We head into week 15 with a lot on the line for NFL’s play-off hopefuls. It’s all about who can hold their nerve and carry some momentum over these last few games.
Here are my NFL 2020 Week fifteen predictions:
Los Angeles Chargers @ Las Vegas Raiders
The Chargers bounced back from a poor run of form with a nice win over the Falcons last week. But that was just their fourth win of what has been a poor season. The Raiders meanwhile still have play-off aspirations despite a big loss to the Colts last week. They need the win here to go 8-6 for the season and to give them the belief they can pull off a play-off spot.
Chargers 17 Raiders 30
Buffalo Bills @ Denver Broncos
Josh Allen and the Bills are ticking along nicely heading into week 15 with a solid 26-15 win over the Steelers last week. They should add another win to the board this week against a 5-8 Broncos side. But be aware Bills, this won’t be straight forward. The Broncos can still play as they proved in last weeks win over the Panthers.
Bills 33 Broncos 27
Carolina Panthers @ Green Bay Packers
Aaron Rodgers continues to break records and shows no sign of slowing down at 37 years old. He helped the Packers to a tough fought 31-24 win over the Lions last week to put them at 10-3 for the season. As for the Panthers, last weeks loss to the Broncos was their seventh defeat from eight and I can only see more misery being piled on them by the Packers this week.
Panthers 14 Packers 31
Seattle Seahawks @ Washington Football Team
Washingtons win over the 49ers last week was their fourth in a row and puts them top of NFC East at 6-7. It’s been a remarkable turnaround for a team who looked dead and buried when sitting at 2-7 after nine games. The Seahawks have looked shaky in recent weeks but did destroy the Jets with ease last week. The momentum is definitely with Washington though and I wouldn’t be surprised to see them go 5 wins on the bounce.
Seahawks 24 Washington 26
Houston Texans @ Indianapolis Colts
Philip Rivers and his Colts team went through a rough patch recently but seem to have turned things round to remain in contention for the AFC South title. An impressive win over the Raiders last week puts them at 9-4 for the year. The Texans on the other hand sit at 4-9 having lost their last two outings including a disastrous 36-7 loss to the Bears in Week 14.
Texans 15 Colts 26
Chicago Bears @ Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings 26-14 loss to the Buccaneers last week was a big blow to their play-off chances. A loss to the Bears this week will see their opponents leap frog them into second place in NFC North. The Bears aren’t in great form though despite a big win over the Texans last week. This is a big game and it will be close.
Bears 31 Vikings 28
New England Patriots @ Miami Dolphins
It’s fair to say the Patriots golden era is done and dusted. They only managed to rack up 3 points in last weeks defeat to the Rams and that puts them 6-7 for the season. The Dolphins meanwhile are a team on the rise. Sure they lost the Chiefs last week but the fact that they pushed them all the way shows how much this Dolphins team has improved.
Patriots 14 Dolphins 26
Jacksonville Jaguars @ Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens looked to be back to some kind of form in their amazing game against the Browns last week. It’s no surprise that this return to high scoring wins comes with Lamar Jackson back to doing what he does best. They shouldn’t have too much trouble getting past a Jaguars team who have now lost their last 12 games.
Jaguars 14 Ravens 36
Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Atlanta Falcons
The Buccaneers have struggled as of late to the point where some were writing their season off. A good win over the Vikings last week though tells us that Tom Brady and his teammates are not done yet. The Falcons lost to a poor Chargers team last season and now sit at 4-9 for the season. They go into this will little confidence and little hope.
Buccaneers 27 Falcons 24
San Francisco 49ers @ Dallas Cowboys
This would normally be seen as a big game in the season but realistically both teams have nothing to play for and sit bottom of their respective divisions. The Cowboys did at least win last against the Bengals and are in a weaker division. They might go into this a bit more momentum and purpose than their opponents.
49ers 17 Cowboys 20
Detroit Lions @ Tennessee Titans
This one really comes down to the Lions chances of stopping the runaway train that is Derrick Henry. The Jaguars certainly couldn’t stop him last week and very few do. Detroit weren’t terrible last week though and did provide some problems for the Packers. Titans should pick up their 10th win of the year here.
Lions 27 Titans 40
Philadelphia Eagles @ Arizona Cardinals
The Eagles provided one of the shocks of Week 14 by beating the Saints 24-21. Jalen Hurts replacing Carson Wentz at quarterback seems to be having the desired effect. The Cardinals still have their own impressive quarterback in Kyler Murray though. Their win over the Giants last week still gives them some play-off hope.
Eagles 15 Cardinals 23
New York Jets @ Los Angeles Rams
The Jets just can’t get enough points in games with this awful offense. And now they have to face one of the best defenses in the game. The Rams won’t have to sweat much for the win here.
Jets 7 Rams 30
Kansas City Chiefs @ New Orleans Saints
The Saints suffered a shock defeat to the Eagles last week but the good news is Drew Brees might be back for this one. Sitting 10-3 for the season, New Orleans will be hoping to show their Super Bowl potential against the favourites. The Chiefs haven’t been blowing teams away but they are still putting a lot of points on the board.
Chiefs 32 Saints 27
Cleveland Browns @ New York Giants
The Browns can consider themselves unlucky after going down in a cracker against the Ravens last week. Baker Mayfield looks like the real deal now and this Browns team cannot be taken lightly be anyone. Certainly not the Giants who were on great form before crashing back down to earth with a loss to the Cardinals last week. Both teams need to bounce back quick.
Browns 28 Giants 24
Pittsburgh Steelers @ Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals continued to flounder without Joe Burrow last week as they only managed 7 points in their heavy defeat to the Cowboys. It’s an even tougher week this week against a Steelers side who will be sharply focused on getting things back on track after losing 2 in a row.
