Bears LB Brian Urlacher Retires

Twitter Reaction

NFL Week 15 Picks: Predictions for Every Game

By (Featured Columnist) on December 10, 2012

27,807 reads

50Icon_comment

Previous
1 of 17
Next
Hi-res-6823242_crop_650x440
USA TODAY Sports

We're dwindling down here, and there is still plenty to be decided in the 2012 NFL regular season. 

Both wild-card spots in each conference are there for the taking, although in the AFC, no one seems to want the No. 6 position. 

With Peyton Manning facing the Baltimore Ravens, Eli Manning taking on the Atlanta Falcons and Tom Brady squaring off against the San Francisco 49ers, we'll get a much clearer playoff picture at the end of Week 15.

Let's get to the picks.

New York Giants at Atlanta Falcons

Hi-res-158037425_display_image
Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images

The Falcons are undefeated at home this season, but they've been shaky of late. If they can't run or stop the run, they'll struggle against the NFC's elite. Eli Manning and his G-Men were totally in sync against the New Orleans Saints in Week 14 and are primed to make another late-season run. 

This game will feature more interceptions than some may initially believe would be the case with Matt Ryan and Manning under center, but right now, New York is the more well-rounded team and will sneak out of Atlanta with a huge road win. 

Giants 34

Falcons 31

Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears

Hi-res-6836420_display_image
Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

The Packers are trending upward after a solid victory in the snow against the Detroit Lions on Sunday Night Football

They're getting healthy at the right time, and it doesn't appear Aaron Rodgers has to be perfect for them to win. 

Meanwhile, the Chicago Bears have lost four of five, and Jay Cutler injured his neck against the Minnesota Vikings. 

Without Brian Urlacher manning the middle of the defense, Rodgers and Co. will dice the Bears' defense en route to a win that gives them breathing room in the NFC North. 

Packers 28

Bears 17

Washington Redskins vs. Cleveland Browns

Hi-res-6834950_display_image
Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Trap game, anyone? 

It'll be easy for the clicking Washington Redskins to overlook the 5-8 Browns with NFC East games next on the schedule. 

However, Cleveland has won three straight, albeit over two AFC West teams, but confidence is finally there. 

Brandon Weeden, Josh Gordon and Trent Richardson formulate a trio that can't be taken lightly, and the team's defense is formidable. 

If Robert Griffin III plays, the Redskins should escape with a narrow victory. 

Redskins 27

Browns 24

Minnesota Vikings at St. Louis Rams

Hi-res-6833780_display_image
Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

This is a battle of the NFC's most pleasant surprises, two clubs with slim playoff chances. 

Adrian Peterson is a legitimate MVP candidate, and the Rams are getting by with great coaching from Jeff Fisher. 

There isn't much talent disparity in this one, but Peterson is the X-factor that will ultimately carry the Vikings to their eighth win of the year. 

Pun intended. 

Vikings 27

Rams 20

Jacksonville Jaguars at Miami Dolphins

Hi-res-158035692_display_image
Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

The Jaguars can't get out of their own way and are fresh off consecutive losses to the Buffalo Bills and New York Jets. 

Ryan Tannehill's Miami Dolphins are a year away from contending in the AFC, but their defensive front seven is good, and Jacksonville's offense is still one of the worst in the NFL. 

With an occasional big play from their running game, Joe Philbin's club will do enough to beat the hapless Jags. 

Dolphins 28

Jaguars 13

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at New Orleans Saints

Hi-res-158032363_display_image
Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images

Just another NFC South shootout. 

Neither the Buccaneers nor the Saints can stop anyone—especially through the air—and despite some recent struggles, Josh Freeman and Drew Brees should have huge afternoons. 

Tampa Bay narrowly lost to New Orleans earlier in the year, and with the Buccaneers' postseason hopes all but dashed, they will get a confidence-building win. 

Lots of Doug Martin, too. 

Buccaneers 41

Saints 34

Denver Broncos at Baltimore Ravens

Hi-res-158027006_display_image
Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

The Ravens are reeling and have just fired offensive coordinator Cam Cameron (h/t The Baltimore Sun).

On the other hand, rather quietly, Peyton Manning has the Broncos on an eight-game winning streak. 

In what should be a tightly contested AFC battle, Von Miller will force a huge turnover late, and the Broncos will leave Baltimore a winner. 

Broncos 34

Ravens 28

Indianapolis Colts at Houston Texans

Hi-res-157555047_display_image
Frederick Breedon/Getty Images

Andrew Luck has led six comebacks this season, a remarkable feat for a rookie quarterback playing on a team that went 2-14 a season ago. 

However, the Colts' flaws will be exposed against the mighty Houston Texans' defensive line in Week 15. 

J.J. Watt, Antonio Smith and Co. will demolish Indianapolis' offensive line, and Arian Foster will wear down the Colts' defense in a rather convincing victory for Gary Kubiak's squadron. 

Texans 34

Colts 20

Detroit Lions at Arizona Cardinals

Hi-res-6836000_display_image
Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

Boy, how the Cardinals have fallen. From 4-0 to 4-9 in about the most abysmal way possible. 

The Lions have done a great job finding ways to lose over the last month; however, they have considerably more talent than Arizona. 

A laugher. 

Lions 35

Cardinals 10

Carolina Panthers at San Diego Chargers

Hi-res-158030126_display_image
Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

Don't look now, but Cam Newton has 11 total touchdowns (eight passing) with no interceptions over the last four games. 

Sure, the Panthers haven't played a quartet of elite teams, but any improvement from the remarkably talented quarterback is a good development for Carolina. 

The Chargers ended a four-game losing streak in impressive fashion with a win over the Steelers in Pittsburgh, but can Philip Rivers be trusted in consecutive games? 

In a mini upset, the Panthers will make more plays on offense than the Chargers in San Diego. 

Panthers 38

Chargers 30

Pittsburgh Steelers at Dallas Cowboys

Hi-res-6835252_display_image
USA TODAY Sports

The Cowboys were lackluster for the majority of the game against the Bengals in Week 14, but Tony Romo came through in the clutch, and Dallas came back from a nine-point deficit in the fourth quarter. 

This is a clash of improvisational quarterbacks and will be a game loaded with incredibly unlikely third-down conversions and big plays. 

At home, with the season essentially on the line, the Cowboys' defense will make enough plays against a sporadic Steelers offense that will lead to a close victory. 

Cowboys 27

Steelers 24

Seattle Seahawks at Buffalo Bills

Hi-res-158040530_display_image
Kevin Casey/Getty Images

The Seattle Seahawks probably won't put up 58 on the Buffalo Bills in Toronto, but they're clearly the more talented and well-coached team. 

Cornerback Brandon Browner is already suspended, and there's a chance Richard Sherman's suspension will be upheld as well. 

That should help a reeling Bills offense somewhat, but Russell Wilson will make many plays against an average Bills secondary, and Chan Gailey will likely misuse C.J. Spiller once again. 

Seahawks 24

Bills 13

Kansas City Chiefs at Oakland Raiders

Hi-res-158030236_display_image
Jason Miller/Getty Images

A real AFC West barnburner. 

Neither team has anything to play for, and actually, the loser will probably be better off in the long run thanks to the chance to land a better draft pick. 

At home, the Carson Palmer-led Raiders will simply make more plays through the air than Brady Quinn's crew.

Raiders 30

Chiefs 17

San Francisco 49ers at New England Patriots

Hi-res-158035659_display_image
Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images

Super Bowl preview? 

Right now, these two clubs appear to be the best in their respective conferences, with supreme balance and an enormous amount of talent on both sides of the ball. 

The 49ers' front seven will be too much for Tom Brady and the Patriots to handle, and Frank Gore and the crafty Colin Kaepernick will expose some of New England's defensive flaws. 

49ers 30

Patriots 28

New York Jets at Tennessee Titans

Hi-res-158030449_display_image
Sam Greenwood/Getty Images

The Jets are alive in the AFC postseason race. 

Believe it, people. 

While they'll probably fall a win or two short of the playoffs, they'll get a win over the sporadic Titans in Week 15. 

Gang Green's defense is still rather effective and will force Jake Locker into a handful of major mistakes. 

Jets 23

Titans 14

Begin Slideshow
Keep Reading
Flag
Props (0)
This article is

What is the duplicate article?

Why is this article offensive?

Where is this article plagiarized from?

Why is this article poorly edited?

Flag This Article
Default-user-icon-comment
or to post a comment

50 Comments

There are no comments yet. Get the conversation started by leaving the first comment
Big
Loading comments...
just now posted just now
  • Loading...
  • Nobody has liked this comment yet
Cancel

This comment and all replies have been deleted This comment has been deleted Undo delete

Follow B/R on Facebook

Fans of

Icon_subscribe
Icon_youtube
Icon_google
NFL

Subscribe Now

We will never share your email address

Thanks for signing up.

We're Scouting Top Writers

One 2014 FA Each Team Needs to Lock Up Hint: you can use arrow keys to navigate through this channel.