NFL Week 15: Picks from a Patriot Perspective

For Week 15's Picks from a Patriot Perspective, I decided to use this new format. If it sucks, I'll change it back next week.

This week, there are many teams fighting for playoff spots or playoff positioning, as well as some awful games that no one wants to watch. There is also high drama throughout the league and a lot of coaches are on the hot seat for next season.

The Patriots need a win, a Colts loss, Ravens loss, Dolphins loss, or Jets loss to improve their playoff chances, and they could be in the hunt for division champs once again. So, for this week, we have some of the more active minds of the New England Patriots community sitting down to go over the slate of NFL games. Football fans, this is your week 15 Picks from a Patriots Perspective

This week, we have:

Mike Dussault
Glenn Card
C Douglas Baker
Ryan Burns

Enjoy, and don't hesitate to use our picks to make your pockets fat.

Jaguars @ Colts

Mike Dussault: I always root for Indy to lose, but I need a big game from Peyton for my Fantasy Championship game, so I'm okay if they win here since it would mean money for me. As long as the Colts end up with the No. 5 seed, the Patriots should avoid having to face them until the AFCCG, which is just fine with me.

Glenn Card: The Colts are getting hot at the right time going into Jacksonville. I’m calling this as the upset of the week. The Jaguars haven’t had a great season this year and have not played well at home. They’ll play this one for pride and win.

C Douglas Baker: Even though the Colts have some key injuries, the Jaguars have no heart. Indianapolis.

Ryan Burns: The Jags are the single most disappointing team in the league this year. The Colts are on an absolute tear, and I see Peyton Manning putting the finishing touches on his MVP campaign. A Colts loss would be huge for the Patriots' playoff chances, but I just don't see it this week. Take Indy.

Ravens @ Dallas

Mike Dussault: Go Cowboys! No question about this one—if Baltimore loses the Pats will clinch a playoff spot by winning their last two games. With Dallas still in a playoff chase of their, own I like their chances. Let's just hope there's no more drama this week to distract them.

Glenn Card: This should be a good battle. The Ravens and the Cowboys are trying to secure a wild card spot. The Cowboys are 6-1 at home and should make it 7-1 by the end of this game. Cowboys win.

C Douglas Baker: Something tells me that Dallas is going to do just enough to win this game. Baltimore's offense struggles against good defense, and Dallas does have that. It could be another defensive slugfest, but I am taking Dallas.

Ryan Burns: A Cowboys win puts the Patriots in the playoffs and keeps their season alive at the same time. I fully expect them to beat the Ravens, provided they can make some big plays on offense. GO Cowboys! *shudders*

Bengals @ Browns

Mike Dussault: Cleveland, if only because I don't want to see Romeo Crennel get fired and then end up as the Jets defensive coordinator next season.

Glenn Card: Another game between two bad teams, which also makes it tough to call. The Browns will win this because it’s a home game.

C Douglas Baker: Yuck. I am taking Cleveland at home.

Ryan Burns: Who cares? I don't think I've ever been jacked up to watch the Bungles and the Browns. Take the Browns because, well, one team has to win, right? Right?

Saints @ Detroit

Mike Dussault: New Orleans. I want a team to go 0-16 just a year after the Pats went 16-0.

Glenn Card: The Saints' season is all but over. But I bet Drew Brees throws and throws and throws a zillion yards against the Lions. Saints win.

C Douglas Baker: No, I'm not picking Detroit to win a game. New Orleans.

Ryan Burns: Drew Brees has way too much class and desire to lose this game. C'mon Lions, two more games! You can do it! I NEED this to happen. Saints win.

Dolphins @ Chiefs

Mike Dussault: Go Chiefs! Again, no question about this one. It's supposed to be frigid in Kansas City, which doesn't bode well for the warm-weather Dolphins. If the Pats have any shot at the AFC East title, either the Jets or Dolphins have to lose this week.

Glenn Card: If I were picking and money was involved I would go with the Phins, but because I really need them to lose, I expect the Chiefs to help me out here.

C Douglas Baker: Too bad Kansas City is so bad this year. My heart will be with the Chiefs, but my head says Miami isn't losing this one.

Ryan Burns: Miami is in for a tough one, and something tells me Herm Edwards would love to play spoiler in this game. The Dolphins have to lose this game for the Patriots, but I don't see it happening. Dolphins win and make the AFC East interesting for another week.

Falcons @ Vikings

Mike Dussault: Atlanta, just because every win they get makes former Pats personnel man and current Falcon GM Tom Dimitroff look like another genius from the Belichick-Pioli tree.

Glenn Card: This should be another good game. The Falcons rookie quarterback has been looking a little more like a rookie lately, and Adrian Peterson has been carrying the Vikings on his back. I like the Falcons.

C Douglas Baker: This is a game I want to see. What a great matchup. But T. Jackson at QB, despite last week's performance, should be good for an Atlanta win.

Ryan Burns: Matt Ryan will put a lock on the debate for Rookie of the Year in this game. Falcons win and creep closer to the playoffs. Mike who?

Panthers @ Giants

Mike Dussault: Carolina, obviously, in a battle between a team the Pats beat in the Super Bowl and a team the Pats lost to in the Super Bowl.

Glenn Card: Carolina is trying to clinch their division, and the Giants are slipping a bit through these last couple of games. I expect the Panthers to win this one.

C Douglas Baker: Carolina is hot, the Giants are not. Carolina.

Ryan Burns: The GMen are down but not out and HAVE to win this game. The winner of this game will get home field advantage throughout the playoffs, adding a little intrigue. DeAngelo Williams will play well after being snubbed for the Pro Bowl, but I gotta think the Giants take this one at home.

49ers @ Rams

Mike Dussault: The two teams that have padded the records of all the AFC East teams—I hope it ends in a tie. But I'm guessing San Fran wins.

Glenn Card: This is a game between two terrible teams. The 49ers are playing to build upon something for next year—they win this away game.

Ryan Burns: *flips coin* Pick the 49ers.

Eagles @ Redskins

Mike Dussault: Washington, just because I like seeing Donovan McNabb getting torn apart by the media more than Jim Zorn.

Glenn Card: The Eagles are surging and have a slim hope of securing a wild card spot. This is a divisional game and the Redskins win this one at home.

C Douglas Baker: Jim Zorn went from a fair-haired boy at 6-2 to being run out of town on rails. Philadelphia.

Ryan Burns: Did you see how Andy Reid said that the benching of McNabb was intended to prove to the Eagles that they can play without him? Nice spin Andy. I'll take Philadelphia though. Redskins are dunzo.

Bills @ Broncos

Mike Dussault: I'm going to root for Denver if only because I want the Chargers' playoff hopes to be completely dead before Week 17 so there's plenty of time to talk about what a horrible job Norv Turner did. Plus I'm pretty sure the Bills are one more loss away from completely throwing the towel in.

Glenn Card: I don’t know what happened to them, but the Bills suck and Denver has just been plain lucky. Denver wins this one.

C Douglas Baker: J.P. Losman is a douchebag. Denver.

Ryan Burns: I hate J.P. LOST-man. I hope Denver crushes the Bills, and they will.

Texans @ Raiders

Mike Dussault: I guess Houston, but I really could care less about either team. The Raiders are horrible, the Texans are peaking, it should be a shellacking.

Glenn Card: Unfortunately, the Texans are playing good ball a little too late in the season. They will not lose to the Raiders.

C Douglas Baker: Oakland is as bad as Detroit. Houston.

Ryan Burns: The Raiders are a pathetic franchise and the Texans are building towards next year. They crush the Raiders on the road and leave all those face-painting, shoulder pad-wearing virgins in the stands upset.

Jets @ Seahawks

Mike Dussault: Go Seahawks! The Jets are 0-3 on the West Coast, and let's hope they make it 0-4. Seattle is never an easy place to play, even if Hasselbeck is still out. Let's hope the Jets keep streaking toward the playoffs with their brilliant play of late. Did anyone else notice they peaked after beating the Pats and Titans in back-to-back weeks?

C Douglas Baker: Go Seattle! Jets will win though.

Ryan Burns: Brett Favre and his 17 interceptions and 85 percent passer rating made the Pro Bowl. Unreal. See why this game is a sham? Hopefully he throws another season-ending pick this week that will propel the Pats into the playoffs. Seahawks win.

Chargers @ Buccaneers

Mike Dussault: Tampa Bay. The Chargers need to go away.

Glenn Card: Tampa Bay is another team trying to keep their playoff hopes alive, and San Diego just cannot seem to play up to their potential (whatcha want to bet that there is a coaching change after this year?). The Bucs win at home.

C Douglas Baker: I am not sure what has happened to the Bucs defense recently, but they are fighting for the playoffs and have a lot of incentive to win. Tampa Bay.

Ryan Burns: Hey, remember when the Chargers were 14-2 and fired their coach? Probably wasn't a good move, huh? Bucs win this one, and Norv Turner's palms get sweaty.

Packers @ Bears

Mike Dussault: For strictly fantasy football purposes, I'm going with the Packers. Ryan Grant needs to go off.

Glenn Card: Chicago wins this divisional game at home as they try to keep pace to win a playoff berth.

C Douglas Baker: What happened to Green Bay this year? No Brett Favre? I think the Packers have pride and are going to win in an upset. Green Bay.

Ryan Burns: I hate watching the Bears. I just feel like I've seen so much of them the last few years. I'm taking Green Bay because I feel bad for Aaron Rodgers.

Cardinals @ Patriots

Mike Dussault: Patriots.

Glenn Card: The Cardinals did not look like a team that has clinched their division. As a matter of fact they looked terrible. They are coming to the Razor against the Patriots, who are playing every game like it’s a playoff game. The Patriots win this home game.

C Douglas Baker: I hope Arizona's woes on the East Coast continue this week. New England.

Ryan Burns: Gotta take the Patriots. Will the Cardinals come out full force? Part of me says no because they have already made the playoffs, but part of me says they want to win this game to send a message to the NFC. Also, look for Matt Cassel to continue his quest for a huge contract. Let's go Pats!