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Written by Sam DeCoste
With three weeks to go, and some shocking upsets in Week 14, there is still so much to play for, and so much to possibly clinch in Week 15. We could see division titles, first round byes, and playoff spots be clinched this weekend. The playoff picture could also be completely flipped upside down with some more upsets, and it is not out of the question certainly on Thursday night, when the Chargers battle the Chiefs in the biggest game of each team's season.
The NFL is also providing us with Saturday football once again, with Texans-Jets and Browns-Broncos. But the best entertainment still comes to our screens on Sunday, when the Cowboys take on the Colts, the Eagles battle the Rams on Sunday night, and when the Patriots and Steelers match up in what has been an entertaining rivalry for many years. With so much to discuss here in Week 15, let's just get right to it! Carry on, and enjoy the Predix!
Here are my season records:
Lock of the Week record: 8-6Last week's record: 9-7
Regular season record: 136-70-2
The stakes couldn't be higher for the Week 1 rematch of a heated division rivalry matchup. This game could not only cement the AFC West, but homefield advantage for Kansas City. On the other side, a Chargers victory throws the entire AFC into limbo, thrusting the Chargers into a tie for first place and the Chiefs into a potential Wild Card spot. While the stakes are so high this Thursday night, both teams are pretty banged up. Melvin Gordon and Austin Ekeler are doubtful, which means Justin Jackson is primed to carry the load. On the Chiefs side, Tyreek Hill is dealing with a sore foot, and Sammy Watkins has already been ruled out. However, Eric Berry will make his long awaited return to the Chiefs secondary this week, and he is a game changed in that defense. Mahomes showed the world what he could do when the Chiefs upset the Chargers back in Week 1, throwing for over 250 yards and 4 scores, he will light the Chargers up again.
Prediction: LAC 24, KC 34
Houston's nine game winning streak came to a screeching halt at the hands of the team which handed them their first victory of the year, and now, at 9-4, they can clinch the AFC South with a win and Colts loss. It's all right in front of the Texans, who face the inconsistent Jets. While they won last week, the Jets produce the third fewest yards on offense per game, and their defense ranks closer to the bottom as well. Meanwhile, Houston is third in rushing yards, and with their elite pass rush combo of Clowney and Watt, surely, the Texans overmatch the Jets in every facet.
Any faint hopes Denver had to return to the postseason for the first time since their Super Bowl 50 triumph died in the same venue which they won their third NFL title, in San Francisco last week. Keenum averaged four yards per pass attempt, only for 186 yards, Lindsay could only muster 30 yards on 14 carries, while an undrafted free agent quarterback torched Denver's vaunted defense for 332 yards and two scores. With Cleveland coming in, it will be difficult for Denver to stay alive in the AFC for another week. But I still think the Broncos will triumph this week, given Denver is one of the toughest place to play in the NFL, and the Browns don't have anything to play for, I will roll with Denver to win.
While the Cowboys enjoy to make it tight, they continue to get the job done. Five straight wins. Amari Cooper has revived his regressing career in Dallas, scoring six touchdowns, and racking 642 receiving yards. Meanwhile, the Colts may have saved their season in Houston, with a critical upset victory over their division rivals. A second straight win over a Texas team would put the Colts at 8-6 and in pole position to claim the six seed in the AFC. it should be a blockbuster game, considering the game features two of the league's hottest quarterbacks, two of the hottest wideouts, and surging defenses playing well at the best time. But the X-factor in this matchup is Ezekiel Elliott. Running teams travel well, great defenses travel well, and teams with great a rushing attack and a great defense get the best travel deals. Dallas is capable of running up the score and slowing the game down when they need to, and that should carry the Cowboys over the top.
Minnesota is no stranger to walk-off game-winners. The Dolphins became the beneficiary of one of the greatest game-winning plays in NFL history by vanquishing the Patriots with some lateral damage, to put them back in the Wild Card hunt. However, the schedule stiffens up from here. While the Vikings are stumbling, they have the talent to push them into the playoffs themselves. A win for the Vikings may be enough to catapult them into the six seed, in a forgettable year of the National Football Conference. With John DeFilippo out now, there are no more excuses for Kirk Cousins and the offense. Twenty-one points per game, and the 19th ranked offense is not good enough. Minnesota is an overwhelming favorite to run over the Dolphins, who have to replicate miracles week after week to make it to January. This is my Lock of the Week.
Another Week 1 rematch on the Week 15 slate. The outlook of these two teams were rather different back in Week 1, where the Packers roared back from a 20-3 fourth quarter deficit to beat the Bears in heartbreaking fashion. Well now, the Bears can clinch the NFC North with a win, and they can deliver the final blow to a mediocre Packers squad and knock them out of postseason contention for the second straight season. They will do it. No question.
While Giants fans haven't been too happy that they're winning lately, it is good for the Giants to start learning what it is like to win again. Young and talented players will never learn to adapt a winning culture if the Giants continue to lose. But now, the Giants are 4-1 in their last five, and they average 31 points per game in that span. Not to mention Saquon Barkley is on his way to winning a rushing title with his 1,124 yards on the ground and 13 total touchdowns. I know that I am spending more words talking about the 5-8 Giants over a Titans squad which has won four of their last six, but I'm not convinced the Titans can get it done down the stretch. In a tightly contested race for the final Wild Card spot, this is where we learn the most about teams. I see the Titans struggling to keep up with the Giants potent, yes, you read that right, potent offense, and they will fall back to .500.
Prediction: TEN 20, NYG 27
I've been a Ravens doubter all season long, but man, they pushed Kansas City for five quarters, and showed great strength and character in a heartbreaking overtime loss. That being said, they blew it. An opportunity to vanquish the Chiefs and to gain some ground on the AFC passed Baltimore by because of costly turnovers, Lamar Jackson's shortcomings, and a lack of execution in situational football. But with the Bucs coming into town, there is still hope. A win puts the Ravens at 8-6, and frankly, it shouldn't be a challenge for Baltimore. Jameis Winston loves turning the ball over, and the Ravens feast on poor quarterback play. If the Ravens lose, that'll be all she wrote.
Prediction: TB 17, BAL 23
Sadly, neither team has anything to play for going forward, except for a chance at spoiler, after a 2018 to forget. The Redskins were 5-2 once upon a time, and are 1-5 since, while the Jags have gone from a few minutes away from the Super Bowl to AFC bottom feeders once again. With Cody Kessler at quarterback, the Jags has gone from bad to unwatchable. They have scored 15 points in their last two combined, and their defense almost let Derrick Henry rewrite the record books. However, the Redskins are onto their fourth quarterback of the season in Josh Johnson. This is his 14th NFL team, yet this will be his first start since Week 13 of the 2011 season. You haven't been able to trust either team from week to week this year, but I can depend on the Jags at home more so than a faltering Redskins team.
Josh Allen has the potential to be great if he gets coached up. He may have the best legs of any quarterback in the 2018 draft (sit down, Lamar Jackson), he has the best arm in the whole league (sit down, Patrick Mahomes), and all the tools to be the answer to the Bills' quarterback woes. But turning the ball over six times in two games will not win the Bills football games going forward. Sean McDermott will have preached ball security this week, and if they can protect the bacon, the Bills will cruise to victory over the woeful Lions, who are running out of options on offense, and are a different team when they play outdoors. A worse team, that is.
Prediction: DET 17, BUF 28
Derek Carr is playing for his job. Don't let the upset victory over the Steelers fool you, nobody is safe in Oakland. Even their stadium's days are numbered with Oakland threatening to sue the Raiders over use of the Coliseum in 2019. He and the Raiders can potentially carve up the Bengals 32nd ranked defense, who allow the most points and yards of any team in the league this season. I think Derek Carr and the Raiders will win in Cincy, and put Jon Gruden's tanking vision in limbo.
Prediction: OAK 14, CIN 13
It is yet to be seen if Steve Wilks will be the Cardinals coach in 2019. His seat has been hot all year, and if the Cardinals continue to show pathetic displays such as a 17-3 loss to Detroit at home, it will be tempting to part ways. But it doesn't hurt for Josh Rosen to pay visits to vaunted NFL venues and get valuable experience with the guys around him now, and get ready for next season. Meanwhile, Atlanta has had an incredibly disappointing season themselves, and the least they can do at this point is have some fun before packing it in. In their final game at the Dome this year, skill position players like Matt Ryan and Julio Jones have the chance to bolster their stats, while players like Tevin Coleman potentially face their final home game with Atlanta and will want to put up a good showing
Prediction: ARZ 6, ATL 27
It feels like the Seahawks and Niners played like three days ago. They just played back in Week 13, and they match up once more in San Fran. It should be easy for the Hawks. Their defense ranks sixth in scoring, and against Nick Mullens, there should be no competition. Seattle won 43-16 two weeks ago, they will be just fine.
Prediction: SEA 33, SF 10
Alright, Pittsburgh. This is it. It's put up or shut up time. At 7-5-1, the Steelers are in serious jeopardy of missing the playoffs if they don't find some wins before the end of the season. But chasing wins against the Patriots is a mighty challenge, and the Steelers have not beaten their big brother since 2011. The problem is this is the worst week possible to play New England, right after collapsing in the dying moments in Miami. While Bill Belichick's teams don't lose often, they always respond well after defeat, and Pittsburgh may just be their first victim in a new winning streak. The Steelers have the talent to test New England all the way, but just like every year, they will come up short once again.
Eagles fans can thank Mark Barron for knocking Carson Wentz out for the season just last December, in a 43-35 win over the Rams. Now, the Eagles are on the outside looking into a weak NFC playoff picture, while the Rams are suddenly in a heated race for homefield advantage. It does not take much analysis to determine that the Rams are an overwhelming favorite, and the reason is this: while the Eagles have shown this year that they can play with anybody, they have also fallen short when it matters most. It happened against the Titans, the Panthers, and just recently, the Cowboys. The Rams are on a collision course for an NFC title, and the Eagles don't pose the same threat they did last year. The championship honeymoon is officially over, Philadelphia. There will be no repeat.
Once upon a time, the Panthers were legitimate threats to the Saints' NFC South reign. Five losses later, that narrative has fizzled away. Nothing is going the Panthers' way anymore, and the schedule certainly makes the challenge of squeaking into the playoffs that much harder. Carolina just may end the season winning eight straight games, because the Saints are heavy favorites. They beat Carolina three times last season, and in December, when it matters most, the Saints will get it done.
Prediction: NO 20, CAR 16
LAC @ KC
The stakes couldn't be higher for the Week 1 rematch of a heated division rivalry matchup. This game could not only cement the AFC West, but homefield advantage for Kansas City. On the other side, a Chargers victory throws the entire AFC into limbo, thrusting the Chargers into a tie for first place and the Chiefs into a potential Wild Card spot. While the stakes are so high this Thursday night, both teams are pretty banged up. Melvin Gordon and Austin Ekeler are doubtful, which means Justin Jackson is primed to carry the load. On the Chiefs side, Tyreek Hill is dealing with a sore foot, and Sammy Watkins has already been ruled out. However, Eric Berry will make his long awaited return to the Chiefs secondary this week, and he is a game changed in that defense. Mahomes showed the world what he could do when the Chiefs upset the Chargers back in Week 1, throwing for over 250 yards and 4 scores, he will light the Chargers up again.
Prediction: LAC 24, KC 34
HOU @ NYJ
Prediction: HOU 27, NYJ 20
CLE @ DEN
Any faint hopes Denver had to return to the postseason for the first time since their Super Bowl 50 triumph died in the same venue which they won their third NFL title, in San Francisco last week. Keenum averaged four yards per pass attempt, only for 186 yards, Lindsay could only muster 30 yards on 14 carries, while an undrafted free agent quarterback torched Denver's vaunted defense for 332 yards and two scores. With Cleveland coming in, it will be difficult for Denver to stay alive in the AFC for another week. But I still think the Broncos will triumph this week, given Denver is one of the toughest place to play in the NFL, and the Browns don't have anything to play for, I will roll with Denver to win.
Prediction: CLE 14, DEN 23
DAL @ IND
While the Cowboys enjoy to make it tight, they continue to get the job done. Five straight wins. Amari Cooper has revived his regressing career in Dallas, scoring six touchdowns, and racking 642 receiving yards. Meanwhile, the Colts may have saved their season in Houston, with a critical upset victory over their division rivals. A second straight win over a Texas team would put the Colts at 8-6 and in pole position to claim the six seed in the AFC. it should be a blockbuster game, considering the game features two of the league's hottest quarterbacks, two of the hottest wideouts, and surging defenses playing well at the best time. But the X-factor in this matchup is Ezekiel Elliott. Running teams travel well, great defenses travel well, and teams with great a rushing attack and a great defense get the best travel deals. Dallas is capable of running up the score and slowing the game down when they need to, and that should carry the Cowboys over the top.
Prediction: DAL 30, IND 20
MIA @ MIN
Minnesota is no stranger to walk-off game-winners. The Dolphins became the beneficiary of one of the greatest game-winning plays in NFL history by vanquishing the Patriots with some lateral damage, to put them back in the Wild Card hunt. However, the schedule stiffens up from here. While the Vikings are stumbling, they have the talent to push them into the playoffs themselves. A win for the Vikings may be enough to catapult them into the six seed, in a forgettable year of the National Football Conference. With John DeFilippo out now, there are no more excuses for Kirk Cousins and the offense. Twenty-one points per game, and the 19th ranked offense is not good enough. Minnesota is an overwhelming favorite to run over the Dolphins, who have to replicate miracles week after week to make it to January. This is my Lock of the Week.
Prediction: MIA 15, MIN 34
GB @ CHI
Prediction: GB 17, CHI 20
TEN @ NYG
While Giants fans haven't been too happy that they're winning lately, it is good for the Giants to start learning what it is like to win again. Young and talented players will never learn to adapt a winning culture if the Giants continue to lose. But now, the Giants are 4-1 in their last five, and they average 31 points per game in that span. Not to mention Saquon Barkley is on his way to winning a rushing title with his 1,124 yards on the ground and 13 total touchdowns. I know that I am spending more words talking about the 5-8 Giants over a Titans squad which has won four of their last six, but I'm not convinced the Titans can get it done down the stretch. In a tightly contested race for the final Wild Card spot, this is where we learn the most about teams. I see the Titans struggling to keep up with the Giants potent, yes, you read that right, potent offense, and they will fall back to .500.
Prediction: TEN 20, NYG 27
TB @ BAL
I've been a Ravens doubter all season long, but man, they pushed Kansas City for five quarters, and showed great strength and character in a heartbreaking overtime loss. That being said, they blew it. An opportunity to vanquish the Chiefs and to gain some ground on the AFC passed Baltimore by because of costly turnovers, Lamar Jackson's shortcomings, and a lack of execution in situational football. But with the Bucs coming into town, there is still hope. A win puts the Ravens at 8-6, and frankly, it shouldn't be a challenge for Baltimore. Jameis Winston loves turning the ball over, and the Ravens feast on poor quarterback play. If the Ravens lose, that'll be all she wrote.
Prediction: TB 17, BAL 23
WSH @ JAX
Sadly, neither team has anything to play for going forward, except for a chance at spoiler, after a 2018 to forget. The Redskins were 5-2 once upon a time, and are 1-5 since, while the Jags have gone from a few minutes away from the Super Bowl to AFC bottom feeders once again. With Cody Kessler at quarterback, the Jags has gone from bad to unwatchable. They have scored 15 points in their last two combined, and their defense almost let Derrick Henry rewrite the record books. However, the Redskins are onto their fourth quarterback of the season in Josh Johnson. This is his 14th NFL team, yet this will be his first start since Week 13 of the 2011 season. You haven't been able to trust either team from week to week this year, but I can depend on the Jags at home more so than a faltering Redskins team.
Prediction: WSH 3, JAX 10
DET @ BUF
Josh Allen has the potential to be great if he gets coached up. He may have the best legs of any quarterback in the 2018 draft (sit down, Lamar Jackson), he has the best arm in the whole league (sit down, Patrick Mahomes), and all the tools to be the answer to the Bills' quarterback woes. But turning the ball over six times in two games will not win the Bills football games going forward. Sean McDermott will have preached ball security this week, and if they can protect the bacon, the Bills will cruise to victory over the woeful Lions, who are running out of options on offense, and are a different team when they play outdoors. A worse team, that is.
Prediction: DET 17, BUF 28
OAK @ CIN
Derek Carr is playing for his job. Don't let the upset victory over the Steelers fool you, nobody is safe in Oakland. Even their stadium's days are numbered with Oakland threatening to sue the Raiders over use of the Coliseum in 2019. He and the Raiders can potentially carve up the Bengals 32nd ranked defense, who allow the most points and yards of any team in the league this season. I think Derek Carr and the Raiders will win in Cincy, and put Jon Gruden's tanking vision in limbo. 
Prediction: OAK 14, CIN 13
ARZ @ ATL
It is yet to be seen if Steve Wilks will be the Cardinals coach in 2019. His seat has been hot all year, and if the Cardinals continue to show pathetic displays such as a 17-3 loss to Detroit at home, it will be tempting to part ways. But it doesn't hurt for Josh Rosen to pay visits to vaunted NFL venues and get valuable experience with the guys around him now, and get ready for next season. Meanwhile, Atlanta has had an incredibly disappointing season themselves, and the least they can do at this point is have some fun before packing it in. In their final game at the Dome this year, skill position players like Matt Ryan and Julio Jones have the chance to bolster their stats, while players like Tevin Coleman potentially face their final home game with Atlanta and will want to put up a good showing
Prediction: ARZ 6, ATL 27
SEA @ SF
It feels like the Seahawks and Niners played like three days ago. They just played back in Week 13, and they match up once more in San Fran. It should be easy for the Hawks. Their defense ranks sixth in scoring, and against Nick Mullens, there should be no competition. Seattle won 43-16 two weeks ago, they will be just fine.
Prediction: SEA 33, SF 10
NE @ PIT
Alright, Pittsburgh. This is it. It's put up or shut up time. At 7-5-1, the Steelers are in serious jeopardy of missing the playoffs if they don't find some wins before the end of the season. But chasing wins against the Patriots is a mighty challenge, and the Steelers have not beaten their big brother since 2011. The problem is this is the worst week possible to play New England, right after collapsing in the dying moments in Miami. While Bill Belichick's teams don't lose often, they always respond well after defeat, and Pittsburgh may just be their first victim in a new winning streak. The Steelers have the talent to test New England all the way, but just like every year, they will come up short once again.
Prediction: NE 31, PIT 28
PHI @ LAR
Eagles fans can thank Mark Barron for knocking Carson Wentz out for the season just last December, in a 43-35 win over the Rams. Now, the Eagles are on the outside looking into a weak NFC playoff picture, while the Rams are suddenly in a heated race for homefield advantage. It does not take much analysis to determine that the Rams are an overwhelming favorite, and the reason is this: while the Eagles have shown this year that they can play with anybody, they have also fallen short when it matters most. It happened against the Titans, the Panthers, and just recently, the Cowboys. The Rams are on a collision course for an NFC title, and the Eagles don't pose the same threat they did last year. The championship honeymoon is officially over, Philadelphia. There will be no repeat.
Prediction: PHI 17, LAR 34
NO @ CAR
Once upon a time, the Panthers were legitimate threats to the Saints' NFC South reign. Five losses later, that narrative has fizzled away. Nothing is going the Panthers' way anymore, and the schedule certainly makes the challenge of squeaking into the playoffs that much harder. Carolina just may end the season winning eight straight games, because the Saints are heavy favorites. They beat Carolina three times last season, and in December, when it matters most, the Saints will get it done.
Prediction: NO 20, CAR 16
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