FRIDAY AFTERNOON QUARTERBACK: NFL WEEK 15

BY ADAM GREENE

What might turn out to be the weirdest week of the NFL season started off with a bang Thursday night as the Kansas City Chiefs knocked off the Los Angeles Chargers 34-28 in overtime.

Patrick Mahomes shook off a slow start to finish 31 of 47 for 410 yards, three touchdowns and a pick in his quarterback duel with Justin Herbert. Herbert wasn’t too shabby himself, throwing for 238 yards, two touchdown and an interception of his own.

The victory hands the Chiefs the keys to the AFC West, a home playoff game and a shot at home field advantage and a first round bye if the weekend plays out like I’ve picked it below and in my Saturday, Sunday night and Monday night predictions.

Back in October, this didn’t seem possible. In fact, it appeared way more probable that Kansas City would miss the playoffs entirely. Now, they’re back to being the AFC Super Bowl favorites and I see no reason to change my preseason prediction at all.

What’s really interesting about this game is the lack of sacks, considering the pass rushes both teams employ and the fact that they combined for 85 pass attempts. Mahomes was put on the turf once. Herbert never got his uniform scuffed. Either the defenses were off or the offensive playcalling and O-line protection was on. I’m guessing the latter.

Regardless, this could very well be a match up we’ll see again in January.

There are no byes this week, but there could be some games pushed around as multiple teams, with high vaccination numbers apparently, are dealing with positive COVID-19 tests.

At least five franchises are looking at a third of their roster if not more (with plenty of starters) pegged by a positive tests. The NFL is obviously banking on most of the players (the vaccinated guys) being able to play after a updating the return protocols and tossing out the two negative tests 24 hours apart requirement Thursday. That gamble could pay off and every contest go off without a hitch Saturday and Sunday. The Cleveland Browns especially could be in trouble Saturday if it doesn’t.

The NFL still has the option of pushing the affected games around. The league said they would not postpone or reschedule games with outbreaks of unvaccinated players, but that doesn’t seem to be the case this time. I wouldn’t mind a handful of Tuesday games with full rosters playing if that’s what it took. Too many of these teams dealing with a roster full of Covid/reserve lists are in the playoff hunt.

WASHINGTON FOOTBALL TEAM AT PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (-9.5, O/U: 43)

Speaking of the NFL’s “enhanced” Covid list, the WFT is currently on it with 21 players as of this writing. That list could grow by the time this article is posted. If they’re vaccinated, thanks to the eased Covid protocols adopted by the NFL Thursday, the affected players can slide back into the active roster. If not, Washington will go into Sunday’s game severely shorthanded. If that becomes more of a possibility, I do think they’ll postpone this game (and others). Either way, I’m going with Philly. Washington’s loss last week to the Dallas Cowboys was an absolute disgrace and that hangover will stick with them for a week. Eagles 27, WFT 13

CAROLINA PANTHERS AT BUFFALO BILLS (-10.5, O/U: 44.5)

No team has had a worse December than the Bills, who have managed to lose consecutive games against legit contenders and get exposed like their cloud account was hacked. Carolina head coach Matt Rhule has said he plans to play both Cam Newton and PJ Walker at QB, a sure fire disaster every time it’s been tried in the NFL. This line is stupid and I hate it, but, fine. Buffalo it is. Bills 31, Panthers 16

NEW YORK JETS AT MIAMI DOLPHINS (-9.5, O/U: 41)

In a battle of two teams with losing records, a two score spread is rightly a shocker. Less so when you consider that the Jets have one of the worst rosters in professional football and Miami has won five consecutive games. Sunday will make it  six. Dolphins 27, Jets 17

DALLAS COWBOYS AT NEW YORK GIANTS (+10.5, O/U: 44.5)

If you’re not keeping track, this is our fourth spread of 9.5 or more so far in the The FAQ with two more coming. That’s almost unheard of this late in the season. Do I think Dallas can cover this on the road against the hapless Giants? If they were going to battle with any other head coach, yes. With Mike McCarthy? Nope. Cowboys 24, Giants 20

TENNESSEE TITANS AT PITTSBURGH STEELERS (pk, O/U: 43)

I think I’ve figured out Ben Roethlisberger in 2021. One week, he looks old, awful and ready for the embalming table. The next week, he looks old, awful and ready for the embalming table but manages to win. I’m thinking we’ll get fourth quarter Roethlisberger for maybe two quarters this week. Tennessee is still a factor in the AFC, but this is where their injury issues finally cost them. Steelers 28, Titans 24

HOUSTON TEXANS AT JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (-5.5, O/U: 39)

Here it is. Mark it down. Tell your children. This is possibly the worst game scheduled in the NFL over the last decade. I’m not checking that. It’s too boring to even look it up. The combined record of these two teams is 4-22. The Jags just fired their head coach, Urban Meyer, when it was revealed that he literally kicked his own kicker back in the preseason. Meyer didn’t even make it a year and, here’s the thing, he shouldn’t have. Jacksonville owner Shad Khan should have canned him after his stayover lap dance back in October. And do we need to even begin with Houston and David Culley, the unquestioned worst head coaching hire of the offseason until Meyer proved us all wrong? With a 200 pound tumor removed, I think Jacksonville will make the most of it. And, by “it,” I mean ruin their draft positioning with a victory. Jaguars 23, Texans 13

ARIZONA CARDINALS AT DETROIT LIONS (+13, O/U: 47.5)

Arizona took a double hit this week, losing to a depleted Los Angeles Rams team on Monday night to fall out of the top seed in the NFC and then found out they’d be without wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins for the rest of the season with a torn MCL. Detroit has no chance to win, but they’re a constant danger to backdoor cover, especially at home against a team that will just want to get the hell out of Dodge with a win. I can almost see the garbage time touchdown pass from Jared Goff to TJ Hockenson right now. Cardinals 27, Lions 21

ATLANTA FALCONS AT SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (-9.5, O/U: 46.5)

If there’s one thing I know to be true, it’s that Kyle Shanahan will want to rub Atlanta’s face in a loss like they’re a dog that just ruined a Persian rug. In spite of all their best efforts, the Falcons are still alive in the NFC for a playoff berth. I think it’s safe to say that will realistically end Sunday at the hands of their Super Bowl losing offensive coordinator. 49ers 31, Falcons 21

CINCINNATI BENGALS AT DENVER BRONCOS (-2.5, O/U: 44)

The Bengals and Bills have been two of my greatest disappointers here late in the season and I trust neither of them week to week. Denver is a tough place to play for anyone, but a team that can’t put it together regularly can get lost there in that altitude. Back in October, I would have picked Cincy to win this one going away. But it’s December now. Broncos 23, Bengals 20

GREEN BAY PACKERS AT BALTIMORE RAVENS (+6, O/U: 43.5)

Lamar Jackson remains day to day with an ankle injury and Aaron Rodgers can’t stop talking about his toe. This is an odd road game, a non conference match up between legit teams late in the year. Green Bay needs to win it to retain the top seed in the NFC, but I think that’s all they’ll do. I like Baltimore to cover, even if Tyler Huntley plays. Packers 20, Ravens 17

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS AT LOS ANGELES RAMS (-4.5, O/U: 45.5)

Like the Browns and WFT, the Rams have been hit hard under the NFL’s Covid protocols, but with the rule changes Thursday, they could get most of their team back by kickoff Sunday. If not, there’s a good chance this game could be pushed to a later day in the week since LA currently has 25 players on the Covid/Reserve list as of this writing and it seems impossible to play a game with that many guys out. I’m counting on a full(ish) Rams team showing up Sunday afternoon and getting the job done. Rams 31, Seahawks 24

Last week

Straight up: 8-6

Against the spread: 7-7

Season

Straight up: 124-83-1

Against the spread: 106-102

Follow Adam Greene on Twitter @TheFirstMan.

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