Few teams are going to sneak up on you at this point of the NFL season, but that doesn't mean there aren't surprises every week.The Denver Broncos looked like one of the best teams in the NFL two weeks ago and are now in danger of missing the playoffs. The Houston Texans are currently in position to win the AFC South title, which would have been a major surprise earlier in the year.Even when teams don't completely change their outlooks, they are always capable of pulling off upsets. This week features a lot of opportunities for such games, with intriguing spreads all around. Here is a look at full picks for the weekend as well as a breakdown of potential upsets to look for in Week 16.Potential UpsetsWashington Redskins (+3) at Philadelphia EaglesThere wasn't a lot of faith in quarterback Kirk Cousins to start the year, but he is slowly gaining more followers as the season continues. After his latest five-touchdown performance (four passing, one rushing) against a solid Buffalo Bills defense, there are few doubters anywhere.Veteran cornerback DeAngelo Hall has seen a lot of progress from the quarterback over the course of the season, per Stephen Czardaof the team's official website:I think hes getting more confidence in the offense.I think hes starting to understand his reads. Hes not trying to force things, hes just taking what they give him. Anytime you just take what the defense gives you, whether its check downs, whether its low passes across the middle, and then you take your shots when they open up. Hes just been smarter with the football. That takes time, that takes maturity, that takes experience and I think over the course of the season hes gained all those things.Cousins has quality weapons around him in wide receiver DeSean Jackson, tight end Jordan Reed and others, all of whom have the ability to have big games against a struggling Philadelphia Eagles defense. The unit has allowed 40 or more points in three of the last five games and currently ranks 27th in the NFL with 25.9 points allowed per game.Although the Eagles defense is opportunistic when it comes to forcing turnovers, Cousins has done a better job of holding on to the ball lately and has just one interception in the last four games.With the quarterback also proving himself on the road with a win in Week 14 over the Chicago Bears, there are even fewer doubts coming into this game.Philadelphia has the ability to beat anyone, which it proved in a win at the New England Patriots, but poor play on both sides of the ball should leave the squad with yet another loss in a key game.New York Jets (+3) vs. New England PatriotsEven with a 9-5 record, the New York Jets are fighting for their lives in a tough AFC wild-card race. They came through with an ugly win over the struggling Dallas Cowboys on Saturday, although winning is more important than looking good.Mike Greenberg of ESPN gave credit to the starting quarterback:Ryan Fitzpatrick has been all over the place in the past few years, but he has seemingly found a home with the Jets. He is finding his big-time targets in wide receivers Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker and has 10 touchdowns and just one interception during the current four-game winning streak.He now has a chance to keep it up against the hated Patriots, a team that has gotten back on track after a pair of losses a few weeks ago.The problem for New England is the injuries haven't slowed, forcing signal-caller Tom Brady to adapt to skill players he is unfamiliar with at this stage. This could cause problems against a Jets defense that can create pressure and hasn't allowed more than 20 points in any of the last four games.New York played well against New England the last time these teams met, with Fitzpatrick throwing for 295 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. The Jets shut down the rush and put Brady on the move all game. If they can replicate that strategy and get a little bit of luck at home, they can pull off the upset to greatly help their playoff chances.San Diego Chargers (+5.5) at Oakland RaidersThe Oakland Raiders have been one of the most exciting teams to watch this season. With young talent all over the field, it's clear good things are on the horizon. Unfortunately, they just aren't there yet.Christopher Hansen of RaidersBlog.com summed it up last game:While a tough schedule had a lot to do with it, the Raiders have lost five of their last seven games, including double-digit losses in their last three games at home. Quarterback Derek Carr still makes a lot of mistakes on the field, while the offensive line often struggles in its pass protection. On the other side of the ball, the defense has consistently given up too many plays down the field.This last part could be a problem against Philip Rivers, who ranks second in the NFL in passing yards this season. Even with linemen and receivers dropping like flies all year, the quarterback continues to put up big numbers and move the football with consistency, especially against poor secondaries.Donald Brown also provided some balance with the run game that has been missing all year with Melvin Gordon in the lineup. He and Danny Woodhead could cause some trouble for the Raiders defensive front.Raiders running back Latavius Murray could have a big game against a weak Chargers run defense, while Carr and wideout Amari Cooper could connect for some long passes. But San Diego has enough to at least keep the game close and potentially pull off the upset Thursday. Follow Rob Goldberg on Twitter for more year-round sports analysis.
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