NFL Week 15 Predictions

I've gotten on quite a roll, with double digit correct picks each week for a while now. Cool. Let's keep it up.

Onto this week.

Steelers @ Giants
Eli Manning, meet the dirt. Meet the dirt again. And again. And again. And again. Yeah, this is useful experience for a top draft pick. Tom Coughlin is studying the Bengal manual for quarterback development, circa 1990's. As a fellow rookie quarterback, maybe Roethlisberger can persuade Dick LeBeau, who helped write that Bengal manual, to show some mercy on poor Eli and cut back on the blitzes. But I doubt it. Prediction: Steelers.

Redskins @ 39ers
(San Francisco won last week, so they get to keep their single demotion for one more week.) The eight Lombardi trophies these two franchises have won between them will be faint memories as two of the worst teams in the NFL square off for not much of anything. The 'Skins have a far superior defense and running game, so they are just not as terrible as the 39ers. Prediction: Redskins.

Panthers @ Falcons
After Carolina's 1-7 start, who would have thought this game would be meaningful? But the Panthers are very much in the playoff race at 6-7, and looking like one of the best teams in the NFC, whatever that means. Atlanta has expertly exploited a soft schedule to win a division title a virtual lock on the 2nd seed in the NFC playoffs. But they have struggled against their own division of late. They barely beat a terrible Saint team by 3 points, on a very late touchdown pass to Alge Crumpler three weeks ago, and followed up with a scoreless performance against the Bucs. Heck, they only beat the Giants by four points in Eli Manning's first start, and are the only defense that has allowed Manning to look respectable and to score throw a touchdown pass. (The Giants have been blown out in every other game Manning has started.) I'm getting the impression I'm not so impressed with the Falcons. As I said last week, one really has to admire the Panthers and what they've done. Could this year's NFC title game be a rematch of last year's? The Panthers control their own destiny. If they win out they are in the playoffs, and then watch out. Carolina has never beaten a healthy Vick-led Falcon team. But the Panthers have never been as good as they are now. Prediction: Panthers.

Texans @ Bears
Houston will have problems with wind and cold of Chicago. Prediction: Bears.

Bills @ Bengals
Another of those matchups that no one would have thought would be meaningful. Both teams have gotten very hot and are both still in contention for a playoff spot. Buffalo is playing like the team I thought they would be before the season. ("Buffalo has a considerable amount of talent on both offense and defense, enough to be one of the top teams in the conference. Last year's misery leaves a big question mark over the team, but they easily have more talent than New England and should make a strong run at the title.") The Bills have by far the better defense, and that will be the difference in the game. Prediction: Bills.

Vikings @ Lions
As long as Randy Moss is a receiver and Daunte Culpepper is the quarterback, the Vikings easily have the better offense. But that's true in most games Minnesota plays, and they are barely above .500 right now. They were much better than Chicago, and should have been better than Seattle. But the Vikings lost both games. The last time the Vikings played the Lions, they had to have a late comeback to win by a field goal. That win required a key defensive play by Antoine Winfield, the one quality player on the unit, intercepting Joey Harrington with about a minute to go in the game. But Winfield will likely not play. Still one has to go with the better team, even if they often don't play like it. Prediction: Vikings.

Chargers @ Browns
The Chargers can lock up the division title with a win against the hopeless Browns who are coming off last week's whopping 17 yards of total offense in a game. What's Robiskie's plea this week? Let's get 25 yards? Hey, it would be an improvement. Prediction: Chargers.

Seahawks @ Jets
The Jets have pretty much locked up the top wildcard spot in the AFC, but they have not done well against winning teams. The Seahawks have their own history of unreliability. With injuries up front on defense, the 'Hawks will have a hard time stopping Curtis Martin. And the running game will open up the rest of the offense for Chad Pennington. Prediction: Jets.

Cowboys @ Eagles
A rematch of the towel game. Nicolette Sheridan won't be jumping into anyone's arms this week, at least not at the stadium. The Eagles are the lone quality team in the NFC, and Dallas is falling apart. This one shouldn't be close. Prediction: Eagles.

Broncos @ Chiefs
Denver is on the brink of losing their season, and the Chiefs are playing more like they were expected to play all season. Their depth at running back, taking a page out of the Bronco manual, has proven beneficial as Larry Johnson takes over for Priest Holmes. Still the Broncos have their own set of weapons. They just don't use them consistently. Playing at Arrowhead always gives an advantage to the home team. This one is hard to pick. Jake Plummer is so inconsistent that the advantage has to swing KC's way, but KC's defense is so bad the advantage meter swings right back. The Chiefs have been playing well of late (two straight wins after a three point loss; the Broncos have two losses and a three point win--against Miami no less--in the last three weeks), so I'll pick them. Prediction: Chiefs.

Rams @ Cardinals
The Cards were actually competitive last week, with formerly benched QB Josh McCown throwing for over 300 yards in a big comeback, admittedly against the pathetic 39ers, that came up just short in overtime, staving off the debut of the 29ers for another week. Sure, I can see why Dennis Green benched McCown a few weeks ago. Right. The Rams are 2-5 in their last seven games, the two wins coming over Seattle, who they just seem to know how to beat, and San Francisco. It must be said their last three losses have been to Buffalo, Green Bay, and Carolina, all of whom are playing great football right now. With Chris Chandler starting at quarterback, against an opportunistic Cardinal defense, the Rams' losing ways will continue. Prediction: Cardinals.

Saints @ Bucs
The Bucs have been trying to play well lately, and have flirted with the outside of playoff contention. With Griese's development, things are looking good for them next year. The Saints are sleepwalking through another season. Prediction: Bucs.

Jaguars @ Packers
The Packers will need to get off to a better start this week against the Jaguars. But the Jaguars have a tendency to kick field goals rather than extra points after touchdowns. The Packers will run their normal Ahman Green-led offense and come away with another win. Prediction: Packers.

Titans @ Raiders
This rematch of the 2002 AFC title game finds both teams done for the season and onto backup quarterbacks. Volek looked great last week, but Kerry Collins has had his moments too. This game will come down to the running game, and the Titans are much better there, especially against the terrible run defense of the Raiders. Prediction: Titans.

Ravens @ Colts
A classic matchup of offense against defense. Everybody knows about the Colt offense this season. Peyton Manning is just two touchdown passes away from Marino's twenty year old record of 48 in a season. The Ravens are surprising many with a much more effective passing game the last few weeks. But what no one seems to be talking about is a Raven defense that is suddenly giving up points. 24 to the Patriots, 27 to the Bengals. Even the Giants managed to put up 14. While Boller is improving for the Ravens, he will not be able to keep up with the Colts, especially if the Raven defense can't slow them down like they used to. Prediction: Colts.

Patriots @ Dolphins
Hmm, the best team in the AFC (or maybe second best) against the worst team in the AFC. Who to pick? Prediction: Patriots.

Last Week: 13-3
Season: 128-80.