MY NFL PICKS, SCORE PREDICTIONS FOR WEEK 15

Your NFL picks and score predictions for week 15 are available as i try to sleuth how the upcoming slate of games will unfold.

Believe it or not, the 2018 NFL season only has three weeks to go before it’s all said and done. However, instead of focusing on what’s to come in January or even February, let’s look towards the immediate future with this latest round of NFL picks and score predictions for Week 15.

Now I’m obviously not going to claim that these picks will be anywhere near perfect. There’s a very good chance at least a few will be the complete opposite of correct because that’s just how it goes in today’s unpredictable NFL. And yet, I’m going to do everything in my power to give you intelligent, educated guidance.

Things have gotten back on track for me after a small rough patch in the middle of the season. In Week 14, I put together a good-but-not-great 9-6 record (Monday game still pending), moving my overall record on the year to 131-73-2. It wasn’t the greatest of weeks, but the season has gone pretty well.

Whether or not you choose to believe in me moving forward is completely up to you, though.

So with that in mind, here are my NFL picks and score predictions for the 16 games on the docket for Week 15. Just keep in mind that I assume no responsibility if you choose to place wagers based on my picks — that’s your decision, not mine.

LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (10-3) AT KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (11-2)

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 13, 8:20PM ET

The battle for the AFC West takes place in Week 15, when the Los Angeles Chargers and Kansas City Chiefs meet in Missouri. It’s sure to be one of the highlights of your week, with plenty of points, big plays and one surprising ending.

Well, actually, it wouldn’t be all that surprising if the Chargers came away from Thursday night with a win. Los Angeles is one of the most underrated teams of the 2018 campaign, receiving little praise despite currently sitting at 10-3 and sitting one win away from potentially earning a first-round bye.

So why am I going with the Chargers in Week 15? Honestly, it all comes down to how well-rounded this roster is. The offense is exceptional, especially with Philip Rivers playing some of his most efficient football ever. As for the defense, it’s doing work as well this season, routinely corralling opponents and keeping the scoring to a minimum.

It won’t be easy slowing down Patrick Mahomes and Chiefs’ high-octane offense. Chances are it’ll come down to the wire, especially with the sophomore quarterback slinging’ it all around the field. A key turnover, though, will swing things in the Chargers’ favor.

Prediction: Chargers win 34-32

HOUSTON TEXANS (9-4) AT NEW YORK JETS (4-9)

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 15, 4:30PM ET

The Houston Texans have won nine of their last 10 games after starting their 2018 campaign with three consecutive losses. I don’t see any scenario playing out in which the awful New York Jets manage to squeak out a win on Sunday.

It just isn’t going to happen. These teams are on two different planets in terms of talent. Now I won’t say this’ll be a complete blowout, simply because I don’t foresee that being the case. I will, however, say that the final score won’t indicate how lopsided this game will look on the field.

Expect Deshaun Watson to have his way with this middle-of-the-road New York defense. A couple of quick touchdowns will allow the Texans to put it in cruise control, while the Houston defense will force Sam Darnold into another barrage of turnovers. Put simply, the Jets are going to be a hot mess, even in the friendly confines of MetLife Stadium.

If you’re looking for a great matchup to watch, then this probably isn’t for you. That is, unless you’re trying to scout out the Texans since you’re a fan of one of the AFC’s other top contenders. Otherwise, it’s probably best to find a better game to stare at in Week 15.

Prediction: Texans win 37-21

CLEVELAND BROWNS (5-7-1) AT DENVER BRONCOS (6-7)

It’s strange seeing how successful this Cleveland Browns team can be with competent quarterback play and coaching. Suddenly, they’re playing spoiler on nearly a weekly basis and are technically still alive in the race for the final AFC Wild Card spot.

Now that’s not to say they still a realistic shot of playing in January. However, based on the way they’ve been playing down the stretch, they’re certainly taking the field like the playoffs are the only thing on their minds. That could prove to be a very bad thing for the slim hopes the Denver Broncos have heading into Week 15.

It’s been a hot-and-cold campaign for the Broncos, who can’t seem to keep the wins coming on a consistent basis in 2018. Sure, they’ve put together a couple of win streaks. At the same time, they’ve also put together a couple of losing streaks. If it wasn’t for Phillip Lindsay and a stout Denver defense, they’d have an even worse record at this point.

Meanwhile, the Browns have caught fire with Baker Mayfield working with Nick Chubb, Jarvis Landry and the rest of Cleveland’s offensive weapons to keep the touchdowns coming. Although there shouldn’t be too much scoring on Sunday, the Browns will do enough to secure the W.

Prediction: Browns win 18-10

GREEN BAY PACKERS (5-7-1) AT CHICAGO BEARS (9-4)

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1PM ET

It’s becoming very hard not to see the Chicago Bears as one of the favorites to win Super Bowl 53. The difficulty was cranked up to 11 in Week 14, when the Bears’ suffocating defense held the Los Angeles Rams to only six points and made Jared Goff look like a scrub.

This Chicago defense is legit. Khalil Mack, Akiem Hicks and the star-studded secondary are giving opposing offenses nightmares, creating turnovers and registering sacks at a mind-numbing rate. Just ask Goff, Todd Gurley and the rest of the Rams offense how they enjoyed playing against the Bears defense.

The offense isn’t half-bad either. Mitchell Trubisky hasn’t been as good down the stretch, but Tarik Cohen is proving himself to be one of the NFL’s most dynamic weapons. If the Green Bay Packers think they’re going to slow that machine down, they’re in for a rude awakening.

Sure, Aaron Rodgers will make a play or two. Aaron Jones might even put a few highlights together before the day is over. In the end, though, the Packers don’t have enough firepower to overcome the monstrous defense that the Bears bring to the table.

Prediction: Bears win 24-10

DETROIT LIONS (4-8) AT BUFFALO BILLS (4-9)

I’ve been trying to give Josh Allen the benefit of the doubt following his return to the field for the Buffalo Bills. However, he continues to let me down, especially after dropping the ball against the New York Jets in Week 14.

Meanwhile, the Detroit Lions may be slightly better than their record would suggest. Although they’ve had some ugly games this season, Matthew Stafford along with the Detroit defense have kept them competitive for much of the 2018 campaign. Kerryon Johnson‘s presence in the ground game has helped too.

So will it be enough to secure a road win against the Bills in Week 15? I think so. It won’t be easy keeping Allen under wraps or putting up points against Buffalo’s stingy defense, but I think the Lions have enough leaning in their favor to get the job done.

Stafford will have a solid game, leaning on the size of Kenny Golloday to move the ball. After a couple of unfortunate turnovers by Allen, the Lions manage to pull ahead in the waning minutes to earn themselves a feel-good victory as the season nears its merciful end.

Prediction: Lions win 27-21

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (5-8) AT BALTIMORE RAVENS (7-6)

I know the Tampa Bay Buccaneers continue to threaten on a weekly basis, even against the best teams the NFL has to offer. They looked like they were preparing to upset the New Orleans Saints this past weekend, but couldn’t pull it off.

Can they play spoiler this week against the Baltimore Ravens, who desperately need a win to stay in the postseason hunt? It’s possible, but I honestly don’t see it happening seeing as Jameis Winston has to earn the win against one of the best defenses in the league.

That’s right — it’ll be the Baltimore defense that secures this win. While Lamar Jackson and the Ravens offense will find a way to contribute points and keep things close against an at-times explosive Tampa Bay offense, it’ll be the defense that gets the job done on Sunday.

The Ravens simply can’t afford to lose this one. The Buccaneers are no pushover, as we’ve seen time and time again this season. However, with Winston’s penchant for turning the ball over and their inability to slow opposing offenses for 60 minutes, the Ravens should have the recipe for success needed to keep their playoff dreams alive.

Prediction: Ravens win 24-23

ARIZONA CARDINALS (3-9) AT ATLANTA FALCONS (4-9)

If this one comes down to who has more pure talent, than it should be the Atlanta Falcons securing the win on Sunday. As we all know, though, that isn’t always the case. Whether it’s due to lack or bad matchups, games can go in unexpected directions.

Still, I’m rolling with the Falcons to win this uninspiring Week 15 matchup.

Honestly, this one probably isn’t worth watching unless you belong to one of these teams’ fanbases. Sure, there may be a few big plays from Julio Jones or David Johnson. You may even see a solid performance from a former MVP quarterback. Chances are, though, that there won’t be much more than lackluster effort on both sides of the ball.

There’s no spoiler potential here. This game will be played solely for pride and worse a slot in the 2019 NFL Draft. And at that point, neither of these teams wants the latter. So again, there’s a very good chance we’ll see some ugly football being played at Mercedes Benz Stadium on Sunday.

And yet, I have to pick a winner. So I’m going with the Falcons over the Arizona Cardinals because they’ve got more talent on offense, a more experienced quarterback and home-field advantage. Beyond that, who really cares in this snoozer of a matchup?

Prediction: Falcons win 23-14

OAKLAND RAIDERS (3-10) AT CINCINNATI BENGALS (5-8)

Okay, it may seem crazy but I’m actually going with the Oakland Raiders in this one. Before you start to jump the gun and claim I’m only doing so because of their win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, let me make myself clear: that’s not the case at all.

Honestly, it more has to do with the ineptitude of the Cincinnati Bengals at this point in the season. They’ve been awful after the first few games, and the loss of Andy Dalton didn’t really help (surprisingly). Jeff Driskel is doing his best, but he’s an inferior NFL quarterback.

So what does that mean for the Raiders? It means they actually stand a decent chance of tasting victory for a second week in a row. Seems bonkers if you ask me. And yet, it’s the reality of the situation as we move into Week 15.

Derek Carr is playing better than anyone wants to admit. The defense is performing above expectations, with a big assist from sophomore breakout cornerback Gareon Conley. Against a Bengals team that is consistently failing to move the ball and score points on a regular basis, the Raiders should be able to squeak by with a win that mainly serves to boost Jon Gruden’s ego.

Prediction: Raiders win 26-23

TENNESSEE TITANS (7-6) AT NEW YORK GIANTS (5-8)

Both of these teams have been tough to figure out in 2018.

The Tennessee Titans looked like a contender early on, and have since turned into one of the NFL’s most unpredictable clubs. Meanwhile, the New York Giants are enjoyed a late-season surge after limping through the first couple of months.

Both are coming off of impressive Week 14 outings. The Titans were carried on the shoulders of Derrick Henry, who put together a historic performance. As for the Giants, they ran roughshod over the Redskins, unleashing all of their explosive offensive weapons on their unsuspecting divisional foes.

So who leaves with the W in Week 15? Part of me wants to assume the Titans will come to play, but I don’t think they’re prepared to keep up with the Giants on the scoreboard. More than anything, I see no way they manage to contain Saquon Barkley as he continues his campaign for Offensive Rookie of the Year honors.

Eli Manning seemed destined for the bench earlier in the year. Now, he’s leading a club that appears eager to play spoiler as many more times as possible in 2018.

Prediction: Giants win 23-21

MIAMI DOLPHINS (7-6) AT MINNESOTA VIKINGS (6-5-1)

This is pretty much it for both of these teams. The Miami Dolphins and Minnesota Vikings both desperately need a win if they’re going to stay in the hunt for a playoff spot. Week 15’s battle between the two could have huge implications, which makes the matchup so intriguing.

Unfortunately for Miami, it’s going to go in the Vikings’ favor.

First off, the Vikings have home-field advantage. They’ve been much better at home this year, while the Dolphins are 1-5 when traveling. Playing in US Bank Stadium isn’t going to be a welcoming environment for the warm-blooded Dolphins, even if it is technically indoors.

Second, Minnesota is simply a better-rounded club. They’ve got plenty of talent on the offensive end, and still possess one of the NFL’s top defenses. Although the wins haven’t come as often as the Vikings would have liked this year, they’ve been competitive in almost every game so far in 2018.

Kirk Cousins and Dalvin Cook figure to go to work against the Miami defense, working the clock and controlling the tempo. They’ll do their best to avoid giving the ball back to the Dolphins as time runs out; disallowing any potential miracles like the New England Patriots had to endure in Week 14.

Prediction: Vikings win 28-23

WASHINGTON REDSKINS (6-7) AT JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (4-9)

Neither of these teams currently sits in an enviable position right now. The Washington Redskins looked like a contender to start the year, but the injury to Alex Smith sent them into a tailspin. Meanwhile, the Jacksonville Jaguars have been a mess since the season began.

As bad as things have been for the Jaguars, though, it’s not as bad as having Mark Sanchez or Josh Johnson under center. Strangely, having Cody Kessler as your starter is a more positive place to be in than either of the other two aforementioned quarterbacks. Just look what they managed to do in Week 14 against the Giants.

You better believe the Jaguars defense will be ready to pick on whoever is in at quarterback. Despite getting owned by the Titans last Thursday, they’re capable of making stops when needed. If they can keep Andrew Luck from scoring a single point, the Jacksonville secondary can find a way to win against Sanchez and/or Johnson.

At this point, I don’t think either of these teams is really worth taking seriously. Especially after suffering a fifth-straight loss to the Jaguars in Week 15, the Redskins will effectively be out of the postseason conversation. Jacksonville is already an afterthought.

Prediction: Jaguars win 18-10

DALLAS COWBOYS (8-5) AT INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (7-6)

Who would have guessed the acquisition of Amari Cooper would immediately transform the Dallas Cowboys into contenders? Since they traded for the young wide receiver, the Cowboys have yet to lose a game, rattling off five straight wins to nearly sew up the NFC East.

In Week 15, they face another tough test in the form of the Indianapolis Colts. Featuring a reinvigorated Andrew Luck and surprisingly competitive roster, they’ve worked their way into the AFC playoff picture with a successful run over the last month and a half. However, as we’ve seen in recent weeks, strong defenses can keep Luck in check.

As it so happens, that’s exactly what Dallas possesses. They’ve shut down some of the best offenses in the NFL this year, including a complete ban on the Saints’ fireworks display a couple of weeks ago. If the Cowboys are going to leave Week 15 with another W, it’s going to be imperative for their defense to show up against Indianapolis.

Well, it seems likely that’ll be the end result in this one. The Cowboys will get the best of the Colts on both sides of the ball, further asserting themselves as the kings of NFC East and putting the rest of the conference on notice with the postseason just around the corner.

Prediction: Cowboys win 31-21

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (7-5) AT SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (3-10)

Yes, the San Francisco 49ers are coming off a strong win against the Broncos. It was another solid effort from Nick Mullens and Co., who managed to overcome a stout Denver defense to score themselves another late-season victory.

That doesn’t mean much when it comes to the 49ers attempting feebly to match up with the Seattle Seahawks in Week 15. They’ve got another thing coming if they think they can topple the Seahawks and knock them off their path to the postseason.

Russell Wilson is playing his usual outstanding brand of football, and the Seattle ground game has worked wonders in 2018. The defense is also playing exceptionally well, even without a number of its stars from seasons passed. The Seahawks have exceeded all expectations so far this season, and the train isn’t done chugging along.

Sure, the 49ers will put up a fight against their divisional foes. San Francisco will find a way to strike paydirt once or two along the way, but their defense isn’t ready to contain the Seahawks enough to pull ahead on the scoreboard. Sorry, but the 49ers won’t be playing spoiler on Sunday.

Prediction: Seahawks win 33-14

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (9-4) AT PITTSBURGH STEELERS (7-5-1)

For years now, the New England Patriots have had the Pittsburgh Steelers’ number. In their last five meetings, Tom Brady has walked away with the win. I don’t expect that streak to end in Week 15, even with the Steelers possessing home-field advantage.

Right now, Pittsburgh is reeling. They haven’t been themselves down the stretch, as the lack of playmakers and consistent play from Ben Roethlisberger has hurt their ability to put notches in the win column. While the Patriots are also coming off a loss, they’ve looked much better on film than their AFC counterparts.

In the end, though, it all comes down to Brady. He’s one of the best to ever play the game, and figures to make his presence felt on Sunday against a suspect Pittsburgh secondary. With plenty of weapons at his disposal, he should have no problem putting plenty of points on the board.

The Patriots need this win to gain ground in the race for a first-round bye. A loss by the Texans in Week 14, though, kept them in the No. 2 slot as we work our way through the final few weeks of the regular season. Getting the W against the Steelers will be imperative to watching the first week of the playoffs from home.

Prediction: Patriots win 41-30

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (6-7) AT LOS ANGELES RAMS (11-2)

For the last two weeks, the Rams have had a difficult time getting anything going on offense. Even with Gurley in the mix, Goff’s inconsistent and ineffective play have severely hindered Los Angeles’ ability to compete. Example: Last week’s meltdown against the Bears.

With the playoffs just around the corner, though, Sean McVay isn’t going to stand for it. You better believe he’ll spend the entire next week preparing his young quarterback for a late-season turnaround. When the Philadelphia Eagles come to town on Sunday, the Rams will get their show back on the road with a lights-out performance.

I’m sure the Eagles will do their best to keep up. Carson Wentz will find the end zone at least a couple of times, with Zach Ertz again leading the charge in the receiving department. The defense will also make a couple of big plays, but Goff won’t allow them to put an end to his bounce-back game.

The Rams need a win to ensure they retain their first-round bye come January. The Eagles need a win just to remain in the race for a playoff spot. Unfortunately for the reigning Super Bowl champs, I don’t think luck will be on their side in Week 15.

Prediction: Rams win 37-24

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (11-2) AT CAROLINA PANTHERS (6-7)

MONDAY, DECEMBER 17, 8:15PM ET

In the last two weeks, the New Orleans Saints haven’t looked like the team that marched its way to the top of the NFC standings earlier in the year. They got shutdown by the Cowboys in Week 13, and then were nearly toppled by the Buccaneers in Week 14.

In Week 15, I expect them to get back on track. Even on the road against a divisional foe, the Saints seem destined to finish out the season strong. The Carolina Panthers will be the first step on their path towards a first-round bye and strong presence in the 2019 postseason.

Drew Brees will do work as usual, carving up a susceptible Carolina secondary with the help of Michael Thomas. Alvin Kamara and Mark Ingram should also get the ground game moving, allowing the New Orleans offense to spend the entire afternoon firing on all cylinders. I can’t say the same for the Saints defense, but that doesn’t mean they can’t hold their own.

What it’s come down to recently has been big mistakes in key moments by Cam Newton. He’s missing on big-time throws, and turning over the ball in the clutch. We’ll see more of that against the Saints, allowing the 2018 division champs to keep the wins coming.

Prediction: Saints win 32-24