NFL Picks Week 15: Eagles vs. Giants, and 5 Games with Big Playoff Implications

In the NFL, weeks 14-17 are the playoffs. For many teams, a loss during this period of time means they'll be watching the playoffs on their living room couch in January. 

Many teams are also fighting for a first round bye, so they can rest up and watch the Wild Card round on their living room couch.

The Philadelphia Eagles and the New York Giants match-up this week will likely decide the NFC East title, and possibly the number 2 NFC seed.

The New York Jets, who made us believe they were locks to reach the Super Bowl, now face the real possibility of not even making the playoffs.

The Jets must travel to Pittsburgh this weekend, and then go to Soldier Field to face the Bears next weekend. The Steelers and Bears will go to the playoffs, but they still have plenty to fight for. Both are trying to win their division, and the Steelers are desperately looking for the number 2 AFC seed.

This is the time teams must be playing their best football of the year, so let's look at 5 games that will shape the playoff picture in week 15.

New York Jets (9-4) Vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-3)

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - DECEMBER 12: Mark Sanchez #6 of the New York Jets against the Miami Dolphins at New Meadowlands Stadium on December 12, 2010 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images)

The last thing Jets head coach Rex Ryan needs is the Pittsburgh Steelers defense confusing his young quarterback Mark Sanchez.

Sanchez has played awful the last few weeks, and the offense as a whole hasn't scored a touchdown in their last two games vs. the Patriots and the Dolphins.

The Steelers defense has playmakers everywhere. Last week vs. the Bengals, they intercepted three Carson Palmer passes and returned two of them for touchdowns.

The Steelers need to win this game to remain the number two seed in the AFC, and earn a first round bye. The Jets need to win this game to make the playoffs. If they lose this week and next week vs. a very good Bears team, the Jets would have to win their final game.

The Jets offense is playing very poorly right now, and the running game is giving the offense nothing, after the Jets led the league in rushing last year.

The Jets are playing their worst football of the season right now, but they can change that with a big win on Sunday.

However, the Steelers defense will be too much, even with safety Troy Polamalu likely to be inactive.

Steelers win 27-10

Philadelphia Eagles (9-4) Vs. New York Giants (9-4)

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PHILADELPHIA - NOVEMBER 21: Michael Vick #7 of the Philadelphia Eagles runs with the ball against Justin Tuck #91 of the New York Giants at Lincoln Financial Field on November 21, 2010 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images)

The New York Giants will be looking to end a five game losing streak to their division rivals the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday.

The winner of this game will almost certainly win the NFC East title, and would likely earn the NFC's number two seed by the end of the season.

If the Giants win, it will be their fourth straight victory. The Chicago Bears are also 9-4 in the NFC but the Giants hold the head to head tiebreaker with their win vs. Chicago earlier this season.

Last month, the Eagles did a great job of stopping the Giants running game, limiting them to 61 yards rushing, New York's lowest of the season.

Giants' running backs Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw have been on a tear the last few weeks, both having multiple 100-yard games and scoring lots of touchdowns. 

The Giants defense is playing very well right now also, and putting pressure on Eagles' quarterback Michael Vick is crucial.

If the Giants can get to Vick, they will win. Vick's passing prowess has been amazing this season, but he rarely sees a pass rush as good as the Giants.

The Giants win a close one, 24-17.

Jacksonville Jaguars (8-5) Vs. Indianapolis Colts (7-6)

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NASHVILLE, TN - DECEMBER 09: Peyton Manning #18 of the Indianapolis Colts throws a pass during the NFL game against the Tennessee Titans at LP Field on December 9, 2010 in Nashville, Tennessee. The Colts won 30-28. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

The Indianapolis Colts are usually resting players for the playoffs during week 15, but in 2010 they are fighting for their playoff lives. 

Injuries and poor play by quarterback Peyton Manning have hurt the Colts this year. A loss on Sunday to the AFC South leading Jacksonville Jaguars would almost certainly knock the Colts out of the playoff race, continuing the curse of the Super Bowl runner-up.

The Colts won last week vs. the Titans, but did so unconvincingly. Indy still needs Peyton Manning to win every game and score nearly every drive. They have no running game, and defenses are sitting back and defending Manning because they know every four out of five plays will be a pass.

The Jaguars need this game to win the division, and running back Maurice Jones-Drew must play well to help them win.

Jones-Drew is having an MVP caliber season, and was instrumental in the Jags' last minute win last week against the Oakland Raiders. 

The Jaguars defense will win or lose this game. They must stop Manning.

This game is a playoff game for the Colts, and seeing Manning fail again with the stakes this high is unlikely.

Colts survive for another week, winning 28-24.

Kansas City Chiefs (8-5) Vs. St. Louis Rams (6-7)

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GLENDALE, AZ - DECEMBER 05: Quarterback Sam Bradford #8 of the St. Louis Rams scrambles to pass the football during the NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at the University of Phoenix Stadium on December 5, 2010 in Glendale, Arizona. The Rams defeate

The St. Louis Rams are the leaders of the NFC West, the league's worst division, where every team has a losing record.

At 6-7, the Rams are tied atop the division with the Seattle Seahawks. The Rams play the Kansas City Chiefs this week, who are also fighting for a division title. 

The Chiefs' lead in the AFC West is down to a half game thanks to San Diego's win last night against the San Francisco 49ers.

If the Chiefs lose to the Rams on Sunday, they will be in a tie with the Chargers, and face the possibility of missing the playoffs.

The wild card spots in the AFC will likely be taken by the Baltimore Ravens and the New York Jets, so the Chiefs must win this game to keep pace in the West.

The Rams could lose this game and still be in first place after this weekend if Seattle loses too.

If Chiefs quarterback Matt Cassel returns to the starting lineup after his appendectomy surgery, the Chiefs will win. Cassel's passing attack and the running of Jamaal Charles will be too much for St. Louis.

Cassel plays, and the Chiefs win 31-20.

Baltimore Ravens (9-4) Vs. New Orleans Saints (10-3)

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NEW ORLEANS, LA - DECEMBER 12: Drew Brees #9 hands the ball off to Reggie Bush #25 of the New Orleans Saints during the game against the St. Louis Rams at the Louisiana Superdome on December 12, 2010 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Saints defeated the Ram

The New Orleans Saints won the Super Bowl last year, but you'd never remember due to the embarrassingly low amount of attention they're getting.

The Saints are 10-3 so far, and have the second best record in the NFC behind division foe Atlanta. New Orleans must not look ahead to next Monday night's game in Atlanta because the Ravens are a very good team.

We know the Ravens play solid defense, but Joe Flacco must play well for them to have a chance. Ravens running back Ray Rice must also get more touches, because he is their best offensive player and a scoring threat from anywhere on the field.

Drew Brees has the Saints offense in high gear after a sluggish start to the season offensively. The return of Reggie Bush from injury has helped the running game, and receiver Marques Colston has been playing amazing the last few weeks.

The Ravens defense won't be able to stop the Saints offense, and Joe Flacco will need to win the game in the fourth quarter, something he doesn't do well.

The Saints win 35-24.