NFL Predictions - Week 15

Ringer's Record
Last Week ATS: 8-7
Last Week SU: 12-3

Season ATS: 106-98-1 (52%)
Season SU: 142-63 (69%)

Jacksonville (+11.5) at Atlanta
Each of these teams are coming off of impressive victories on Sunday. Jacksonville broke out of their season-long scoring funk to put up 41 points and manhandle Tampa Bay. Atlanta fell behind 23-7 to Carolina, before storming back to outscore them 24-0 in the 2nd Half and remain slotted for the playoffs. It's always tough to play on a short week, and even tougher to go on the road on a short week. It doesn't help when the home team is superior in talent as well. The Falcons should have no problem in this game.

Prediction - Atlanta 28 Jacksonville 10

Dallas (-6.5) at Tampa Bay
The Cowboys suffered another 4th Quarter collapse on Sunday night. In a battle for 1st place in the NFC East, they lead the Giants 34-22. They gagged again though, and wound up losing their game and their lead in the division. Now they are going to be in must-win situations for the remainder of the season. Luckily, they face the struggling Bucs this week. Tampa was obliterated by a bad Jags team last week, and have now lost 7 in a row. If Dallas is going to contend they have to win this game, and they will.

Prediction - Dallas 30 Tampa Bay 21

Miami (+1.5) at Buffalo
Miami fired their Head Coach this week, despite winning 4 of their last 6 games. Tony Sparano is out as the head man for the Dolphins. Now the team turns the page and will get a head start on a new era of Dolphins football. Todd Bowles will coach his 1st NFL game in Buffalo. They say that no one circles the wagons like the Buffalo Bills. Well the wheels fell off the wagon this year. the Bills have lost 6 straight. They are playing in front of the home crowd versus an interim coach though. The Bills will end their streak of futility.

Prediction - Buffalo 23 Miami 17

Seattle (+4.5) at Chicago
These teams are headed in opposite directions fast. the Bears once looked to be one of the best teams in the NFC. But injuries have decimated the team and now they are fighting for their playoff lives. Seattle looked dreadful in a 206 start, but now find themselves at 6-7. The Seahawks good play recently can be attributed to the running game that has been found in Marshawn Lynch. It will be up to the Bears D to stop him this week, because the offense can't score. I actually like Seattle to get to .500 while dropping the Bears to .500.

Prediction - Seattle 17 Chicago 16

Carolina (+6.5) at Houston
TJ Yates just may be able to lead the Texans to a run deep into the playoffs. Many have had their doubts since Houston lost their top 2 QBs to injury. Enter rookie TJ Yates. After simply managing the game in the previous 2 weeks, Yates had to win the game last week. And he did, throwing for 300 yards and leading the game-winning drive. He will look to duplicate that success against Carolina. The Panthers have a rookie QB of their own. Only this one was the 1st overall pick. The late-rounder should get the W.

Prediction - Houston 28 Carolina 17

Tennessee (-6.5) at Indianapolis
Tennessee nearly pulled off an upset of New Orleans last week, and boy did they need it. Now they find themselves on the outside looking in of the playoff hunt. It is perfect timing to take on the Colts. Indy has lost 13 games in a row to begin the season and are in serious danger of becoming the 2nd team to ever go 0-16. Dan Orlovsky stepped in at QB and played well against New England's porous D, but looked awful against a top-notch D in Baltimore. Tennessee should be able to control this game and at least keep pace in the playoff race.

Prediction - Tennessee 27 Indianapolis 19

Green Bay (-13.5) at Kansas City
Is anyone going to be able to stop Green Bay? It doesn't appear so at the moment. The Packers are cruising along to a 13-0 record. They pummeled Oakland last week and the outcome was never in question. Aaron Rodgers even got some rest as he was pulled in the 3rd Quarter with Green Bay winning by nearly 40 points. I'm not sure that it will be that easy this week, but I can't imagine Kansas City posing a serious threat. Look for the Packers train to continue rolling.

Prediction - Green Bay 35 Kansas City 17

New Orleans (-7.5) at Minnesota
A lot has changed in the 2 short years since these teams met in the NFC Championship. Well, at least for the Vikings. Minnesota was seconds away from playing in the Super Bowl in 2009, but a Brett Favre interception gave New Orleans the momentum and eventually the win. The Saints would go on to win their 1st Super Bowl title. Favre has since retired, and the Vikings now find themselves with a 2-11 record. New Orleans should have an easier time with the Vikings than they did in 2009.

Prediction - New Orleans 30 Minnesota 20

Washington (+7.5) at NY Giants
After a 4-game losing streak, the New York Giants got back into the win column last week. And that's all it took for them to reclaim 1st place in the NFC East. The Giants now have control of their own playoff destiny. They welcome in division-rival Washington this week in their 1st of 3 games at Met Life Stadium to finish the regular season. The 'Skins hung with New England last week, but couldn't pull off the upset. I can see a similar scenario happening this week.

Prediction - NY Giants 27 Washington 22

Cincinnati (-6.5) at St. Louis
The Bengals playoff hopes took a serious hit when they blew a 4th Quarter lead to Houston last week. They now stand at 7-6 and are a game behind the Jets in the Wild Card race. Now they have a trip to Saint Louis for a game that any playoff team would win. The Rams are coming off of a short week and have been dreadful all season. This is the perfect opportunity for the Bengals to reassert themselves in the race. They should get it done.

Prediction - Cincinnati 21 St. Louis 10

Detroit (-1.5) at Oakland
It has been a long time since these storied franchises have been in the thick of a playoff race. This game has serious implications though. Detroit gets Ndamokong Suh back on the field. He will be much needed as the Raiders like to pound the football. Oakland has been blown out each of the last 2 weeks. They need a string rebound if they want to keep their AFC West title hopes alive. Neither team has played great football lately, but one of them will get a huge win. I think that team will be the Lions.

Prediction - Detroit 30 Oakland 28

Cleveland (+6.5) at Arizona
This is the first week that the Browns have been in the national spotlight for a long time. Unfortunately, it is not for a good reason. The team failed to test Colt McCoy for a concussion last week, when it was apparent to anyone watching the game he could have possibly had one. It turns out he did and now Seneca Wallace will likely be under center against Arizona. The Cardinals could get to .500 with a win. That would allow them to keep dreaming of the playoffs. I don't see the Browns as a huge threat.

Prediction - Arizona 27 Cleveland 17

New England (-6.5) at Denver
This is the game of the week in most eyes. Tom Brady versus Tim Tebow. Tebow lead the Broncos to yet another come from behind victory last week, and is now 7-1 as the starter. Denver is in 1st place in the AFC West and looking for some cushion. Tom Brady and the Patriots come into Mile High for a battle. Brady and the offense have continued to click on all cylinders, but the defense has let them down. New England has still managed to win games, but this one should be tough. I'll take Tebow with the points, but the Patriots will pull out another win.

Prediction - New England 22 Denver 17

NY Jets (+2.5) at Philadelphia
This is a dangerous game for the Jets. they finally have themselves in position to make another playoff run, but now they head to Philly to take on the Eagles. In a way, both of these teams have been disappointing this year, but the Jets are still in good position. Despite a 5-8 record, there is no disputing the talent on Philly's squad. If they decide to come to play, they should make this game awfully difficult for the Jets to win. The Eagles win with a late Alex Henerey FG.

Prediction - Philadelphia 24 NY Jets 21

Baltimore (-2.5) at San Diego
This game has all kinds of importance for both teams. The Ravens are very much alive for home field advantage in the AFC - which would be a nice change for them and their fans. The Ravens have been going on the road for playoff games ever since John Harbaugh became the coach. They could fall back to a Wild Card slot with a loss or essentially wrap up the AFC North with a win and a Pittsburgh loss. San Diego is making their annual late season surge. But it could be too little too late for the Chargers.

Prediction - Baltimore 27 San Diego 20

Pittsburgh (+1.5) at San Francisco
This is one of the few good Monday Night matchups of the season. Pittsburgh will be without James Harrison who was suspended for a game, and could possibly be without Big Ben as well. We all know that Ben will likely find his way on to the field, but how effective will he be? This isn't Cleveland's defense. San Francisco has one of the top defenses in the NFL and will gunning for Roethlisberger. the 49ers can prove a lot with a win here, and I think they will show that they will be a force in the NFC playoffs.

Prediction - San Francisco 20 Pittsburgh 14