Week 15 NFL Picks: Predictions on Vegas' Midweek Betting Odds and Lines
Twenty-two NFL teams realistically have a chance at the postseason, which makes Week 15 rather important, to say the least.
The games with postseason implications begin Thursday, as the NFC West-leading Arizona Cardinals try to knock off the red-hot St. Louis Rams, and end Monday, as the New Orleans Saints try to seize the NFC South lead with just their sixth win.
With so much at stake, here is a look at the schedule and predictions against the spread for every game. Point spreads are courtesy of Odds Shark as of Tuesday morning at 10 a.m. ET.
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| Thursday, Dec. 11 | 8:25 p.m. | Arizona Cardinals at St. Louis Rams | STL -4 | Rams |
| Sunday, Dec. 14 | 1 p.m. | Pittsburgh Steelers at Atlanta Falcons | unlisted | Steelers |
| Sunday, Dec. 14 | 1 p.m. | Washington at New York Giants | NYG -7 | Giants |
| Sunday, Dec. 14 | 1 p.m. | Miami Dolphins at New England Patriots | NE -9 | Patriots |
| Sunday, Dec. 14 | 1 p.m. | Oakland Raiders at Kansas City Chiefs | KC -11.5 | Chiefs |
| Sunday, Dec. 14 | 1 p.m. | Houston Texans at Indianapolis Colts | IND -7.5 | Colts |
| Sunday, Dec. 14 | 1 p.m. | Jacksonville Jaguars at Baltimore Ravens | BAL -14.5 | Ravens |
| Sunday, Dec. 14 | 1 p.m. | Green Bay Packers at Buffalo Bills | unlisted | Packers |
| Sunday, Dec. 14 | 1 p.m. | Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Carolina Panthers | CAR -5.5 | Panthers |
| Sunday, Dec. 14 | 1 p.m. | Cincinnati Bengals at Cleveland Browns | even | Bengals |
| Sunday, Dec. 14 | 4:05 p.m. | New York Jets at Tennessee Titans | NYJ -1 | Jets |
| Sunday, Dec. 14 | 4:05 p.m. | Denver Broncos at San Diego Chargers | DEN -4 | Broncos |
| Sunday, Dec. 14 | 4:25 p.m. | Minnesota Vikings at Detroit Lions | DET -9 | Lions |
| Sunday, Dec. 14 | 4:25 p.m. | San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks | SEA -10.5 | Seahawks |
| Sunday, Dec. 14 | 8:30 p.m. | Dallas Cowboys at Philadelphia Eagles | PHI -3 | Eagles |
| Monday, Dec. 15 | 8:30 p.m. | New Orleans Saints at Chicago Bears | NO -2.5 | Saints |
AFC Game to Watch: Denver Broncos at San Diego Chargers
The Denver Broncos are a perfect 7-0 at home but a pedestrian 3-3 on the road, while the San Diego Chargers are an impressive 5-2 at home. On the surface, that should have San Diego fans confident, but Denver is 4-0 in the division and has won by an average of 14.5 points a game, including a 35-21 win over the Chargers in Week 8.
You know the names San Diego will have to look out for in this matchup. Peyton Manning, Demaryius Thomas, Wes Welker and Julius Thomas have the Broncos at fourth in the NFL in passing yards per game, and consistently stopping this squad for four quarters is a scary proposition.
However, Manning has thrown for fewer than 200 yards the past two games and hasn't really looked like his typically dominant self.
Ian Rapoport and Chris Wesseling of NFL.com noted how unusual Manning's recent struggles are in the context of his legendary career:
If Manning can play like he did against the Chargers in Week 8, Denver will be fine. He torched the secondary for 286 yards, but the rushing attack added 139 yards on the ground. C.J. Anderson wasn't part of the equation back then, but he has emerged as a potent threat with 335 combined rushing yards in Weeks 12 and 13 and three touchdowns in Week 14.
The presence of Anderson is critical because opponents have had more success running the ball than throwing it against San Diego. The Chargers are eighth in the league against the pass and 14th against the run, so look for Manning to establish the rushing attack early with Anderson, which will open up the passing game in the second half.
An open secondary against Manning is not the recipe for a Chargers win.
On the other side of the ball, San Diego was completely stifled by New England the last time out. Philip Rivers threw for 189 yards, one touchdown and one interception, and Ryan Mathews ran for only 44 yards. The Broncos are not the only passing offense that comes into this matchup on something of a sour note.
Don’t look for the Chargers to get the offense going on the ground either. San Diego is 28th in the league in rushing yards per game, while Denver’s defense is second against the run.
If the Broncos make the Chargers one-dimensional, the defensive line can attack Rivers. It would be critical if Denver’s defense allowed itself to focus on stopping the pass by shutting down the running game early, because the Chargers are 12th in the league in passing yards per game.
Rivers has found Keenan Allen, Antonio Gates and Malcom Floyd throughout the year, but he won't be able to do so without protection.
Rivers was sacked four times and pressured a number of other times against New England. Rookie center Chris Watt, who is the fifth center the Chargers have used this season, discussed the offensive line struggles, per Eric D. Williams of ESPN.com.
"We have to do a better job communicating as a whole group," Watt said. "I have to do a better job of communicating, and I didn't do that tonight. That's on me. I'll take the blame for that. I've got to get everyone on the same page. We've got to do a better job as an offensive line."
The Chargers will not be able to protect Rivers enough or run the ball against a stout Denver front. Manning will take advantage of his defense's impressive play and make enough throws down the stretch to win the game.
The AFC West crown will be the reward.
Prediction: Broncos 28, Chargers 17
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