The Week 15 NFL schedule is loaded with great games.
Buffalo takes on New England in the AFC East. Green Bay travels to Denver. Those are games between teams that are firmly in the playoff picture.
The most interesting game to us? Lions vs. Rams. Matthew Stafford has the Rams in the top spot in the NFC. The Lions are fighting for a playoff spot with Jared Goff. That quarterback swap.
Stafford is 1-2 against his former team, including postseason. He averaged 339.3 yards with six TDs and one interception in those three games against Detroit. Goff has averaged 254 yards with three TDs and four interceptions in those games. The home team hasn't lost yet, which puts some pressure on the Lions in their playoff pursuit. Los Angeles, meanwhile, is looking to get closer to home-field advantage in the NFC.
That could get Stafford closer to a second Super Bowl, too. Buffalo-New England will be huge, too, and the Packers face a tough challenge against the Broncos. That's all part of Week 15.
Straight up: 134-73-1 (8-6 in Week 14)
Against the spread: 101-104-3 (8-6 in Week 14)
POWER RANKINGS: Packers, Steelers jump as Chiefs, Colts slide again in Week 15
Here are our straight-up picks for Week 15.
NFL picks, predictions for Week 15
- Atlanta Falcons at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-4.5)
Thursday, 8:15 p.m.
Will the Buccaneers lose three straight home games? Baker Mayfield has a 55.2% completion percentage in two games since suffering a shoulder injury, but the Falcons have allowed 32 points per game in their last two losses. It's the get-well game Tampa Bay needs.
Pick: Buccaneers 27, Falcons 20
- Cleveland Browns at Chicago Bears (-7)
Sunday, 1 p.m.
It's a sandwich game for the Bears – who face the Packers again in Week 16. Cleveland has allowed 28.5 points per game in their last two losses, and Shedeur Sanders is coming off a 364-yard, three-TD performance. Sanders and Caleb Williams put on an offensive show when they faced off in college. This won't be quite like that. Chicago is 3-1 ATS as a favorite.
Pick: Bears 21, Browns 17
MORE: Ben Johnson's questionable clock management dooms Bears
- Baltimore Ravens (-2.5) at Cincinnati Bengals
Sunday, 1 p.m.
Joe Burrow averages 272.5 passing yards with six TDs and two interceptions since returning from a toe injury. Can the Bengals sweep the Ravens? Baltimore ranks 26th in pass defense. Cincinnati is 31st. Burrow and Lamar Jackson will put on a show, but Baltimore will escape with a victory to keep their playoff hopes alive.
Pick: Ravens 32, Bengals 29
- Los Angeles Chargers at Kansas City Chiefs (-4.5)
Sunday, 1 p.m.
We keep picking the Chiefs in these games – and now their playoff fate might be at stake. The Chargers are coming off a short week, and Patrick Mahomes is in desperation mode. The Chiefs have won the last three home meetings in the series. Kansas City is 5-2 S/U at home, but did the Texans take away that aura? Or will Travis Kelce have a bounce-back game?
Pick: Chiefs 23, Chargers 17
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- Buffalo Bills (-1.5) at New England Patriots
Sunday, 1 p.m.
The Patriots' 23-20 victory against the Bills in Week 5 shifted the nature of the AFC East race. Now, Buffalo has a shot to get even. Josh Allen continues to play at a MVP-caliber level, but so is Patriots quarterback Drake Maye. The Bills had 11 penalties for 90 yards in the first meeting. That can't happen again, right?
Pick: Bills 27, Patriots 24
- Washington Commanders at New York Giants (-2.5)
Sunday, 1 p.m.
The Commanders' nightmare season continues. Washington is on an eight-game losing streak, and they have two or more turnovers in six of those losses. The Giants have lost seven straight games, but their two wins this season are at home. Washington won the first meeting 21-6 on Sept. 7. That feels like a lifetime ago.
Pick: Giants 19, Commanders 13
- Las Vegas Raiders at Philadelphia Eagles (-12.5)
Sunday, 1 p.m.
The Raiders can't score. Las Vegas has averaged 12.8 points per game in its last five games, and Kenny Pickett replaced Geno Smith (shoulder) in Week 14. Pickett would get a chance to start against one of his former teams, but the Eagles will not be accommodating coming off a short week. The Eagles are 0-3 ATS when favored by seven points or more – but they get the message here.
Pick: Eagles 30, Raiders 16
MORE: 6 Eagles most to blame for offensive struggles
- New York Jets at Jacksonville Jaguars (-11.5)
Sunday, 1 p.m.
The Jets are 1-4 S/U on the road this season, and this is yet another tough matchup. Jacksonville has won four straight games, and the Jaguars have allowed less than 300 yards in three of those games. That's not going to help New York – who might turn to Brady Cook if Tyrod Taylor (groin) cannot start.
Pick: Jaguars 33, Jets 14
- Arizona Cardinals at Houston Texans (-9.5)
Sunday, 1 p.m.
The Texans are making their move in the AFC, and defense has been a difference maker. Houston has a plus-6 turnover margin through a five-game winning streak, and Arizona is on a five-game losing streak. The Cardinals are 5-1 ATS on the road this season.
Pick: Texans 22, Cardinals 16
- Green Bay Packers (-2) at Denver Broncos
Sunday, 4:25 p.m.
Can the Packers prove it on the road? Green Bay is 1-7 S/U all-time at Denver – the lone victory in a Brett Favre-overtime special in 2007 Green Bay won 19-13 in overtime. We expect a similar defense-first environment here. Is this a Super Bowl preview? Both teams' pass rush will make plays, but the Broncos will protect their 6-0 S/U record at home.
Pick: Broncos 21, Packers 18
NFL STANDINGS: Updated AFC, NFC playoff pictures after Week 14
- Indianapolis Colts at Seattle Seahawks (-11.5)
Sunday, 4:25 p.m.
Rookie quarterback Riley Leonard is on the spot here with Daniel Jones (Achilles) out. Leonard (18 of 29, 145 yards, INT) will have a full week to prepare for the Seahawks, but it won't be easy. The Seahawks have outscored their last two opponents 63-9 and have forced eight turnovers. Will Leonard avoid costly mistakes on the road?
Pick: Seahawks 27, Colts 14
MORE: How Colts' Super Bowl chances take massive hit with Daniel Jones injury
- Detroit Lions at Los Angeles Rams (-5.5)
Sunday, 4:25 p.m.
The key for both teams will be the running game. Jahmyr Gibbs (5.7 yards per carry) and Kyren Williams (4.9 yards per carry) can control a high-stakes game like this. Turnovers also will be huge. The Rams are 4-1 S/U at home this season, and three of those games have been one-score victories.
Pick: Rams 28, Lions 24
- Carolina Panthers (-2.5) at New Orleans Saints
Sunday, 4:25 p.m.
The Panthers had a bye week to prepare for a road trip to New Orleans – who have improved with the rookie tandem of Tyler Shough and Devin Neal. Shough and Neal combined for 125 rushing yards and three TDs last week. That will challenge a Panthers' defense that has struggled against the run. Should Carolina be on upset alert here?
Pick: Panthers 27, Saints 20
- Tennessee at San Francisco 49ers (-12.5)
Sunday, 4:25 p.m.
The 49ers are heavy favorites on the road. The Titans have shown signs of improvement. Cam Ward has just one interception in his last four games, and the run defense has allowed just 80 rushing yards per game in that stretch. San Francisco could easily turn this into a blowout – they are 2-0 ATS when favored by five points or more – but this is tacking on another TD. Take the value with Tennessee.
Pick: 49ers 24, Titans 13
- Minnesota Vikings at Dallas Cowboys (-6)
Sunday, 8:20 p.m.
The Cowboys had extra time to prepare for the Vikings. JJ McCarthy threw three TDs for the Vikings in Week 15 against the Commanders, but he also took four sacks. Dallas receiver CeeDee Lamb is in concussion protocol. Dallas needs this one to stay in a tight playoff race, and the Cowboys are 4-2 ATS at home.
Pick: Cowboys 28, Vikings 20
- Miami Dolphins at Pittsburgh Steelers (-3.5)
Monday, 8:15 p.m.
The Steelers are in the AFC North lead – and Aaron Rodgers is coming off a season-high 284 passing yards in Week 14. The Dolphins have a plus-7 turnover ratio through a four-game winning streak. Miami is a tempting underdog here, but the early forecast is calling for snow. Will Tua Tagovailoa continue to flip that narrative? Pittsburgh is 1-3 ATS when favored by five points or less.
Pick: Steelers 22, Dolphins 19