NFL Week 15 predictions: Our experts pick Packers vs. Broncos and more top games

The NFL playoff race is heating up! The Pittsburgh Steelers stole first place in the AFC North from the Baltimore Ravens, the Chicago Bears went from the NFC’s No. 1 seed to the No. 7 seed after losing to the Green Bay Packers, and the Buffalo Bills put together an impressive fourth-quarter comeback against Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals. The loss ensured Burrow’s first losing season since his rookie year in 2020.

This week in the NFL we are treated to a Bills rematch against the New England Patriots, Jordan Love travels to face one of the NFL’s best defenses in the Denver Broncos, while the “Matthew Stafford Bowl” takes place in Los Angeles. The Kansas City Chiefs will also have a tough matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers. After their loss to the Houston Texans, SportsLine says Kansas City has only a 6% chance of making the playoffs.

Which teams should you pick in Week 15 and which should you eliminate? CBS Sports writers Jordan Dajani and Jared Dubin are here to break down the weekend’s biggest games. For clarity, the lines for these selections were taken on December 10 at DraftKings Sports Betting.

Dajani (Buccaneers -4.5): The Falcons looked like a disaster last Sunday. They are 1-7 in their last eight games and are allowing nearly 27 points per game over that span. I find it concerning that the Buccaneers have lost four of their last five games since starting 6-2, but with this game being at home, I have to look to the team still in playoff contention. Additionally, Mike Evans, Bucky Irving, Chris Godwin and Jalen McMillan could be on the field together for the first time all year. The Bucs haven’t covered the spread in five straight games, but this is a game where they can end the streak… Prediction: Buccaneers 27, Falcons 20

Dubin (Buccaneers -4.5): Tampa hasn’t exactly been lighting the world on fire lately, but the Falcons seem to be dead in the water. Tampa should be able to move the ball Thursday night, especially if Mike Evans and/or Jalen McMillan can return from injury. The Falcons, meanwhile, seemingly can’t move the ball with any degree of consistency with Kirk Cousins ​​under center. The Bucs have a good run defense and are weaker against the pass, which goes against what the Falcons would like to do given the current state of their roster. … Prediction: Buccaneers 24, Falcons 13

Baltimore Ravens (-2.5) vs. Cincinnati Bengals

Dajani (Bengals +2.5): The Ravens lost two in a row and regained the division lead in Pittsburgh. The Bengals would have beaten the Bills last week if not for that stunning fourth-quarter collapse, but this is Joe Burrow’s first game in front of his home fans, and Lamar Jackson hasn’t looked like him lately. For these reasons, give me the Bengals in a wildly entertaining affair… Prediction: Bengals 35, Ravens 33

Dubin (Ravens -2.5): I’m going down with the ship here. I’ve already gone down with the ship to pick the Chiefs every week, so I might as well do it with the Ravens as well. … Prediction: Ravens 27, Bengals 24

Los Angeles Chargers vs. Kansas City Chiefs (-5.5)

Dajani (Chargers +5.5): I’m not sure Justin Herbert hasn’t ruined his left hand for life. After undergoing surgery last Monday, he decided to play a week later and was sacked a career-high seven times while rushing 10 times for 66 yards. As for the spread, this figure seems a little high to me. Consider that the Chargers defense ranks top 10 in yards allowed per game (282.2), points allowed per game (20.8), third down percentage (34.4%), red zone touchdown percentage (52.5%), takeaways (18) and sacks (35). Patrick Mahomes and Co. were shut out in the first half at HOME last week for the first time since 2018, and while this Chargers defense isn’t exactly the Texans defense, I still believe they’re going to give the Chiefs’ backup offensive linemen a run for their money. The Chiefs win this game, but I don’t want to score 5.5 points… Prediction: Leaders 20, Chargers 17

Dubin (Chargers +5.5): The Chargers didn’t look particularly good offensively Monday night against the Eagles. Justin Herbert struggled to complete passes and looked somewhat uncomfortable in the pocket. But they still managed to win the game thanks to a strong rushing game and an incredible defensive performance. I don’t see Kansas City’s offense blowing up here, so I like the Chargers to at least keep the game close, even if Kansas City wins the game. … Prediction: Leaders 23, Chargers 20

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Buffalo Bills (-1.5) against the New England Patriots

Dajani (bills -1.5): I have a hard time imagining the Patriots sweeping the series with the Bills – even if Josh Allen has to win in New England this week. The Patriots have won 10 straight games, so it’s probably time for an “L”, right? Obviously they’re a good team, but how confident are we that New England is a legitimate Super Bowl contender? The Patriots have had the easiest schedule in the NFL, and their season-defining win is probably… the Bills. Vegas agrees with me that revenge is coming for Foxborough… Prediction: Bills 23, Patriots 21

Dubin (bills -1.5): It took three uncharacteristic turnovers for the Patriots to beat the Bills by three in the first meeting between these two teams. The bet here is that Buffalo takes better care of the ball this time around and is able to pull out a win behind Josh Allen and a defense that has forced multiple turnovers itself in five of the seven games since the bye. … Prediction: Bills 24, Patriots 21

Green Bay Packers (-2.5) vs. Denver Broncos

Dajani (Broncos +2.5): “Fraud bowl?” No, I like both of those teams, but I think I like the Broncos more. This Denver defense leads the NFL in yards per play (4.5), third down percentage (31%), and red zone percentage (40%). I really think Jordan Love will have to have his best game of the season to beat the Broncos in Denver. And even though the Broncos get off to a slow start on Sunday, they always seem to bounce back. Denver has a +50 point differential in the fourth quarter this season, which ranks second in the league… Prediction: Broncos 24, Packers 20

Dubin (Packers -2.5): Green Bay has won four straight and appears to be finding its rhythm on both sides of the ball. The passing game seems to have gotten on track over the last few weeks, and we know what they can do defensively. The Broncos may have as high a defensive ceiling as any team in the NFL, but they also have a low floor offensively, and I don’t have as much confidence in Bo Nix against the Green Bay pass rush as I do in Jordan Love against Denver. … Prediction: Pacers 23, Broncos 20

NFL Week 15 Picks and Score Predictions: Patriots and Broncos both lose, Dolphins shock Steelers

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Dajani (Aries -5.5): Talk about a good game for Los Angeles last week. The Rams beat the hapless Arizona Cardinals, 45-17, after their shocking loss to the Carolina Panthers. Now, Matthew Stafford is reunited with his old team – which he actually has a losing record against. Most bettors probably think this line is too big, but this Lions defense has lost several starters, including Pro Bowler Brian Branch, who just tore his Achilles tendon. The Lions are 7-6 ATS compared to the Rams’ 9-4 ATS record. It might be a sweat in the fourth quarter, but I’m actually going to put the points with favorites… Prediction: Rams 28, Leos 21

Dubin (Lions +5.5): The Lions are once again hit by injuries on defense, having lost Brian Branch for the season last Thursday in addition to the various other players they already had on injured reserve. But their offense is good enough to keep them in any game with any team – even one as good as the Rams. Jahmyr Gibbs, Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams are so explosive that they can overcome some of the problems Detroit might have with the Los Angeles defensive line. As long as the protection doesn’t totally implode, I like Detroit to stay close. … Prediction: Rams 30, Leos 26

Dajani (Cowboys -5.5): I was seriously wrong about how the Vikings would fare against Washington’s Commanders last week, but we’ve seen that movie before. Remember when the Vikings upset the Lions in Week 9? Everyone thought Minnesota had turned a corner. Then the Vikings lost four straight games with horrible quarterback play. While the Cowboys lost to the Lions in Week 14, they had a mini-bye to rest and are surely rejuvenated by the rival Eagles’ overtime loss to the Chargers on “Monday Night Football.” To put it simply, Dak Prescott will surpass JJ McCarthy… Prediction: Cowboys 30, Vikings 23

Dubin (Cowboys -5.5): I know the Vikings dominated the Commanders, but I’m not sure I can imagine a repeat of that offensive performance. This is basically the only time all year the offense has looked competent, let alone good, and Dallas’ defense looked improved against weaker opponents before being torn apart by the Lions last week. Minnesota is one of these weaker opponents. I think the Cowboys can score just enough on Minnesota’s defense here to keep the Vikings at bay. … Prediction: Cowboys 23, Vikings 13

Miami Dolphins vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (-3) (MNF)

Dajani (Steels -3): The Dolphins lead the NFL in scoring defense (13.3 points per game), rushing yards per game (192.3) and turnover differential (+7) during this four-game winning streak, but the only decent team Miami beat was Buffalo in Week 10. The Steelers gained some momentum last week with the win over the Ravens, as controversial as it was, but I’ll take the home team in a tight competition. The Steelers have a 22-game home winning streak on “Monday Night Football!” This is the longest streak ever… Prediction: Steelers 20, Dolphins 14

Dubin (Dauphins +3): Did you know the Dolphins are 5-1 in their last six games since falling to 1-6 and their season appears to be over? Mike McDaniel makes this team play really well! They can go after anyone, and we’ve seen you can go after the Steelers. (Look at what the Bills did a few weeks ago.) If they can control the game on the field, I like their chances of pulling off an upset here, given that Pittsburgh’s offense still isn’t explosive enough to put an opponent away. … Prediction: Dolphins 21, Steelers 17