Bodog NFL Week 16 Picks

It can be warmed, but most often is a dish best served cold.

And this year, it's the special Terrell Owens recipe.

Yes, revenge is the major talking point heading into this mouth-watering NFC East battle. There are more subplots here than your average Aaron Sorkin drama, all of which cast Owens as the villain.

Yet there are more pressing issues surrounding this game than a healthy dose of retaliation. The Eagles have rolled off two straight divisional victories and - under the inspired play of Garcia - are serious contenders for the NFC East throne. A win this week would vault Philadelphia into first place (they'd hold the head-to-head tiebreaker over Dallas) and continue one of the more amazing turnaround stories of the season.

Coming into Dallas and leaving with a victory is no easy task, however. To steal some basketball parlance, the Cowboys have defended home court exceptionally well, boasting a 4-2 record (including wins in two of their last three). And bettors looking at that seven-point spread should be warned: the Cowboys have gone 4-1-1 against the spread during their last six, including an impressive 12.5-point cover over Tampa Bay (38-10) on Thanksgiving.

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QUICK HITS - NFL WEEK 16 PREVIEWS

Compiled by Bodog Nation Contributing Writers

Brett Favre’s Lambeau Field career ends. At least, that’s what a lot of people are thinking. Bettors, though, should pay attention to the other quarterback in this contest. Tarvaris Jackson, a rookie out of Alabama State, is making his first career start. Historically, quarterbacks don’t fare so well out of the gate. When you consider Jackson will be playing on the road in one of the NFL’s most hostile stadiums and that the Cheeseheads will be more amped than usual because of Favre’s potential retirement, it’s easy to take the Packers to win big. - AB

It’s clear gamblers consider the Black Hole to be no more intimidating than a sidewalk crack. Lots of money has been laid on the Chiefs, pushing the line to a touchdown in favor of the road team. The reason for the shift is simple: the Chiefs have something to play for. A win and their dim playoff hopes remain aflicker. The Raiders, meanwhile, have lost seven straight, including a 20-0 defeat to St. Louis last week, and they probably have their minds more focused on getting home for Christmas than putting up a fight in this one. - AB

Everyone’s enamored with Vince Young and he’ll be the focus of this battle that pits the two teams with the best ATS records in the NFL. It’s also a rematch of the Music City Miracle. The Titans are 2-1 against Buffalo since that historic playoff victory in 2000, but the Bills are 3-0 ATS in those meetings. - AB

The New York Giants are running out of chokes. The team that once sat 6-2 and in control of the NFC East has lost five of its last six. Still, if the Giants win their final regular-season games, at home against New Orleans and in Washington, they're assured of making the playoffs as a wild card. New York running back Tiki Barber should feature prominently against a New Orleans side that’s surrendering a less-than-impressive 5.1 yards per carry. - JB

Having lost four straight, the Panthers look to stop the bleeding. They’re 3-1 against division rivals, but those victories came with Jake Delhomme at the helm. It appears Chris Weinke will make his third consecutive start. He’s been pathetic in the first two, throwing four picks and only one TD while being sacked seven times. The Falcons still have a shot at the playoffs and it’s never a bad practice to side with the team that has more on the line. - AB

The Redskins come off an impressive 16-10 win at New Orleans. Although they’re playing back-to-back road games, they have had great success against St. Louis. Washington has won six of the past seven regular-season meetings, dating to 1994. The one loss was a 23-20 defeat as an 8.5-point underdog in 1997. - AB

The Colts came up with a huge win over the Bengals on Monday night, their maligned defense holding Cincinnati to a respectable 133 yards rushing and Carson Palmer to 176 yards through the air. Don’t expect Indy to let off the gas against Houston, either. Coach Tony Dungy knows he has to build momentum heading into the playoffs as well as secure the highest seed possible. The Chargers (12-2) and Ravens (11-3) both have tough games this weekend, meaning the Colts could move into a tie for first in the AFC by the end of Sunday’s action. - JB

Last time these two met, on Nov. 26, the Ravens dominated across the board and won 27-0. Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger was sacked nine times in that one. He was knocked down nine others and 16 of his pass attempts were hurried. Since then, however, Pittsburgh has righted the ship, winning three in a row by a combined score of 84-13. Bill Cowher’s team’s playoff hopes are slim but an opportunity for revenge should provide plenty of incentive. - JB

Buccaneers backup QB Tim Rattay earned a start against the Browns with his impressive play against the Bears. The 29-year-old has gone 4-12 in 16 NFL starts, all with the San Francisco 49ers. Meanwhile, Browns QB Derek Anderson continues to perform well since replacing Charlie Frye. He’s thrown five TDs in his last three games. Expect Cleveland to play hard in hopes of rewarding its loyal (and patient) fans with a victory in the team’s last home game of the year. - JB

The small number is due to the fact the Bears have clinched home field throughout the playoffs. Still, the Bears’ backups should handle Detroit, and you never know, Chicago may want to build some confidence after last week’s near disaster against Tampa Bay by playing its starters more than we think. The Lions have lost six straight and are 0-5 against the NFC North. - AB

The Jaguars are in a must-win situation after once again losing to an inferior side. Turnovers were to blame for last week’s 24-17 defeat at the hands of Titans, with two interceptions and a fumble being returned for Tennessee scores. QB David Garrard will have to protect the ball much better against a New England side that forced four David Carr interceptions last week in its 40-7 victory over Houston. In last year’s wild-card game, Tom Brady threw three touchdown passes and the Patriots thumped the Jags 28-3. - JB

Two young quarterbacks with loads of potential will look to improve on a season that’s had its ups and downs. The Niners’ Alex Smith is coming off his best game as a professional. Last Thursday at Seattle, in terrible weather, he threw for two scores and earned a 102.4 passer rating. San Francisco kept its slim playoff hopes alive by beating the Seahawks 24-14. Arizona’s Matt Leinart has also played well in recent weeks. Though he had a tough time with the Broncos on Sunday, the rookie out of USC has demonstrated the kind of composure that makes for a successful career in the NFL. Of note, the total has gone over in five of the last six meetings between these two teams. - JB

Huge implications for the AFC wild-card berth here. All eyes will be on Ocho Cinqo, as the talented Bengals receiver will have his hands full with arguably the finest CB in the league, Champ Bailey. The Broncos appeared to turn the corner last week, snapping a four-game losing streak with a 37-20 victory over Arizona in what was the first victory of the Jay Cutler era. If Cutler can build on that win with a decision over Pro Bowl QB Carson Palmer, the Broncos could be a team to watch in the postseason. - MH

Last season's MVP, Shaun Alexander, squares off against the odds-on favorite for the 2006 honor, LaDainian Tomlinson. That storyline alone should be the selling point, but there are several subplots that demand attention. The Seahawks are reeling and still have yet to lock up a very winnable NFC West; the Chargers are close to clinching home-field advantage for the duration of the playoffs in the AFC; Shawne Merriman could win the sack title despite missing four games due to suspension. It adds up to what could be the most entertaining game of the weekend. - MH

The Jets look to beat the Dolphins for the second time this season when the AFC East rivals meet on Monday night. The Jets have won three of their last four, including a crucial 26-13 victory over Minnesota last weekend to keep them in the thick of the playoff chase. It's an amazing turnaround for New York, a team that went 4-12 a year ago. If the Jets can pull it off, expect Eric Mangini to receive serious consideration for Coach of the Year. - MH

PHOTO: Terrell Owens will - once again - be front and center as the Cowboys host the Eagles on Christmas Day. (AP Photo)

Note: All NFL lines subject to change.

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