 Tips:

• Nat Coombs' Panel Pick 1: Steelers @ Lions: Steelers (+7) - 22/25 With BetMGM
• Nat Coombs' Panel Pick 2: Patriots @ Ravens: Patriots (+3) - 17/20 With BetMGM
• Nat Coombs' Panel Pick 3: Chiefs @ Titans: Over 37.5 Total Points - 10/11 With BetMGM

Steelers @ Lions: Pittsburgh To Cover

The Pittsburgh Steelers are clearly making a play for assembling the oldest roster in the NFL, with wide receiver Adam Thielen the latest grizzled vet to join Mike Tomlin’s crew, which is fast becoming the NFL’s version of The Expendables. 

Sure, steamrolling the Miami Dolphins in primetime, with Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa serving up early Christmas presents to the Pittsburgh defense, is a very different proposition to facing a Detroit Lions offense with more bite, and a Lions side in win-or-bust mode. 

However, the Steelers have plenty on the line too. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers is finding increasing fluency in an offense underpinned by a solid ground game.

GAME NOTES:

Steelers are ranked =3rd with a turnover differential of +10
Lions are ranked =6th with a turnover differential of +9

Running back Kenneth Gainwell carries a lot of the load effectively, and that allows him to slice and dice, without needing too much mobility.

As a result, Pittsburgh don't have to rely on a deep threat, though DK Metcalf offers both, along with a compelling physicality. Plus, the Lions secondary is banged up. 

Will Pittsburgh have enough dimension for a deep play-off run? Probably not. Can they stay in the game on the road here? I think so.

Nat's Selection 1: Steelers @ Lions: Steelers (+7) - 22/25 With BetMGM

* Our free to play Dirty Dozen game has kicked off and there is a 12k jackpot (as well as other prizes) to be won every game week! Click the banner below to play. Terms and conditions apply.

WIN 12K

• FREE TO PLAY - REAL MONEY TO BE WON
• WILL THEY GET CARDED? - YOU DECIDE

FREE TO PLAY

Patriots @ Ravens: Pats To Keep It Close

It’ll be the Steelers or Baltimore Ravens to win the AFC North, and right now the Ravens are on the outside looking in. 

Sure, they’re rolling into this crucial match-up with the New England Patriots – who are scrapping for the number one seed in the AFC with the Denver Broncos – with swagger.

They blew out the Cincinnati Bengals and crucially shut out Joe Burrow and co (minus Tee Higgins, but still) in one of their stronger defensive performances of a much-maligned season.

GAME NOTES:

Patriots have scored 22+ points in last 11 games
Ravens have scored 22+ points in 7 of last 8 games 

However, issues remain offensively, with the remarkable Lamar Jackson playing short stacked because of injury and a struggling offensive line stifling him, although he’s looked stronger in recent weeks. 

The poor offensive line play has not helped the ground game either, and Derrick Henry - much like Saquon Barkley in Philly - has simply not had the same impact, but he cannot be discounted from breaking out a chunk play at any moment. 

Pats quarterback Drake Maye has delivered a mightily impressive sophomore season – in contrast to other young QBs in the league who flashed brightly in year one then dipped, such as Houston's CJ Stroud and now Washington's Jayden Daniels.

GAME NOTES

Patriots have scored 10+ Q3 points in last 4 games
Ravens have conceded 10+ Q3 points in last 2 home games

Of course this is a completely different New England team from last year, with the biggest change coming in their coaching set-up. 

Mike Vrabel should be in the running for coach of the year, but the return of offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels has been critical, but I don’t feel he has been celebrated enough. 

I think the Pats are being a little disrespected here with the line on betting apps and I like them to stay close. 

Nat's Selection 2: Patriots @ Ravens: Patriots (+3) - 17/20 With BetMGM

Chiefs @ Titans: Points Total Too Low

Having action on the Tennessee Titans to do something feels like a high risk, high reward strategy. They are so deeply unstable, but trending in the right direction.

After putting up 31 points against a credible Cleveland Browns defense, they followed that up with 24 points against a capable San Francisco 49ers team. 

The legendary Prop-O made this his favourite pick on my podcast (The Nat Coombs Show) this week, and I get why.

Rushing Yards Per Game:

Quarterback Gardner Minshew is in for the injured Patrick Mahomes for the Kansas City Chiefs.

That promises to be a wild ride – touchdowns and picks. There will be a jaded, end-of-term vibe about the Chiefs that’ll be hard to shake. 

As such, the points total feels too low to ignore. 

Nat's Selection 3: Chiefs @ Titans: Over 37.5 Total Points - 10/11 With BetMGM

Nat's Week 16 treble pays out around 11/2 With BetMGM.

Which bet do you like in the NFL this weekend? Let us know in the comments below.