NFL Week 15 Preview
Week 15 is upon us and our first Saturday night match up is here. My pick for game of the week is Cincinnati at San Diego. The Chargers are by far the best-unbeaten team in the league at the moment and the Bengals have the weapons to be a threat if the right team shows takes the field.
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Lot’s of football this week, so lets get started.
Thursday, December 17
8:20 pm Indianapolis Colts (13-0) @ Jacksonville Jaguars (7-6)
Line: Indianapolis -3 (Total 43)
Jacksonville will have their hands full when they host the undefeated Colts this Thursday night. The Jags offense has been inept at times and the run game hasn’t been as potent as in previous seasons. The defense has stuggled having allowed more than 50 points than they have scored. Receiver Mike Sims-Walker is pretty banged up, which pretty much negates any chance at a decent passing attack. This team will not derail the Colts, but a Jags loss will most likely take Jacksonville out of the playoff race. Manning and company get the win.
Saturday, December 19 8:20 pm
Dallas Cowboys (8-5) @ New Orleans Saints (13-0)
Line: New Orleans –7 (Total 54)
Dallas in December is always ugly and we aren’t talking about the weather. We all know that come December the Cowboys can’t seem to find the end zone. The Saints should have a field day here especially at home. Drew Brees will put up some good passing numbers agasint a questionable Dallas secondary while orchestrating a balanced rushing attack. Saints LB Scott Fujita and RB Mike Bell are expected to return, furthering New Orleans’ ability to stop Dallas dead in their tracks. The Saints improve to 14-0 on their way to the promise land.
Sunday, December 20 1:00 pm
Houston Texans (6-7) @ St Louis Rams (1-12)
Line: Houston –12 ½ (Total 43 ½)
It’s too late for either of these teams to mount anything close to a playoff run, but a little pride is still left in Houston’s tank. The Texans should be able to dominate the Rams with their passing game and shut down the Rams offense with a decent defense. The Rams only hope is running back Steven Jackson. The Texans win this one and improve to .500.
1:00 pm – Cleveland Browns (2-11) @ Kansas City Chiefs (3-10)
Line: Kansas City -2 (Total 37)
The Browns have got to be reeling after beating the Steelers last week . Joshua “Josh-of-all-trades” Cribbs, single handedly dismantled Pittsburgh and their playoff hopes by slicing through Pittsburgh’s defense like butter. I really don’t see the Chiefs putting much together and Matt Cassel’s ability to lead the Chiefs to more than one win in every three to four contests is yet to be determined. Browns knock off KC in this one.
1:00 pm – New England Patriots (8-5) @ Buffalo Bills (5-8)
Line: New England -4 (Total 41)
This may be a harder fought amd much needed victory for New England than most may have thought before the season began. The Pats need a win to clinch the AFC East title and haven’t been able to really get their 2007 mogo back. New England has its share of problems off the field as well with the recent distractions regarding Randy Moss’ performace, Tom Barady’s ability to stay healthy and Adalius Thomas’ disatisfaction of being a Patriot. The Bills are a team that has nothing to lose at this point in the season, and to disrupt division rival New England would salvage a little Buffalo pride. Coupled with the Bills ability to run the ball this could go either way.
1:00 pm – Miami Dolphins (7-6) @ Tennessee Titans (6-7)
Line: Tennessee -4 (Total 43)
This contest features two of the NFL’s finest running teams. Chris Johnson and Ricky Williams will go head to head in this match up. Johnson is gunning to set a new single-season rushing record and the Titans have had just one bump in the road, losing to the Colts, since stringing together six wins in their last seven outings.The Fins need a win to keep their playoffs hopes alive. Both teams have had solid performances by second string quarterbacks, Chad Henne (7-3) and Vince Young (90.9 QB rating). Look for the Titans to win this one at home.
1:00 pm – San Francisco 49ers (6-7) @ Philadelphia Eagles (9-4)
Line: Philadelphia -9 (Total 42 ½)
The Niners have to be feeling good about their Monday night win over the Cardinals, but it won’t be enough to propel San Francisco to the postseason. The Niners has been awful on the road, and I don’t think playing in Philly will help matters. Philadelphia’s screen and short passing game will be too much for the 49ers as they fall 5-8 and further out of the playoffs.
1:00 pm – Arizona Cardinals (8-5) @ Detroit Lions (2-12)
Line: Arizona -12 (Total 47)
The Lions defense is like the escort service. Teams have scored at will. Arizona will want to secure a win after an embarrassing loss to San Francisco in Week 14. A win would also keep the Cardinals NFC West title hopes alive as a Niners loss in Philly would pretty much ink it. Look for Arizona to cruise to an easy victory here.
1:00 pm – Chicago Bears (5-8) @ Baltimore Ravens (7-6)
Line: Baltimore -11 (Total 41)
The Ravens will complete a three-game stretch against NFC North teams and plays its final home game of the season against the Bears this weekend. Chicago’s defense has not played well against teams with a better than average rushing attack, not to metion the poor performances from Jay Cutler on the road. The Ravens can win this with a solid performance from runing back Ray Rice and another strong outing by the one of the league’s best defenses. Ravens win this one.
1:00 pm – Atlanta Falcons (6-7) @ New York Jets (7-6)
Line: New York -6 (Total 30)
This could have pitted two rookie quarterbacks against each other but both Matt Ryan and Mark Sanchez are still listed as questionable and will most likely sit this one out. Atlanta’s playoff chances have been extinguished, but the Jets remain in the thick of the playoff race. A win could leapfrog them over Miami in the division. Thomas Jones is carrying the offense on his shoulders and the Jets defense have stabilized after a four-game skid. The Jets haven’t allowed an offensive TD in five of 13 games this season. The Jets edge out a winin this one at home.
4:05 pm –Oakland Raiders (4-9) @ Denver Broncos (10-3)
Line: Denver -14 (Total 37)
Once upon a time this was one of the best rivlary games in the NFL, but that seem like eons ago. However, Oakland has surprised a few unsuspecting teams this season. Just ask the Eagles, Steelers and Bengals. Could Bruce Gradkowski be Oakland’s savior? This is still a division game and the Broncos know a loss could drop them even with the Ravens, should they win, and Baltimore owns a head-to-head win the Broncos. Look for Denver to pull of the victory at Mile High.
4:05 pm – Cincinnati Bengals (9-4) @ San Diego Chargers (10-3)
Line: San Diego -7 (Total 44)
The Chargers are red-hot and a win against the Bengals would go along way in helping to move towards securing an AFC division title with Denver hot on their heels. Cincinnati has dropped a couple games to less likely foes and seems to be a bit inpredictible from week to week. Can they can finish as well as they started seems to be the looming question surrounding the Bengals camp. Both teams have the ability to run the ball but San Diego will be up against one of the best set of defensive backs in the league. Philip Rivers leads a late quarter drive to get his Chargers the win.
4:15 pm – Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-12) @ Seattle Seahawks (5-8)
Line: Seattle -7 (Total 39)
The Buccaneers are hopeless and head Coach Raheem Morris better start posting his reume on Monster.com. The Seahawks are playing much better at home than on the road and Tampa Bay hasn’t had a single road win all season . This contest carries with it no significant ramifiactions other than draft pick order.
4:15 pm – Green Bay Packers (9-4) @Pittsburgh Steelers (6-7)
Line: Pittsburgh -1 (Total 41)
The Packers have won five in a row and the Steelers have dropped five in row, including a loss to the bumbling Browns, the Kansas Sh*#ty Chiefs and the Jokeland Raiders. Green Bay is playing well on both sides of the ball. The Steelers will again be hopeful for a Troy Polamalu return, but even so it’s a little too late. Even a win won’t help the Steelers playoff hopes at this point, but a win for Green Bay would solidfy a postseaon appearance.
8:20 pm – Minnesota Vikings (11-2) @ Carolina Panthers (5-8)
Line: Minnesota -9 (Total 43)
The Vikings should have no problem diposing of the Panthers early on in this one, but if the don’t get out on front from the opening drive it could prove otherwise as Carloina has just enough weapons to inflict damage. A win could pretty much ink a No. 2 seed for Minnesota. The Panthers will rely heavily on DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart to spark Carolina’s offense, but this will prove to be a challenge against a very solid Vikings defense. Vikings get out in front and put this away in late in the third.
Monday, December 21 8:30 pm
New York Giants (7-6) @ Washington Redskins (4-9)
Line: New York -3 (Total 44)
Washington has nothing to lose and could crush the Giants postseason chances by beating their division rivals this weekend. The Redskins have proven they have the defense to stop the run but the secondary does have its flaws. The Giants know they cannot afford a a loss as they complete a three-game stretch against NFC East opponents. Look for Eli Manning and his receiving corp to launch an air assualt notching them a much need victory.
Matt Martz is a sports writer for the Bakersfield Californian located in Central California. Blessed is the gambler who expects nothing, for ye shall not be disappointed
