NFL Picks, Week 15

I can't remember an NFL season like this one.  It's been a wild and crazy year, as evidence by the fact that it's mid-December and nobody has clinched a playoff spot yet.  Even in the most competitive seasons, one division is such a runaway that a team wraps it up early.  Not this year, though!  That could change this week, though, as there were finally playoff clinching scenarios finally published on NFL.com for the first time this season.

Thursday Night: Tampa Bay (Loss)

Browns (3-10) at Bears (9-4): Chicago-Things are so tight in the NFC that one loss dropped the Bears from the No. 1 seed to the No. 6 seed.  It won't get any easier for Chicago, either.  Their final three games are Packers, 49ers, Lions.  So, with that gauntlet to end the season, they absolutely need to beat Cleveland.  There's no other way to put it.  This is a must-win game for the Bears.

Ravens (6-7) at Bengals (4-9): Baltimore-You know the Ravens don't forget what happened on Thanksgiving.  That loss was followed by another one in Pittsburgh, all but erasing all of the progress Baltimore had made to get back into the division race.  Fortunately, they get a chance at redemption against Cincinnati almost immediately.  If they don't get the win, their playoff chances are all but gone.  They'll need to win out to have any shot.

Chargers (9-4) at Chiefs (6-7): Chargers-When these two met in Brazil to start the season, the Chargers won.  Maybe we should've read more into that and seen it as the start of this year's sea change in the AFC West.  The Chiefs won't win the division and are looking at missing the playoffs entirely.  The Chargers can really put the final nail in their coffin by going into Kansas City and getting the victory.  With the way this season has been going for the Chiefs, don't be surprised if that does happen.

Bills (9-4) at Patriots (11-2): New England-Kansas City's streak of division titles has ended, and Buffalo's will, too, if the Patriots beat the Bills this week.  It was their win in Buffalo that really got New England going and let everyone know that Mike Vrabel's team is for real.  Their 10-game winning streak was interrupted by their bye, but the Patriots can clinch their first AFC East title since Bradicheck by finishing the season sweep of the Bills.  The Bills know that they're likely looking at a wild card regardless, but that becomes a lot tighter with a loss here.

Commanders (3-10) at Giants (2-11): Giants-Call me crazy, but I actually like the Giants in this one.  Injuries are obviously the biggest culprit to blame for Washington's season, but this certainly isn't how the Commanders expected to follow up their surprise NFC Championship Game appearance.  With Washington reeling and a rested Giants team knowing that they have a chance to go on a little run here (they have Vikings, Raiders coming up after Washington), I can see them picking up their third win of the season.

Raiders (2-11) at Eagles (8-5): Philadelphia-Suddenly, the Eagles are on a three-game losing streak that has made them look very mortal.  The Bears even showed everyone how to stop the tush push.  That losing streak has dropped them to the No. 3 seed in the NFC, which is perhaps the most significant takeaway since that means a road game in the Divisional Playoffs.  What's one way to halt a skid?  Playing the Raiders in the snow.

Jets (3-10) at Jaguars (9-4): Jacksonville-Turns out this isn't just a meaningless December game between two bad teams.  The Jets are still the Jets, but the Jaguars come into the game as the first-place Jacksonville Jaguars.  And they took over the division lead in pretty dominant fashion last week against the Colts.  You've got to consider them the favorites to take the AFC South.  They go to Denver next week, so they can't afford a slip up against the Jets.

Cardinals (3-10) at Texans (8-5): Houston-Silly us for counting Houston out!  The Texans aren't just coming.  They've made it all the way back.  They're very much in the playoff conversation, currently holding down the 7-seed and just a game out in the AFC South.  I still wouldn't consider them the division favorites, but they've never made the playoffs as a wild card before, and there's a definite possibility of that happening.  Especially with that ridiculous defense!

Packers (9-3-1) at Broncos (11-2): Denver-They picked a great week to give both networks a doubleheader.  Because the 4:25 slate this week is fantastic!  Denver is currently the No. 1 seed in the AFC.  Green Bay is currently the No. 2 seed in the NFC.  These two have played a classic Super Bowl once before, and it's not crazy to think they could meet in one again two months from now.  The Broncos clinch a playoff berth with a win.  The Packers could drop out of first place with a loss.  So, yeah, this is a big game for both.

Lions (8-5) at Rams (10-3): Rams-Detroit kept its playoff hopes alive with last week's win over Dallas, but things don't get any easier for the Lions, who now have to head to SoFi and face the Rams.  A loss doesn't eliminate them, but it sure makes things harder.  As for the Rams, they might be the best team in the NFC (if not all of football) and are currently the No. 1 seed.  They've got the Seahawks and 49ers right on their heels, though, so they need the win just as much as Detroit does.  With a win, they'll become the first NFC team to clinch a playoff spot.

Panthers (7-6) at Saints (3-10): Carolina-Tampa Bay's collapse on Thursday night could have major repercussions in the NFC South.  In fact, the Panthers could be in first place by the end of the day.  Carolina is 6-3 since starting the season 1-3 and has enough wins over good teams to know they're legit.  They also have some confounding losses, including one at home against New Orleans!  Here's their chance to rectify that and knock off the Saints, giving them a one-game lead heading into next week's showdown with Tampa (who they haven't played yet).

Titans (2-11) at 49ers (9-4): San Francisco-Of all the teams that had the ridiculously late Week 14 bye, perhaps no one needed it more than the 49ers.  Although, that could actually end up being a good thing for San Francisco, who'll be fresh and rested for the stretch run.  Starting that run with a home game against the Titans sure helps, too.  Tennessee is coming off a win, though, beating the Browns last week in Cleveland.

Colts (8-5) at Seahawks (10-3): Seattle-Well, I sure didn't see this one coming!  I don't think anybody did!  I guess Philip Rivers won't be part of the Hall of Fame class.  The desperate Colts returned to their roots as a QB retirement home by bringing the 44-year-old out of a five-year retirement to start against the Seahawks, resetting his Hall of Fame clock (now he isn't eligible until 2031).  Not that it'll matter much, unfortunately.  Indianapolis is in free fall, and I doubt Rivers can change that, especially against Seattle.

Vikings (5-8) at Cowboys (6-6-1): Dallas-Since there are three good late games, there was some very vocal clamoring for one of those to be flexed to Sunday night and Cowboys-Vikings to be flexed out.  Yeah right!  There was no chance of that happening!  The Cowboys are one of the biggest draws in the NFL regardless of their record.  There's no way they were getting flexed out of prime time.  Especially since the Eagles' losing streak (which started in Dallas) has made their playoff chances much more realistic.

Dolphins (6-7) at Steelers (7-6): Pittsburgh-After blowing their entire lead in the AFC North, the Steelers played a great game last week to beat the Ravens and stay on top.  Were they helped by the officials a little?  Sure.  But that doesn't change the fact they won the game.  Now they get the Dolphins on Monday night with a chance to solidify that position.  It's been a while since we've seen a playoff game in Pittsburgh, but, if the Steelers win here, the prospects of there being one this year get that much better.

This Week: 0-1
Last Week: 9-5
Overall: 132-76-1