We kicked off Week 15 of the NFL season with a surprisingly entertaining Thursday night game between a couple of teams wishing they could just hit the sim button until free agency begins.
After former starter and former No. 3 quarterback Trevor Siemian was knocked from the game, former starter and former No. 2 quarterback Brock Osweiler took over for the Denver Broncos and looked a whole lot like the guy that secured home field advantage for the team back in 2015. Osweiler finished 12-of-17 for 194 yards and two touchdowns in a 25-13 win over the Indianapolis Colts. With just two games to go, Osweiler will probably play the rest of the way and since Denver is long out of any playoff shot, he’ll likely look fantastic in every game.
As for the Colts, this season can’t end soon enough.
Since there were two “special” Saturday games, I already posted my picks for them. You can read the Chicago Bears at Detroit Lions preview and pick here. The Los Angeles Chargers at Kansas City Chiefs preview is here.
It’s that time of the year so we’ll start kick this off with U2’s version of what might be the best Christmas song of all time.
Sunday Early
Miami Dolphins at Buffalo Bills (-3), O/U: 39.0
Tyrod Taylor has been a full participant in practice this week and the game is in Buffalo. That’s pretty much everything you need to know about this one. Maybe you can factor in the absolute zero chance Jay Cutler performs at an elite level two weeks in a row. Use whatever justification you need. Buffalo is going to win. Bills 20, Dolphins 16
Green Bay Packers at Carolina Panthers (-3), O/U: 47.0
Listen, no one is more excited at the prospect of the resurrected Aaron Rodgers dragging this Packers team in the playoffs and taking them right to the Super Bowl than I am. Hell, it might be the only bit of insurance from the NFC against Tom Brady and the Patriots hoisting the Lombardi Trophy again. Here’s the issue I have with it. To even get into the postseason, the Packers have to run the table. It’s possible, but not probable. The Panthers are a better team across the board and this will be Rodgers’ first game action in two months. That never works out well. The world is trying to will Green Bay to win this one. I don’t see it. Panthers 24, Packers 20
“I’m not coming back to save this team. I’m coming back to play quarterback the way I know how to play it & hopefully we all raise the level of our play collectively & find a way to win these three games.” – @AaronRodgers12 #GoPackGo https://t.co/YJ5OKIjIO2
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) December 14, 2017
Baltimore Ravens at Cleveland Browns (+7), O/U: 40.5
The Browns have two more chances after this game to avoid becoming only the second team in the post free agency era to go completely defeated, finishing 0-16. If they do avoid that sorry fate, it would only be a little poetic justice to get that first (and probably only) win against the Ravens, the team the Browns used to be. It won’t happen. Ravens 27, Browns 13
Houston Texans at Jacksonville Jaguars (-11), O/U: 38.0
Taylor Heinicke is slated to get the start for the Texans against one of the best defenses in football Sunday. Hey, Taylor, there’s still time to take a knee during the National Anthem and skip this whole thing. Jaguars 34, Texans 6
Cincinnati Bengals at Minnesota Vikings (-10.5), O/U: 42.0
I was scared of this line when it was first put up at the beginning of the week and I’m still not feeling it. The Bengals are playing out the string, not only on the season but on Marvin Lewis’ coaching tenure. There’s no way the Vikings lose this one at home, but I think it’ll be closer than two scores. Vikings 24, Bengals 17
The last time the Bengals and Vikings played this happened.
Pocket collapses instantly ✅
5 steps up ✅
Delivers a 60 yard dime ✅ pic.twitter.com/QD644RC1Zj— t carm (@TCarmTheGoat) December 14, 2017
New York Jets at New Orleans Saints (-15.5), O/U: 47.5
Here’s the problem with spreads like this late in the year. The Jets have shown all season they’re going to play their guts out for Todd Bowles. The Saints have absolutely nothing to prove at this point and just need to win for playoff positioning. What does that mean? It means 15.5 points is way too damn high. Saints 27, Jets 16
Philadelphia Eagles at New York Giants (+7.5), O/U: 40.5
I’m not ready to say the sky is falling with Nick Foles at quarterback for the Eagles, but that possible Lombardi Trophy is certainly easing down an escalator. The Giants might surprise some people this week, not with a victory, but at least a little spirit. Eagles 23, Giants 20
.@cj_wentz's backup?
He was in this same role four seasons ago.Then @NFoles_9 posted the highest passer rating for an @Eagles QB… EVER. #FlyEaglesFly https://t.co/V723SaBQDE
— NFL (@NFL) December 11, 2017
Arizona Cardinals at Washington Redskins (-4.5), O/U: 41.0
Blaine Gabbert has won his last two starts for the Cardinals. The Redskins have been in a tailspin for weeks and can’t seem to find much consistency on either side of the ball. For whatever reason (it’s Gabbert, I mean, come on), this line has sat at -4.5 all week. I see an upset here. Cardinals 17, Redskins 16
Sunday Late
Los Angeles Rams at Seattle Seahawks (-2.5), O/U: 47.5
It’s the Battle of Seattle as the Rams and Seahawks face off with the NFC West on the line. The Seahawks barely hung on to a 16-10 victory on L.A. in the first month of the season specifically because Cooper Kupp couldn’t hang on to what would have been the game winning touchdown. Kupp gets a shot at redemption this week and I think he and the Rams make the most of it. Rams 31, Seahawks 24
“When I think about Aaron Donald, he’s probably in my opinion the greatest defensive player I’ve ever played against." – Russell Wilson
What the Seahawks are saying #LAvsSEA 🗣 » https://t.co/P5hTHBAuuZ pic.twitter.com/tofDNGYJ89
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) December 14, 2017
New England Patriots at Pittsburgh Steelers (+3), O/U: 54.0
Tom Brady got the shit beat out of him last Monday night and will face off against the Steelers on a short week. Still, the respect the man and his team gets from the books is palpable as a three-point favorite. I’m not ready to say Brady is done (even though I made that prediction at the beginning of the season), but beating this Pittsburgh team at Heinz with a short week of prep is a tall order. Steelers 27, Patriots 24
Tennessee Titans at San Francisco 49ers (-1), O/U: 45.0
With his team all but destined to make the playoffs this season by the sheer garbage level of most AFC teams, Mike Mularkey can just relax now and coach the way he knows best; terribly. 49ers 20, Titans 17
Sunday Night
Dallas Cowboys at Oakland Raiders (+3), O/U: 46.0
If the Packers do stumble in their win or go home three week playoff before the playoffs, the Cowboys can be there to scoop up that spot. They need to run the table themselves to even have a shot. The Raiders have set it with a big fat Sunday dinner just for them to do it. Cowboys 33, Raiders 26
#Cowboys still trying to get into the playoffs like.. #CowboysNation #NFL pic.twitter.com/v6CHRk7gX9
— BBQ_Beef_Balboa / (Brice) (@StoicBrice) December 15, 2017
Monday Night
Atlanta Falcons at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+6.5), O/U: 49.5
Can they not flex out of these Monday night games? Man, Jon Gruden must really love his job in the booth to stay at it with a constant stream of trash like this on the schedule. Falcons 27, Buccaneers 19
This Week
Straight up: 1-0
Against the spread: 1-0
Last week
Straight up: 8-8
Against the spread: 6-10
Season
Straight up: 125-83
Against the spread: 107-101
To make a wager on any sport, go to the world famous Diamond Sportsbook by clicking here.
