NFL Picks Week 15: Eagles, Colts, Jets and The Teams That Need To Win

Hard to believe it's already Week 15 and yet, here we are. With only three weeks left in the regular season, this weekend's slate of games becomes even more important.

A few teams have already clinched a playoff berth, a few more teams are close, and a whole lot of other teams are on the outside looking in. If ever there was a time to step up, this is it.

But can they do it?

Here's a quick look at the match-ups and which teams should win.

Detroit at Tampa Bay

Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

SAN FRANCISCO - NOVEMBER 21: Josh Freeman #5 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers warms up before their game against the San Francisco 49ers at Candlestick Park on November 21, 2010 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Don't be fooled by Detroit's 7-3 win over the Green Bay Packers last week. They're still the Lions, after all.

The 8-5 Bucs have yet to beat a team this year with a winning record. Good thing for them, Detroit is 3-10.

PICK: Buccaneers 

Philadelphia at NY Giants

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PHILADELPHIA - SEPTEMBER 12: Michael Vick #7 of the Philadelphia Eagles rushes during a game against the Green Bay Packers at Lincoln Financial Field on September 12, 2010 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

The Giants need to win this one if they want to have any chance of winning the NFC East, especially after already losing to the Eagles, 27-17, last month. 

But they actually match up with Philadelphia pretty well, and the Giants pass rush should be able to contain Vick and make him uncomfortable.

PICK: Giants 

New Orleans at Baltimore

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NEW ORLEANS, LA - DECEMBER 12: Drew Brees #9 and Marques Colston #12 of the New Orleans Saints celebrate after scoring a touchdown against the St. Louis Rams at the Louisiana Superdome on December 12, 2010 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Saints defeated t

If you haven't been paying attention, the 10-3 Saints have won six straight and scored at least 30 points in five straight.

The 9-4 Ravens are heading in the opposite direction, barely getting past the Texans in overtime last Sunday and losing to the Steelers the week before that. Not sold on Baltimore just yet.

PICK: Saints 

Arizona at Carolina

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SEATTLE - DECEMBER 05: Quarterback Jimmy Clausen #2 of the Carolina Panthers passes during warmups prior to the game against the Seattle Seahawks at Qwest Field on December 5, 2010 in Seattle, Washington. The Seahawks won, 31-14. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr

There's actually some intrigue in this game between two of the NFL's worst teams.

Jimmy Clausen, quarterback of the 1-11 Carolina Panthers, needs to win this game to keep his team from getting the No. 1 overall pick in the 2011 Draft and the right to draft Andrew Luck, Clausen's replacement.

But Clausen hasn't won a game since Week 7 against San Francisco and there's really no reason to think he would have finally figured out to play against the Cardinals, who are coming off a convincing 43-13 over Denver. Arizona also needs to win to keep alive any chance of winning the division. (Yes, a 4-9 team could win the division.)

PICK: Cardinals

Kansas City at St. Louis

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KANSAS CITY, MO - DECEMBER 05: Quarterback Matt Cassel #7 of the Kansas City Chiefs in action during the game against the Denver Broncos on December 5, 2010 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

Going to assume here that Matt Cassel will be back because the Chiefs need him. They got pounded by the Chargers, 31-0, with Brodie Croyle as their quarterback last week.

Both the Chiefs and Rams need to win in order to maintain their leads in their respective divisions. But the AFC West is only the worst division in the AFC. The NFC West is the worst division in the history of football.

PICK: Chiefs

Buffalo at Miami

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - DECEMBER 12: Chad Henne #7 of the Miami Dolphins against the New York Jets at New Meadowlands Stadium on December 12, 2010 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images)

Both the Bills and Dolphins are coming off impressive victories last week. The Bills got past the Browns, 13-6, and the Dolphins dealt the reeling Jets another blow, 10-6.

But the Dolphins need to win this game to stay in the wild card race, while the Bills are counting the days to the NFL Draft.

PICK: Dolphins

Houston at Tennessee

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MIAMI - NOVEMBER 14: Coach Jeff Fisher of the Tennessee Titans shouts against the Miami Dolphins at Sun Life Stadium on November 14, 2010 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Marc Serota/Getty Images)

The Titans are dead and buried after losing six straight, and coach Jeff Fisher is looking for any way out of Tennessee where he and Vince Young can't seem to find any common ground.

Texans couch Gary Kubiak, meanwhile, needs to win this game (and a few more too) to save his job. He already shut out the Titans, 20-0, just a few weeks ago and he should be able to do it again.

PICK: Texans

Jacksonville at Indianapolis

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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)

If you weren't familiar with the Colts playoff situation, here's a quick look. In short, they need to win this game if they even want a chance at making the postseason. Lose this one and they're out.

The Jaguars beat the Colts, 31-28, earlier in the season. But how often does Peyton Manning lose a must-win game? Going to stick with the Colts for at least one more week.

PICK: Colts

Washington at Dallas

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GLENDALE, AZ - SEPTEMBER 02: Quarterback Rex Grossman #8 of the Washington Redskins warms up before the preseason NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at the University of Phoenix Stadium on September 2, 2010 in Glendale, Arizona. The Cardinals defeate

If you had told me that Donovan McNabb was the starting quarterback, you could have convinced me to pick the Redskins. But instead Mike Shanahan wants to throw Rex Grossman out there, the man with more career interceptions (36) than touchdowns (33).

OK then.

PICK: Cowboys

Cleveland at Cincinnati

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ORCHARD PARK, NY - DECEMBER 12: Jake Delhomme #17 of the Cleveland Browns hands off to Peyton Hillis #40 against the Buffalo Bills at Ralph Wilson Stadium on December 12, 2010 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images)

So guess who the Bengals started their 10-game losing streak against? Yup, it's the Browns.

No reason for them to stop losing now, and Cleveland has at least been watchable.

PICK: Browns

Atlanta at Seattle

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CHARLOTTE, NC - DECEMBER 12: Teammates Matt Ryan #2 and Roddy White #84 of the Atlanta Falcons talk during a timeout against the Carolina Panthers during their game at Bank of America Stadium on December 12, 2010 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by

The 11-2 Falcons against an NFC West team? Might as well be watching the Yankees play the Pittsburgh Pirates in the World Series.

PICK: Falcons

NY Jets at Pittsburgh

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - NOVEMBER 25: Head Coach Rex Ryan of the New York Jets watche the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at New Meadowlands Stadium on November 25, 2010 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Jets defeated the Bengal 26-10. (Photo by Chri

The Jets are a team going backwards right now, and it's not just because one of their assistant coaches tripped them. They got crushed by the Patriots and then lost again to the Dolphins. They've scored a total of nine points in the last two weeks and appear to have forgotten how to play football.

In other words, they're in trouble. If they're not careful they might miss the playoffs despite starting the season 9-2. The Steelers feast on these kinds of teams and the game is in Pittsburgh, so look for them to hand the Jets their third straight loss.

PICK: Steelers

Denver at Oakland

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PITTSBURGH - NOVEMBER 21: Jason Campbell #8 of the Oakland Raiders hands the ball off to teammate Darren McFadden #20 during the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on November 21, 2010 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jared Wicker

The Broncos have a 1-3 record against the NFC West. The Raiders are 2-2, and they absolutely stomped on Denver earlier this season, 59-14. Any team that loses to the Raiders by 45 points might as well hang up their helmets now and go home.

Good news for Broncos fans is they may finally get to see Tim Tebow play. That's good news, right?

PICK: Raiders

Green Bay at New England

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DETROIT, MI - DECEMBER 12: Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers leaves the field at halftime after leaving the game with a concussion while playing the Detroit Lions on December 12, 2010 at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/

The Packers probably couldn't win this game even if Aaron Rodgers was starting. But without their franchise quarterback they're in even bigger trouble.

The Patriots have beaten two of the best teams in football by a combined score of 81-10 the last two weeks. The spread for this game can't be high enough.

PICK: Patriots

Chicago at Minnesota

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CHARLOTTE, NC - OCTOBER 10: Linebacker Brian Urlacher #54 of the Chicago Bears warms up prior to the Bears game against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on October 10, 2010 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Geoff Burke/Getty Images)

You wouldn't like the Bears when they're angry, and this is one very angry Bears team. They got humiliated in the snow against New England and now they get to play a Vikings team that has its tail between its legs. That's bad news bears for Minnesota.

Joe Webb, meet Brian Urlacher. Try not to get too close.

PICK: Bears