NFL Week 15 Predictions

What a beginning to the week. A controversial playmaker slapped with a one-game suspension for a flagrant hit, and not one, but TWO coach firings on Monday.

THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL:
Jacksonville Jaguars (4-9) at Atlanta Falcons [8-5)
Pick: Atlanta 28, Jacksonville 17

SATURDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL:
Dallas Cowboys (7-6) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-9)
The Bucs gave up 41 unanswered points last week, while the Dallas Cowboys suffered yet another December collapse. Can the Boys get it back on track and keep up with the Giants?
Pick: Dallas 27, Tampa Bay 13

BIG GAME OF THE WEEK/MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL:
Pittsburgh Steelers at San Francisco 49ers (both 10-3)
The 1920 Decatur Staleys are the only team not to allow a rushing touchdown through 13 games. That is a fact.
Pick: San Francisco 23, Pittsburgh 13

COULD BE "FLIRTING WITH DISASTER" GAME OF THE WEEK:
Cincinnati Bengals (7-6) at St. Louis Rams (2-11)
This has "trap game" all over it. The Bengals are 0-3 in the Arch City, having lost the two most recent trips to the Rams (1996- 26-16 and 2003- 27-10; the other trip was in 1985, a loss to the then-St. Louis Cardinals). The Bengals gave up a game-winning touchdown with two seconds left to a third-string rookie quarterback, and after a 6-2 start, have lost four of their last five. The Bengals need to win out, in order to make the playoffs, otherwise Marvin Lewis will be out of a job come January 2. Did I say "trap game"? Ah, yes. One of the Rams' two wins this year, and their only one at the Edward Jones Dome, was against the New Orleans Saints (who are a measly 10-3). The Rams could play spoiler here, and a St. Louis win could spell the end of the Marvin Lewis era in Cincinnati.
Pick: St. Louis 28, Cincinnati 20

OTHER BIG GAME OF THE WEEK:
New England Patriots (10-3) at Denver Broncos [8-5)
Tebow Time. Those are the two words in the latter quarter of the game that puts opposing players and coaches on edge. Last Sunday, with no Bronco timeouts left, and the Chicago Bears up 10-7 with two minutes left in the 4th quarter, all the Bears had to do was stay inbounds and let the clock run out. However, enough time was left on the clock for a 59-yard Matt Prater field goal to send the game into overtime. After Bears running back Marion Barber III fumbled, Prater kicked the game-winner from 51 yards out to cap off another Tebow comeback. This week will be a different story. The New England Patriots have played all four quarters of football for all of about the last 11 seasons, and will continue to be among the elite teams. With that said, there won't be any Tebow Time this Sunday, because the Patriots will have put this one away, because they play all four quarters, and just not the fourth quarter.
Pick: New England 34, Denver 7

SUNDAY AFTERNOON GAMES:
Washington Redskins (4-9) at New York Giants (7-6)
Pick: NY Giants 27, Washington 20

Carolina Panthers (4-9) at Houston Texans (10-3)
The Texans, for the first time in their ten year history, are playoff bound, as they clinched their first-ever AFC South title with a come from behind win in Cincinnati, paired up with a Tennessee loss to New Orleans. TJ Yates can go 3-0 as a third-string rookie starter.
Pick: Houston 31, Carolina 21

Miami Dolphins (4-9) at Buffalo Bills (5-8]
On Monday, the Miami Dolphins fired head football coach Tony Sparano, and so that kills all of the Miami muster right about there. The Bills will snap their six-game losing streak by spoiling interim Fins coach Todd Bowles' debut.
Pick: Buffalo 34, Miami 14

Seattle Seahawks (6-7) at Chicago Bears (7-6)
It looks like Seattle is fighting their way back into the wildcard race, and with Caleb Hanie struggling, and the Bears being Tim Tebow's most recent victim, the Seahawks will pull their way to .500.
Pick: Seattle 21, Chicago 10

New Orleans Saints (10-3) at Minnesota Vikings (2-11)
Pick: New Orleans 38, Minnesota 14

Green Bay Packers (13-0) at Kansas City Chiefs (5-8]
On Monday, the Chiefs fired Todd Haley, and placed Romeo Crennel as the interim coach. Can the Chiefs knock down the Pack? Or will the Packers be the first defending champs to start 14-0?
Pick: Green Bay 37, Kansas City 7

Tennessee Titans (7-6) at Indianapolis Colts (0-13)
Pick: Tennessee 31, Indianapolis 24

New York Jets [8-5) at Philadelphia Eagles (5-8]
Pick: NY Jets 28, Philadelphia 23

Cleveland Browns (4-9) at Arizona Cardinals (6-7)
Pick: Arizona 31, Cleveland 13

Detroit Lions [8-5) at Oakland Raiders (7-6)
Can the Lions find their way to the Playoffs? Can Carson Palmer throw more touchdowns than interceptions? Find out, now...
Pick: Oakland 34, Detroit 27

SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL:
Baltimore Ravens (10-3) at San Diego Chargers (6-7)
Pick: Baltimore 24, San Diego 21