NFL Week 15: Hot-to-Trot Tips for Every Game

This week, every single game counts.

Yup. Every single game has something on the line.

Some have playoff implications; some have draft implications; some have players trying to prove their worth; whilst others have teams trying to salvage something from an otherwise poor season.

Every single game has something going for it.

And so here's your weekly hot-to-trot tips so that you can boost the bank heading into the festive season, or so that you watch every game this week with a little bit more interest.

Because with these tips, every game counts and you could be counting every game as a winner.

Dallas Cowboys @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers

For those that missed it, I already previewed Thursday Night Football—successfully tipping the winner, the spread, and the first touchdown scorer, the last of which being an 11/1 winner.

And this one couldn't have more riding on it.

The Dallas Cowboys desperately need a win. Last week's loss to the Giants will still be in their minds, and on the road to Tampa presents them with a great opportunity at redemption.

DeMarco Murray is out, meaning Felix Jones will be the go-to-guy for an offense having great success running the football recently.

And if Jacksonville can hang 40 points on you, Dallas should do just fine.

Josh Freeman is having a season to forget, throwing for the league's second highest amount of interceptions this year, and only averaging 17.8 points per game.

The Tampa defense won't offer much against the Cowboys offensive line either—they've only recorded 20 sacks for the season.

And if Gabbert can win—as poor a quarterback as he is—then Romo and the offense will have no trouble dispatching of a dismal Bucs unit that must surely be looking forward to the draft.

Fancy a more detailed analysis of this one? Click here.

Hot-to-trot tips:

Dallas to win and cover the start

Under total points for the game (take anything down to around 44)

Felix Jones to score the first touchdown

Cincinnati Bengals @ St. Louis Rams

Andy Dalton has probably been the revelation of the year, throwing for 19 touchdowns already this year and against a banged-up Rams outfit, the Bengals will be looking to increase on their average of 21.9 points per game.

St. Louis are hurting especially in their secondary with three cornerbacks out of this one.

After watching Sam Bradford play last week, it appears the man with all the potential is simply trying to get to the end of the season without suffering too many more injuries.

I mean, seriously, 11.8 points per game? C'mon man.

The Rams are ranked eigth in pass defense, but with three cornerbacks out, and allowing nine throws of 40-plus yards already this season, the Dalton to Green combination might just be occurring once or twice again in this one.

Hot-to-trot tips:

Cincinnati to win and cover the start

Cincinnati touchdown as the first scoring play of the game

A.J. Green to score the first touchdown

Carolina Panthers @ Houston Texans

Somehow, the Houston Texans are winning football games.

There's no Matt Schaub and no Andre Johnson, just Arian Foster and T.J. Yates, but they're doing enough to win football games and at the end of the day, that's what counts.

They are playing low-risk, high-reward football, and won't be giving Carolina easy ball in this one, as between the million people that have played quarterback for Houston this year, they've only thrown seven interceptions—the lowest in the league.

The 17 interceptions the defense has taken is another story, and against Cam Newton, who we all know loves to give it a good throw, they could reap more gold in this one.

The Houston defense simply looks too good for the Panthers. Less than 200 yards allowed against the pass and less than 100 against the run, Newton won't have it easy in this one.

Cam could step up and take it to the Texans at home, or he could simply remind us that he is still a rookie playing his first season of football in the NFL.

And I think the latter is more likely in this one.

Hot-to-trot tips:

Houston to win and cover the spread

Over total points for the game (take anything above 45)

Houston field goal as the first scoring play

Green Bay Packers @ Kansas City Chiefs

Tyler Palko will struggle.

Aaron Rodgers will not.

Whilst I'm very tempted to leave this analysis there, the Packers will roll on for another week and clinch the NFC's No. 1 seed in doing so.

The 27 interceptions Green Bay's secondary has already chalked up could hit 30 this week, as Palko struggles to find his feet, or a receiver, in the National Football League.

Welcome to the big boys Romeo Crenel. It's good to have you.

Expect the Packers to pull Rodgers late, probably because the game is all over, and this could affect the total points for the match.

They did a similar thing when playing the poor offense of the Rams—played conservative and focused on the defense, and ended up having less than 30 points for the match. There could be a similar storyline in this one.

With Greg Jennings out, expect Finley and Nelson to catch a few more, but also expect the defense to cover them more in expectation of these throws. That opens the door for Ryan Grant, who I successfully tipped to score the first touchdown last week.

Why stop a good thing, I say.

Jackie Battle could have a good game against a Packers side allowing 4.8 yards per carry, and could provide the only touchdown the Chiefs score.

That is if they score one.

Hot-to-trot tips:

Green Bay to win and cover the start

Under total points for the game (take anything down to around 48)

Ryan Grant first touchdown scorer

Seattle Seahawks @ Chicago Bears

After it being the Marshawn Lynch story for the past few weeks, the Seahawks face a much tougher task in the Chicago Bears, who after last week's loss will not be a happy side.

They had it. They'd defeated Tebow and killed the hype.

And yet somehow, they fumbled the win, and may well have killed their playoff hopes with it.

With Jay Cutler out still, the Bears offense will have a run-first, run-second, run-third style of play. This will help the cause for the under total points, but I think with both sides will show they have offensive potential and it could all come together in a running shootout, if that's possible.

The Chicago front seven should contain Lynch relatively well. In fact, they usually contain sides with a great running game and no real quarterback pretty well.

Usually, that is.

My hunch is they respond after Hurricane Tebow and drop a few touchdowns on the Seahawks who would have been thinking playoffs before this one.

They won't be after it, though.

Hot-to-trot tips:

Chicago to win and cover the spread

Over total points for the game (only take it if it's around 42, otherwise take the under)

Take "other touchdown scorer" as the first touchdown scorer—both teams have strong defenses and special teams that can score points.

Tennessee Titans @ Indianapolis Colts

If Indy is going to win one, this is it.

At least I thought it would have been whilst Hasselbeck was out.

Yet with the team stating he will play, this one is over for the Colts before it even began.

I've said it before and I'll say it again here - for all the notes about how poor they are without Peyton Manning. Peyton does not play on defense. He does not allow touchdowns and does not take interceptions and make tackles.

They only have themselves to blame in that one.

The Colts defense has allowed 23 touchdowns this year, and only taken six interceptions—the fewest in the league. Add to that the 144 rushing yards they're allowing and the 18 rushing touchdowns they've conceded and you've got yourself one ugly defense.

The Tennessee Titans offensive line will dominate and will create great running holes for the backs to have their way as they please. I still think there won't be many points overall in this one.

Probably because only one side will be troubling the scorer.

Hot-to-trot tips:

Tennessee to win

Under total points for the game (take anything down to around 40)

Tennessee field goal as the first scoring play

Chris Johnson to score the first touchdown

Washington Redskins @ New York Giants

This game all hangs on one simple fact: Rex Grossman is not a real quarterback and Eli Manning is.

Whilst the Giants offensive line struggled against the likes of DeMarcus Ware, Manning will do better against the Redskins, who should go down without even a whimper in this one.

This is a training run for New York for the real match to come in two weeks time.

Expect Manning to be consistent and classy without being spectacular and hitting 400 yards. He'll just complete the passes, move the chain and get the running game going.

And the Giants will go home easy winners.

Hot-to-trot tips:

New York Giants to win and cover the spread

Under total points for the game (take anything down to 45)

New York Giants field goal as the first scoring play

Miami Dolphins @ Buffalo Bills

Buffalo looked like they had it going earlier in the year.

Now it just looks like they've put it down in a safe place and can't find it again and that's why they'll lose, at home, to the Dolphins.

Miami has the third ranked running defense, with the second lowest amount of touchdowns allowed and only 89.9 yards per game.

That means Buffalo will need to throw the football and score points to stay in this one, especially when they're allowing the second highest amount of passing touchdowns and the third highest amount of rushing touchdowns.

Even at home, against the Dolphins, the Bills aren't good enough.

Hot-to-trot tips:

Miami to win and cover the spread

Over total points for the game (take anything over 40)

Miami touchdown as the first scoring play

New Orleans Saints @ Minnesota Vikings

They've got a good thing going in New Orleans at the moment, and you don't want to be in the way, especially when you've got a pathetic secondary.

Enter the Minnesota Vikings: most passing touchdowns allowed; fewest interceptions taken; have allowed 12 throws of more than 40 yards.

So, Drew Brees is going to have a field day and will probably take a seat before half time. He is simply unstoppable at the moment and looks a sure-thing to finally break Dan Marino's record this year and during any other season he's the unanimous MVP.

He has 325.2 passing yards for 32 touchdowns at a 71 percent completion rate on the season against the Vikings defense?

No matter how good Adrian Peterson and is no matter how much potential Christian Ponder has, New Orleans are taking this one without a doubt.

Hot-to-trot tips:

New Orleans to win and cover the spread

Over total points for the game (take anything over 50)

Mark Ingram to score the first touchdown

New England Patriots @ Denver Broncos

I'm pretty sure we've understood that Denver got away with one against Chicago last week.

Thanks for that, Marion Barber.

And I sure hope that by now we've also understood that the real hero in this Denver unit is not McGahee and it's not Tebow—it's the defense.

The problem is, this defense, it's not going to cut it against the Patriots, who have 44 offensive touchdowns for the year to go along with averages of 319.3 passing yards and 105.1 rushing yards.

Baltimore on their best day struggle to contain offenses like this; the Broncos have no shot.

Tebow can run all he wants, but the fact remains that Brady will not give cheap ball and he definitely won't give the Broncos field position.

Or an easy game, for that matter.

And another one: Denver has had two wins this year with no points throughout three quarters of the match, an NFL record. If they're going to keep pace with the Patriots, they'll need points and because of their recent low-scoring games, the total points could be a little low.

Take the over and watch Brady do the rest.

Hot-to-trot tips:

New England to win

Over total points for the game (take anything over 42)

Denver field goal as the first scoring play

Cleveland Browns @ Arizona Cardinals

Somehow, and I seriously don't know how, the Cardinals have won two in a row and still have a playoff chance in the NFC.

I do not know how it has happened, but for one thing, it's been incredible to watch.

Wins against the Philadelphia Eagles and then divisional winners San Francisco 49ers have shown the Arizona faithful that they aren't pushovers this year. In fact, they're on a three-game winning streak. Incredible news for the home crowd.

And won't they be out in force for this home game.

The Arizona offense, despite the poor play of the offensive line this year, should handle the Browns defense. Whilst Cleveland have the second-best passing defense in the league, Arizona showed last week their running prowess.

If you can run against the 49ers, then you should be able to run against a team giving up 150-plus rushing yards per game.

And John Skelton or Kevin Kolb or whoever is playing quarterback for the Cardinals will steer the offense to its forth straight win of the season.

Colt McCoy not playing probably doesn't help the Browns either.

Hot-to-trot tips:

Arizona to win and cover the start

Under total points (take anything down to around 40)

Beanie Wells to score the first touchdown

Arizona HT into Arizona FT result

New York Jets @ Philadelphia Eagles

Well, isn't this one big? And in big games, Philly usually shows up.

Usually.

The pass rush of the Eagles could force Sanchez into making some panicked decisions. I bet you've never heard that story before, but Sanchez has shown his temperamental side this year, frustrating supporters to no end. Under pressure with a little bit of heat, he can cook.

Michael Vick and LeSean McCoy could have a field day against the Jets run defense. They'll definitely be adding to New York's 11 rushing touchdowns allowed this season.

I like the Eagles in this one.

Mathematically, to make the playoffs, they need to win every game from here on in. And I like the Eagles when they need to gear up for a big one—especially when the writing is on the wall.

Because they have to win, they will, and win well they will.

Try say that ten times really fast.

Hot-to-trot tips:

Philadelphia to win and cover the start

Over total points (take anything up to around 50)

Philadelphia touchdown as the first scoring play

Michael Vick to score the first touchdown

Detroit Lions @ Oakland Raiders

Again, another make-it or break-it game with the most severe playoff implications at stake.

The Raiders still have a shot at winning the division, especially if the Patriots can kill Tebow-mania, whereas Detroit winning would almost guarantee them a wild-card entry to the playoffs.

Suh is back to help the line defense against a struggling Carson Palmer. In order to match it with Detroit's powerful offense, Palmer will need to make big-time, clutch throws.

Palmer is neither big-time nor clutch.

The hope for the Raiders lies in the Lions run defense, ranked 27th in the league. However, for all that yardage, they've only allowed nine rushing touchdowns all year and Michael Bush still won't find it that easy.

Hot-to-trot tips:

Detroit to win and cover the start

Under total points (take anything down to around 45)

Detroit touchdown as the first scoring play

Kevin Smith to score the first touchdown

Baltimore Ravens @ San Diego Chargers

Is Ray Rice going to be too good for the Chargers run defense to cope with?

I mean, they are ranked in the bottom ten and are allowing 128 yards per game against the run. However, let's not forget they have only given up seven rushing touchdowns, the same amount as the strong run defense of the Baltimore Ravens.

Clever, I know.

To what extent has Philip Rivers resurrected the Chargers' season? It would take a Broncos and Raiders meltdown for San Diego to win the division, but they are still in a shot for the playoffs if they win every game to the end.

Starting with this one—the biggest of them all.

As divisional rivals the Pittsburgh Steelers face a tough 49ers unit, the Ravens may see this as an opportunity to wrap up the divisional lead. A game in hand with two games to go would almost make them unstoppable for the division.

Still, San Diego does have their healthy receivers and when everyone said they'd get smacked by the Jacksonville defense, they blew them apart. Baltimore is a step up again, but I'm tempted to go out on a limb for this one.

The Chargers won't win a close, rough-and-tough against the Ravens - that's their bread and butter. Rivers needs to get into an offensive shootout against Joe Flacco, who can crumble under pressure.

Let's go out on that limb, but only with the spread. I think Rivers has been saving his best (or worst) game for this one Sunday night.

Hot-to-trot tips:

San Diego to win with the spread

Over total points for the game (take anything over 44)

San Diego field goal as the first scoring play

Ryan Matthews to score the first touchdown

Pittsburgh Steelers @ San Francisco 49ers

The big question is whether Ben Roethlisberger plays or not.

I'm going with he play; he's too tough to let his team down for a huge game like this.

The Steelers defense needs to be ready for the 49ers because as last week's loss to Arizona showed, Josh Smith isn't that great at bringing his team back from the dead. Or holding on to a small lead, for that better.

Big Ben, on the other hand, lives for come-from-behind and small leads.

The Steelers have the defensive ability to shut Smith and Frank Gore down, allowing 90 yards rushing (sixth in the league) and 179.1 yards passing (first in the league). They also lead the league only allowing 5.8 yards per catch.

After the last two performances he's put in, I'm sure that Josh Smith is not good enough to win against a Baltimore, a Green Bay, a New Orleans, a New England or a Pittsburgh. He's just not good enough.

Big Ben is going to take hits, especially since he's injured, and his offensive line won't give him too much help considering they've already allowed 35 sacks for the year.

Frank Gore will post up another 100 yards rushing, and will be too strong to stop on 3rd and short, but with Smith, that's another story.

It could just well be field goal central in this one.

Hot-to-trot tips:

Pittsburgh to win

Under total points for the game (take anything down to around 36)

Pittsburgh field goal as the first scoring play

Frank Gore to score the first touchdown

HT result - Draw (you can usually bet on this under the half/full double as 'any other score')

For more articles by Dan Talintyre, click here.

Or just follow him on Twitter - @dantalintyre