Week 15 in the NFL has arrived, meaning there are only 48 games in the 2019 regular season left to prognosticate. That's plenty of opportunity to finish strong with three more full-week schedules in making our picks and predictions both straight up and against the spread.
There were a few swing games that went in our favor last week and a few others that did not. There are four double-digit spreads to consider this week, balanced out by seven games for which the separation is fewer than four points.
Without further ado, here's our latest fearless forecast for upcoming NFL results. All odds are courtesy of SportsInsider.com.
MORE: Get the latest NFL odds & betting trends from Sports Insider
NFL Week 15 picks, predictions against the spread
- Game of the Week: Los Angeles Rams at Dallas Cowboys (-1)
Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET, Fox
The Rams have adjusted with their offensive changes to help Jared Goff, recommitting to the run with Todd Gurley and streamlining their passing game with Robert Woods, Cooper Kupp and Tyler HIgbee. Sean McVay is showing his coaching chops when his team needs it the most, while Jason Garrett keeps letting down the Cowboys, who are going through a identity crisis with Ezekiel Elliott and a banged-up Dak Prescott. Dallas' defense also is struggling with injuries, while LA has found a groove of late with Aaron Donald and Jalen Ramsey leading the way.
Pick: Rams win 27-24.
- Game of the Midweek: New York Jets at Baltimore Ravens (-15)
Thursday, 8:20 p.m. ET, Fox/NFL Network/Amazon Prime Video
The Jets are done with their easy second-half schedule. Sam Darnold and the passing game will go back to struggling against the Ravens' revved-up pass rush and nasty secondary, and no one knows how Le'Veon Bell will be used when he returns from his illness. The Jets will try to figure out Lamar Jackson, but their traditional run defense is useless against him, especially with their depleted linebacker corps. Their mess of a secondary also will allow him to execute some big pass plays.
Pick: Ravens win 30-10 and cover the spread.
Result: Ravens won 42-21 and covered the spread.
- Upset of the Week: Houston Texans over Tennessee Titans (-3)
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS
The Texans' defense is bad and has been struggling to stop the pass all season with little pressure and shaky cornerback play. Now its troubles against the run are starting to manifest, too. With that said, they still have Deshaun Watson. The Titans' defense can be daunting at times, but Watson's off-script playmaking as a runner and deep thrower will be on point to make up for that ugly first half in the loss to the Broncos. Ryan Tannehill and Derrick Henry will once again deliver high production together for the Titans, but this feels like a game Watson will take over with his comeback mode late.
Pick: Texans win 31-27.
- Lock of the Week: Seattle Seahawks (-6) over Carolina Panthers
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, Fox
The Seahawks know the Panthers well having played them five times since 2015, going 3-2. They won in Charlotte last November to sink the Panthers' playoff chances. Seattle, despite the tough hiccup in Los Angeles last week, is playing hard with a purpose. Carolina seemed to lose more energy without Ron Rivera in getting doubled up on the road in Atlanta. The Seahawks are a good rushing team with Chris Carson, and the Panthers have the worst run defense in the NFC. Seattle also has pass-rushers and ballhawks who can keep life rough for Kyle Allen. The Seahawks seem to defy history and play well in Eastern time zone games.
Pick: Seahawks win 27-14 and cover the spread.
- Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers (-4 1/2)
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, Fox
The Packers are not an explosive team that pulls away from opponents with Aaron Rodgers lighting it up every week. They're more of a grinding team, relying on Aaron Jones and the running game with a more trusted defense, especially against the pass. Mitchell Trubisky has been sizzling for the Bears as things have opened for his arm and legs, but this matchup against a good pass rush and secondary in Lambeau is a different story. The Bears will stay in the game with their rushing attack, but the Packers will survive by a field goal to sweep the season series.
Pick: Packers win 20-17 but fail to cover the spread.
- Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs (-10)
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS
The Chiefs won a big game against the Patriots last week after New England lost to Houston, which lost to Denver in Week 14. Drew Lock has won his first two starts because of aggressive downfield passing. But the Chiefs' pressure and coverage combination is working, and their offense can create a big lead, making it tougher on the rookie in one-dimensional comeback mode. Patrick Mahomes is banged up, and this isn't the same Kansas City running game, but the Chiefs have proved they can still get big plays on both sides of the ball when they need them.
Pick: Chiefs win 27-10 and cover the spread.
- New England Patriots (-9) at Cincinnati Bengals
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS
"We're on to Cincinnati" is the Patriots' literal rallying cry once again after losing in the most frustrating way to the Chiefs. They will keep it simple and avoid putting pressure on Tom Brady in a limited passing game by turning to a successful power running game with Sony Michel, then backing that up with dominant defense and special teams. This feels like one of their early-season routs, only with less style points (and actual points) on the road.
Pick: Patriots win 24-13 and cover the spread.
- Philadelphia Eagles (-6) at Washington Redskins
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, Fox
The Eagles played the Redskins in Week 1 when they had a much more explosive offense. They are in more of a grind mode now with their running game and short-to-intermediate passing game. The Redskins' strength is running the ball with a different coach for the rematch in Bill Callahan, but they lost a big weapon with Derrius Guice's latest injury. The Eagles' blitzes will rattle Dwayne Haskins enough to keep him from burning their secondary, and Carson Wentz will do the little things right to win the Eagles another game without looking ahead to the Cowboys.
Pick: Eagles win 23-13 and cover the spread.
- Miami Dolphins at New York Giants (-3 1/2)
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS
The Dolphins are staying in games because of great coaching by Brian Flores and Chad O'Shea. They have a lot of personnel limitations, but they're pulling out all the stops with their scheming to be consistently competitive. On paper, however, they have much less skill-position talent than the Giants have in a battle of two teams that can't stop the run or cover anybody. Saquon Barkley will do more than Patrick Laird will do out of the backfield, while Eli Manning (presumably) will barely outduel Ryan Fitzpatrick.
Pick: Giants win 26-23 but fail to cover the spread.
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-3.5) at Detroit Lions
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, Fox
The Buccaneers will have a banged-up Jameis Winston (right thumb) for this one likely against David Blough in a typical weird, late-season matchup of QBs. Winston will be without Mike Evans but has plenty of other wide receivers and tight ends to exploit Detroit's defense. Blough will have opportunities to take favorable shots to Kenny Golladay and Marvin Jones Jr. against a bad secondary, too. Winston, despite his turnovers, is easier to trust because of the experience edge.
Pick: Buccaneers win 27-24 but fail to cover the spread.
- Minnesota Vikings (-2 1/2) at Los Angeles Chargers
Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET, CBS
This is a tough, long road trip for the Vikings so late in the season, and they didn't fare well defensively two weeks ago in Seattle. They should have plenty of fan support in Los Angeles to help them, but the Chargers' defense will give them some problems with their pass rush and coverage, especially if they don't want to overwork a hurting Dalvin Cook. The Chargers are built to play spoiler this late in the season, and they showed last week what they can be when their talent is hitting on all cylinders. This won't be as dominant, but LA will make it 3-0 against the top three teams in the NFC North.
Pick: Chargers win 27-20.
- Jacksonville Jaguars at Oakland Raiders (-5 1/2)
Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET, CBS
The Jaguars are impossible to trust, and Doug Marrone is having a hard time finding any motivational answers. A reeling Raiders defense will help Gardner Minshew and Leonard Fournette, but keep in mind this is their last home game in Oakland before moving to Las Vegas next season. They were booed in a bad Week 14 loss to the Titans, so Derek Carr, Jon Gruden and the rest of the team should be fired up to close the Coliseum on a high note. They will stay relentless on the ground, even without Josh Jacobs, and take this one for the Black Hole faithful.
Pick: Raiders win 27-20 and cover the spread.
- Cleveland Browns (-2) at Arizona Cardinals
Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET, CBS
This is a revenge game for former Cardinals assistant Freddie Kitchens and his defensive coordinator Steve Wilks, who last year served his only season as the Cardinals' head coach. Replacement Kliff Kingsbury's offense has been solved by opponents, especially with no traditional running game and not enough viable receivers to help Kyler Murray. The Arizona QB's Heisman and No. 1 overall pick predecessor at Oklahoma, Baker Mayfield, has slumped in Year 2 thanks in part to the Odell Beckham Jr. disaster, but the Cardinals offer little resistance for the Browns' real offensive principals, running backs Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt and slot receiver Jarvis Landry. Murray will run around to make a few big pass plays, but he'll be contained when it counts most.
Pick: Browns win 27-24 and cover the spread.
- Atlanta Falcons at San Francisco 49ers (-11)
Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET, Fox
The Falcons will feel the revenge game, too, from former offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan. He'll be one step ahead of the defensive tendencies of his former head coach Dan Quinn, now his direct counterpart. Misdirection, balance and explosiveness will create miscommunication and a lack of discipline for Atlanta as Jimmy Garoppolo stays well protected to pick the back seven apart. Matt Ryan will feel heat off the edge from Nick Bosa and others, and he will miss Calvin Ridley, his most reliable receiver on every route this season.
Pick: 49ers win 38-24 and cover the spread.
Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC
Josh Allen and the Bills' offense were stymied for the most part last week. That's bad news against the Steelers, who just did a similar number on Murray. Allen will get sacked a ton and stay in his slump, while the Steelers will ease the burden on Devlin Hodges with more success in the running game. Pittsburgh will become the better AFC wild-card team and keep building on their incredible second-half turnaround.
Pick: Steelers win 20-17 and cover the spread.
- Indianapolis Colts at New Orleans Saints (-9)
Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN
The Colts have had a tough season without Andrew Luck, but it has little to do with Andrew Luck not being there. The injuries have mounted on offense — to and around Jacoby Brissett — and the defense hasn't been immune to the run of bad health, either, leading to a sophomore slump for coach Frank Reich. The Colts will hang tough with their offensive and defensive fronts, however. The Saints are the much better and more complete team at the moment, but the Colts have made it a habit of playing one-possession games.
Pick: Saints win 30-23 but fail to cover the spread.
Stats of the Week:
Week 14 record straight up: 11-5
Week 14 record against the spread: 7-8
Season record straight up: 138-69
Season record against the spread: 112-88
Upsets of the Week: 7-7
Locks of the Week: 7-7
