Here are my NFL Week 15 Picks
(13-3 last week, 140-67-1 for the season)
Bye teams: none
SD @ Den – I’m not sure what else there is to say about the Broncos. Their offense is going to break NFL records, they clinched a playoff spot last week, and now they’re just playing for home field advantage. Peyton silenced some cold-weather-critics and should win at home vs the Chargers.
Was @ Atl – Finally, a team that the Falcons can beat. The Redskins defense is utterly horrible, allowing the most points in the league. And with Kirk Cousins now starting at QB, I have doubts about how many points Wash can put up even against a bad team like Atlanta.
Chi @ Cle – With the way the Brownies almost beat the Pats and considering how poorly the Bears D is playing, you gotta believe Cleveland could win this game. McCown or Cutler; right now they’re both mediocre & I think either of them could easily lose to a tough defense.
Hou @ Ind – I don’t think the Colts are elite, haven’t all season. They’re in the playoffs thanks to Denver, not due to their own play. But they’re still good enough to beat the worst team in the league. Houston already fired their coach & have already checked out of a miserable year.
Buf @ Jax – What happened to E.J. Manuel and the Bills? Did they drop off the face of the Earth? While teams like the Jags are improving, Buffalo has disappeared along with their playoff hopes. Jacksonville is actually playing well right now and should win at home vs a 1-5 road team.
NE @ Mia – Disaster strikes in Foxboro as Gronk is done for the year, and just when the Pats were beginning to click. Now their offense goes back to the drawing board. Too bad they play a hot team & one that has legitimate postseason aspirations. The Dolphins are no pushovers.
Phi @ Min – My first away team pick; fitting that it’s the Eagles. They are 5-1 on the road, 3-4 at home. So being in Minnesota should be no problem, nor should it be difficult to score a thousand points against the terrible Vikings D. No AP probably, nothing to play for, should be one-sided.
Sea @ NYG – Another tough road game for the mighty Seahawks. They lost last week in a boxing match vs the Niners and have to travel across the country to play the Giants. I would pick against them, but I don’t think NY has the toughness to go toe-to-toe with Seattle and battle for a win.
SF @ TB – Upset alert! On paper this looks like a win for San Fran, but I think it’s gonna be tougher than it seems. The Bucs are not the pathetic team they were at the beginning of the season and they play pretty well at home. A trap game perhaps and at least one that will be close.
NYJ @ Car – The Jets are 1-5 away, the Panthers are 5-1 at home. Need I say more? Carolina might have lost last week to New Orleans and New Orleans might have lost earlier in the season to New York, but I don’t think that math will hold up in this matchup. Panthers win.
KC @ Oak – Although you could make the case that the Chiefs have been exposed, they still win the games they’re supposed to, even on the road. Their style of play allows them to take their game anyway, and this week they’ll take it to Oakland and wipe up the Raiders, a perennially awful team.
GB @ Dal – I shouldn’t keep picking the Boys, they always let me down. But this week I feel as confident as can be expected. Aaron Rodgers won’t play and the Packers just aren’t the same without him. The Dallas D might be bad, but I think Romo can outscore Flynn in a shootout.
NO @ STL – The Saints are 10-3, with all of their losses coming on the road. I would be hesitant to pick them to win in St. Louis if their defense wasn’t playing so well. But it is, and Kellen Clemens is still starting for the Rams. So another win for New Orleans; what else is new.
Ari @ Ten – The Cards are a much better home team than they are on the road, going 6-1 compared to 2-4. But they have had their way with the AFC South, beating Indy, Jax, and Houston. I think they can add Tenn to that group, as they are the much better team. Tough game, but a W.
Cin @ Pit – It’s about time for Bad Andy to show up. The Bengals have been playing well, but they don’t seem to like leaving Cincinnati and they do usually seem to like losing to the Steelers. Pittsburgh isn’t great, but look for Big Ben to find a way to win a messy one on SNF.
Bal @ Det – Here’s a great matchup between two similar teams. Both are 7-6 and deep in the playoff race. The Ravens are the hotter team, but they have only won one road game all season. The Lions are good at home and can put up points in bunches. I might hate Detroit, but I gotta pick ’em.