The bye weeks are over for 2021, which means that all 32 teams in the NFL will clash in Week 15. The Thursday night affair has Kansas City visiting the Los Angeles Chargers, and the weekend is full of playoff intrigue. Only four teams have been eliminated from the postseason: Detroit, Jacksonville, Houston and the Jets. In the AFC, there are five teams with a 7-6 record, two teams with an 8-5 record and three teams with a 9-4 record, so plenty of movement still can take place. In the NFC, three teams sit at 10-3, and the fourth division leader (Dallas) gets the benefit of a dreadful NFC East division. Even the nine-loss teams in the NFC are still alive, but Week 15 should start seeing more of the 15 remaining teams fall out of contention.
Let’s look at NFL betting picks for each matchup.
NFL News: Week 15 Odds, Overview & Prediction for Each Game
Kansas City Chiefs (-3) at L.A. Chargers (50.5) (8:20 pm ET, FOX / NFL Network)
Thursday, December 16
The Chiefs have taken a complete 180 from their 3-4 start to the season, winning six games in a row. They lost the first matchup with the Chargers this season, but that was before the Chiefs’ defense had figured out how to get back to their Super Bowl championship form.
Chiefs to win and cover: Bet the Game Today
Las Vegas Raiders (+5.5) at Cleveland Browns (42.5) (4:30 pm ET, NFL Network)
Saturday, December 18
Which Raiders team will show up? The one that whipped Dallas on the road or the one that has fallen off the table the last two weeks? Which Browns team will show up? The one that beat Cincinnati and Baltimore or the one that couldn’t move the ball against Pittsburgh? The Browns have the better defense, so…
Browns to win and cover: Bet the Game Today
New England Patriots (+2) at Indianapolis Colts (45.5) (8:15 pm ET, NFL Network)
Saturday, December 18
Both of these teams come out of the bye; will the Colts be able to break through the tough New England running defense with Jonathan Taylor? The Colts will also try to get after Mac Jones with their pass rush. However, it’s hard to bet against the Patriots on this sort of winning streak.
Patriots to cover: Bet the Game Today
Houston Texans (+3) at Jacksonville Jaguars (41)
Sunday, December 19 | 1:00 pm ET CBS
Jacksonville’s locker room has descended into chaos, and while Houston is back to Davis Mills at quarterback, their cohesion is enough to carry them to a win – and a season sweep.
Texans to cover: Bet the Game Today
Washington Football Team (+4.5) at Philadelphia Eagles (43.5)
Sunday, December 19 | 1:00 pm ET FOX
Philadelphia comes out of the bye to take advantage of injuries on the Washington roster, starting with quarterback Taylor Heinicke. The Football Team slowed down the Dallas offense with their defense, and they should be able to slow down Philadelphia’s run-first approach again.
Washington to cover: Bet the Game Today
Carolina Panthers (+10.5) at Buffalo Bills (43.5)
Sunday, December 19 | 1:00 pm ET FOX
The Bills usually follow up an ugly loss to a contender with an emphatic rout of a bottom-feeder, and I expect nothing different as Carolina comes to town. Buffalo has struggled to move the ball at key points during the season, but he should be able to stack up points against this defense.
Bills to win and cover: Bet the Game Today
N.Y. Jets (+8.5) at Miami Dolphins (43)
Sunday, December 19 | 1:00 pm ET CBS
Tua Tagovailoa has grown in confidence and execution in the passing game, so the Dolphins’ offense should be able to move the ball against a Jet defense that has become porous. However, Zach Wilson has enough going his way for the Jet offense to keep this one close.
Jets to cover: Bet the Game Today
Dallas Cowboys (-10.5) at N.Y. Giants (44.5)
Sunday, December 19 | 1:00 pm ET FOX
The Cowboys’ offense has not done well since the overtime win in New England, and the Giants play shockingly well at home – 2-0 in their last two contests at MetLife Stadium.
Giants to cover: Bet the Game Today
Tennessee Titans (-2) at Pittsburgh Steelers (41.5)
Sunday, December 19 | 1:00 pm ET CBS
Tennessee should be able to run the ball on Pittsburgh even without Derrick Henry on the field. Tennessee’s defense can get after Ben Roethlisberger, forcing him to move – and make rushed decisions.
Titans to win and cover: Bet the Game Today
Arizona Cardinals (-14) at Detroit Lions (47)
Sunday, December 19 | 1:00 pm ET FOX
Arizona should have some frustrations to work out after that home loss to the Rams. The Cards are 8-0 on the road this season. Yes, Detroit beat Minnesota, but they won’t beat Arizona.
Cardinals to win and cover: Bet the Game Today
Atlanta Falcons (+8.5) at San Francisco 49ers (46)
Sunday, December 19 | 4:05 pm / 4:25 pm ET CBS
The 49ers’ offense has improved dramatically over the last three weeks, thanks in part to the emergence of rookie Brandon Aiyuk. Atlanta lacks the secondary to challenge Jimmy Garoppolo, and the 49ers’ running defense will force Matt Ryan into second- and third-and-long. 49ers to win and cover.
Packers to win and cover: Bet the Game Today
Cincinnati Bengals (+1) at Denver Broncos (43.5)
Sunday, December 19 | 4:05 pm / 4:25 pm ET CBS
Cincinnati came back to force overtime last week against San Francisco before losing in overtime. The Broncos will try to bring a run-heavy approach with Javonte Williams and Melvin Gordon, but Joe Burrow should be able to lead the Bengals to the win.
Bengals to cover: Bet the Game Today
Seattle Seahawks (+6.5) at L.A. Rams (47.5)
Sunday, December 19 | 4:05 pm / 4:25 pm ET FOX
The Rams come home having knocked off Arizona on the road on Monday, and their running game led the way, opening up things in the defense for Matthew Stafford to hit big plays down the field. The Ram pass rush should be able to get after Russell Wilson and keep the Seattle offense off the field. Rams to win and cover.
Green Bay Packers (-5.5) at Baltimore Ravens (43.5)
Sunday, December 19 | 4:05 pm / 4:25 pm ET FOX
The Packers should be able to throw the ball all night long against an injury-ravaged Baltimore secondary, either before or after Aaron Jones breaks down the Ravens’ front seven in the running game. Baltimore can blitz, but Aaron Rodgers knows how to get rid of the ball quickly and take advantage of the one-on-one coverage that blitzes leave behind.
Packers to win and cover: Bet the Game Today
New Orleans Saints (+10.5) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (46.5)
Sunday, December 19 | 8:20 pm ET NBC
Two top rushing defenses square off here, but both teams also have stalwart tailbacks available, and the Saints should also feature Taysom Hill running a lot. The Bucs will counter with Leonard Fournette, and they also have the much better quarterback.
Tampa Bay to win and cover: Bet the Game Today
Minnesota Vikings (-4) at Chicago Bears (43.5)
Monday, December 20 | 8:15 pm ET ESPN
Minnesota beat Pittsburgh last Thursday and will come in with plenty of rest. Dalvin Cook ran for 202 yards and two scored last week and should also make hay against an iffy Chicago defense. The Vikings have not gotten much out of Kirk Cousins in prime-time games, so the Bears could take advantage of some mistakes, but Minnesota should eke this one out.
Vikings to win and cover: Bet the Game Today
NFL Betting Odds
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