Welcome to Glass Slipper! Forget everything I said about Kyle Whittingham; please enjoy the show.

- Jacob Rhee

**NOTICE: Glass Slipper will arrive on Sunday, Wednesday, and Saturday this week.

Every Sunday morning, I will make five bold predictions regarding the upcoming NFL games. Each time I get one incorrect, $10 is added to the money pot. At the end of the 18-week regular season, that pool of cash will be spent on gifts for random Glass Slipper subscribers. I hope you have a lot of fun rooting against me! Let’s go.

Prediction 1: Myles Garrett records 1.5+ sacks against the Steelers.

Yes, this is a somewhat routine task for a first-ballot Hall of Famer. These are not normal circumstances, however. Mike Tomlin undoubtedly wants to protect the record that his own superstar edge partially owns. Aaron Rodgers has matched up with Myles twice, and ducked the graveyard on both occasions. Left tackle Dylan Cook is playing out of his mind; he will receive plenty of assistance, as well.

I don’t think any of that is going to matter on this day. If you haven’t heard, Garrett’s personal goal doesn’t even involve Michael Strahan and TJ Watt. The man wants 25 sacks, and he’s got the wrist tape to prove it. Myles currently sits three away from that ridiculous number; he’ll get halfway there this afternoon.

Prediction 2: 60+ receiving yards and at least one receiving touchdown for Emeka Egbuka.

Though we have a clear favorite, the Offensive Rookie of the Year race is far from over. Tet McMillan will be staring at the best corner in the NFC in a few minutes, while Egbuka attacks a leaky Miami defense with no motivation left. It’s a golden opportunity for the former Buckeye to tighten this thing up.

Tampa Bay hosts Carolina next week. If all goes according to plan, Emeka could put himself in position to steal the award. Get it done, my precious prince.

Prediction 3: The Giants and Raiders are tied at some point during the fourth quarter.

A late-season battle between the league’s two worst teams, and CBS is shoving Kevin Harlan into the booth? Was he rude to a network executive behind the scenes or something? What a miserable assignment.

This is the most important game that Las Vegas has encountered since the heartbreaking Wild Card loss to my Bengals in January of 2022. Lose, and Fernando Mendoza is officially within reach. Win, and the door opens for a different quarterback-hungry franchise to leapfrog you in the draft order via a trade. Brock Bowers, Maxx Crosby, and Jeremy Chinn have all been shut down, and the fan base is already waist-deep in Indiana tape. Don’t mess up your tank with a meaningless victory.

It’s only right that this mess of a matchup comes down to the wire. After all, the Giants - while maybe not quite as urgently - need that top selection, too. Let’s see how low the quality of play can sink in the final minutes.

Prediction 4: Saquon Barkley and James Cook combine for 275+ yards from scrimmage.

James Cook is quietly putting together one of greatest campaigns we’ve seen from a running back in recent history. I’m serious. 1,532 rushing yards, 14 total touchdowns, 5.3 per carry. Here’s the full collection of dudes who have done that over the course of a full season since 2010.

• Derrick Henry

• Jonathan Taylor

• Saquon Barkley

The third guy on that list is finally rounding into form, by the way. Precipitation is present in the Orchard Park forecast; both squads are going to lean on their backs in this one, and each will come through with a strong performance.

Prediction 5: San Francisco defeats Chicago by 7+ points.

If the Niners somehow reach the NFC championship game, I’d argue that it’s the finest accomplishment of Kyle Shanahan’s career. Better than when he helped Matt Ryan claim an MVP. Better than when he took Jimmy Garoppolo to the Super Bowl. It’s just impossible to understand how this Niners group managed to clinch a berth with three games left. Mac Jones started eight times, Brandon Aiyuk has not come remotely close to suiting up, and the team’s two best guys suffered catastrophic injuries early. The fact that San Francisco is still in the mix for that first-round bye is unbelievable. I know who would receive my Coach of the Year vote.

While I still don’t believe that a ring is a realistic possibility, it’ll be fun to see how far Shanahan can drag his flawed roster. I think the momentum continues to multiply this evening. The Niners topple Chicago in convincing fashion, and log 12 wins for the third time in four seasons.

• Week 16 Results: 1-4

• Overall Season Picks Record: 34-46

• Current NFL Prize Pot: $460

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