NFL Week 16 O/U best bets: Rams, Vikings due for bounce-back efforts

The craziness that was Week 15 left us with just one cashed ticket out of three - though it was arguably the easiest under call of the season, given how the Browns' COVID-19 outbreak affected their offense.

Here are our favorite total plays for Week 16:

No team has been a better bet to the under this year than the Jaguars, who have cashed in 11 of 14 games behind the NFL's worst scoring offense (14 points per game) and don't look much better in the post-Urban Meyer era.

Jacksonville managed only 16 points a week ago against the Texans - who had surrendered at least 30 points in each of their previous two contests - and scored just six points in the game's final 40 minutes. That shouldn't surprise anyone: in eight matchups since a Week 7 bye, the Jaguars have scored one or zero touchdowns in seven of those games.

It's not as if the Jets have been much better, ranking 28th in points per drive (1.61) and dead last in total giveaways (26). As if that wasn't enough reason to fade this group, mounting injuries and positive COVID-19 tests will make it tough for this unit to gain any sort of traction Sunday.

Pick: Under 41.5

It's tempting to write off this Vikings offense after it managed just 17 points and 61 passing yards against the Bears' ravaged secondary. Doing so would be a mistake, as Minnesota's offense has consistently produced this season and is primed for a bounce-back showing this week.

The Vikings should benefit from the return of star receiver Adam Thielen, who missed the last two weeks with a sprained ankle and scored 10 touchdowns in his 11 healthy contests. His nose for the end zone has been a key catalyst for Minnesota's stellar offensive output since Week 6 (27.6 points per game), which ranks fifth among all teams in that stretch.

The Rams rank sixth in that span in points per game (27.2) and fifth on the season (27.6), even after last week's 20-point showing that was marred by the team's COVID-19 outbreak. With the division crown within reach, expect an inspired effort from Matthew Stafford and Co. in this one.

Pick: Over 49

Each passing day brings more concern for the Chiefs, who could be without Travis Kelce and Tyreek Hill, among others, on Sunday due to a COVID-19 outbreak. Those two combined for a whopping 339 of Kansas City's 496 yards a week ago and scored three of the team's four touchdowns, including the walk-off winner in overtime on a 34-yard dart to Kelce.

If those two are sidelined Sunday, that could be a back-breaker for Patrick Mahomes and this inconsistent offense, which finally looked to be clicking behind its two star pass-catchers. The rest of the Chiefs' skill position players have combined for less than half of the team's receiving yards and touchdown catches this year, while top rusher Clyde Edwards-Helaire has run for fewer than 4.0 yards per carry in each of his last three games.

The Steelers' offense is hardly a threat even when healthy, scoring 19 points last week despite being gifted four turnovers and consistently stellar field position. Pittsburgh has scored 20 or fewer points in three of its previous four games and will struggle to do much better against a thinned but talented Chiefs defense.

Pick: Under 46

C Jackson Cowart is a sports betting writer at theScore. You can follow him on Twitter (@CJacksonCowart) or email him at cjackson.cowart@thescore.com.

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