NFL Week 15 Odds and Predictions: Best Picks Against the Spread
Here’s a quick look at all Week 15 games, played Sunday unless noted.
San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks, Thursday
Mr. Irrelevant and QB Brock Purdy was fantastic for the Niners in a rout of the Bucs on Sunday, although he did get banged up. Purdy should be able to play Thursday, but star receiver Deebo Samuel also got hurt and will not. Seattle has come crashing back to earth in losing three of four after being upset 30-24 at home by Carolina on Sunday. Good-looking rookie RB Kenneth Walker III was out injured but may return. The Niners go for the season sweep as they beat the Seahawks 27-7 in Week 2 – the game starting QB Trey Lance left with a season-ending injury.
Pick ATS: Seattle
Indianapolis Colts at Minnesota Vikings, Saturday
Indianapolis comes off its bye week not eliminated as of this writing for a playoff spot, but it’s a formality – also likely a formality that interim head coach Jeff Saturday is not getting the full-time job. Minnesota was in the hunt for the NFC’s top seed but that’s now essentially gone following a 34-23 loss in Detroit on Sunday. The Vikes failed to clinch the NFC North, but that’s a formality and would happen with a win here.
Pick ATS: Minnesota
Baltimore Ravens at Cleveland Browns, Saturday
It’s the first regular-season game in Cleveland for new Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson. He has not looked all that good in his two starts in a return from suspension. The Browns were beaten 23-10 in Cincinnati on Sunday. Baltimore played without star QB Lamar Jackson on Sunday but still won in Pittsburgh – Jackson most likely will miss this one as well. Backup Tyler Huntley had to leave the game with a concussion so his status is TBA, although Coach Jim Harbaugh is optimistic. Anthony Brown is the third-stringer. Baltimore beat Cleveland 23-20 in Week 7. The Browns had a 60-yard field goal blocked with about two minutes left.
Pick ATS: Cleveland
Miami Dolphins at Buffalo Bills, Saturday
Huge in the AFC East. Miami may not have potential NFL Offensive Player of the Year and receiver Tyreek Hill with an ankle injury after he scored two long touchdowns (one on a fumble recovery) in Sunday night’s loss at the Chargers. Buffalo won a fourth in a row Sunday, 20-12 over the Jets. While Josh Allen and the offence struggled, the defence combined for four sacks and forced two turnovers.
Pick ATS: Buffalo (alternate line of -7)
Philadelphia Eagles at Chicago Bears
Chicago comes off its bye week with reason, frankly, to tank and potentially pick No. 2 overall in the 2023 NFL Draft – presuming Houston will pick first. The Eagles became the first team to clinch a playoff spot with Sunday’s easy win at the Giants. The previous two times Philly was the first team to clinch a spot, it reached the Super Bowl. QB Jalen Hurts is the new MVP favourite.
Pick ATS: Chicago
Atlanta Falcons at New Orleans Saints
Both teams come out of their bye weeks. In a normal division, both clubs’ playoff hopes would be gone but each still has a shot at winning the weak NFC South – well, New Orleans really doesn’t have much of one. In Week 1, the Saints won 27-26 in Atlanta. New Orleans was down 26-10 with about 11 minutes left. But then Jameis Winston went nuts with Michael Thomas (out for season), and Will Lutz kicked the winning 51-yard field goal with 19 seconds left. The Falcons announced during the bye they are benching QB Marcus Mariota for rookie Desmond Ridder.
Pick ATS: New Orleans
Detroit Lions at New York Jets
Few teams in the NFL are playing better than the Lions, who won for a fifth time in six games Sunday, 34-23 over Minnesota. Jared Goff is playing the best football of his career as he threw for 330 yards and three scores. Detroit is still in the wild-card hunt. Jets QB Mike White took a vicious hit in Sunday’s 20-12 loss in Buffalo but managed to play through it, which earned him major credibility in the locker room. It’s thought he will be OK for this one.
Pick ATS: New York
Pittsburgh Steelers at Carolina Panthers
Pittsburgh’s playoff hopes vanished Sunday in a 16-14 home loss to Baltimore, which was without Lamar Jackson. The Steelers lost rookie QB Kenny Pickett early to a concussion, and Mitch Trubisky threw three picks in his place. Too early to know if Pickett will play here. Believe it or not, Carolina would win the NFC South if it wins out, although that’s not likely. The Panthers improved to 2-0 with Sam Darnold as the starting QB this year following a 30-24 upset in Seattle on Sunday. Darnold hasn’t done much but also hasn’t turned the ball over.
Pick ATS: Pittsburgh (alternate line of +3)
Dallas Cowboys at Jacksonville Jaguars
Dallas is realistically the only team that can catch Philadelphia for the NFC’s top seed … and the NFC East title. The Cowboys clearly were overlooking a terrible Houston team on Sunday, rallying late for a 27-23 in Sunday, their fourth in a row. Dak Prescott struggled much of the game but was perfect on the game-winning drive. Jacksonville was a 36-22 upset winner at Tennessee. Trevor Lawrence was in some question due to injury but threw for 368 yards and three scores.
Pick ATS: Dallas
Kansas City Chiefs at Houston Texans
Kansas City was blowing out the Broncos in Denver on Sunday but let up and then had to battle for a 34-28 victory. Patrick Mahomes threw for 352 yards and three scores but had an uncharacteristic three picks. The Chiefs reached double-digit wins for the eighth straight season and are about to win their seventh consecutive AFC West crown. Houston nearly pulled off one of the biggest upsets in years on Sunday in Dallas but gave up the go-ahead TD in the final minute. Earning the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 draft is almost a done deal.
Pick ATS: Houston (alternate line of +14.5)
Arizona Cardinals at Denver Broncos
Arizona is on a short week after hosting New England on Monday to close Week 14. Denver nearly rallied from a huge home hole vs. Kansas City on Sunday but lost 34-28 and QB Russell Wilson suffered a concussion. Brett Rypien would start this week if Wilson can’t go.
Pick ATS: TBA on Wilson
New England Patriots at Las Vegas Raiders
New England is on a short week after visiting Arizona on Monday to close Week 14. Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels was a long-time offensive coordinator for the Patriots under Bill Belichick. Las Vegas absolutely gagged away a sure win on Thursday night in Week 13 at the Rams, leading 16-3 with under 3:30 left but losing 17-16. Any shot at the playoffs is essentially gone. Star running back Josh Jacobs injured his finger so monitor that.
Pick ATS: Las Vegas
Tennessee Titans at Los Angeles Chargers
The Titans lost their third in a row Sunday, 36-22 to Jacksonville despite 121 yards and a TD from Derrick Henry. Their injury-ravaged defence allowed 428 yards. Tennessee still leads the AFC South by two games. The Chargers were 23-17 home upset winners over Miami on Sunday night as Justin Herbert threw for 367 yards and a score and the defence played one of its best games of the year.
Pick ATS: Los Angeles (alternate line of -2.5)
Cincinnati Bengals at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Outside of Buffalo, no team looks better in the AFC right now than the Bengals as they won a fifth straight game Sunday, 23-10 over Cleveland. Joe Burrow picked up his first win in five career starts against the Browns. Two of his top three receivers, Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd, left injured. The Bucs looked atrocious Sunday in a 35-7 loss at San Francisco but still lead the NFC South at 6-7. Tom Brady simply isn’t the same QB.
Pick ATS: Tampa Bay
New York Giants at Washington Commanders
This was flexed to Sunday night, replacing Patriots-Raiders. Washington comes out of its bye and oddly plays the Giants for a second straight game, tying in New Jersey 20-20 in Week 13. The Commanders have just one loss in their past eight. New York has been exposed as it is winless in its past four following a 48-22 home loss to Philadelphia on Sunday. Star running back Saquon Barkley isn’t healthy.
Pick ATS: Washington
Los Angeles Rams at Green Bay Packers, Monday
This looked like a marquee Monday game of the season, but it’s definitely not now. Green Bay comes out of its bye week needing to win out for any shot at the playoffs and that may not be enough. The Rams technically are still alive for a playoff spot after a stunning 17-16 win over the Raiders last Thursday after trailing 16-3 with about three minutes left. Just two days after being claimed off waivers, QB Baker Mayfield was brilliant down the stretch.
Pick ATS: Green Bay (alternate line of -7)
