So week 16 started last night with the Falcons and Lions and there were few surprises; i.e The Falcons are great, and Calvin Johnson is better. Johnson beat Gerry Rice's 1,848 yards record-breaking season with a game to spare, and all that playing for the massively underachieving Detroit Lions. Kudos to Megatron, he's an incredible athlete and a true professional. Meanwhile, the Falcons wrap up home-field advantage for the NFC playoffs and perhaps more importantly don't have to play outside again for the rest of the season. I've gotta go to work soon, so i'll keep it brief to the big games:

SKY SPORTS, 6PM

CINCINATTI BENGALS (8-6) @ PITTSBURGH STEELERS (7-7)

This is effectively where the playoffs begin in 2012. If the Steelers lose, they are done, and Cincy would be looking towards stealing the AFC North from Baltimore when they show down in the final week of the season. The Steelers (and as of three weeks ago) the entire division has been staggeringly inconsistent, for what is supposed to be one of the strongest. Which is almost why I just don't think Pittsburgh are quite done yet. Both their final games are at home and against division rivals who struggle to get anything at Heinz field and would see them slip into the 6th playoff spot. Cincy are a fun team and probably deserve their place more on balance, but sports can be the cruellest of winters. (Pitt by 4-5)

SKY SPORTS, 9:25PM

NEW YORK GIANTS (8-6) @ BALTIMORE RAVENS (9-5)

I can quite confidently say that my last three weeks have been my absolute worst supporting Baltimore, though really most weeks put me through the dryer. Yes they are injury ridden, but Bmore of been riding their luck all season, and it finally came to an end against Charlie Batch three weeks ago and has stayed done since. Mind you, imagine being a Giants fan (and even I am quite partial to them) and supporting a team that could beat anyone on their day (and has, twice, in recent memory) and then falling apart against Cincy or being shut out by Atlanta. I have absolutely no idea how this one is going to go and I don't expect it to be much fun. The Giants are far more desperate, they need to stay on pace with Washington and Dallas to get into the play-offs, whereas Baltimore got in last week due to a bit of schadenfreude. This isn't much solace however as Baltimore face being one and done in the play-offs for the first time in Flacco/Harbaugh's era and a loss tonight would heap an insane amount of unnecessary pressure onto next week's game against Cincy when they could have tied it all up today. (BAL by 3)

SUNDAY/MONDAY 1:20am, CHANNEL 4

SAN FRANCISCO 49ers (10-3-1) @ SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (9-5)

Now this will be a fun one. Seattle have been fantastic to watch this year and they may not be done yet. A win here would see them into the Playoffs AND a chance and stealing the NFC West title from the Niners. A loss though not completely hurting them, would put a lot of pressure on their final game against St. Louis. The Niners however can seal the division tonight, as well as a bye for the playoffs. Expect QWEST to be LOUD. (SEA by 3)

Other notables:

Apparently Miami and St. Louis can still make the play-offs, and the Colts could miss out if they lose to Kansas today, but that is silly, so more importantly:

NFC NORTH

Minnesota (8-6) @ Houston (12-2) - Houston can secure home-field advantage with a win, whereas Minnesota need to keep pace. I fear this could be the end of the road for the Vikes, but it's been a great season for them (HOU by 4-5)

Chicago (8-6) @ Arizona (5-9) - Arizona won a game last week!!! But against Detroit. But still, a win!!! Chicago are better than Detroit, but they are falling hard. Today needs to be the turnaround for Da Bears. (CHI by 4-5)

NFC EAST

Washington (8-6) @ Philadelphia (4-10)

Philly won a game recently too!!! But the Skins have hit a real stride recently, if they keep defending and letting RG3 do what he does, then they got this division in the bag. (WAS by 4-5)

New Orleans (6-8) @ Dallas (8-6)

It's really, really, really rare to want a Cowboys win (want is too strong of a word; tolerate perhaps) but the Saints are done and a Cowboys win sets up a week 17 division showdown between the old rivals the Washington Redskins. That is simply too tasty an affair to let slip by, so come on Philly and New Orleans, do your bit and step aside, we've got a classic in the making. (DAL by 4-5)

There are some other games happening, but none of note. How are we feeling on the penultimate weekend?