WagerTalk NFL handicapper Tony Mejia offers his Green Bay Packers vs Cleveland Browns NFL Week 16 Christmas Day betting preview. At the time of posting, the Packers are holding steady as a 7-point home favorite over the visiting Browns, with the total sitting at 46.5 points.<\/p>\n
Stay on top of the latest NFL<\/a> updates direct from Las Vegas!<\/em><\/p>\n Eight AFC teams enter Week 16 with eight wins and the Browns aren\u2019t one of them, which makes an upset in Green Bay a must-win. NFL teams don\u2019t feel bad for one another, so Cleveland\u2019s COVID-related plight appears likely to be another chapter in its decades-long run of misfortune.<\/p>\n The Drive. The Fumble. The Pandemic.<\/p>\n The last few weeks haven\u2019t been kind to the Browns, who have dropped two of three because their offense couldn\u2019t generate enough points. A demoralizing loss at the death to Las Vegas dampened Cleveland\u2019s playoff hopes since it dropped it to 7-7. Not having quarterbacks Baker Mayfield and Case Keenum due to COVID compromised the cause, especially since head coach Kevin Stefanski was absent too. Third-string QB Nick Mullens wasn\u2019t terrible but couldn\u2019t produce enough offense against the Raiders to keep the game from becoming another low-scoring defensive struggle.<\/p>\n The Browns\u2019 defense played a great game despite star pass-rusher Myles Garrett getting banged up but ultimately failed to hold a 14-13 lead when Derek Carr\u2019s last-ditch effort got Las Vegas into field goal range and Daniel Carlson came through on a 48-yarder.<\/p>\n Getting back up off the mat is made all the more unlikely by Garrett\u2019s availability remaining in doubt and also by how motivated this week\u2019s opponent should be. The Packers are now in the driver\u2019s seat to earn homecourt advantage in the NFC if it wins remaining games against the Browns, Vikings and Lions.<\/p>\n Aaron Rodgers will pass Brett Favre to become the all-time leader in touchdown passes in Green Bay\u2019s storied history with 443. He should already hold the mark but missed Allen Lazard in the fourth quarter of the Pack\u2019s win over Baltimore. Settling for three points instead of getting seven nearly cost the Packers, who were forced to get a stop on a two-point conversion just to hold on against the Ravens when they should\u2019ve gone up by 17 points. The Packers have nonetheless scored at least 31 points in four straight games, so Cleveland will have to find a way to be more productive in order to keep pace.<\/p>\n Mayfield, Keenum, receiver Jarvis Landry, CB AJ Green and DE Ifeadi Odenigo were all activated from the COVID list, so the Browns will at least be closer to full strength as they look to at least go down swinging. 1,000-yard rusher Nick Chubb will anchor the ground game to help the Browns keep Rodgers off the field and became the first Cleveland back since Jim Brown to score eight touchdowns in each of his first four seasons.<\/p>\n Kareem Hunt is still dealing with an ankle injury and may not play, while starting offensive linemen Jack Conklin is out and tackle Jedrick Wills didn\u2019t make it off the COVID list. While Cleveland is healthier with Mayfield and Keenum back, not having their usual starting tackles could prove costly against a Green Bay defense that has excelled despite missing top pass rusher Zadarius Smith.<\/p>\n The \u2018under\u2019 is 3-1 in Cleveland\u2019s last four games, but the high side has hit in four consecutive contests involving Green Bay. Although there have been over 60 points scored in the Pack\u2019s last four games, this number has been set at just 46.5, which is right in line with where their totals have been but is the third highest figure the Browns have seen placed on them in a nine-game span.<\/p>\n The Packers won\u2019t have to deal with inclement conditions in addition to the Browns\u2019 stingy defense since temperatures will be in the low 30\u2019s and winds won\u2019t be an issue. Expect Green Bay to drop the hammer at home, taking advantage of a Cleveland squad whose struggles with the virus has cost them valuable practice time and will likely lead to a premature end to a once promising season. Look for it to end with a thud and lay the points.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udc40\ud83e\udd11 @thegoldsheet<\/a> is feeling the Holiday Spirit! From today until January 2nd, you can have FREE ACCESS to the Gold Sheet. \u2014 WagerTalk (@WagerTalk) December 24, 2021<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n
\n NFL Week 16<\/th>\n Betting Notes<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n \n Point Spread:<\/td>\n Green Bay Packers -7 vs Cleveland Browns<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Total:<\/td>\n 46.5 Points<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Game Time:<\/td>\n 4:30pm ET \/ 1:30pm PT on Saturday, December 25<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Stadium:<\/td>\n Lambeau Field in Green Bay<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n TV:<\/td>\n NFL Network<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n Green Bay Packers vs Cleveland Browns Predictions<\/h2>\n
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