NFL Picks Week 15: Colts vs. Jaguars for AFC South and More
It's Week 15 now which means that more and more questions will be answered as teams find out whether or not they'll have a shot at the playoffs.
The two games of the week will be the AFC South clash between the Jacksonville Jaguars and Indianapolis Colts, and the battle for NFC East supremacy between the Philadelphia Eagles and New York Giants.
We'll witness a rookie quarterback matchup when John Skelton and the Arizona Cardinals take on Jimmy Clausen and the Carolina Panthers.
Brett Favre might even play again!
Read on to find the key storylines around the NFL as well as the picks to each and every game.
San Francisco 49ers vs. San Diego Chargers
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Each of these teams remains just one game back in their respective divisions. The San Francisco 49ers at 5-8 trail both the 6-7 St. Louis Rams and the 6-7 Seattle Seahawks while the 7-6 San Diego Chargers are one game behind the 8-5 Kansas City Chiefs.
The stakes are obviously huge for both teams, as the loser may not be mathematically eliminated from the playoffs, but the chances of playing in the postseason would dwindle.
With a good performance Philip Rivers could once more become a darkhorse candidate for the MVP award. Alex Smith, on the other hand, could solidify his starting role as the 49ers quarterback.
San Diego seems to be a better team at almost every single position, making it quite tough to pick against the Chargers despite Smith's 2-0 career record on Thursday nights.
Prediction: San Diego Chargers
New Orleans Saints vs. Baltimore Ravens
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While these two teams are in similar positions to those playing on Thursday night, the New Orleans Saints and Baltimore Ravens are both in good shape for a wild card slot, at the worst.
New Orleans is 10-3, one game behind the Atlanta Falcons in the NFC South race. Baltimore, at 9-4, is also one game behind their division's leaders, the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Once more, there is a lot to play for.
The vaunted Ravens defense has been struggling a bit lately while the Saints offense has been firing on all cylinders. Marques Colston has caught a touchdown pass in five consecutive games and will be aiming for yet another in this contest.
Prediction: New Orleans Saints
Arizona Cardinals vs. Carolina Panthers
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In the battle of rookie quarterbacks, John Skelton will lead the 4-9 Arizona Cardinals against Jimmy Clausen and the 1-12 Carolina Panthers.
The Arizona Cardinals may not get as much production out of Jay Feely this week after his 25-point explosion in last week's blowout win, but they hope to at least make him kick a few PATs.
Carolina has been just as inept in recent weeks as they've been the entire season. There has been no indication that anything will change in the near future.
Clausen may be extra motivated in his last few games so that the Panthers can win a few and not have a shot at drafting Andrew Luck, but that extra motivation still won't be enough.
Prediction: Arizona Cardinals
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Cleveland Browns vs. Cincinnati Bengals
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The 5-8 Cleveland Browns will meet up with the 2-11 Cincinnati Bengals in this clash of AFC North bottom-feeders.
Carson Palmer and Chad Ochocinco both have excellent histories against their fellow team from Ohio. Palmer is 5-0 when playing at home against the Browns, while Ochocinco has 11 touchdown receptions against them.
It still won't be enough, though, as the Bengals will need to stop Peyton Hillis—a task which has proven to be quite difficult this season.
Colt McCoy should be ready to return this week as well, looking to light a spark for this team.
The Bengals will be doing everything possible to avoid losing an NFL-worst 11 straight games, but it won't be enough.
Prediction: Cleveland Browns
Washington Redskins vs. Dallas Cowboys
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The two worst teams in the NFC East, the 4-9 Dallas Cowboys and the 5-8 Washington Redskins will face off this Sunday.
Even though this game is devoid of any playoff implications, it will still be emotional due to the pure hatred that flows through the veins of each of these two rivals.
Even though Washington got the better of Dallas in Week 1 this year, Week 15 will not yield a similar result.
The Cowboys have been playing very well under interim head coach Jason Garrett, while Donovan McNabb and the Redskins have lost four in a row.
Expect to watch the Dallas pass rush giving McNabb and the Redskins fits all game long.
Prediction: Dallas Cowboys
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Indianapolis Colts
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Not many people expected this at the beginning of the year, but the 8-5 Jacksonville Jaguars have a chance to clinch the AFC South title with a win over the 7-6 Indianapolis Colts.
The stakes are going to be quite high as the loser will likely miss the playoff entirely.
One of the biggest questions is which Peyton Manning will show up. Will it be the Manning who threw 11 interceptions in a three-game span or the Manning that dominated Tennessee's secondary last week?
Regardless, the Colts will have their hands full trying to stop Maurice Jones-Drew and the Jaguars running game. Led by the league's second-leading rusher, the run game has put up 157.8 yard per game this season. Jones-Drew has broken 100-yards in six straight games.
Prediction: Jacksonville Jaguars
Buffalo Bills vs. Miami Dolphins
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In an AFC East battle, the 7-6 Miami Dolphins will hope to get another win against the 3-10 Buffalo Bills.
To do so, the Dolphins will need to continue their stellar defensive play while playing a little bit better on the offensive side.
Chad Henne has been struggling to hold onto the ball and extend possessions, but the defense has been great at giving him opportunity after opportunity. This was especially clear last week when they held the New York Jets to just two field goals.
As for Buffalo, they need to get Steve Johnson going again. The wide receiver has yet to recover from his drop in overtime against the Steelers.
Prediction: Miami Dolphins
Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants
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The Philadelphia Eagles and New York Giants are each 9-4 and tied for the NFC East division lead. This game will clearly have many playoff implications.
However, there isn't much good news for the Giants. They are coming off an unexpected six days of rest after having their game against the Vikings pushed back to Monday. Eli Manning also leads the league with 19 interceptions.
The ground game has been excellent for the Giants, as Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs have been dominant lately.
As for the Eagles, they're a traditionally a good December team, winning 12 of their last 13 in the month. Michael Vick, LeSean McCoy and DeSean Jackson are just too much to stop for any defense.
Prediction: Philadelphia Eagles
Kansas City Chiefs vs. St. Louis Rams
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In yet another game with playoff implications, the 8-5 Kansas City Chiefs will take on the 6-7 St. Louis Rams.
The Chiefs have a one-game lead in the AFC West over the San Diego Chargers, while the Rams are tied for the NFC West lead with the Seattle Seahawks.
Matt Cassel's health is going to be the most important factor for this game. If he can play just 10 days after an appendectomy, the Chiefs should escape with a win. If Brodie Croyle has to start, the Rams should be able to take down the Chiefs.
Prediction: St. Louis Rams
Detroit Lions vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
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In this game, the 3-10 Detroit Lions will attempt to win their fourth game of the season by taking down the 8-5 Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The Lions may be able to score a few times, most likely via the talented hands of Calvin Johnson, but they won't be able to stop the Buccaneers for the entire game.
LeGarrette Blount has been unstoppable as of late, and the Josh Freeman to Mike Williams connection is growing stronger and stronger each and every week.
Plus, if the game is close at the end, Freeman will be able to pull a win out of any situation.
Prediction: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Houston Texans vs. Tennessee Titans
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In this matchup of two disappointing 5-8 AFC South teams, the Houston Texans take on the Tennessee Titans.
The game will feature two of the NFL's best running backs, as last season's leading rusher, Chris Johnson, and this season's leading rusher, Arian Foster, will both be on the field.
Tennessee has been falling apart lately, and that probably won't change as they have the pleasure of attempting to stop the dynamic trio of Foster, Andre Johnson and Matt Schaub.
Randy Moss may actually get targeted this week, but he won't be a difference maker in the game.
Prediction: Houston Texans
Atlanta Falcons vs. Seattle Seahawks
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This bird show will feature the 11-2 Atlanta Falcons and the 6-7 Seattle Seahawks. Somehow, both teams are leading their respective divsions.
The Seahawks are coming off a terrible performance against the San Francisco 49ers, while the Falcons have been impressive week-in and week-out.
Tell me who you'd rather have: Matt Ryan, Michael Turner, Tony Gonzalez and Roddy White, or Matt Hasselbeck, Justin Forsett, Ben Obomanu and Mike Williams.
Yeah, that's what I thought.
Prediction: Atlanta Falcons
Denver Broncos vs. Oakland Raiders
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The 3-10 Denver Broncos have been struggling mightily lately, and the switch to interim head coach Eric Studeville didn't really help much.
As for the 6-7 Oakland Raiders, they haven't been much better overall, but they have been playing well in recent weeks. They even scored 31 points last week in a loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Kyle Orton isn't going to turn it around this week against Nnamdi Asomugha and the Raiders secondary, but it seems as though Denver will stick with him at quarterback and leave Tim Tebow on the bench for yet another week.
It's going to be awfully hard to stop Darren McFadden, who is coming off a three-touchdown performance in Jacksonville.
Prediction: Oakland Raiders
New York Jets vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
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While the New York Jets are 9-4 and the Pittsburgh Steelers are 10-3, the teams are going in opposite directions.
It's been two weeks since the Jets scored a touchdown, and Mark Sanchez has been slumping to the point where benching him isn't out of the question. The Steelers, on the other hand, just keep winning.
Expect for those trends to hold true this week, as it will be awfully difficult for Sanchez to recover against the blitz schemes thrown at him by DIck LeBeau.
Prediction: Pittsburgh Steelers
Green Bay Packers vs. New England Patriots
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Tom Brady and the 11-2 New England Patriots have looked dominant lately, blowing out elite team after elite team. Then there's the Green Bay Packers, who may be playing without Aaron Rodgers and are 8-5 after a three-point fiasco against the Detroit Lions.
Are you honestly even considering picking the Packers here?
Prediction: New England Patriots
Chicago Bears vs. Minnesota Vikings
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Questions abound in this game as the 9-4 Chicago Bears look to extend their lead in the NFC North by beating the 5-8 Minnesota Vikings.
Will Brett Favre play? If he doesn't, who will quarterback the Vikings?
Can the Chicago Bears recover after getting killed by the New England Patriots last week?
Finally, where will the game even be played after the Metrodome's roof collapsed and the University of Minnesota is having trouble clearing their field?
Prediction: Chicago Bears
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