Here are my picks for week fifteen of the 2018 NFL season.
Thursday, December 13th
Los Angeles Chargers (10-3) vs Kansas City Chiefs (11-2)- 8:20, FOX/NFLN: This game winner will have an inside track on who wins this division in what should be an entertaining game. The Chargers are coming off a home win over the Cincinnati Bengals. The Chiefs are coming off an overtime home win over the Baltimore Ravens. There are injuries galore on both sides with Melvin Gordon out for the Chargers and Sammy Watkins and Spencer Ware out with the Chiefs. Gordon is the bigger loss and the Chiefs at home in primetime usually rise to the occasion as Patrick Mahomes all but locks up the league MVP award.
Prediction: Kansas City 38, LA Chargers 31.
Saturday, December 15th
Houston Texans (9-4) at New York Jets (4-9)- 4:30, NFLN: The Texans are coming off a disappointing divisional home loss against the Indianapolis Colts. The Jets are coming off a divisional road win in Buffalo against the Bills. Sam Darnold showed a ton of promise in that performance last week, but I see the Jets having a letdown after a feel good win for themselves as the Texans rebound to inch closer to a playoff berth and division title.
Prediction: Houston 26, NY Jets 17.
Cleveland Browns (5-7-1) at Denver Broncos (6-7)- 8:20, NFLN: A big one in the Mile High. The Browns are coming off a big home win over the Carolina Panthers. The Broncos are coming off a disappointing road loss in San Francisco against the 49ers. A lot of people are high on the Browns in this spot, but their home and road splits are disturbingly bad and I think the Broncos pass rush will get to Baker Mayfield as the Broncos play desperate to keep their playoff hopes alive.
Prediction: Denver 30, Cleveland 20.
Sunday, December 16th
Arizona Cardinals (3-10) at Atlanta Falcons (4-9)- 1:00, FOX: The Cardinals are coming off a home loss against the Detroit Lions. The Falcons are coming off a bad loss in Green Bay against the Packers. The Falcona are a team that looks to have quit on it's coach and is poised for big changes this offseason and this is reminiscent of when this same Cardinals team as a big underdog in Green Bay and beat that same Packer team that the Falcons just lost badly to. Josh Rosen shows flashes and leads the birds to another big upset win.
Prediction: Arizona 27, Atlanta 20.
Detroit Lions (5-8) at Buffalo Bills (4-9)- 1:00, FOX: The Lions are coming off a road win in Arizona against the Cardinals. The Bills are coming off a divisional home loss against the New York Jets. The Lions are probably the better team, but I like the Bills and Josh Allen here to get the win.
Prediction: Buffalo 23, Detroit 20.
Green Bay Packers (5-7-1) at Chicago Bears (9-4)- 1:00, FOX: The Packers are coming off a home win over the Atlanta Falcons. The Bears are coming off a big time Sunday night home win over the Los Angeles Rams. The Bears defense is great when they're playing in their home building and with injuries on the Packers offensive line, I see that pass rush getting after Aaron Rodgers and clinching the NFC North with a win.
Prediction: Chicago 26, Green Bay 16.
Oakland Raiders (3-10) at Cincinnati Bengals (5-8)- 1:00, CBS: The Raiders are coming off an upset home win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Bengals are coming off a road loss in Los Angeles against the Chargers in which they played well in. That said, I like how the Raiders have played the last few weeks and I think Derek Carr and that offense will put up more points.
Prediction: Oakland 30, Cincinnati 16.
Dallas Cowboys (8-5) at Indianapolis Colts (7-6)- 1:00, FOX: The Cowboys are coming off a big divisional overtime home win over the Philadelphia Eagles. The Colts are coming off a big divisional road win in Houston against the Texans to keep their slim playoff hopes alive. This is another big spot for Andrew Luck and the Colts and I think they get the home win to snap the Cowboys five game winning streak.
Prediction: Indianapolis 23, Dallas 17.
Miami Dolphins (7-6) at Minnesota Vikings (6-6-1)- 1:00, CBS: The Dolphins are coming off a miracle divisional home win over the New England Patriots. The Vikings are coming off a miserable Monday night road loss in Seattle against the Seahawks. This screams bounce back for the Vikes and letdown for the Dolphins after the miracle win. Kirk Cousins and that offense rebound with their new offensive coordinator.
Prediction: Minnesota 27, Miami 16.
Tennessee Titans (7-6) at New York Giants (5-8)- 1:00, CBS: The Titans are coming off a Thursday night divisional home win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Giants are coming off a divisional road win in Landover against the Redskins. The Giants since their bye have been much better offensively and I think Saquon Barkley leads them to their third win in a row and crush the Titans playoff hopes.
Prediction: NY Giants 34, Tennessee 27.
Washington Redskins (6-7) at Jacksonville Jaguars (4-9)- 1:00, FOX: The Redskins are coming off just a debacle of a loss against the New York Giants at home. The Jaguars are coming off a Thursday night divisional road loss in Nashville the Titans. Josh Jackson is starting at quarterback for the Redskins over Mark Sanchez and he provides mobility that I can see tricking the Jags defense. I expect a bounce back from the Redskins here and their defense too since Cody Kessler is starting at quarterback and I like them to win outright.
Prediction: Washington 23, Jacksonville 16.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-8) at Baltimore Ravens (7-6)- 1:00, FOX: The Buccaneers are coming off a divisional home loss against the New Orleans Saints. The Ravens are coming off a heartbreaking road loss in Kansas City against the Chiefs. Lamar Jackson has been much better than I expected as a starter and I expect him to lead the Ravens to a big win to perhaps take over first place in the AFC North if the Steelers fall to the Patriots.
Prediction: Baltimore 30, Tampa Bay 20.
Seattle Seahawks (8-5) at San Francisco 49ers (3-10)- 4:05, FOX: The Seahawks are coming off a big Monday night home win over the Minnesota Vikings. The 49ers are coming off an upset home win over the Denver Broncos. The Seahawks are well overdue for a letdown spot and this feels like it on the road against a divisional opponent. Nick Mullens shreds the Seahawks and leads the Niners to their second straight upset home win.
Prediction: San Francisco 23, Seattle 20.
New England Patriots (9-4) at Pittsburgh Steelers (7-5-1)- 4:25, CBS: The Patriots are coming off a brutal divisional road loss in Miami against the Dolphins in which was a fluky ending. The Steelers are coming off a bad road loss in Oakland against the Raiders in which Chris Boswell slipped while attempting a game tying field goal at the end. One thing for certain is that Tom Brady owns the Steelers and without James Conner again, I see the Pats winning this one.
Prediction: New England 28, Pittsburgh 23.
Philadelphia Eagles (6-7) at Los Angeles Rams (11-2)- 8:20, NBC: The Eagles are coming off a brutal divisional overtime road loss in Arlington against the Cowboys. The Rams are coming off a bad Sunday night road loss in Chicago against the Bears. Carson Wentz might be out for the season with a broken vertebra and Nick Foles is starting this week. Huge bounce back win for Jared Goff and the Rams here as they win big.
Prediction: LA Rams 37, Philadelphia 17.
Monday, December 17th
New Orleans Saints (11-2) at Carolina Panthers (6-7)- 8:15, ESPN: The Saints are coming off a bounce back divisional road win in Tampa Bay against the Buccaneers. The Panthers are coming off a brutal road loss in Cleveland against the Browns. The Panthers have free fallen badly as the Saints are trying to get that one-seed and I think they send the Panthers to their sixth straight loss in a close game.
Prediction: New Orleans 27, Carolina 23.
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