NFL Predictions Week 15: Guaranteed Picks, Top Matchups and Odds Guide

The Pittsburgh Steelers are currently on the outside of the playoff structure looking in. However, if they keep playing the way they have in the last two weeks, that should change by the end of Week 17.

The Steelers have Ben Roethlisberger back in the lineup, and he has led the Steelers to big wins over the Indianapolis Colts and the Cincinnati Bengals the past two weeks.

While both of those teams have proven they could score at various points during the season, neither one could keep up with the Steelers.

Pittsburgh has scored 30 points or more in five straight games, and there is an undeniable confidence every time the Steelers step on the field.

In addition to Roethlisberger, who is averaging 321.8 passing yards per game and has thrown 15 touchdown passes in his eight starts, the Steelers have a slew of big-time playmakers.

Antonio Brown may be the most dangerous receiver in football not named Odell Beckham Jr. Brown has 100 receptions for 1,397 yards and seven touchdowns, and he has a gift for getting open and accelerating after the catch. Fellow wideouts Martavis Bryant and Markus Wheaton are both strong in complementary roles.

The running game is still going strong even without injured running back Le'Veon Bell. DeAngelo Williams has rushed for 773 yards and eight touchdowns while averaging 4.7 yards per carry.

While the Steelers have their offensive flow going, the Denver Broncos do not. They are once again going with Brock Osweiler at quarterback, and he and the Broncos are coming off a home loss to the Oakland Raiders. Osweiler has size (6'8", 240 lbs) and can see over the top of a defense, but he is not consistent enough to make big plays for the team.

The running game has been good when C.J. Anderson plays, but he has an ankle problem, and his status for this game is up in the air. He did not practice Wednesday, per RotoWire (via CBSSports.com), and even if he gets to play, he's not likely to be at his best.

The Steelers are seven-point favorites at home, according to Odds Shark. They appear to have too much firepower in this game, and they should get the best of the Broncos even though Denver has the No. 1 defense in the NFL.

That defense is likely to get worn out if the Broncos can't attack consistently and stay on the field. Take the Steelers and lay the points.

Game	Line	Over/Under	Selection
Tampa Bay at St. Louis	St. Louis -2.5	41	Tampa Bay; Over
New York Jets at Dallas	N.Y. Jets -3	42	New York Jets; Under
Carolina at New York Giants	Carolina -5	48	Carolina; Over
Buffalo at Washington	Even	44	Buffalo; Over
Atlanta at Jacksonville	Jacksonville -3	49	Jacksonville; Over
Chicago at Minnesota	Minnesota -5.5	43	Minnesota; Under
Tennessee at New England	New England -15.5	46.5	New England; Over
Kansas City at Baltimore	Kansas City -7.5	41.5	Baltimore; Under
Houston at Indianapolis	No line	--	Indianapolis
Cleveland at Seattle	Seattle -16	43	Seattle; Under
Green Bay at Oakland	Green Bay -3	47	Oakland; Over
Miami at San Diego	San Diego -1	46	San Diego; Under
Denver at Pittsburgh	Pittsburgh -7	44.5	Pittsburgh; Over
Cincinnati at San Francisco	Cincinnati -4.5	40.5	San Francisco; Over
Arizona at Philadelphia	Arizona -3.5	50.5	Arizona; Under
Detroit at New Orleans	New Orleans -3	50.5	New Orleans; Over

Vikings, Bears ready to engage in defensive game

After meeting the surging Seattle Seahawks and the high-scoring Arizona Cardinals the last two weeks, the Minnesota Vikings are facing an opponent whom they should be able to dominate in Week 15.

The Chicago Bears have had some good moments this season, but they recently dropped back-to-back home games to the San Francisco 49ers and the Washington Redskins. The Bears are not going to mail it in, but they don't have the weapons to stay with Minnesota.

The Vikings are still in a strong position with an 8-5 record, but they must take advantage of this opportunity against the Bears and a game in Week 16 at home against the New York Giants.

If they are going to do that, their No. 1 weapon is their defense. Head coach Mike Zimmer excels at putting together a defensive game plan, and he should be able to find a way to slow down the Bears with Chad Greenway, Everson Griffen and Eric Kendricks.

Don't expect the Vikings to take many chances with the ball, either. They want to remain in control with Adrian Peterson running, Teddy Bridgewater throwing short passes and strong play from their special teams.

The total in this game is 43 points, but it won't go past 38 or 39 points. Take the under for an easy win.

Reed Hoffmann/Associated Press

Chargers will give it their best vs. Dolphins

The San Diego Chargers will complete the home portion of their schedule Sunday against the Miami Dolphins.

Notice we didn't say for the 2015 season. There are strong indications that the Chargers will be leaving San Diego at the end of the season and moving to Los Angeles, which was their original home when they started playing in the American Football League in 1960.

Nothing is official at this point, but the Chargers may just want to come up with their best effort to leave their fans with one last great moment before they leave San Diego.

The Dolphins have struggled to play with consistency, and they did not appear to have much of an effort in the second half of their Week 14 Monday night loss to the Giants at home.

Now they have to go cross-country on a short week. The Chargers are a one-point favorite, but they will find a way to come up with an emotional game and win by a touchdown or more.