RADIO
Los Angeles Rams 27, San Francisco 49ers 24
We kick off Week 15 with a pivotal NFC West showdown between the Rams and Niners. This division is far from decided, as both of these teams are still fighting to win it and secure a berth in the NFL Playoffs. 2024 hasn’t gone to plan for either of these squads with each team being ravaged by injuries for large portions of the season.
Those injury concerns bleed into Week 15 for San Francisco, as Kyle Shanahan is staring the possibility of starting his fourth different running back of the year directly in the face this week with Niners rookie Isaac Guerendo’s availability in doubt as of this writing. Though he’s been on the field, star receiver Deebo Samuel hasn’t been productive over the past month, which has led to Jauan Jennings and George Kittle picking up the slack in the passing game.
Meanwhile, the Rams passing attack is finally fully healthy, and boy, what a difference the presence of both Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp makes for Matthew Stafford. L.A. is fresh off a wild upset of the Buffalo Bills in Week 14. With the trifecta of Nacua, Kupp, and Stafford – along with Kyren Williams and a healthy offensive line – Sean McVay’s squad has the look of a team that could make a late-season run. This will be a tight one, but the Rams will get it done over a Niners team that’s simply missing too many key players.
Carolina Panthers 23, Dallas Cowboys 21
While there are no moral victories in the NFL, the Panthers have to be buoyed by their last three performances – even if all of them did in losses. Carolina has hung tough with Kansas City, Tampa Bay, and Philadelphia over the past month, losing all three games by a combined 12 points.
That improvement can largely be attributed to the newfound confidence of quarterback Bryce Young, who has thrown for 752 yards and accounted for four TDs across Carolina’s last three. The Panthers host the ailing Cowboys, who come in licking their wounds off a tough loss to the Bengals on Monday Night Football in which they relinquished 359 passing yards to Joe Burrow. At 5-8 and with multiple key players lost for the season due to injuries, it’s fair to wonder how hyped the ‘Boys will be for this one.
Kansas City Chiefs 27, Cleveland Browns 23
Cue the “They Can’t Keep Getting Away With It” meme. Yes, Kansas City escaped another tight ballgame in Week 14 by beating the Chargers on a field goal as time expired. I suppose you can argue that the Chiefs have been nowhere near their dominant selves of the past in 2024, yet here we are with Andy Reid’s squad at 12-1.
There’s no arguing the fact that the Browns are fighting through a lost season, a fact that Cleveland fans will largely (and correctly) place squarely on Deshaun Watson’s shoulders. However, the insertion of Jameis Winston into the starting lineup has morphed the Browns into arguably the most fun watch in the NFL. While all of Winston’s shenanigans are good for a laugh, we shouldn’t forget that his gunslinging style also makes this offense very dangerous. Look for Cleveland to put a scare into the Chiefs before the inevitable KC win in the end.
Houston Texans 31, Miami Dolphins 27
After splitting divisional games with the Titans and Jaguars, Houston had plenty to work on in their Week 14 bye. The Texans appear to have regressed since a breakout campaign in 2023, a fact that can largely be attributed to the offensive line’s abysmal pass protection for second-year QB C.J. Stroud.
Houston hosts a Miami squad that’s clinging to longshot playoff hopes at 6-7. Similarly to Houston, the Dolphins have their own issues to figure out, though the play of Tua Tagovailoa hasn’t been one of them. Over Miami’s last four games Tua has thrown 11 TDs to zero interceptions while completing passes at a 75% clip. It’s tempting to ride the hot hand of this Miami offense in this matchup, but I think the Texans come out of the bye week focused and re-energized for the stretch run.
Cincinnati Bengals 28, Tennessee Titans 20
After hearing a week chock full of buzz around the Titans and Will Levis last week, Tennessee reminded us they are who we thought they were in an ugly 10-6 home loss to the lowly Jaguars in Week 14. Levis managed just 168 passing yards against Jacksonville’s league-worst defense.
The Bengals also reinforced their identity in a 27-20 win over the Cowboys on Monday Night Football, i.e., a team that needs exceptional performances from Joe Burrow and his receivers to win games. Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase once again carried Cincinnati in Week 14 with Burrow throwing for 369 yards and three scores, two of them to Chase, who finished with 177 receiving yards. While Tennessee is allowing the NFL’s fewest passing yards per game, I don’t envision the Titans offense being able to keep pace in this one.
Washington Commanders 24, New Orleans Saints 13
Rookie of the year candidate Jayden Daniels and the Commanders come into this one well-rested following a Week 14 bye. At 8-5, Washington will try to finish strong down the stretch of the regular season. They draw a Saints squad that’s playing out the string with an interim head coach and will likely be without quarterback Derek Carr, who suffered a fractured hand and a concussion in Week 14.
New Orleans will turn to either Spencer Rattler or Jake Haener at quarterback, which means we can expect a heavy dose of Alvin Kamara with Kendre Miller mixing in. I expect the competent Commanders defense to stifle the Saints’ one-dimensional attack, while Daniels and Brian Robinson Jr. should have their way on the ground against a NO defense that’s allowing five yards per carry.
New York Jets 21, Jacksonville Jaguars 13
Sporting a combined record of 6-20, this matchup between the Jets and Jags gets the “Somebody’s gotta win” title of Week 15’s most abysmal matchup. Both of these offenses feature key players that are likely done for the rest of the year in Trevor Lawrence and Breece Hall, while both defenses fall somewhere on the spectrum of giving little effort and/or possessing little talent.
While the Aaron Rodgers era has been an unmitigated disaster for the Jets, the veteran did throw for 339 yards and a score in last week’s overtime loss to the Dolphins. New York does possess talented pass catchers in Garrett Wilson and Davante Adams, and the team’s passing attack should find some success against a Jacksonville secondary that’s allowing the NFL’s second-most passing yards per game.
Baltimore Ravens 31, New York Giants 10
The most lopsided matchup on this full Week 15 slate, Baltimore is posted as a 16.5-point favorite over the Giants as of this writing. Though the Ravens dropped two of three ahead of their Week 14 bye, it’s tough to envision them stumbling against a New York squad that’s been a disaster by every measure in 2024.
With Drew Lock in a walking boot, Tommy DeVito will reportedly get the start for the G-Men this week. I’m not sure that it will matter who is under center for a lifeless New York offense that ranks dead last in the league in points per game. Conversely, the Ravens should have no trouble lighting up the scoreboard behind Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry. This one won’t be close.
Philadelphia Eagles 24, Pittsburgh Steelers 21
The winners of nine straight, the Eagles escaped a surprisingly close call against the Panthers last week. Despite their 2024 success, there have been rumblings from A.J. Brown – and Philly fans – about the state of the Eagles’ passing attack. Philadelphia’s average of 180.6 passing yards per game currently stands 31st in the NFL.
The 10-3 Steelers are a very viable candidate to hand Philadelphia its first loss since Week 4. The insertion of Russell Wilson has been a shot in the arm for the Pittsburgh offense, while their defense stands out as a top-five unit. The availability of wide receiver George Pickens is in doubt, and while the Steelers survived without him last week against Cleveland, his absence would weigh heavier against the Eagles. Though the Philly passing game certainly has its issues, Philly does have explosive players all over the field… the same can’t be said for the Steelers.
Denver Broncos 27, Indianapolis Colts 17
Both of these squads come in fresh off Week 14 byes. Denver is squarely in playoff contention with a record of 8-5 while the Colts (6-7) would likely need to win out to compete in the postseason. Anthony Richardson’s benching earlier in the year appears to have been a nice reset for the second-year QB, as he’s been solid, if unspectacular, since regaining the Colts starting job.
Denver has had no such concerns with their rookie QB, Bo Nix. After a slow start to the season, Nix has firmly placed himself in the Offensive Rookie of the Year conversation by passing for 2,842 yards and 17 TDs in his first season as a pro. In addition to an offense that’s finding a nice rhythm of late, the Broncos field a defense that’s allowing the league’s second-fewest points per game and should give A-Rich fits in a hostile Mile High environment.
Detroit Lions 31, Buffalo Bills 28
Week 15’s unquestioned marquee matchup offers football fans a possible Super Bowl preview, as the Buffalo Bills (10-3) travel to Motown to challenge the Detroit Lions (12-1). The Lions haven’t lost since Week 2 and most recently escaped last Thursday night’s divisional clash with the Packers on a last-second field goal. Detroit coach Dan Campbell was in full-blown psychopath mode in Week 14, going for it on fourth down five times against Green Bay and converting four of those attempts.
Some might argue that Campbell’s aggressive nature is wreckless and will ultimately cost Detroit a big game, but his team obviously believes in him and continues to rack up wins. It won’t be an easy feat, even at Ford Field, against a Bills squad that had won seven straight prior to a wild 44-42 loss to the Rams last week. Josh Allen will likely play Superman again in this one, but the Lions have the more complete team and defend their home turf in what’s almost guaranteed to be an exciting game.
Tampa Bay Bucs 28, Los Angeles Chargers 27
It’s hard not to be impressed by what Baker Mayfield and this Bucs offense are doing this season. Despite losing stud wideout Chris Godwin for the year and playing multiple games without Mike Evans, Tampa is third in the NFL in total yards per game and fifth in points per game.
This matchup against the Chargers feels like the proverbial irresistible force meeting the immovable object, as Jim Harbaugh’s defense has been lights out in 2024 and is relinquishing the league’s fewest points per game. While I’d normally lean towards the better defense at home, sometimes you’ve gotta color outside the lines when picking NFL games, and something tells me Mayfield’s moxie will lead the Bucs to an upset here.
Arizona Cardinals 20, New England Patriots 17
The hardest team for me to put my finger on this year has been the Cardinals. Arizona rolled into their Week 11 with a 6-4 record and on a four-game winning streak. Since that bye they’ve lost three in a row while averaging just over 18 points per game.
New England isn’t a very hard team to figure out. The Pats are in a full-blown rebuild, and while their 2024 first-round draft pick Drake Maye looks as though he’s up to the task of being the franchise’s quarterback of the future, he has almost no talent around him right now. Maye and the Patriots have become experts at being competitive but losing close games – which is probably just fine with their fans right now – and that’s the most likely outcome again this week against Arizona.
Green Bay Packers 24, Seattle Seahawks 21 (Sunday Night Football)
Two NFC playoff hopefuls close out the Sunday slate, with the Packers traveling to Lumen Field to take on the Seahawks. First-year Seattle head coach Mike Macdonald has his group surging, as the Seahawks have won four straight thanks in large part to a defense that’s finding its footing late in the year.
Green Bay is coming off a heartbreaking and hard-fought Thursday night loss to the Lions. The Packers have only lost two games since Week 4 with both of those defeats coming at the hands of Detroit. Green Bay has been leaning into Josh Jacobs and the rushing attack down the stretch, and while Seattle’s defense has improved, they could be in for a long night against the trending Jacobs. It’s never easy to win in Seattle, but the Pack gets it done behind their powerful running game.
Minnesota Vikings 27, Chicago Bears 20 (Monday Night Football)
Da Bears looked abysmal in their first game since the firing of Matt Eberflus. Chicago was destroyed 38-13 by the 49ers in Thomas Brown’s first game as the team’s interim head coach. The Bears were outgained in total yards 319-4 by the Niners in the first half, in what was one of the most lopsided affairs in recent memory.
The Vikings were on the other end of the blowout spectrum in Week 14, as they trounced the Atlanta Falcons in Kirk Cousins’ return to Minnesota. At 11-2, the Vikings are in line for a high seed in the NFC side of the playoffs, but they’ll need to take care of the Bears in this divisional rivalry game.
Atlanta Falcons 21, Las Vegas Raiders 13 (Monday Night Football)
A 42-21 beatdown in Minnesota last week marked Atlanta’s fourth consecutive loss. The Falcons have now slipped to second in the NFC South and it feels as though this season is getting away from them in a hurry, as many are calling for rookie quarterback Michael Penix to replace the struggling Kirk Cousins.
Speaking of struggling, the Raiders can’t seem to get a break. After looking sharp in a narrow Black Friday loss to the Chiefs, QB Aidan O’Connell suffered a bone bruise to his knee in Week 14 and is questionable for this one. In a bit of irony, it would be former Falcons quarterback Desmond Ridder who would be under center for the Silver & Black if O’Connell is unable to go. Despite all of Atlanta’s recent struggles, they should be able to outlast this sinking Raiders ship – especially if Ridder is indeed Las Vegas’ starting QB.
