Previewing Week 15

Last week's predictions: 11/16
Season tally: 141/207, 68%

Green Bay Packers (-3) @ Chicago Bears
The Bears are like the anti-Giants. Just like last year, they've gotten horrifically cold at precisely the wrong time. After winning seven of their first eight games, they've dropped four of five, including their most recent loss to Christian Ponder's Vikings. Jay Cutler is battling injuries and it's notable if he escapes a play without being knocked onto his back. And now they're underdogs to a Packers team that's within a stone's throw of the division title. It's do-or-die time, Chicago.
The pick: They refuse to die. Bears. This is not a pick based on reason.

New York Giants @ Atlanta Falcons (-1.5)
I did a double-take upon seeing this line. The Giants did, after all, embarrass the Falcons in the playoffs last year while the Falcons haven't exactly inspired confidence recently. Why are the Giants underdogs? Because road teams don't win in Atlanta.
The pick: Giants. Conventional wisdom being tossed out the window in Week 15.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ New Orleans Saints (-4.5)
There was a period of time, earlier in the season, where the Buccaneers would have been considered the superior team in this game. That, however, was before the Buccaneers lost to the Philadelphia Eagles. Losses to the Eagles cause paradigm shifts in how a team is judged.
The pick: Saints.

Minnesota Vikings @ St. Louis Rams (-3)
In each of the past two weeks, Adrian Peterson has rushed for more yards than Christian Ponder has thrown for. That can be interpreted either as praise for Peterson or an indictment of Ponder. There's no wrong answer.
The pick: Rams.

Washington Redskins (-1.5) @ Cleveland Browns
Tricky game for the Redskins even if Robert Griffin is healthy. The Browns are on a sweet little three-game winning streak. Washington can't afford to lose.
The pick: Redskins.

Jacksonville Jaguars @ Miami Dolphins (-7.5)
The state of football in Florida is, um, not good.
The pick: Dolphins.

Denver Broncos (-3) @ Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens' home spell was shattered by the Steelers in The Charlie Batch Game. They did, however, change offensive coordinators after last week's loss. Could be the thing that saves their season, or the thing that just reminds everyone that the real problem might-just-be-Joe-Flacco.
The pick: Broncos.

Indianapolis Colts @ Houston Texans (-9.5)
Texans desperately need a win, so it's tough to see the Colts pulling off the road upset. But the weekend after next, there's a rematch in Indianapolis. And the Texans shouldn't feel as good about that one.
The pick: Texans.

Carolina Panthers @ San Diego Chargers (-3)
It's the tragic tale of two very bad teams showing just enough late, meaningless life to possibly save the jobs of their incompetent coaches.
The pick: Panthers.

Seattle Seahawks (-5.5) @ Buffalo Bills
Seattle's 58-0 pasting of the Arizona Cardinals wasn't talked about enough. It was domination of a magnitude usually only seen when Alabama plays Western Kentucky. The Seahawks ran for 284 yards. They forced 8 turnovers and only allowed 10 first downs. Three of Marshawn Lynch's eleven carries went for touchdowns. This all serves as just another reminder that the Cardinals beating the Patriots -- in Foxborough! -- back in Week 2 remains one of the more mystifying NFL results in recent memory.
The pick: Seahawks.

Detroit Lions (-6.5) @ Arizona Cardinals
The Lions should be legitimately insulted that they aren't even favored by a touchdown against the team that just lost 58-0.
The pick: Lions.

Pittsburgh Steelers (-1.5) @ Dallas Cowboys
A nice showdown between two teams fighting desperately for their playoff lives. It seems like the Steelers always win games like this, and the Cowboys always lose them.
The pick: Steelers.

Kansas City Chiefs @ Oakland Raiders (-3)
Twice a year the Chiefs play the Raiders, and twice a year people have to pretend that it matters.
The pick: Chiefs.

San Francisco 49ers @ New England Patriots (-4.5)
The Patriots are scoring over 36 points a game; nobody else is averaging even 30. They just might be unstoppable, even for the 49ers vaunted defense.
The pick: Patriots.

New York Jets @ Tennessee Titans (-2)
Somehow, on Monday Night Football in Week 15 of the regular season, the two quarterbacks on television will be Mark Sanchez and Jake Locker. Seems less than ideal.
The pick: Titans.