NFL 2015: Week 15 Picks

Several teams this season have already had to utter
the infamous words of Jim Mora,
"Playoffs?! You kidding me? Playoffs!"

It's go time in the NFL and with just three weeks left to play and a lot still has to happen. Only the NFC South and AFC East have been clinched and there are only three teams currently in the playoffs.

Several teams can clinch this week and I could go into the cumbersome playoff scenarios for Week 15, but it would probably be better if I just gave you the link.

Here's the simplest version of the playoff scenarios:

-Carolina can clinch home-field advantage with a win and Arizona loss

-Arizona can clinch the NFC West with a win or Seattle loss

-Green Bay to clinch a playoff berth is with a win on Sunday

-Seattle and Minnesota need wins and a ton of help to clinch this weekend

-New England's best case for a first round bye is a win plus a Denver loss

-Cincinnati gets into the playoffs with a win or Pittsburgh loss

-Denver clinches a playoff berth with a win

With that being said, there are a lot of questions surrounding these teams. Will the Bengals be able to clinch the AFC North and possibly a first-round bye without Andy Dalton? Can the Steelers overtake the Bengals for the AFC North crown better yet, catch the Chiefs and Jets in the Wild Card? And who in the world is going to win the NFC East and AFC South?

Only time will tell and it should be a great weekend of football.

Now for my Week 15 predictions.

Week 15 Picks (Home team in CAPS)

Tampa Bay over ST. LOUIS (Thursday, 8:25 p.m. ET, NFL): As SB Nation so perfectly put it last week, these color rush uniforms must have been inspired by condiments, namely ketchup and mustard, and I have to agree with them. I'm all for the NFL trying to expand it's uniform repertoire, which means more jersey sales, but they need to do something different. Besides the Titans powder blue uniforms and the all white the Cowboys wore on Thanksgiving, I haven't been to impressed. I mean, the Jaguars were wearing uniforms that looked like someone had vomited all over them. As for the game, this one is meaningless and it's a toss up, honestly. I'll take the Buccaneers since they have the better team albeit by a slim margin.

A Thursday night battle between Ketchup and Mustard.
(Photo Courtesy of @NFL)

NY Jets over DALLAS (Saturday, 8:25 p.m ET, NFL): Who had Ryan Fitzpatrick connecting with Brandon Marshall on 89 throws for 1,187 yards and 11 touchdowns through 13 games this season? I know, I sure didn't. Marshall and Fitzpatrick have been lethal combination this season and combined that with the 66 receptions for 875 yards and nine touchdowns to fellow WR Eric Decker and the Jets have one of the best passing attacks in football. Not to mention RB Chris Ivory is fifth in the league in rushing yards with 914. Jets should be the Cowboys in a rare Saturday game this week and setup an intriguing game the Sunday after Christmas with the Patriots.

MINNESOTA over Chicago (Sunday, 1:00 p.m. ET, FOX): Minnesota may have lost three of their last four and fell out of first place in the NFC North in the process, but they're still a good football team. Chicago is 4-2 on the road this season and they lost to Minnesota on a 36-yard field goal as time expired when these two last met back in early November, so expect a close game. I like the Vikings to pull out another late win.

JACKSONVILLE over Atlanta (Sunday, 1:00 p.m. ET, FOX): The Falcons have now lost six straight after starting the season 6-1 and there is no end to the losing in sight. Atlanta has scored just 14.3 PPG during the losing streak after scoring 27.6 PPG in their first seven games. Jacksonville on the other hand has scored 90 points in the last two games and QB Blake Bortles continues to get better, throwing for 572 yards and eight touchdowns in those games. I like the Jaguars offense and watch out for them in 2016, they're only going to get better.

Houston over INDIANAPOLIS (Sunday, 1:00 p.m. ET, CBS): Big game in Indianapolis Sunday afternoon. With the Texans and Colts deadlocked at 6-7, this should be treated as a playoff game. Indianapolis has Houston, Miami and Tennessee left on the schedule, while Houston has Indianapolis,    Tennessee and Jacksonville left. At best, I see the Texans finishing 8-8 and the Colts 8-8, so the winner of this game very well may win the AFC South. And that winner I expect to be the Houston Texans. The Colts have looked awful the last two weeks, being outscored 96-26, and even with them being at home, I like the Texans in this one.

Carolina over NY GIANTS (Sunday, 1:00 p.m. ET, FOX): The New York Giants are basically playing playoff football these last four weeks of the season. With the NFC East as close as it is, the Giants, Redskins and Eagles cannot afford a loss. The Giants did their job Monday night in beating the Dolphins, now they have to find a way to beat the undefeated Panthers. I give New York a chance here with it being a home game, but the Giants just haven't played a consistent 60 minutes of football in their games this season for me to pick them in the upset here. Panthers remain undefeated and get one game closer to perfection and Cam Newton one game closer to winning the MVP award.

NEW ENGLAND over Tennessee (Sunday, 1:00 p.m. ET, CBS): Even with Tom Brady's weapons limited, he still got TE Rob Gronkowski back last week against Houston and WR Julian Edelman is also close to returning. Not good news for the Titans. Patriots win big.

Buffalo over WASHINGTON (Sunday, 1:00 p.m. ET, FOX): The Redskins may be tied a top the NFC East with the Eagles and Giants, but something tells me won't be seeing them come playoff time. With games against Buffalo, at Philadelphia and at Dallas end the year I could easily see Washington going 1-2 or 0-3. They're 1-5 on the road this season and over the last seven games, they've won then lost, then won, then lost, etc. They won at Chicago last week, so if they stay true to form, they'll lose this week against a good Bills team and the final week against the Cowboys to finish at best 7-9, which sadly may still be good enough for the division crown. Anyway, I like Bills to get the win on the road.

Kansas City over BALTIMORE (Sunday, 1:00 p.m. ET, CBS): The way the Chiefs are playing right now, I don't think they're are many teams that want to play them come playoff time. That's not good news for whoever wins the AFC South as they'll be the number four seed and most likely have a home playoff game against a better Chiefs team. Whether it's Matt Schaub, Jimmy Clausen or newly signed Ryan Mallet at quarterback for the Ravens on Sunday, the Chiefs should win their eighth straight game.

SEATTLE over Cleveland (Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET, FOX): Credit to the Browns in beating the 49ers last week and solid game by Johnny Manziel in his return from the bench. Manziel threw for 270 yards and a touchdown helped Cleveland win only their third game of the season. However, at this point in the season, a loss for the Browns is almost better for them, meaning a higher draft pick. Right now, Cleveland would be picking second behind the Titans. Things could get better for the Browns on Sunday with a loss to the red hot Seattle Seahawks, however. Seattle will do Cleveland a favor by crushing them into a fine powder.

Green Bay over OAKLAND (Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET, FOX): This won't be an easy one for the Packers. The Raiders have a good team and playing out in Oakland is never a walk in the park, despite the Raiders 2-4 record at home this season. Green Bay has distanced themselves from Minnesota the last two weeks, but they still play each other one more time on the final weekend of the season. I expect the Raiders to give the Packers all they can handle, but Aaron Rodgers will help Green Bay clinch a playoff spot with a win.

PITTSBURGH over Denver (Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET, CBS): The Broncos have a great team, but in the last two games they've managed just to score 29 points. Denver lost at Oakland last despite giving up just 126 yards of total offense. QB Brock Osweiler has been playing well, but the Broncos have get the offense going and score some points and they'll need points on Sunday in Pittsburgh. The Steelers have put up at least 30 points in the last five games and in those games QB Ben Roethlisberger has thrown for a combined 1,815 yards, 10 TD and 5 INT. Denver has the best defense in the league giving up just 17.3 PPG, but they'll be tested against Pittsburgh and there passing attack. It should be a great game and I think Steelers have too much firepower on offense for the Broncos to get the win on the road.

Miami over SAN DIEGO (Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET, CBS): Two teams with talent all over their roster and two teams going nowhere. The Dolphins will miss the playoffs for a seventh straight season and since QB Dan Marino retired after the 1999 season, Miami has made the playoffs just three times. As for the Chargers, they'll miss the playoffs for a second straight season and already has 10 losses, the most they've had since lost 12 in 2003 and drafted Eli Manning number one overall in the draft before trading him to the Giants for Philip Rivers. With the Chargers last two games on the road, this could be their last game in San Diego if they are indeed to move to Los Angeles in the offseason. As for the game, the Dolphins have a few more playmakers, particularly Lamar Miller and Jarvis Landry, and I think they'll win.

Cincinnati over SAN FRANCISCO (4:25 p.m. ET, CBS): Before we get to Andy Dalton, let me just say that last week's game was one of the worst officiated games I've ever seen. The Bengals/Steelers game was chippy starting in warmups and only got worse as the game went on. There were questionable hits by both teams, particular the Bengals Vontaze Burfict on Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers Mike Mitchell targeting the Bengals TE Tyler Eifert and knocking him out of the game with a concussion. I understand the intensity with it being a heated rivalry game, but the officials did nothing to deescalate the situation. A player from each team needed to be thrown out of that game to send a clear message and stop all the extra circulars, but nothing ever happened. Very poor job by the NFL officials. Now for last week's game.

If AJ McCarron is to have success filling in for Andy Dalton, he best get
the ball to WR AJ Green (right).
(David Kohl/USA TODAY Sports)

The Bengals were dealt a huge blow with QB Andy Dalton fracturing his thumb and being out for the next several weeks. Second year QB AJ McCarron will get the start Sunday in San Francisco and most likely the rest of the regular season. Bengals fans are panicking everywhere with Dalton out, but don't panic just yet, Bengals fan. Yes, losing Andy Dalton is huge, but have some faith in McCarron. Besides a horrible pick-six, I thought McCarron played well against the Steelers. The additional reps in practicing this week will be a huge help and even with Eifert in the concussion protocol, he has a whole host of weapons to get the ball too. The 49ers gave up 230 yards on the ground in 41 attempts last week to the Browns, so expect the Bengals to pound the rock to help out McCarron.

Arizona over PHILADELPHIA (Sunday, 8:30 p.m. ET, NBC): Eagles got a much needed win last week against the Bills and are still in the race for the NFC East. Problem is, the Arizona Cardinals, one of the best teams in football, come to town Sunday night. Yes, Philadelphia was able to beat another one of the NFL's best teams, the Patriots, a few weeks ago, but Arizona is a different story. They're more healthy than New England was and they have many more weapons on offense and a better defense. Eagles will keep it close for a while, but I expect the Cardinals to run away with it at the end. If my predictions for this week are correct, usually they're not, but if they are I have the Eagles, Redskins and Giants all losing, which means at best the division winner will be 8-8 and most likely host a 10-11 win Vikings or Seahawks team. Reseed for the playoffs, NFL!

NEW ORLEANS over Detroit (Monday, 8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN): It's amazing how far the Saints have fallen the past few seasons. They went from the best offense in the NFL and being practically unbeatable at home to a 5-8 record (3-3 at home) and an offense that still scores points, but a defense that is giving up a league worst 30.5 PPG. Fortunately for the Saints, the Lions are only scoring 20.4 PPG, which is sad seeing how they have Matthew Stafford, Calvin Johnson and Golden Tate and a whole host of other weapons on offense. In another meaningless Monday night game, I like the Saints here.

Last Week: 10-6
Overall: 125-83 (.600)