Week 16 NFL picks: Are we still looking for a sign?

It was neat this past week to see all the players get Christmas gifts for family and loved ones without having to leave the locker room.

One by one throughout the week, players would walk around with footballs and Sharpies and get their teammates to sign them.

Of course, Cam Newton and Luke Kuechly were two of the most sought-after players by their teammates. A blue No. 1 jersey would appear at his locker for him to sign on a Wednesday. A black No. 59 jersey on Thursday. And, of course, these guys didn’t mind.

Then you’d see fans come up at practice with their merchandise in team store bags. Park on Mint, buy a jersey, walk to the practice field, get it signed, boom. There’s your present.

Hope you all enjoyed your Christmas as much as I did.

Locks: 2-1

Last week: 11-4

Season: 136-85

This week’s picks, with the home team in CAPS:

Lock No. 1

Carolina (minus-7) 30, ATLANTA 17: I don’t think this is going to be a blowout like two weeks ago, but what’s really different about this one? Yes, Jonathan Stewart is out for this game, but it doesn’t matter against this team. The Falcons played well against the Jaguars, and re-reading that sentence there’s no fear in my heart. I picked against Carolina in Seattle and one more time against Green Bay. After that I said I wouldn’t pick against the Panthers for the rest of the regular season. I’m holding to it.

Lock No. 2

ARIZONA (minus- 4 1/2) 27, Green Bay 21: Arizona is clearly the second-best team in the NFC and possibly in the NFL. If the Cardinals and Panthers meet in the NFC Championship Game it would be a football junkie’s Christmas. Carson Palmer is playing out of his mind and Larry Fitzgerald is so fun to watch. It’s a shame what happened to the Honey Badger, but Arizona’s defense is still stout. And look out, if Green Bay drops the next two, the Packers could be making a return trip to Charlotte in the divisional round as a wild card.

Lock No. 3

Cincinnati (plus-3) 21, DENVER 18: Things aren’t going well in Denver right now. Brock Osweiler is playing terribly in the second half of games and the Broncos are skidding. Heck, they may even finish as a wild card team after their hot start. If that’s the case, things become easier for coach Gary Kubiak in re-naming Peyton Manning the starter in January.

The rest

Washington 24, PHILADELPHIA 21

N.Y. JETS 20, New England 17

Houston 14, TENNESSEE 6

KANSAS CITY 33, Cleveland 12

Indianapolis 20, MIAMI 17

DETROIT 28, San Francisco 20

BUFFALO 24, Dallas 10

TAMPA BAY 35, Chicago 21

Pittsburgh 40, BALTIMORE 17

Jacksonville 24, NEW ORLEANS 20

SEATTLE 38, St. Louis 14

MINNESOTA 21, N.Y. Giants 17

This story was originally published December 26, 2015 at 7:01 AM with the headline "Week 16 NFL picks: Are we still looking for a sign?."