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
