NFL Week 15 Picks: Connor Barwin, Eagles Seek Edge Over Cowboys
Hey, did you know Johnny Manziel is making his first start this weekend?
Of course you do, unless you somehow activated the Johnny Football Blocker on Twitter, Facebook and your Internet browser — in which case, where can we get one, too? But there are plenty of other matchups going on in Week 15, many with postseason implications.
The Seattle Seahawks host the San Francisco 49ers in a showdown that looked a lot more attractive before the season, the Denver Broncos and San Diego Chargers battle for playoff seeding and the Philadelphia Eagles try to beat the Dallas Cowboys for the second time in three weeks.
There’s a lot going on, which is why NESN.com’s “experts” are here to help sift through it all.
Ben Watanabe: 12-4 (127-64-1). Time to take a few risks with time dwindling to make up four games on the leader.
Darren Hartwell: 12-4 (129-62-1). Biding his time before his final strike.
Mike Cole: 12-4 (131-60-1). Don’t worry, he’ll blow it somehow in these last three weeks.
THIS WEEK:
Arizona Cardinals (10-3) at St. Louis Rams (6-7), Thursday, 8:30 p.m. ET
Ben: Cardinals. When there’s precipitation in the forecast, NFL.com does this cool thing on its matchup page where it Photoshops drips of rain or snow onto the teams’ helmets. Apparently there’s a historic indoor blizzard coming to St. Louis, because NFL.com predicts blustery conditions inside the Edward Jones Dome:
Darren: Cardinals. At this point, the Cardinals are to me what the Browns are to Ben. They just find ways to win, and they’ll keep the train rolling, even on the road against a tough Rams team.
Mike: Rams. It’s a short week, the Cardinals are on the road and the Rams are playing good football. Give me the upset.
Pittsburgh Steelers (8-5) at Atlanta Falcons (5-8), Sunday, 1 p.m.
Ben: Steelers. Granted, the Falcons beat Arizona and put up something of a fight in Green Bay. But really, who the hell knows?
Darren: Steelers. I’m done trying to predict what the Steelers will do on Sundays. The Falcons are in the NFC South, so I’ll take the other team.
Mike: Steelers. With a healthy Julio Jones in the lineup, I’d take the Falcons, but he might not even play, and Atlanta’s defense is porous at best.
Green Bay Packers (10-3) at Buffalo Bills (7-6), Sunday, 1 p.m.
Ben: Packers. Buffalo’s defense could give Aaron Rodgers trouble, especially at Ralph Wilson, but I’ll take Rodgers to find a way to win against anybody.
Darren: Packers. You know you’re hot when a “letdown game” is only beating the Falcons by six. The Bills’ defense is stingy, but Aaron Rodgers is on another level right now.
Mike: Packers. This is going to be a close — dare I say very close — football game, but Rodgers is playing too well for the Packers to lose to the Bills.
Cincinnati Bengals (8-4-1) at Cleveland Browns (7-6), Sunday, 1 p.m.
Ben: Browns. This is the classic “rookie with very little game film” game where Johnny Manziel leads Cleveland to victory, inspiring misplaced hope for Browns fans that he’ll sadly never fulfill.
Darren: Bengals. Do I trust Johnny Football to lead the Browns past the Bengals and soaring into the playoffs? No. No, I do not.
Mike: Bengals. The Bengals are one of the NFL’s biggest boxes of chocolates, but I’m far from sold on Manziel with a struggling Browns offense.
Minnesota Vikings (6-7) at Detroit Lions (9-4), Sunday, 1 p.m.
Ben: Lions. The Vikings have done some nice things the last three weeks, but count on Detroit to step on them — or take out their knees, or whatever.
Darren: Lions. The Lions finally remembered how to score over the last two weeks, and while the Vikings don’t suck, they don’t have enough firepower to overcome Detroit’s stout defense.
Mike: Lions. If nothing else, the Vikings have proved this season they’re heading in the right direction, but they just don’t have enough offense right now and that will cost them against Detroit.
Houston Texans (7-6) at Indianapolis Colts (9-4), Sunday, 1 p.m.
Ben: Texans. Arian Foster is averaging more 143.5 yards per game in seven matchups against Indy, the most by any running back against a single opponent since 1960. Also, Ryan Fitzpatrick takes care of the football vs. divisional opponents and the Colts should have lost to the Browns last week. (And yes, this is me over-justifying a bad pick.)
Darren: Colts. The Colts can seal another AFC South title with a win. As long as cut out the turnovers, Andrew Luck and Co. will get the job done.
Mike: Colts. The Texans will keep it close, but ultimately will become one of a few teams this week who will see its playoff hopes go up in smoke.
Oakland Raiders (2-11) at Kansas City Chiefs (7-6), Sunday, 1 p.m.
Ben: Chiefs. There’s no way the Raiders extend their run of success by winning for the third time in four weeks and sweeping Kansas City. No way. Right?
Darren: Chiefs. Wouldn’t that be awesome if the Raiders beat the Chiefs again? But this time it’s at Arrowhead Stadium, and Oakland has yet to win on the road. Poor Raiders.
Mike: Chiefs. The Chiefs need to win this game, and the Raiders don’t. Sometimes it’s that’s simple.
Miami Dolphins (7-6) at New England Patriots (10-3), Sunday, 1 p.m.
Ben: Patriots. It’s supposed to be unseasonably warm in Foxboro on Sunday, but not “warm enough for to take Miami in New England in December” warm.
Darren: Patriots. These are not your Week 1 Patriots who lost to Miami in 33-20. This won’t be a blowout, but New England will be wearing hats and T-shirts when it’s over.
Mike: Patriots. Death, taxes and the Patriots beating the Dolphins at home in December.
Washington Redskins (3-10) at New York Giants (4-9), Sunday, 1 p.m.
Ben: Giants. Colt McCoy has a neck injury, but Washington’s alternatives are Kirk Cousins or a quarterback who will be buried “in the same graveyard as JaMarcus Russell and Vince Young.” So, uh, I’ll take the Giants.
Darren: Giants. It doesn’t really matter who their quarterback is. The Redskins are just bad. At least the Giants have Odell Beckham Jr.
Mike: Giants. The Redskins reportedly had a fight at practice Wednesday, which, really, is the most fight they’ve shown all year.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-11) at Carolina Panthers (4-8-1), Sunday, 1 p.m.
Ben: Panthers. Derek Anderson … McCoy … It’s a busy week for former Browns quarterbacks. If Kelly Holcomb shows up on Sunday, though, I’m out.
Darren: Panthers. Bold call of the week: Anderson turns back the clock to that one good game he had and throws three touchdowns in a rousing home win.
Mike: Panthers. Considering I had to Google “Panthers depth chart” to see who the backup to the injured Cam Newton was, I’m not confident about this pick.
Jacksonville Jaguars (2-11) at Baltimore Ravens (8-5), Sunday, 1 p.m.
Ben: Ravens. Name five Jaguars. Could you do it? Yes? Then you need to get a life, man. It’s the Jaguars.
Darren: Ravens. Baltimore closes its season out against the Jags, Texans and Browns. Sounds like a playoff team to me.
Mike: Ravens. They’re not the Jaguars.
New York Jets (2-11) at Tennessee Titans (2-11), Sunday, 4:05 p.m.
Ben: Titans. As some of you know, the Jets were originally known as the Titans of New York before being renamed the Jets for … reasons. That makes them the original nickname gangstas in this matchup, so give me the O.G.s.
Darren: Jets. Good thing this marquee matchup is in the late afternoon slot. The Titans have the worst run defense in the NFL, so I’ll take the Jets, since all they can do is run.
Mike: Titans. Geno Smith said this week he’s shown flashes of being a Pro Bowl player, and it’s the best joke I’ve heard in a long time.
Denver Broncos (10-3) at San Diego Chargers (8-5), Sunday, 4:05 p.m.
Ben: Broncos. How does Phil Rivers have any voice left to call plays with all the yelling he does at his offensive linemen?
Darren: Broncos. It won’t be easy for Peyton Manning and Co., but C.J. Anderson once again will put Denver over the hump to keep pace with New England.
Mike: Broncos. Peyton Manning’s arm strength is in question all of a sudden, but the Denver running game is for real.
San Francisco 49ers (7-6) at Seattle Seahawks (9-4), Sunday, 4:25 p.m.
Ben: Seahawks. Two years and a Super Bowl appearance later, I’d still take Alex Smith over Colin Kaepernick, because Smith’s inability to throw downfield is still less annoying than everything about Kaepernick.
Darren: Seahawks. The Seahawks dismantled the Niners on their own field two weeks ago. They won’t have any trouble completing the season sweep at home.
Mike: Seahawks. RIP, San Francisco 49ers’ playoff hopes.
Dallas Cowboys (9-4) at Philadelphia Eagles (9-4), Sunday, 8:30 p.m.
Ben: Eagles. While the world marvels at Tom Brady and Bill Belichick’s ability to figure it out every season, I marvel at Jason Garrett and Tony Romo’s ability to do the exact opposite of figuring it out.
Darren: Eagles. The Cowboys should snag a Wild Card spot, but the Eagles are winning this division. They’ll make their statement by sweeping the Cowboys on Sunday Night Football.
Mike: Eagles. You would think the Cowboys would make the necessary adjustments to avenge a Thanksgiving day loss to the Eagles, but then you realize it’s the Cowboys, and you realize how stupid that thought was.
New Orleans Saints (5-8) at Chicago Bears (5-8), Monday, 8:30 p.m.
Ben: Saints. I will not be watching this football game.
Darren: Bears. Both teams stink, but the Bears have won five straight Monday Night Football games at Soldier Field. Thanks, statistics.
Mike: Saints. When the pregame conversation centers around which team has underachieved more this season, you know it’s going to be a heckuva football game!
Thumbnail photo via Eric Hartline/USA TODAY Sports Images
