Merry Christmas Eve. The lion's share of Week 16 is upon us. We'll be covering today's games and Monday Night Football in this main slate issue. And be sure to come back tomorrow for the Christmas Day Extravaganza.

The Jaguars and Jets got the party started on Thursday in the worst uniform matchup of the week. And while the game was rough to look at (both in terms of uniforms and the quality of play from Zach Wilson and the Jets offense), the uniform gods rewarded us by cashing the under. Let's keep the Christmas party going.

A quick note on methodology.

As always, I’m analyzing every NFL uniform matchup and picking a winner against the spread based on who dresses best. And just because a team’s wardrobe is ranked higher in the Power Rankings doesn’t mean that it will automatically win the uniform matchup. It’s what you wear in the instant matchup that counts.

I’ll also be crowning the best matchup of the week and shaming the worst matchup of the week. It’s the over for the sharpest matchup and the under for the dullest.

And don’t forget the Triple Mismatch Club. I’m making three units plays whenever the best dressed team in the matchup is a member of the Club (different colored helmet, jersey, and pants). And nine units plays if both members of the week’s best matchup are members.

Keep an eye out for a “NOTE” here and there where teams have not fully unveiled what they will be wearing before the writing of this issue. I’ll make my best guess as to their outfit, and it won’t affect my ability to pick a winner. I’ll also try to update after the fact if possible so each weekly issue can be a reference point for what a team wore on a given week.

Week 16 Uniform Matchups and Picks.

Lions at Panthers. Battle of the big cats.* Two uniforms that I'm higher on than most. The Lions have really grown on me this year, and the Panthers have always been underrated (in my humble opinion). I'm digging this one overall. But I'm giving the edge to the Lions. I really like the interplay of Honolulu blue with the white jersey juxtaposed with the silver helmet (and the blue pants are an added Triple Mismatch Club bonus).

You had one job to do, Panthers. Beat the Steelers and take control of the NFC South. Alas, now the Panthers are likely a loss away from elimination. As are the Lions. It's win or go home time on the NFL calendar. The Lions have been one of the best teams in football after starting 1-6. And a playoff berth is there's for the taking if they can keep their winning ways going. Admittedly, I thought Detroit would be laying a few more points against Carolina. So you won't find me complaining.

*For the record, my dream NFL final four this season (or any season really) is Lions-Panthers in the NFC and Jaguars-Bengals in the AFC. Let the big cats fight!

The Pick: Lions -2.5 (-115)

Triple Mismatch Club 3x Play

NOTE - The Panthers have yet to unveil their choice of pants.

Bengals-Patriots is a borderline forgettable uniform matchup with the Patriots in navy pants but had the potential for greatness if the Patriots went with silver pants. The matchup overall would've been better served with the Bengals in their icy whites, but the Triple Mismatch Club ensemble is still an excellent uniform. Cincinnati takes the cake in this one.

Was there a quieter place in America than the Patriots plane flying home from Las Vegas last week? I can't imagine flying across the country after that one let alone having to play three more games this season. New England is still technically alive in the playoff hunt, but it's a safe bet they'll fall short. And that clip of Jakobi Meyers alley ooping the ball to Chandler Jones so he could stiff arm Mac Jones into the Earth's core will be top line of the obituary of the 2022 Patriots. The Bengals continue to remind everyone they're the defending AFC champs and still have a shot at the top seed this year. Usually, I'd have this pegged as a get-right spot for Belichick and the Patriots after such a brutal loss. But I don't see any fight left from that offense. Let's see if they prove me wrong.

The Pick: Bengals -3 (-105)

Triple Mismatch Club 3x Play

Seahawks at Chiefs. Not too much to discuss in this one. The Seahawks uniforms are a modern mess, and the Chiefs uniforms are a timeless classic. Kansas City in a landslide.

The Chiefs flirted with disaster last week almost losing in overtime to the hapless Texans. But out of sight out of mind. No time to dwell on the past with Geno Smith and the Seahawks coming to town. This may have been circled as an easy-going Christmas Eve for Kansas City when the NFL schedule first came out, but the Seahawks have proven to be dangerous week in, week out (even if the shine from their Cinderella season is starting to fade). However, the deck is stacked against the frisky Seahawks in this one. Seattle is the fourth worst defense in the NFL by expected points, and Kansas City is the best offense by that same metric. I expect the Chiefs to remind the world that they're one of the three best teams in the league. Even if this lands me on the naughty list, I'm hoping they run it up on the Seahawks to make sure the number is cleared.

The Pick: Chiefs -10 (-110)

Falcons at Ravens is the latest bad example of teams with black in the color palette overdoing the black elements of their uniforms when they face off. This one would be far more palatable if the Falcons went white over white or if the Ravens went purple over white. But here we are on the worst of the week shortlist instead. The Ravens are the clear choice over the Falcons and their basement dwelling wardrobe. But as an overarching point, I wish teams (and the league) would put more thought into these matchups and the interplay between uniforms.

While the Ravens will continue to be without Lamar Jackson this week, Baltimore is still a healthy favorite. Desmond Ridder didn't do much to impress in his first start - a loss against the mediocre Saints. But it's far too early to judge the rookie out of Cincinnati. The Ravens have yet to lose two in a row this season, and I don't expect that to start now. Tyler Huntley continues to be a serviceable backup. And the Baltimore defense is a top three unit against the run. Bad news for the run-happy Falcons.

The Pick: Ravens -6.5 (-110)

It's a Color Rush Christmas in Cleveland. Woof. What could have been a dark horse candidate for best of the week is now a drab and forgettable affair. But with temperatures feeling as low as 30 degrees below zero, what players wear under their uniforms may actually be more important in this one. But I digress. The Browns should leave those brown unitards in the garage forever after they come in from this one. Saints get the nod by default.

Are you ready for some weather? It's not very often that you see an NFL points total as low as 31.5. But when two middling offenses are set to square off in swirling winds and temperatures feeling as low as 30 below zero, bookmakers don't have much of a choice. With wind gusts reaching as high as 40 miles per hour, both teams are going to be forced to keep the ball on the ground. And the secret weapon for the Saints? Get ready for a Taysom Hill game. Look for him to run more times than Andy Dalton throws. And New Orleans may just pull off the upset.

The Pick: Saints +3 (-115)

There was a lot of buzz and fanfare about the Vikings and their Christmas Eve whiteout. So much so that I was half expecting a surprise announcement of a white helmet to pair with the white jersey and white pants. But it turned out to be much ado about nothing. The Vikings have worn this outfit before, and their overall flaws hold it back from being among the better icy white looks in the league. The Giants rarely disappoint, and they're the choice here.

Coming off the largest comeback in NFL history, the Vikings are riding high. And rightfully so. I still cannot believe what we all witnessed.* But underneath that incredible comeback was a 33-0 deficit to the lowly Colts. The Vikings are likely going to be the No. 2 seed in the NFC, and I'm still not sure if they're a good football team. Speaking of uncertainty, the Giants are 8-5-1 but are far from a serious threat in the NFC playoffs. After an explosive start to the season, Saquon Barkley has cooled off a bit. But he's in a good spot this week. The Vikings are bottom five in receiving yards allowed to opposing running backs. And it may be the edge the Giants need to keep this one close or perhaps pull off the upset.

*And I really cannot believe that Matt Ryan was on the losing end of another one of those debacles.

The Pick: Giants +4 (-110)

Texans at Titans is an uninspiring navy showdown. Two of the worst wardrobes in the league and two teams in desperate need of a redesign. Houston is less offensive to me than Tennessee, and they are the pick as a result.

The wheels have come off the Titans bandwagon. With news of Ryan Tannehill being out for the season, any realistic hopes of the Titans having playoff success (let alone making the playoffs) are out as well. The Jaguars have arrived and control their destiny to win the AFC South. Everything is shaping up to come down to the Week 18 matchup between Tennessee and Jacksonville. Well, unless the Texans have something to say about it. All Houston has left to look forward to this season is the role of spoiler. Coming off near upsets of the Cowboys and Chiefs, the Texans now have back-to-back shots against the Titans and Jags. The question will be whether playing spoiler throws a wrench in the first overall pick in the draft. I think Lovie Smith and the boys have too much pride to let a draft pick stand in the way between knocking off a divisional rival with playoff aspirations. Consider me surprised if the Texans don't pull off one of these upsets.

The Pick: Texans +3.5 (-115)

Bills at Bears is an excellent uniform matchup and on the shortlist for best of the week. There isn't a false note in either ensemble. And I'm excited to see it on the screen. The only negative with this one is how difficult it is to pick a winner. I have it as a genuine tie, and (as we've done in similar situations this seasons) tie goes to the higher ranked team in the Uniform Wardrobe Power Rankings. As such, Buffalo it is.

Out of the frying pan and into the fire for the Bears. They fought their tails off (and covered) against the Eagles last week. And now they need to ready themselves on a short week to take on another of the league's best teams: the buzzsaw Bills. Winners of five straight, Buffalo seems to be completely out of their midseason funk and continues to hold the inside track on the No. 1 seed in the AFC (and the ever-important first round bye). It's not a matter of if the Bills beat the Bears but rather by how much. I'm surprised that the number was in the single digits, so consider me content to be on the Buffalo side.

The Pick: Bills -8 (-110)

Commanders at 49ers may be the most lopsided uniform matchup of the week. Washington has the worst wardrobe in the league, and San Francisco boasts the second best. No decision to agonize over here. Niners all day long.

The Brock Purdy experience continues this week as the 49ers continue to position themselves as the team to beat in the NFC playoffs. With the NFC West wrapped up and the number one seed all but out of reach, it will be interesting to see how San Francisco handles rest over the last three games (especially with some notoriously injury-prone players on the roster). However, there are no indications that anyone will be getting rest this week. The Commanders are in town and still alive for the playoffs. Unfortunately for Taylor Heinicke and Washington, the best defense in football awaits. And I doubt Kyle Shanahan forgets how he and his father were treated by Dan Snyder. This one could get ugly in a hurry.

The Pick: 49ers -6.5 (-110)

NOTE - The Commanders have yet to unveil their choice of pants.

Sometimes the moment is bigger than the matchup. There is no denying that the Cowboys primary home uniform is far superior to the Eagles blackout ensemble. But when Gardner Minshew is set to make his first start following the passing of Mike Leach, his former college coach that famously revered pirates, and the Eagles just so happen to be decked out in pirate black, the signs from the uniform gods cannot be ignored. Consider this omen read. Going with the Birds on a whim. Swing your sword, Gardner. Let the pirate flag fly.

Speaking of Minshew, the headline news coming out of this one is the absence of the man he's replacing: Jalen Hurts. No Hurts* is a bummer on a number of fronts. You never want to see one of the game's prime players out with an injury - especially one that was on the MVP shortlist. But such is life in this great game we all love. The Eagles still have the most complete roster in football, and they're getting a healthy amount of points against a Cowboys team has looked awfully vulnerable the last few weeks.

*I have a hunch that Hurts could have played if they really needed him. But why give the Cowboys more tape on Hurts if you might meet again in the postseason.

The Pick: Eagles +4.5 (-110)

Chargers at Colts. The blue unitard is always a low point in the Colts uniform schedule. Thankfully, we can all ignore the Indianapolis "blue out" and focus our attention on the Chargers and their excellent away look. In what should have been a very difficult decision (and best of the week contender), Los Angeles runs away with it.

The Colts playoff chances mercifully came to an end with the Jaguars victory on Thursday Night Football. It would have been far more appropriate for them to have ended after the historic collapse against the Vikings last week. The Jeff Saturday luster has completely worn off. Time for the Colts to turn their attention to an eventful offseason (coaching search, free agency, draft, etc.). On the opposite sideline, the Chargers are just getting started. Los Angeles seems to be hitting their stride at just the right time. But if I know anything about the NFL, these are the games you cannot overlook. Let's hope Justin Herbert and the boys take care of business against a whipped opponent. And if they could cover as well in the spirit of the Holiday season, it'd be greatly appreciated.

The Pick: Chargers -4 (-115)

NOTE - The Chargers have yet to unveil their choice of pants.

Worst NFL Uniform Matchup of Week 16.

We broke down the worst uniform matchup of the week in the Thursday issue. Check out the full breakdown here.

The Pick: Under 37 (-110)

Best NFL Uniform Matchup of Week 16.

I had Raiders-Steelers circled as the best of Week 16 when the NFL schedule first came out. I drew a second circle around it when the Steelers announced that they would be wearing throwback uniforms to honor the 50th anniversary of the Immaculate Reception. And I highlighted and underlined it for good measure when the team further announced they would be retiring No. 32* and honoring Franco Harris. So it was an awful punch in the gut to learn of his passing merely days before this special event. An event that would've meant the world to the man who was the undisputed ambassador of the Pittsburgh Steelers and the City of Pittsburgh as a whole.

Everybody loved Franco. He's my dad's all-time favorite player. He embodied everything that's good about football and more importantly everything that's good about life. Hard working, tough, and the consummate teammate. He was one of the premier runners of his era and yet he frequently sacrificed his body lead blocking and taking on would-be tacklers for his backfield mate Rocky Bleier. They don't make them like Franco anymore. He will be sorely missed - both by the Steelers community and NFL nation as a whole.

I'm going to keep the breakdown short and sweet. Win this one for Franco.

*It cannot be overstated how big of a deal it is for the Steelers to retire a player's number. They're arguably the most storied franchise with the greatest historical roster of all time and they simply don't do it. The only other players in team history to have their numbers retired are Ernie Stautner (70) and Mean Joe Greene (75).

The Pick: Over 38 (-110)

Bonus Pick: Steelers Moneyline (-125)

NOTE - The Steelers have yet to confirm gray facemasks. Let's hope they do the right thing and make it happen.

The Gridiron Uniform Database.

The uniform graphics you see here are courtesy of The Gridiron Uniform Database. If you’ve never paid their site a visit, stop what you’re doing right now and check it out. It is my favorite site on the Internet and an invaluable resource to uniform nerds and casual fans alike. This is especially the case during the season. I check the site multiple times a day to keep tabs on who’s wearing what.

Drop me a line.

You can always find me on Twitter at NFL Fashion Advice (@fashion_nfl) or via email at [email protected]. Come talk uniforms and all things football, and let me know what you think of the newsletter.

Coming Attractions.

Put out your cookies and milk, get some sleep, and we'll be right back here tomorrow for the special Christmas Day edition of the Bets Dressed newsletter. We still have three more uniform matchups to talk about to round out Week 16. Look for it to hit your inbox before the earliest kickoff.

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