Wow! I can’t believe the NFL Regular Season is approaching its final two weeks. Saturday’s contests couldn’t have must higher stakes for all four teams in contention. Teams like the Titans, Eagles, and Colts are currently out of the playoff picture but could make some noise if they manage to sneak into the playoffs. Who will be sitting pretty come Christmas morning? Check out “NFL Updates Express: Week 16 2018” to find out.
Week 15 Prediction Record: 5-11 (oof)
Total Prediction Record: 136-86-2
Week 15 Awards:
Most Entertaining Game: Chargers vs Chiefs
Upset of the Week: 49ers over Seahawks
Player of the Week: Dalvin Cook, RB, Vikings (19 CAR for 136 yards rushing, 2 TDs)
Team of the Week: Minnesota Vikings
Rookie of the Week: Minkah Fitzpatrick, S, MIA (6 tackles, 50 yard pick-six)
The Redskins got a HUGE win over the floundering Jaguars. Now they enter in essentially a playoff game. Neither the Titans or Redskins can afford a loss here. There is a likely chance that who ever loses this game will be eliminated from the playoff chase by Sunday night. The Redskins are in trouble. When the Titans defense holds a fully talented Giants squad to a donut...look out. Josh Johnson does show a lot more hope than Mark Sanchez did but that isn’t saying much. If the Skins can neutralize Derrick Henry and utilize Adrian Peterson to his maximum potential, they have a shot. Expect this to be close throughout with the Titans getting the much needed win to take into the season’s final week.
Tennessee Titans 20, Washington Redskins 10
A must win game for the Ravens. The AFC race is uber competitive with the Steelers competing for the AFC North crown and the Titans and Colts fighting tooth and nail to snag the sixth seed in the AFC. The Ravens defense can allow this team to go toe-to-toe with anyone but taking down the Chargers will be their toughest task yet. Los Angeles is a bit banged up as Austin Ekeler, Melvin Gordon, and Keenan Allen are dealing with lingering injuries. I feel like the Ravens have the potential to win this and keep the momentum rolling under Lamar Jackson but until the offense can be more efficient, give me MVP-candidate Philip Rivers to edge Baltimore at home.
Los Angeles Chargers 26, Baltimore Ravens 24
So much for the winning streak. Dallas was on a roll until getting blasted by the Colts. Now they face a must-win against the NFC South bottom feeder. Jameis Winston hasn’t been terrible like he was earlier in the year. This game is kinda a trap, especially traveling on the road against a team that you just can’t put away. When it’s all said and done, Amari Cooper and Ezekiel Elliott should be enough to propel Dallas into the playoffs.
Dallas Cowboys 17 Tampa Bay Buccaneers 13
Days after firing OC John DeFilippo, the Vikings dominated the Miami Dolphins and are in great shape to make it back to the playoffs. Sunday’s performance was what we thought the Vikings could be. The Lions are a competitive dumpster fire. Let me explain. Everyone knows they aren’t going anywhere but they still have some solid wins like against the Pats earlier in the season on Sunday Night Football. I honestly believe the Lions D will do their part in limiting Dalvin Cook, Adam Thielen, and the electric Vikings offense. Will Matt Stafford do his part? That remains to be seen up to this point in the year. I think he’s talented but overrated. In the battle of overhyped QBs, the better team wins.
Minnesota Vikings 30, Detroit Lions 17
The Panthers gave their best defensive effort against the league leading Saints offense. As it has been for the entire second half of the year, close but no cigar. The defensive unit of James Bradberry (1 INT), Donte Jackson (1 2PT Conversion), and the LB tandem of Luke Kuechly and Thomas Davis (25 total tackles) were fantastic. That’s the real Carolina D. The bigger storyline is the continued regression of Cam Newton as he continues to struggle through an injured arm. There is a possibility that Cam sits for the final two games since the Panthers are just about done from the playoff picture. The Falcons have had injuries of their own but have continued to fight to the bitter end. I don’t know much about backup QB Taylor Heinicke but either way, I can’t see the Panthers winning this. Atlanta’s offense is still lethal and they probably only need to score a TD or two to win anyway.
Atlanta Falcons 24, Carolina Panthers 16
Nick Foles and December go together like PB&J. If the Eagles can find a way to upset Houston, they’ll be in pretty good shape to finish with a winning record and sneak back into the playoffs. I have gone back and forth on this contest. The Texans have been a lot more consistent but the Eagles seem to have the momentum after their huge upset win of the Rams. Wendell Smallwood and Darren Sproles have seemed to bring a newfound energy to this rushing attack and if they continue the trend, expect the Philly Faithful to go home happy on Sunday.
Philadelphia Eagles 24, Houston Texans 21
Just no. Giants do not have much of a prayer in this one. Odell Beckham Jr isn’t playing and Saquon vs Darius Leonard is a very underrated matchup. New York is actually going to convince themselves that Eli is still the answer. It will be yet another wasted season in 2019 if they don’t have a change of heart. The Colts are still in the thick of the playoff chase and with a Ravens loss and Colts win, they would have the inside track on the last playoff spot. They won’t blow this opportunity.
Indianapolis Colts 30, New York Giants 24
I’m not sure what is happening to the Patriots. This isn’t the typical early season swoon. These are real problems. Tom Brady is throwing more checkdowns than ever. The defense is actually carrying the team to an extent. To me, the Pats can still make a deep run in the playoffs but they would need to get a first round bye. If they fail to do so, I can’t see Belichick and Co making their third straight trip to the Super Bowl. It doesn’t help things that Josh Gordon is being suspended yet again (pray for this man). The young buck in Josh Allen could make things interesting but losing three straight for the Pats? Not gonna happen.
New England Patriots 26, Buffalo Bills 17
I just want to say I’m the idiot that said Jacksonville would win the Super Bowl. They’re 4-10 with Cody Kessler as QB. The Dolphins still have a slim glimmer of hope at the postseason so they must win here. Miami is a terrible road team and a great home team. This game is in South Beach although the Fins will be without the services of Frank Gore who was having another amazing season for 35 years of age. The Jags offense is pretty much non-existent so gimme the Dolphins to win their eighth game of the year.
Miami Dolphins 19, Jacksonville Jaguars 14
Call me crazy if you want but I think that Chicago might be the best team in the NFC right now. Taking on a hungry 49ers team is not ideal for a team trying to sneak into the number two spot in the NFC. However, if Khalil Mack can cause havoc to Aaron Rodgers, one of the best QBs of our generation, I can’t imagine what will happen to an inexperienced Nick Mullens.
Chicago Bears 27, San Francisco 49ers 12
The Rams need a convincing win or doubt will start to seep in. The Cardinals are NOT good. They have young talent but for a team with Super Bowl aspirations, the Rams need to dominate. Josh Rosen has struggled mightily, having not thrown a TD in the last three weeks. This could also be Larry Fitzgerald's final home game as the Cardinals look to be going nowhere and the legend’s last hope at a Super Bowl probably fell in the 2015 NFC Championship Game. I predict Larry Legend will go off but the Rams win comfortably in this one.
Los Angeles Rams 23, Arizona Cardinals 14
Perhaps the game of the week as Big Ben and Drew Brees get their epic showdown in the Superdome. New Orleans has not looked that great the past three weeks. They’ve won but struggling on offense against Carolina and Dallas isn’t a good sign. Sure, the Panthers are a division rival and the Cowboys have a top ranked D but this is a team that was scoring 40-50 points on the regular. Maybe it’s the fact they haven’t played at home in a while but this game should give us an indication on whether or not New Orleans is trending in the right direction. The Steelers got a monumental win against a franchise that has beaten them like a pulp. Jaylen Samuels will most likely get his third consecutive start after Conner says he “isn’t ready yet.” I could see the Steelers taking this but considering how poor they’ve played on the road at times, I think the Saints see a bounce-back performance.
New Orleans Saints 27, Pittsburgh Steelers 19
After getting upset by the 49ers, the Seahawks may have to take their playoff hopes into the league’s final week. Russell Wilson and company certainly have what it takes to upset the Chiefs, especially at CenturyLink but it will take all three phases executing at a high level. Seattle just needs to win one of its next two games to guarantee themselves a spot in the postseason. To beat Kansas City, ball control is key. The great thing for Seattle is that they sport the number one run game. Chris Carson, in all likelihood, will eclipse 1000 yards rushing. The Seahawks have been looking to find the guy since Lynch left and Carson may be the answer. Depending on what happens on Saturday between the Ravens and Chargers, the Chiefs may need this game or risk falling out of the one seed to the fifth seed. With that being said, expect KC to take the edge here.
Kansas City Chiefs 30, Seattle Seahawks 24
Games w/ no playoff impact:
Denver Broncos 17, Oakland Raiders 16
Cleveland Browns 27, Cincinnati Bengals 20 (technically the Browns are still alive but…)
Green Bay Packers 31, New York Jets 21
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