2015 NFL Week 15 Picks

Here are my picks for week fifteen of the 2015 NFL season.

Thursday, December 17th
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-7) vs St. Louis Rams (5-8)- 8:25, NFLN: Tampa Bay is coming off a disappointing home loss against the New Orleans Saints. St. Louis is coming off a home win over the Detroit Lions. We got an interesting rookie battle between Bucs quarterback Jameis Winston and Rams running back Todd Gurley and Winston is the front runner for Offensive Rookie of the Year and he'll lead the Bucs to a bounce back win to keep their slim playoff hopes alive.
Prediction: Tampa Bay 27, St. Louis 20.

Saturday, December 19th
New York Jets (8-5) vs Dallas Cowboys (4-9)- 8:25, NFLN: New York is coming off a nice home win over a putrid Tennessee Titans team. Dallas is coming off a road loss at Lambeau against the Packers and that game was close until late in the fourth quarter. The Cowboys defense has quietly been decent this season, but the Jets need this game to stay in the playoff hunt and I believe their defense will stop the Cowboys offense en route to a win at Jerry World.
Prediction: NY Jets 23, Dallas 20.

Sunday, December 20th
Carolina Panthers (13-0) vs New York Giants (6-7)- 1:00, FOX: Carolina is coming off a terrific home shutout win over the Atlanta Falcons. New York is coming off a big Monday Night road win in South Beach over the Dolphins to stay in the NFC East race. It's awfully tempting to pick the Giants here, but Cam Newton is the MVP front runner at the moment and it's hard to pick against him and the unbeaten Panthers at this point so expect the Panthers to remain unbeaten for another week although it won't be easy by any stretch.
Prediction: Carolina 30, NY Giants 27.

Chicago Bears (5-8) vs Minnesota Vikings (8-5)- 1:00, FOX: Chicago is coming off another disappointing home loss but this time it against the Washington Redskins. Minnesota is coming off a close Thursday Night road loss in Glendale against the Cardinals. The Vikings need this game to keep their slim NFC North hopes alive and expect Adrian Peterson to have a monster game to lead his team to a big win.
Prediction: Minnesota 27, Chicago 23.

Atlanta Falcons (6-7) vs Jacksonville Jaguars (5-8)- 1:00, FOX: Atlanta is coming off an awful road shutout loss against the undefeated Carolina Panthers. Jacksonville is coming off a very nice home win over the Indianapolis Colts. Blake Bortles has had a very productive sophomore season for the Jaguars and he'll lead his team to a second straight team over a Falcons team who's 5-0 start to the season was nothing but an aberration.
Prediction: Jacksonville 34, Atlanta 20.

Houston Texans (6-7) vs Indianapolis Colts (6-7)- 1:00, CBS: Houston is coming off a disappointing Sunday Night home loss against the New England Patriots in which Brian Hoyer ended up getting a concussion in and now is not playing in this divisional showdown. Indianapolis is coming off a disastrous road loss in Jacksonville against the Jaguars. Neither Andrew Luck or Matt Hasselbeck are playing for the Colts so Charlie Whitehurst will get the start this week. The Texans defense (despite giving up 27 to the Patriots) showed me something last week and expect JJ Watt to have a monster game to lead the Texans to a big road win.
Prediction: Houston 16, Indianapolis 13.

Buffalo Bills (6-7) vs Washington Redskins (6-7)- 1:00, FOX: Buffalo is coming off a disappointing road loss in Philadelphia against the Eagles. Washington is coming off a big road win in Chicago against the Bears to keep their NFC East hopes alive. After a big road win, I wouldn't be surprised to see the Skins have a bit of a letdown against a Bills team that needs this win plus a ton of help to keep their playoff hopes alive. Give me the Bills to bounce back here after a disappointing showing in Philly.
Prediction: Buffalo 26, Washington 24.

Kansas City Chiefs (8-5) vs Baltimore Ravens (4-9)- 1:00, CBS: This matchup certainly looked better in August than it does now considering what Baltimore has gone through this season. Kansas City is coming off a big home win over the banged up San Diego Chargers. Baltimore is coming off a dreadful home loss against the Seattle Seahawks. It doesn't matter who's starting at this point for the Ravens, the Chiefs are on a roll right now and they'll win their eighth straight going away.
Prediction: Kansas City 34, Baltimore 10.

Cleveland Browns (3-10) vs Seattle Seahawks (8-5)- 4:05, CBS: Cleveland is coming off a home win over the San Francisco 49ers in hijack Johnny Manziel played well in. Seattle is coming off a big road win in Baltimore against the banged up Ravens. No one wants to be facing Russell Wilson and the Seahawks right now and they'll win big here. The Seahawks are my lock of the week.
Prediction: Seattle 38, Cleveland 13.

Green Bay Packers (9-4) vs Oakland Raiders (6-7)- 4:05, FOX: Green Bay is coming off a big home win over the Tony Romo-less Dallas Cowboys. Oakland is coming off a big road win in Denver against the Broncos to keep their slim playoff hopes alive thanks to a big second half by Khalil Mack. This could very well be a trap game for the Packers, but I believe they'll sneak out this win as Derek Carr the Raiders will keep it close.
Prediction: Green Bay 33, Oakland 30.

Cincinnati Bengals (10-3) vs San Francisco 49ers (4-9)- 4:25, CBS: This game was supposed to be a Sunday Night game, but they flexed it for obvious reasons. Cincinnati is coming off a brutal home loss against the Pittsburgh Steelers in which Andy Dalton broke his thumb and is out for at least the rest of the regular season. San Francisco is coming off a disappointing road loss in Cleveland against the Browns. AJ McCarron is now starting for the Bengals and I'm not sure if he can go out and win a big road game. Give me the Niners, upset special.
Prediction: San Francisco 20, Cincinnati 16.

Miami Dolphins (5-8) vs San Diego Chargers (3-10)- 4:25, CBS: Miami is coming off a disappointing Monday Night home loss against the New York Giants. San Diego is coming off a tough road loss in Kansas City against the Chiefs in which they had a chance to tie the game and force overtime in. This was a tough call, but give me the Dolphins on the road since the Chargers are just too banged up at this point.
Prediction: Miami 24, San Diego 17.

Denver Broncos (10-3) vs Pittsburgh Steelers (8-5)- 4:25, CBS: Denver is coming off a very disappointing home loss against the Oakland Raiders. Pittsburgh is coming off a huge road win in Cincinnati against the Bengals as they took advantage of Andy Dalton's injury. Brock Osweiler struggled in the second half against the Raiders, although his receivers kept dropping balls. Ben Rothlisberger always comes up big in these types of games and I expect him to lead his team to another huge win.
Prediction: Pittsburgh 33, Denver 26.

Arizona Cardinals (11-2) vs Philadelphia Eagles (6-7)- 8:30, NBC: Arizona is coming off a big Thursday Night home win over the Minnesota Vikings. Philadelphia is coming off a big home win over the Buffalo Bills. The Cardinals can clinch the NFC West with a win here and I believe they'll get it done against and up and down Eagles team.
Prediction: Arizona 34, Philadelphia 23.

Monday, December 21st
Detroit Lions (4-9) vs New Orleans Saints (5-8)- 8:30, ESPN: Detroit is coming off a disappointing road loss in St. Louis against the Rams. New Orleans is coming off a nice road win in Tampa against the Buccaneers. Expect an offensive show here on Monday Night football and the Saints will win their second straight game behind a great game from Drew Brees.
Prediction: New Orleans 40, Detroit 36.