NFL Week Fifteen Preview

ARI @ STL

STL -4.5

40.5

Arizona is clearly the better team, and St. Louis is due for a letdown after pitching consecutive shutouts.

Pick: ARI +4.5. Cardinals win 20-17 (Under)

OAK @ KC

KC -10

41.5

Kansas City has to end its 3 game losing streak and should do so relatively easy against the Raiders, at whom I presume they are still pissed off.

Pick: KC -10. Chiefs win 34-10 (Over)

JAX @ BAL

BAL -14

45.5

This is an awful lot of points to give Baltimore against a team with a relatively solid defense. I’ll take the points.

Pick: JAX +14. Ravens win 24-14 (Under)

PIT @ ATL

PIT -2

54.5

I still don’t trust Pittsburgh, and somebody has to win the NFC South. The Falcons should be playing hard, especially as a home dog.

Pick: ATL +2. Falcons win 31-27 (Over)

HOU @ IND

IND -6.5

49

Indy didn’t play particularly well last week, and Houston has the talent along its defensive line to keep Andrew Luck off balance. That said, if Andre Johnson can’t play the Texans won’t be able to move the ball very well.

Pick: IND -6.5. Colts win 27-19 (Under)

CIN @ CLE

CLE -1.5

44

There’s no way Cleveland will sweep Cincy.

Pick: CIN +1.5. Bengals win 24-13 (Under)

MIA @ NE

NE -7.5

48.5

The Patriots are a different – and much more dangerous – team with LeGarrett Blount in the backfield. Plus they rarely lose late in the season. And are still upset that the Fins took them down in week one.

Pick: NE -7.5. Patriots win 31-13 (Under)

TB @ CAR

CAR -3

41.5

Whether Newton plays or not, Carolina hasn’t been a very good team this season. Tampa has played some pretty solid games, and I expect them to earn a series split.

Pick: TB +3. Bucs win 21-13 (Under)

WAS @ NYG

NYG -6.5

47

I’d like to think the Redskins have enough pride to avoid being blown out by the Giants twice in one season.

Pick: WAS +6.5. Giants win 30-24 (Over)

GB @ BUF

GB -5

50.5

My gut says the Bills have the defensive line to put pressure on Aaron Rodgers and slow down Green Bay’s offense. Plus it’s really cold and snowy in Buffalo…not unlike Green Bay…so this game might stay lower-scoring allowing the Bills to have a shot.

Pick: BUF +5. Packers win 21-17 (Under)

MIN @ DET

DET -8

43

Minnesota has been playing pretty well and Detroit hasn’t been involved in many blowouts. But I have no idea how Minnesota will cover Calvin Johnson.

Pick: DET -8. Lions win 27-17 (Over)

NYJ @ TEN

NYJ -2

42

The Jets aren’t good enough to be favored on the road.

Pick: TEN +2. Titans win 17-13 (Under)

DEN @ SD

DEN -4

51

The Broncos haven’t been stellar lately and San Diego may be due for a statement win. Unfortunately they don’t have the defense to stop Peyton.

Pick: DEN -4. Broncos win 34-24 (Over)

SF @ SEA

SEA -10

48

You’d think the 49ers would get up for this game, but history suggests that the Seahawks will win in blow out fashion.

Pick: SEA -10. Seahawks win 31-0 (Under)

DAL @ PHI

PHI -3

55

Philly smoked the Cowboys on Thanksgiving; I imagine Dallas has made some adjustments. These teams usually split anyway.

Pick: DAL +3. Cowboys win 35-31 (Over)

NO @ CHI

NO -3

54

The Saints were embarrassed last week, the Bears have pretty much given up, and Chicago plays poorly at home. All of that points to New Orleans staying in the disturbingly poor NFC South race.

Pick: NO -3. Saints win 33-27 (Over)