Thursday 22 December 2016 09:55, UK
It was week 15 heartbreak for Sky Sports' NFL reporter Richard Graves, as the Miami Dolphins fans put in a stellar performance to deny him the opportunity to finish .500 for the season.
Despite predicting 12 correct games, it ultimately came down to the shootout between the Arizona Cardinals and the New Orleans Saints, where the Saints triumphed 48-41 to give UK Dolphins 13 correct predictions.
Only four teams have made it to the play-offs with a losing record but, as a true competitor, Richard will be playing until the very end. This week he goes up against @NFLColtsUK, the Indianapolis Colts' British fan base.
Richard: An NFC East clash to kick-off week 16 and, although the Eagles have been eliminated from the play-off hunt, do not expect this to be an easy ride for the Giants.
When they met last month, the Giants defence had to make a stand to secure victory and their offence hasn't picked up since. In six games since that week nine win over Philadelphia, the New York Giants have only scored over 22 points in a game once - and that was against the winless Browns! In contrast, their defence has been outstanding, and in that same period leads the league in just about every major category.
Meanwhile, the Eagles have slipped into the transition season many had anticipated prior to their 3-0 start. Rookie Carson Wentz has been guilty of turning the ball over but this is a team which continues to be competitive and very nearly upset the Ravens in Baltimore last weekend. NFC East battles are never easy to predict but once again the Giants defence should be the key difference in this game. Giants
Colts UK: The Giants defence has looked brilliant as of late, and Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz will have to avoid throwing the picks that have been blighting his game. New York will dominate the turnover battle and get the W. Giants
Richard: When these sides clashed earlier this season, this was the game where British running back Jay Ajayi really announced himself in the NFL, rushing for 214 yards and a touchdown, in a narrow win for the Dolphins.
The irony of course, is that the Bills possess the No 1 rushing attack in the NFL, with neither side possessing a particularly good run defence. Buffalo's stud RB LeSean McCoy was less than 100 per cent that day - he's fit and firing on all cylinders for this clash, but both teams are still mathematically in the play-off hunt, with Miami currently in possession of the No 6 seed.
With speculation growing over Bills head coach Rex Ryan's future, this is a high stakes game for the home team but Miami arrive intent on making life difficult. Buffalo will aim to get after quarterback Matt Moore through a defence which is ranked third in the NFL with 38 sacks, but the Dolphins own defensive unit showed up last week with Ndamukong Suh and Cameron Wake having big games in the win over the New York Giants. Whichever of these two units prevails will decide the outcome of the game. Bills
Colts UK: With all the uncertainty in Buffalo regarding the head coach, we expect a rally from the home side. "Win this one for Rex" will be the call. As well as a big performance from the Bills, Miami quarterback Matt Moore will struggle in the cold. Bills
Richard: Talk about getting a big win on the road! The Colts did just that against one of the better defensive units in the league last Sunday, when they thrashed the Minnesota Vikings - in Minnesota! Next up is a trip to Oakland, where the Raiders possess the third most prolific offence in the league, averaging 27 points per game.
Whether it's through the air, led by QB Derek Carr, or on the ground with Latavius Murray, this is an offence which can put up points at will. Mix into the equation quarterback Andrew Luck for the Colts and this has the makings of an old fashioned shoot out!
Defensively, neither team is outstanding with Oakland ranked 30th, Indianapolis 27th. However, Oakland's defence is opportunistic to the point where they may well decide the outcome. No team in the NFL has a better turnover differential than the Raiders with +15. They have claimed 26 takeaways in total compared to the Colts' 15 and in an encounter which is set up to be high scoring, Oakland have the incentive of knowing victory will strengthen their grip on the AFC West title. Raiders
Colts UK: Indianapolis' play-off hopes were left in tatters last week as Houston and Tennessee completed dramatic fourth-quarter comebacks. The Colts will win against the Raiders if the offensive line can carry on where it left off against the Vikings. Luck was barely touched and one beneficiary of Luck's extra time in the pocket will be the returning Donte Moncrief. Colts
Richard: After a week of debate around a potential quarterback back controversy in Texas, a change has been made in Houston. $72m QB Brock Osweiler was benched with the Texans trailing Jacksonville 13-0 last week, and now Tom Savage will start this weekend against the Bengals.
Incredibly, despite heir lack of offensive production this season (ranked 26th overall and averaging just 17.9 points per game), the Texans still hold first place in the AFC South, riding a defence which is the top ranked unit in the NFL and the second best passing defence.
The Bengals have disappointed this season, to say the least. For the first time in six years they won't be in the play-offs and even before wide receiver AJ Green was sidelined with a hamstring injury, they were failing to close out games. That was highlighted once again last weekend, blowing a double-digit lead to the Steelers! If he's fit again this weekend, that will certainly be a boost to their offence which is averaging under 22 points per game.
Their defence has just 24 sacks, which puts them in the league's bottom ten but they'll hope to get after an inexperienced quarterback. Houston has the better record but if Green is back on the field, Cincinnati are a dangerous team - one capable of derailing the Texans' post season ambitions. Bengals
Colts UK: Could it be a Savage roar to put down the Bengals?! We believe the reinvigorated Texans side will come out top in this one, with much more to play for. Texans
Richard: A classic AFC North rivalry in bitterly cold conditions in Pittsburgh, and it's all on the line! The Steelers - many people's pre-season Super Bowl tip - can sew up the division title with a win here but if they lose, they also lose top spot, having been beaten by the Ravens last month.
Rarely is this contest a high-scoring match-up. Two teams who know each other extremely well, often cancelling each other out, but they are also used to playing when the stakes are high. This sets up to be another physical encounter between two top 10 defences, which concede fewer than 20 points per game. The key to this match-up may lie in the run game. Baltimore are second only to Dallas in stopping the run, while for Pittsburgh, Le'Veon Bell has been nothing short of outstanding over the last month. Alongside, Ben Roethlisberger and Antonio Brown, Pittsburgh's offence is ranked seventh overall.
The Ravens offence has begun to catch fire as players have become healthy in recent weeks - they've scored 88 points in their last three games, going 2-1 in that period. Their only defeat came on the road, in New England. The defence feasts on takeaways, with 26 in total this season. The question is can they feast on Roethlisberger and co - to snap Pittsburgh's five game winning streak? Steelers
Colts UK: The Ravens will sweep the season series and end Pittsburgh's winning run. Baltimore have held opposing teams to a measly 82 rushing yards per game and will aim to keep the dynamic Bell in check. Ravens
Richard: This is a huge AFC West contest for Christmas Day! The reigning Super Bowl champions, Denver Broncos are drinking in the last chance saloon. Lose and their play-off hopes lie in the hands of others. Win, and they stay alive going into week 17.
The incentive for the Chiefs is just as big. If they win, not only do they book their place in the post season, but they do so by effectively eliminating their division rivals.
Reports from the Broncos locker room after last weekend's defeat to the Patriots suggested head coach Gary Kubiak had to split up offensive and defensive players, who could be heard shouting at each other. Meanwhile, the Chiefs blew a ten-point lead at home to the Tennessee Titans and with it, top spot in the division.
When they met last month it was Kansas City who ran out 30-27 winners, thanks to an overtime win in Denver. Since then, the Broncos have gone 1-2 and the strain of defending their title appears to be showing, with their offence only able to muster 13 points in total - over the last two weeks!
The Chiefs aren't exactly prolific points scorers themselves - averaging just 22.8 points per game - but on home soil, in front of a fervent crowd, they appear to have more firepower and an altogether better team spirit than the Broncos. Enough to ensure new Super Bowl champions are crowned in February. Chiefs
Colts UK: After reports last week that the Denver defence are fed up with the misfiring offence, the team don't appear to be playing for each other. It's hard to see a trip to Arrowhead changing that. Chiefs
Richard: In a season when TV ratings in the NFL have been questioned, it should perhaps be no surprise that the Cowboys are on prime time again. Last Sunday's game in Dallas produced the highest ratings for Sunday Night Football since 2008 and on Boxing Day, this is another contest with big implications.
Unless the Giants lose on Thursday, handing the NFC East to Dallas - the Cowboys know victory here will win them the division title and secure home field advantage through the play-offs.
For Detroit, the pressure has increased following last weekend's defeat to the Giants. The Packers, whom they play in week 17, are only a game behind them, meaning a win in big D would be huge. To do that, though, they have to find a way to slow down the league's leading rusher, Ezekiel Elliott, who's coming off his best performance of the year in the win over Tampa Bay.
Dak Prescott's place as starting quarterback was being questioned prior to last weekend. He responded by turning in the second most accurate performance in NFL history by a QB with 30+ passes - completing 88.9 per cent.
Of course, Detroit are a team who have made a habit of defying the odds and QB Mathew Stafford already has more 4th quarter comebacks this season than anyone else has ever recorded in a single season, but another hamstring injury for top cornerback Darius Slay could deal a potentially devastating blow to the Lions secondary. Cowboys
Colts UK: Detroit's offence and defence appear to be going in opposite directions. The improved defence faces its biggest test of the season. However, Stafford won't put up enough points to stay in touch. Cowboys
