Week 15 NFL Picks

December 17, 2015

By the Football Garbage Time Staff

Time now for our Week 15 NFL Picks!

Week 15 Games

Ha Kung Wong’s Picks

Ha Kung’s Thoughts:

As I mention every week, copy my picks and you can thank me later. I’m still in the lead with 126-82 for the season. So if you like winning, I think I can help.

Also, just because we love competition here at Football Garbage Time, we’ve been going heads up against Wally and Ray at Urban Sports Scene on our NFL Picks. We tied in Week 14, so we’re 2-0-1, but keep it tuned in, to both us and them, because there’s much more competition to come!

Alright, now on to the most interesting game of the week for me, which is the Denver Broncos @ Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Steelers are fourth in the league in average yards per pass attempt (8.3) and fifth in the league for passing yards per game (284.8). Denver on the other hand is second in the league in limiting yards per pass attempt (6.1) and first at limiting passing yards per game (188). In other words, this one of the premiere passing attacks in the NFL versus the one of the premiere passing defenses in the NFL. Something’s got to give. In fact, although Big Ben is one of the most talented QBs in the league when it comes to extending the play, Denver actually leads the league in sacks (44), making this one of the most interesting showdowns this week.

Ben Roethlisberger vs. Bengals in Week 14.

Big Ben was averaging over 383 passing yards per game the previous 4 weeks before falling off in Week 14 with 282 yards and an INT with no TDs. But Ben remained accurate, completing 76.9% of his passes. It certainly helps that Ben has numerous high end options in Antonio Brown, Martavis Bryant and Markus Wheaton, and continues to have reliable safety blanket Heath Miller in the mix. Plus, as I’ve mentioned before, DeAngelo Williams is doing his best “turn back time” impression averaging over 121 total yards and a TD per game over his last five outings.

Of course, on the other side of the ball, the Pittsburgh defense has allowed the second most passing yards per game in the NFL this year (279), but have been relatively stout against the run allowing the sixth least amount of rushing yards per game (88.3). However, regardless of passing yards allowed, they still surprisingly have the 5th most sacks in the NFL (38) this season, and Brett Osweiler, who’s been pegged to start at least one more game for the Broncos, regressed significantly versus the Oakland Raiders in Week 14, getting sacked by Khalil Mack a ridiculous 5 times (on top of being hurried and hit 7 additional times…I suspect that Osweiler must now have an involuntary twitch every time he even hears the name Khalil Mack…).

Denver may be able to limit the damage, but they won’t be able to completely shut Pittsburgh’s offense down. Broncos may cover the spread as long as Osweiler doesn’t hold on to the ball too long, but I think Pittsburgh finds a way to win a close one.

Scott King’s Picks

Scott’s Thoughts:

Running out of time…

Joanne Kong’s Picks

Joanne’s Thoughts:

Being last in the pick’em pool doesn’t do anything for a girls’ confidence.

With only 3 weeks remaining in the regular season, like the Tennessee Titans, San Diego Chargers and the Cleveland Browns, we are all among the bottom of the league.

In lieu of picking teams to “actually” win, I’m picking teams that I “hope” will win.

Chicago Bears (5-8) @ Minnesota Vikings (8-5)

The Bears have been terrible this season with flashes of brilliance. Four of their eight losses have been by three-points or less. The Vikings are 5-pont favorites, but my husband is and will be a Bears fan to his grave. Go Bears!

Tennessee Titans (3-10) @ New England Patriots (11-2)

The Patriots are 14-point favorites against the Titans. To be honest, I’m not sure why it isn’t 21, probably because the Patriots have been slipping in the past few weeks. As a New Yorker, it’s my duty to hate the Patriots. This mission will be an impossible one for the Titans, but the outcome of any game is unpredictable. I’m picking Titans for the upset (I’m shaking my head at this moment while I write this prediction).

Rob Gronkowski thinks this is funny.

Carolina Panthers (13-0) @ New York Giants (6-7)

In week 14, the Panthers showed us that they deserve the undefeated season they have created. Cam Newton looked better on the field than Tom Brady did all season. And the Carolina defense shut out the Falcons, need I say anything more – granted the Falcons are currently 6-7 after starting the season 5-0.

The Giants won’t be shut out in Week 15 (hopefully). The Panthers are four point favorites and -190 on the money line. It won’t be easy to win over this dynamic Carolina Team, but the Giants did almost beat the Patriots at MetLife in week 11, losing by 1 point. As a born and bred New Yorker…Giants to Win! Who says victory can’t be there’s (Giants) at home?

Eli Manning approves of this prediction.

Arizona Cardinals (11-2) @ Philadelphia Eagles (6-7)

No one knew what to expect out of the Eagles this season. They traded away LeSean McCoy, a top running back, and decided to rotate through 3 running backs – Darren Sproles, Ryan Mathews and DeMarco Murray. And without a quarterback, the Eagles decided to start Sam Bradford. And as expected, the Eagles have been neither here nor there. Not the worst team, nor a good team. It’s just to their fortune that they are in the NFC East division (currently the worst division in the NFC) and currently in a 3-way tie for first place with the Washington Redskins and New York Giants.

The Cardinals on the other hand have been an exceptional team and force in the league this season along side the Carolina Panthers, New England Patriots and Cincinnati Bengals.

As a Giants fan, I’m looking for this ridiculous 3-way to be over.

Cardinals takes the win and the honeybadger does give a shit….about winning!