Week 14 is in the books but not before providing some exciting action and disappointing results. The Eagles joined the Chargers and Jaguars as teams coming through in the clutch, while favorites like the Cowboys, Bills, and Chiefs failed to live up to expectations.
This week's full slate of games includes a trio of Saturday contests as teams jockey for division titles, wild-card spots, and conference seedings. With so many squads remaining in the playoff hunt, it's more challenging to make picks and predictions against the spread for Week 15.
Here are this week's matchups and predictions:
The Bills have won four games in a row and can clinch their third straight AFC East crown with a victory on Saturday night. Four of the Miami Dolphins' five losses have come on the road, while the Bills are 5-1 at home. Allen attempted a whopping 63 passes in the first meeting in a contest Buffalo lost despite having 285 total yards more than Miami. The Bills' defense stifles Tua Tagovailoa to capture their fifth consecutive win.
Pick: Bills win 27-17 and cover spread.
The Detroit Lions have won four of their last five games to get back into the playoff hunt but are only 2-3 on the road this season. Jared Goff has thrown just two of his 22 touchdown passes away from Ford Field, and the Jets surrender the fourth-least passing yards per game. New York has lost three of its past four games and desperately needs a win to stay in the hunt for a wild-card spot. The Jets will get back on track and snap their two-game losing skid.
Pick: Jets win 24-17 and cover spread.
The Giants and Commanders are tied for third place in the NFC East and would both make the playoffs if the season ended today. New York is fading and has dropped four straight games, but Saquon Barkley is in much better health than a week ago. Washington is 5-1-1 in games with Taylor Heinicke and is playing at a high level on defense. The Commanders continue their winning way with their seventh win in their last nine games.
Pick: Washington wins 24-20 but fails to cover the spread.
The 49ers have a two-game lead over the second-place Seahawks in the NFC West and are riding a six-game winning streak. Three of the 49ers' four losses have come on the road, but the Seahawks are just 3-3 at home. Rookie quarterback Brock Purdy will lean heavily on the running game against one of the league's worst run defenses. San Francisco will dominate in the trenches to clinch the division title.
Pick: 49ers win 27-13 and cover spread.
Minnesota has won six of seven games at home and will be hungry to clinch their first playoff berth after a two-year absence. The NFC North frontrunner was embarrassed last week in a road loss to the second-place Lions but can wrap up the division title with a win over the hapless Colts. Indianapolis has just one win over its last seven games and will struggle to contain Justin Jefferson in a rebound game for the Vikings.
Pick: Vikings win 31-23 and cover spread.
The Ravens are tied atop the AFC North with the Bengals, and backup quarterback Tyler Huntley is set to return after suffering a concussion last week. Baltimore will look to expose the league's 22nd-ranked run defense, but the Browns will stack the line of scrimmage and force Huntley to throw the ball. Deshaun Watson will have to attack the Ravens' pass-funnel defense via the air, and Cleveland will earn the win to keep their wild-card playoff hopes alive.
Pick: Browns win 20-16 and cover spread.
The Eagles are unbeaten on the road and have a two-game lead over the Cowboys in the NFC East. Philadelphia leads the NFL in points scored and has the league's second-ranked rushing attack. The Bears have dropped six straight games and will be hard-pressed to stop the Eagles' elite ground game. Justin Fields should be okay to play on Sunday, but Philadelphia will keep rolling with a lopsided victory.
Pick: Eagles win 34-13 and cover spread.
The Cowboys stunk up the place last week with a narrow win over the lowly Texans but remained two games behind the Eagles in the NFC East. A solid Jaguars' run defense will test Dallas's vaunted ground attack, but Dak Prescott should feast on the league's 28th-ranked pass defense. Jacksonville has a balanced offensive attack that should be able to move the chains against the Cowboys, but Dallas will rebound with a solid performance to clinch a playoff berth.
Pick: Cowboys win 27-20 and cover spread.
Both the Steelers and Panthers need a victory to keep their faint playoff hopes alive. Pittsburgh has only two road wins in five games and will likely have Mitchell Trubisky under center. The Steelers are struggling on offense and have averaged 17.5 points over the past two weeks. Interim head coach Steve Wilks has Carolina playing well and are riding a two-game win streak. It will not be pretty, but the Panthers will continue their winning ways in a nail-biter.
Pick: Panthers win 23-21 but fail to cover spread.
Both offenses have struggled to put points on the board, but the Saints have a much better defensive unit, and Atlanta is just 1-5 on the road. The Falcons have lost two games in a row and have turned their offense over to Desmond Ridder. The rookie will boost the Falcons' anemic offense, but Andy Dalton has more than enough weapons to secure New Orleans Saints a much-needed victory.
Pick: Saints win 24-20 and cover spread.
The Chiefs survived a scare against the Broncos last week and can clinch the AFC West title with a win on Sunday. Kansas City has won six of its last seven games and will look to run the ball against the league's worst run defense. The Texans had the Cowboys on the ropes last week but could not punch the ball in from the goal line. Regardless of if Jeff Driskel or Davis Mills starts for Houston, the Chiefs will roll to a blowout win.
Pick: Chiefs win 31-17 and cover spread.
Kyler Murray is done for the season with a torn ACL, and Russell Wilson is still in concussion protocol after landing on his head while diving toward the goal line. Colt McCoy will start for the Arizona Cardinals, and Brett Rypien will be under center for Denver if Wilson cannot go on Sunday. Both teams are out of the playoff hunt, but the Broncos have enough defensive playmakers to notch their fourth win of the season.
Pick: Broncos win 20-17 and cover spread.
The Patriots are locked in a three-way tie for the final wild-card spot, while the Raiders desperately need a win to keep their slim playoff hopes afloat. Bill Belichick must devise a scheme to stop both Josh Jacobs and Davante Adams, but Josh McDaniels should know how New England will attempt to stop both of his playmakers. Oakland will lean on Jacobs and Adams to pick up the upset victory.
Pick: Raiders win 24-20.
The Chargers earned a must-win last week over the Dolphins and are tied with the Patriots and Jets for the final wild-card spot. Los Angeles is primed for a late-season push with Keenan Allen and Mike Williams finally healthy. The Titans are reeling and have dropped three games in a row. Derrick Henry should run wild against the Chargers' lackluster run defense, but Justin Herbert will keep Los Angeles in the playoff hunt with another home win.
Pick: Chargers win 31-24 and cover spread.
The Bengals have won five consecutive games and are knotted atop the AFC North with the Ravens. However, Cincinnati might be without Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd this week, which will lead to a run-heavy game plan. The Buccaneers are the frontrunner in the NFC South but are just one game ahead of the Panthers and Falcons. Tom Brady and crew surprise the wounded Bengals and notch a much-needed win.
Pick: Buccaneers win 27-20.
The Packers are well-rested after their Week 14 bye and remain in the playoff hunt for a wild-card spot. Baker Mayfield's late-game heroics last week has the Rams arriving at Lambeau Field with renewed enthusiasm. However, Aaron Rodgers will find success against the league's 21st-ranked pass defense, and Mayfield will have an uphill climb passing the ball against Green Bay's elite defensive secondary.
Pick: Packers win 24-17 and cover spread.
