NFL Predictions: Home Teams Doomed to Fall in Week 15

As the NFL heads into its final weeks, home-field advantage in the playoffs will become one of the league’s hottest topics of conversation. Home-field advantage in Week 15, however, will not be enough to save these three teams from ill-timed losses:

Chicago Bears (vs. Seattle)

A month ago, this game would have looked completely different, but injuries to Jay Cutler and Matt Forte have gutted the Chicago offense. Even at Soldier Field against a vulnerable Seahawk team, Caleb Hanie and the Bears just aren’t going to generate enough points to come out on top.

Seattle’s defense should have little trouble shutting down the Bears, meaning that Chicago will be depending on defense (and maybe Devin Hester in the return game) for points. Marshawn Lynch will be able to minimize turnovers and put up enough points by himself to outscore Chicago and eke out a victory.

Philadelphia Eagles (vs. New York Jets)

The mercurial Eagles are coming off a solid road win at Miami, but the week before that was a blowout loss at a sub-.500 Seattle team. The prediction here is that the bad Eagles will show up against Rex Ryan and the high-pressure Jets defense.

Philly has had trouble protecting Michael Vick this season, and Ryan will have no qualms about blitzing the Eagles QB into oblivion. Expect a defensive struggle that ends with Shonn Greene’s power running bringing the win to New York.

Kansas City Chiefs (vs. Green Bay Packers)

Even under ideal circumstances, Kansas City would have been hard-pressed to put up a fight against the NFL’s best team. Having their top running back and quarterback out for the season with injuries doesn’t exactly qualify as “ideal circumstances.”

The Chiefs secondary is actually a solid group, as reflected in K.C.’s No. 10 ranking in defending the pass. Unfortunately for them, with no offense to speak of, they’re fighting an impossible battle to shut down Aaron Rodgers’ high-scoring crew and make this game anything other than a Green Bay blowout.