NFL Week 15 Predictions
Srikar Kalapala
Overall Record: 128-78-2
Last Week's Record: 7-6
Seattle Seahawks (7-6) vs. San Francisco 49ers (9-4)
49ers. The Seahawks have been on a fall from grace in the past couple of weeks, and they just lost to the Panthers. The 49ers on the other hand just demolished the Bucs with Brock Purdy as QB, and I think they can do the same this week against their rivals.
Minnesota Vikings (10-3) vs. Indianapolis Colts (4-8-1)
Vikings. The Vikings lost to the Lions last week, and even though they aren’t in any danger of losing the division, getting the #1 seed in the NFC gets much harder. Now they take on the Colts, who haven’t played well the last couple of weeks. I think the Vikings can bounce back with a blowout.
Cleveland Browns (5-8) vs. Baltimore Ravens (9-4)
Browns. This one is a really tough pick. The Ravens don’t have Lamar, and Tyler Huntley may or may not play as well. At the same time, the Browns haven’t been playing well either, and Deshaun Watson has looked really rusty (as expected). I’ll go with the home team in this one.
Buffalo Bills (10-3) vs. Miami Dolphins (8-5)
Bills. The Bills lost this matchup early in the season in Miami, but they are playing a whole lot better than the Dolphins as of right now. The weather also looks to be in favor of the Bills for this one, so I think they will take it fairly easily.
Chicago Bears (3-10) vs. Philadelphia Eagles (12-1)
Eagles. Jalen Hurts is playing like an MVP right now, and the Bears defense gives no reason for that MVP play to stop. The Eagles defense will look to clamp up Justin Fields, en route to a blowout victory for the Eagles.
New York Jets (7-6) vs. Detroit Lions (6-7)
Lions. Part of the reason the Lions look good here is because of the quarterback uncertainty for the Jets. If Mike White plays, this will be a really good game. The Lions offense and the Jets defense will also be a very fun duel to watch, but I think the Lions will take this one as one of the hottest teams in the NFL.
Carolina Panthers (5-8) vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (5-8)
Panthers. This matchup becomes really difficult for the Steelers without Kenny Pickett. I like the Panthers defense to have a field day over this Steelers offense and go one step closer to potentially winning their division. Yes, you read that correctly.
Houston Texans (1-11-1) vs. Kansas City Chiefs (10-3)
Chiefs. The Chiefs struggled against the Broncos a little bit. Patrick Mahomes had an uncharacteristic game, and Russell Wilson finally looked like himself until he went down with an injury. The Chiefs have an opportunity here to get back to firing on all cylinders, and I think they will do that in this game.
New Orleans Saints (4-9) vs. Atlanta Falcons (5-8)
Saints. This matchup came down to the wire the last time these rivals played each other, and it very well could happen again. However, I like the Saints defense against a rookie QB making his first start, so I’ll go with them.
Jacksonville Jaguars (5-8) vs. Dallas Cowboys (10-3)
Cowboys. The Jaguars (surprisingly) blew out the Titans last week, but now they face a different type of beast known as the Cowboys. I really like the Cowboys’ offense vs. this Jags defense, and while the Jags offense will try and keep pace, it won’t be enough.
Denver Broncos (3-10) vs. Arizona Cardinals (4-8)
Broncos. This game has the makings of an ugly showing by both teams. Neither team will have their quarterbacks, and both teams have severely underperformed this year. I like the Denver defense a lot more than the Cardinals’ defense, so I’ll pick the Broncos at home.
Las Vegas Raiders (5-8) vs. New England Patriots (6-6)
Patriots. Another tough game. The Raiders looked like they were about to make a surge late in the season, and then they gave up a 98-yard touchdown drive to Baker Mayfield and the Rams and ended up losing. That right there symbolizes their entire season. They face the Patriots in this one, who have looked good in one game and then looked really bad in the next. It is the master vs. the apprentice in this one with Belichick and McDaniels, and I think the master will come out on top in this one.
Los Angeles Chargers (7-6) vs. Tennessee Titans (7-6)
Chargers. There are a lot of 50-50 games on this week’s schedule, and this is one more. Both of these teams are 7-6 and looking to make the playoffs. However, they are on opposite paths. The Chargers looked pretty good against the Dolphins last week in their win, and the Dolphins are no slouch. Herbert looked like the star he is, and the defense was able to get the dangerous Miami offense off the field. Tennessee, on the other hand, looked to have wrapped up their division early on in the year, but now face pressure from the Jags, who are only two games behind the Titans, with a matchup looming at the end of the year. The Titans will need to keep winning, but I think the Chargers will find a way to win this thing behind the arm of Justin Herbert.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-7) vs. Cincinnati Bengals (9-4)
Bengals. Brady and the Bucs got blown out last week against the 49ers, and the road doesn’t get much easier this week against the hottest team in the league. The Bengals were able to avenge their blowout loss to the Browns from earlier in the year, and I think they will dominate this reeling Bucs team.
Washington Commanders (7-5-1) vs. New York Giants (7-5-1)
Commanders. This matchup ended in a tie a couple of weeks ago after a missed field goal by Graham Gano. This time it will be played on Washington’s turf, and with the front seven of their defense, and being one of the hottest teams in the league right now, give me the Commanders over their rivals.
Green Bay Packers (5-8) vs. Los Angeles Rams (4-9)
Packers. The Packers actually have some viable scenarios to make the playoffs, but that requires them to at least win all of their remaining games. They face the Rams, who came back to win against the Raiders on a 2-minute drive led by Baker Mayfield. The Packers have had some good recent history against the Rams in key games, and I expect that to continue here.
