NFL Week 15 Picks
NFL Week 15 Picks
Giants (8-5) at Falcons (11-2): Atlanta-The NFC East leaders visit the NFC South leaders. The Falcons can wrap up everything NFC-related with a win and losses by the Packers and 49ers (which is definitely possible), while the Giants are only a game ahead of both the Cowboys and Redskins. They’ve got another tough game in Baltimore next week, which made last week’s win over the Sinners even bigger. They need to finish ahead of Washington/Dallas, because they’re not going to have the tiebreaker over either. Which makes this game slightly more important for the road team. The Falcons are eventually going to clinch NFC home field. They know this. That’s why last week’s loss in Carolina can be excused. Their only losses are division road games. I can see this going either way, but I think the Falcons win by a field goal, maybe in overtime.
Packers (“9-4”) at Bears (8-5): Chicago-The Bears are reeling. They’ve lost two straight to drop all the way to the six-seed in the NFC. In fact, the Packers will clinch the division if they win this one. (If the Bears win, the Packers have the tiebreaker and are still technically in first, but they’ll be tied.) I predicted a few weeks ago that both of these teams would make the playoffs and this game would decide the division winner. I still believe that, but the Bears need a win here a lot more than the Packers do. Especially since this is Chicago’s final home game before ending the season in Arizona and Detroit. And they’re on a two-game losing streak. The Packers, however, are rolling, with only that loss to the Giants in their last eight games. I don’t think Chicago is as bad as we’ve seen in the past couple weeks. A desperate Bears team knocks off its archrivals.
Redskins (7-6) at Browns (5-8): Washington-RGIII is going to play. And he needs to. Because Washington’s not going to win if he doesn’t. For all the buzz Andrew Luck and Russell Wilson have gotten, we’re gonna have a third rookie quarterback finish at least .500 this season. The Redskins are right in the thick of the playoff hunt. But if they want to get in, they can’t lose to the Browns. If Griffin plays, they won’t.
Vikings (7-6) at Rams (6-6-1): St. Louis-Beating the Bears last week kept the Vikings in the playoff discussion. With losses to Seattle, Washington and Tampa Bay, it’s unlikely they’re going to get in, though. The Rams are also still in the running, and they’ve won three straight since their loss to the Jets. The loser here is officially out. I like what Jeff Fisher’s got going in St. Louis. The Rams keep their slim playoff chances alive.
Jaguars (2-11) at Dolphins (5-8): Miami-When all the good teams play each other, the bad teams have to play somebody, too, so we’re left with matchups like this one. Jacksonville is fighting Kansas City for the No. 1 pick. Miami needs to win-out just to finish .500, which is unlikely with their final game in Foxboro. The Dolphins are the home team, and they’re better. Miami should win.
Buccaneers (6-7) at Sinners (5-8): New Orleans-Please let the Boutygate thing go! Clearly something happened. Stop with the lawsuits and the accusations! Somebody obviously did something for which they need to be held responsible. You got your players back, and everyone is sick of this thing. Can we all please just move on? Anyway, the Sinners aren’t going to the playoffs, which makes me happy. The Bucs probably aren’t, either. This matchup is for the second-place schedule next season. With the game in the Superdome and the Sinners looking to get back on track after a three-game losing streak, I’m going with New Orleans.
Broncos (10-3) at Ravens (9-4): Baltimore-Playoff preview? No team benefitted from the Ravens’ loss in Washington last week more than Denver, who moved up to the No. 3 seed in the AFC and avoided (at least temporarily) that awkward Peyton vs. the Colts playoff game. Anyway, Denver’s on that seven-game winning streak that we all knew was inevitable once we saw their schedule. This is the Broncos’ only game in that stretch against a team that’s actually good. The Ravens have lost two straight, but can clinch the AFC North with a win and Steelers and Bengals losses. A loss here, though, complicates things for Baltimore. The Broncos haven’t been tested much in the last two months, and beating Joe Flacco in Baltimore in December is a tough proposition. That’s why I say the Ravens.
Colts (9-4) at Texans (11-2): Houston-The Texans haven’t clinched the AFC South yet. Because of the Colts, who they face twice in the final three games (who made that schedule?). If Houston wants to prove it belongs in the “elite” discussion, they can’t look anything like they did in New England on Monday night. The Texans have to put that game completely out of their minds, because they still need to worry about wrapping up the division. Indy’s only loss in its last seven games was that thumping in Foxboro. But the Colts haven’t really played anybody that good during that stretch. That changes on Sunday against a driven Texans team determined to prove they’re better than they showed last week. Houston just needs to beat Indy once to win the division. That win comes on Sunday.
Seahawks (“8-5”) vs. Bills (5-8): Seattle-Who would’ve thought when the Seahawks “won” that Monday night debacle against the Packers way back in Week 3 that it would have a bearing on the entire NFC playoff race? The Seahawks currently own the top wild card, but should be tangled up in that mess of 7-6 teams. Fresh off their homecoming win over Arizona (I do believe that, unlike a college team, they weren’t trying to run up the score. Hey Cardinals, if you don’t want them scoring anymore, stop them. You’re professional football players!), the Seahawks head to Toronto for the Bills’ annual “home” game north of the border. If this game was in the elements in Buffalo, I’d give the Bills a better chance, but not in the controlled, indoor environment of SkyDome.
Lions (4-9) at Cardinals (4-9): Detroit-I think it’s safe to say the Arizona Cardinals have hit rock bottom. Not only have they lost nine straight, they were embarrassed 58-0 by the Seahawks last week. Consecutive loss No. 10 will come against a Detroit team that’s better than its 4-9 record.
Panthers (4-9) at Chargers (5-8): San Diego-Sorry folks, but the Chargers have been flexed out of Sunday night next week. I know you’re disappointed. This week they host a Panthers team that beat Atlanta last week. The Chargers, though, showed they have some fight left in them, winning in Pittsburgh in the regular season for the first time. The only thing the Chargers have left to play for is a .500 record. They move one win closer by beating the Panthers at home.
Steelers (7-6) at Cowboys (7-6): Pittsburgh-The playoff fates of two teams ride on the result of this one. The Steelers lost any momentum they gained by beating the Ravens with a loss to San Diego last week. Dallas, however, gained momentum by hanging on for an emotional victory in Cincinnati to stay a game behind the Giants. (With the remaining schedules of the Giants and Cowboys, I wouldn’t be shocked to see Washington end up winning the NFC East.) The Steelers can afford a loss a little bit more (their showdown with Cincinnati for the final AFC wild card is next week). Both teams will go into that matchup 8-6, because the Steelers are going to pull off a victory in Dallas.
Chiefs (2-11) at Raiders (3-10): Oakland-The only thing at stake here is Kansas City’s No. 1 pick in the Draft. The good news for the Raiders, who’ve lost six straight since their last game with the Chiefs, is that they usually beat the equally crappy teams. Kansas City falls into that category. Congratulations on clinching third place Raiders!
49ers (9-3-1) at Patriots (10-3): San Francisco-Even good teams have very little chance of beating the Patriots in Foxboro in December. Just ask the Texans. Although, I’m not sure how much of that was the Patriots and how much was the Texans. This could easily be a Super Bowl preview, and the 49ers can make a statement (as well as lock up at least their playoff berth) with a win. I said last week that the Patriots would beat the Texans and lose to the 49ers. Two of New England’s three losses this season are to NFC West teams, so I’m sticking with that.
Jets (6-7) at Titans (4-9): Tennessee-Unfortunately, the final Monday night game of the season is a dud. The Jets are technically still alive for a playoff spot that their delusional fans and people in their front office are convinced they’ll somehow manage to clinch. They won’t. A loss to the Titans in Nashville will make that official.
This Week: 1-0
Last Week: 9-7
Season: 141-67-1
