NFL Week 16 Picks: Detroit Lions vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers 12/26/20 NFL Picks, Odds, Predictions

The Detroit Lions host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Saturday in Week 16 NFL action from Ford Field in Pontiac. 

Tampa Bay enters this one at 9-5 so far. The Buccaneers have won consecutive games over the Vikings and the Falcons in their last two outings. As for Detroit, they’re 5-9 this season. The Lions have lost consecutive games to the Packers and Titans in their last two. Check back all season long for free NFL picks at Sports Chat Place. 

Tampa Bay got off to a great start at 6-2 over their first eight games, but they’ve had some tough matchups over the past couple of months. In their last six outings, the Bucs lost to the Saints 38-3, Rams 27-24 and Chiefs 27-24. Otherwise Tampa Bay has taken out the Panthers 46-23, the Vikings 26-14 and the Falcons 31-27 in that stretch. 

In the win over Atlanta in Week 15, Tampa Bay quarterback Tom Brady put up 390 yards with two touchdowns. Leonard Fournette added 49 yards with two touchdowns, and Mike Evans caught six passes for 110 yards. 

Over on the Lions’ side, it’s been another disappointing season in the competitive NFC North. In the last five games Detroit is just 1-4. The lone win came over the Bears 34-30. Outside of that i’s been losses to the Panthers 20-0, the Texans 41-25, the Packers 31-24 and the Titans 46-25. 

In the Tennessee loss, Detroit quarterback Matthew Stafford posted 252 yards with a TD, and D’Andre Swift scored twice on the ground with 15 carries for 67 yards. Tops in receiving was Marvin Jones with 10 receptions for 112 yards. 

The Bucs are 10-3-2 ATS in their last 15 games in December and 5-2 ATS in the last seven after an ATS loss. Tampa Bay is 2-6-1 ATS in their last nine games in Week 16 and 1-9-1 ATS in their last 11 Saturday games. 

Meanwhile, the Lions are 8-17 ATS in their last 25 overall and 0-4 ATS in the last four games in Week 16. Detroit is 4-10 ATS in their last 14 on turf and 6-13 ATS in their last 19 as an underdog. 

PICK: I’m going to stick with Tampa Bay here. The Buccaneers offense has been solid but not stellar over the last four games, posting 26 or fewer in three of four. Granted, the Bucs have taken on some pretty good defenses in that time, though. In any case, with the Lions coughing up 30 or more points in each of their last four outings, Tampa Bay shouldn’t have too many scoring difficulties here. Detroit’s offense is good enough to hang around initially, but I like the Bucs to pull away and cover.