Several Week 15 games carry a lot of weight when it comes to playoff seeding, qualification and division title races. Weather could play a big factor in over half of the games in Week 15. Multiple games from the West Coast to the East Coast have over 50% chances of rain.
Multiple games have the potential for very high winds, which could affect special teams and the ability of offenses to attack with vertical passing plays. The only nice part of the weather in Week 15 is that the forecasts project it to be much warmer on average across the country than typical mid-December temperatures.
Take a look at all the games that have the potential for adverse weather, how it is affecting their betting odds and insight into keys for each matchup.
Minnesota Vikings at Cincinnati Bengals | 1 p.m. ET Saturday
- Opening betting line: Bengals -4
- Location: Paycor Stadium, Cincinnati
- Forecast: 50 degrees | Rain/snow: 7% | Wind: 5-7 mph
Live odds for Vikings vs. Bengals
Backup quarterbacks are the story for the matchup between the Vikings and Bengals. The difference is that, at the moment, the Bengals QB Jake Browning has been playing at a very high level. In contrast, the Vikings appear set to start their fourth quarterback of the season in Nick Mullens.
After another poor week from Joshua Dobbs, Mullens came off the bench and did just enough to secure a 3-0 win for the Vikings. Minnesota is only two games behind Detroit in the NFC North, and with two matchups with Detroit left, it needs a win this week to try and stay in contention for the division race.
While the Bengals are unlikely to catch the Ravens in the AFC North, they are fighting for a wold card playoff berth. It will be interesting to see whether Browning can continue to play at a high level or if he will follow the path of Dobbs, playing well for two weeks and then regressing and showing why he is a backup.
Chicago Bears at Cleveland Browns | 1 p.m. ET
- Opening betting line: Browns -3.5
- Location: Cleveland Browns Stadium, Cleveland
- Forecast: 49 degrees | Rain/snow: 34% | Wind: 12-14 mph
Live odds for Bears vs. Browns
With high wind potential and some rain, the line in this game is trending closer toward the Bears, while Cleveland remains the favorite. Joe Flacco has come off the couch to save the Browns' season and played like he did in his younger years in Baltimore last week.
With some adverse weather, turnovers could be key in this game. The Browns stand a good chance to win, as they have the better defense, but if Flacco turns it over and Justin Fields does not while continuing to play at a high level, it could lead to the Bears upsetting their second opponent in a row.
Atlanta Falcons at Carolina Panthers | 1 p.m. ET
- Opening betting line: Falcons -3
- Location: Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, N.C.
- Forecast: 53 degrees | Rain/snow: 82% | Wind: 20-25 mph
Live odds for Falcons vs. Panthers
One of the messiest games of the week is likely in Carolina, with some of the highest winds of the season and rain almost assured. That lines up well for the Falcons, who prefer to be a run-first offense with star rookie Bijan Robinson playing his best football of the season in recent weeks.
Passing may be impossible, and even rushing the ball could be challenging. Still, ball carriers will have an advantage over linebackers, who will find it challenging to have good footing in the anticipated conditions. Do not be shocked if this is a low-scoring game won by the team with the more effective running game.
Houston Texans at Tennessee Titans | 1 p.m. ET
- Opening betting line: Titans -2
- Location: Nissan Stadium, Nashville
- Forecast: 53 degrees | Rain/snow: 46% | Wind: 11-13 mph
Live odds for Texans vs. Tennessee Titans
The Texans could be without their star rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud, and the weather conditions for passing the ball could be bad for backup Davis Mills. If the weather negatively affects the game, the Titans will have the advantage with the stronger rushing attack and always-strong run defense.
After starting hot, the Texans need a win after slipping in the standings after a stretch of tough games. They could go from looking like this season's Cinderella and a playoff lock to the outside looking in if they don't get back on the right side of the win column.
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New York Jets at Miami Dolphins | 1 p.m. ET
- Opening betting line: Dolphins -12
- Location: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Fla.
- Forecast: 77 degrees | Rain/snow: 88% | Wind: 20-25 mph
Live odds for Jets vs. Dolphins
The Dolphins are coming off a shocking loss on Monday Night Football and are looking to bounce back this week against division rival New York Jets. The Jets are trying desperately to hang onto playoff contention and the hope that Aaron Rodgers makes a miraculous comeback.
With rain highly likely and high winds, it should slow down the Dolphins' high-octane offense. The Jets also have one of the best defenses in the NFL, and if the weather forecast holds true, this game could be one of the lowest-scoring of the season for the Dolphins. The spread in this game started in double digits in favor of Miami but has trended significantly toward the Jets, as the bad weather would definitely be more in New York's favor than Miami's.
Kansas City Chiefs at New England Patriots | 1 p.m. ET
- Opening betting line: Chiefs -7.5
- Location: Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Mass.
- Forecast: 47 degrees | Rain/snow: 10% | Wind: 8-10 mph
Live odds for Chiefs vs. Patriots
Kansas City needs to bounce back after a challenging stretch of games that has seen the offense struggle. New England is coming off their first win in over a month and will have a home-field advantage. The weather for this game is likely to be reasonably nice, but if the rain chance picks up along with moderately high winds, that would favor the Patriots, who have a strong defense and will look to keep Patrick Mahomes from having a big night.
Dallas Cowboys at Buffalo Bills | 4:25 p.m. ET
- Opening betting line: Bills -1.5
- Location: Highmark Stadium, Orchard Park, N.Y.
- Forecast: 47 degrees | Rain/snow: 36% | Wind: 13-15 mph
Live odds for Cowboys vs. Bills
The line for this game has trended toward Buffalo, which makes sense with the weather conditions. With high winds and a chance for rain showers, there may be parts of the game where the two teams' offenses will have to rely more on their rushing attacks. With Josh Allen the more mobile and better rusher of the two quarterbacks in this matchup, poor weather would help the Bills more than it would the Cowboys.
Baltimore Ravens at Jacksonville Jaguars | 8:20 p.m. ET
- Opening betting line: Ravens -6.5
- Location: EverBank Stadium, Jacksonville, Fla.
- Forecast: 62 degrees | Rain/snow: 51% | Wind: 20-25 mph
Live odds for vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
The Ravens have consistently been one of the best teams in the NFL. Much of that has to do with their elite defense, which has been holding almost every opponent below their scoring average. A lot of wind and a decent chance of rain makes this matchup lower-scoring in all likelihood.
That has moved an almost touchdown spread to start the week toward the Jaguars. The Ravens remain the favorite, and the spread being closer is more likely a result of a game that will have less scoring because of the weather conditions.
Philadelphia Eagles at Seattle Seahawks | Monday 8:15 p.m. ET
- Opening betting line: Eagles -3.5
- Location: Lumen Field, Seattle
- Forecast: 47 degrees | Rain/snow: 78% | Wind: 5-7 mph
Live odds for vs. Eagles vs. Seahawks
The Eagles sat at the top of the league for the first 13 weeks of the season, but two straight losses now have them fighting to win the NFC East. The Cowboys' two straight wins, including last week's victory over the Eagles, has deadlocked the division at 10-3. Philadelphia needs to get their offense back on track this week against Seattle.
With a strong chance for rain, though, that may be challenging against an improving Seahawk defense. Seattle is also trying to stay in the fight for a playoff berth and needs the win just as badly, if not worse, than Philadelphia, who is at least safe when it comes to playoff positioning.
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