NFL Week 15 Picks - Early Games
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NFL Week 15 Early Games All times Eastern
Week 14 results: Rick: 6-9-1; Coin: 8-7-1
Los Angeles Chargers at Las Vegas Raiders (-3, 53) 8:20 pm (Fox/NFLN) - The Raiders are still in the hunt for a playoff berth after their 44-27 pounding by the Colts last week, but find themselves at the back of the pack. Cleveland, Miami, Baltimore, and either Indy or Tennessee from the AFC South all have better records in the chase for three wild card slots. This is a game the Raiders need to win, but, as Atlanta found out last week in a 20-17 loss, the Chargers are not ready to pack up and move on to next season, though they are horrible on the road (1-5). The Raiders are just 2-4 at home, thus the short line. Look for the Chargers to use every play in the book and go on 4th down often to dump their division rival. The earlier meeting was a 31-26 in for Vegas. Coin Flip: Las Vegas Prediction: Chargers 33 Raiders 30
Buffalo Bills (-6 1/2, 51 1/2) at Denver Broncos 4:30 pm (NFLN) - Despite their 5-8 record, the Broncos are a dangerous team when Drew Lock is healthy (he is) and their defense plays well (not lately). Buffalo comes off a major home win, topping the Steelers, 26-15. The Bills are gaining confidence with every game and they look like a very solid team heading into the playoffs for the second straight season. League-wide, they are tied with Green Bay and New Orleans for the third-best record, behind KC and Pittsburgh. If Buffalo can stick to business and play defense like they did against Pittsburgh this may be a cakewalk. Coin Flip: Buffalo Prediction: Bills 31 Broncos 20
Rodgers has thrown for 3,685 yards with 39 TDs and only 4 picks. The Pack has won five of its last six, the lone defeat, 34-31 at Indianapolis in OT. Green Bay should over over a Carolina defense that's gotten worse as the season has progressed. In their last four losses, the Panthers have allowed 33, 46, 28, and 32 points. Coin Flip: Green Bay Prediction: Packers 42 Panthers 20
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-5 1/2, 50) at Atlanta Falcons 1:00 pm (Fox) - This is the first of two meetings in the next three weeks for these division rivals. They play at Tampa Bay, Jan. 3 to close out the season. If anything, the Buccaneers have a solid grip on a playoff spot, right now at the #2 wild card behind Seattle (9-4) with an 8-5 mark. This is a game they should win handily, as the Falcons have proven to be a few players short of a complete NFL team. Atlanta showed some life mid-season, winning three of four, but never got even close to .500. Last week's 20-17 loss at the Chargers put the final stake in their post-season coffin. Coin Flip: Atlanta Prediction: Buccaneers 26 Falcons 17
As long as Nick Mullens remains the QB for the 49ers they're going to find it difficult to win any more games this season and this road trip looks very dubious even though they're 4-2 away from home. Coin Flip: San Francisco Prediction: Cowboys 26 49ers 20
Coming off a 31-10 routing by Tennessee last week, the Jags offer little in the way of a winning formula, making this line the deepest of the week. The Ravens have statistical and physical advantages on both sides of the ball. Taking a stand against them here would be quite risky. Coin Flip: Jacksonville Prediction: Ravens 38 Jaguars 13
New England's path to the playoffs was considerably weakened last week when their offense was completely shut down by the Rams in a 24-3 win in Los Angeles. This will be the Patriots' third straight road game, usually a death knell. With Miami's defensive prowess (18.8 ppg, 2nd), this looks like the end of the line for the Brady-less Patriots. Coin Flip: Miami Prediction: Dolphins 24 Patriots 17
The Colts, meanwhile, continue to vie with Tennessee for the top spot in the AFC South at 9-4. They split their games with the Titans, but are on the short end of the tie-breaker having won by 17, but lost by 19. The only team the Colts have lost to with a losing record this season is Jacksonville, but that was all the way back in week 1. Phillip Rivers has obviously gotten more comfortable with the offense (28.6 ppg, 5th) and the defense is top-shelf. Could be blowout city. Coin Flip: Houston Prediction: Colts 38 Texans 21
That said, the Titans have a unique way of keeping their opponents in games and Detroit has the ability to frustrate plungers who predict their losses, as was the case last week, scoring a late TD to draw within seven of the Packers, which was the exact spread. Figure on the Titans winning, but Matthew Stafford to find a way to thwart both the spread givers and under-takers. Coin Flip: Detroit Prediction: Titans 31 Lions 27
Minnesota worked out two kickers this week in�Chandler Catanzaro�and Taylor Bertolet, and either one could replace the inconsistent Bailey. Chicago snapped a six game losing streak, burying the Texans, 36-7, as Mitchell Trubisky threw three TD passes and the Chicago defense stymied Deshaun Watson and took advantage of two Houston fumbles. The winner of this game may or may not reach the playoffs, but the loser is almost certainly to be eliminated as both teams come in at 6-7. Coin Flip: Chicago Prediction: Bears 30 Vikings 20
Seattle continues to joust with the Rams for the lead in the NFC West, both teams sporting 9-4 records, the two meeting next week in Seattle. The Seahawks are coming off a breezy, 40-3, romp over the helpless Jets, probably not the best tune-up for a trip to the East coast. The Seattle defense has played better of late, but it's the Washington defense that is the focus here. Washington has allowed no more than 17 points in any of their six wins this season, twice holding opponents under 10. They will make life difficult for Russell Wilson and the Seattle offense. Dwayne Haksins is likely to start at QB ahead of injured Alex Smith (strained calf). Coin Flip: Seattle Prediction: Football Team 23 Seahawks 15
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