Week 15 NFL Picks-It's Beginning To Look Alot Like The NFL

Is there some deep cosmic connection between the Metrodome roof collapsing and Brett Favre's consecutive game streak at 297 coming to an end? Remind's me of the scene from "Back to the Future" when the clocktower was struck by lightning sending Fox back to the future. If not, it certainly was a fitting graphic representation of the Vikings season that began with such high expectations. It has been a Bizzaro World in the NFL this year. As I analyze the season up to this point, I have to say the Cleveland Browns have played a significant role in shaping its destiny. Since suffering embarrasing losses to the Browns, New Orleans and New England have been on fire and look unstoppable, particuliarly the Patriots whose leader is the greatly despised ex-Browns coach Bill Belichick. Thank you cards are in order. Going into the stretch, the Browns can have a signicant impact on their own division, playing their final games against the Ravens and the Steelers. Win or lose, they're in a position to make or break either team. How's that for irony.

I was 11-5 in Week 14, not bad considering what happened to Minnesota and Green Bay. Without Favre, the Vikings didn't score a touchdown and without Rodgers, the Packers are offenseless. The Packers are playing New England, who have been destroying their opponents as of lately. Aaron Rodgers is iffy and if he does play could take a beating at the hands of the Patriots, and if he doesn't the team will take a beating. They can't afford to lose another one with Chicago a game up. It's a dilemma. Minnesota is playing Chicago. Tough luck Green Bay, it's not looking fortuitous. Washington plays Dallas. This will be the battle for not being at the bottom. Both teams are coming off stinging losses. This will be a good game, two division rivals going at it. Dallas is much improved and anything can happen with McNabb. Washington doesn't have a defense and Dallas is weak against the pass. The perfect scenario. San Diego plays Thursday against San Francisco. A must win for the Chargers.

The games of the week are Philadelphia at NY Giants, New Orleans at Baltimore, and NY Jets at Pittsburgh. They say Michael Vick's weakness is when he is forced to the right, but I saw something different in the game against Chicago. When the play was designed to go right, Vick was deadly accurate. The Giants defense is tough on the pass and quarterbacks. It will be interesting to see how they handle Vick. Both teams are even in the run department. The Giants offense has sputtered all season, but Philadelphia's defense hasn't handled the run well. New Orleans has scored over 30 points in each of their last five games. Both New Orleans and Baltimore are up against the wall in their divisions. It's going to be the Saints offense against the Ravens defense, winner take all. Takeaways or the lack of them will decide the game for Baltimore. Which brings us to the Jets and Pittsburgh. The Jets have used up their nine lives, its do or die. The Steelers have an ace-in-the-hole called Polamalu. The Jets are going to have to dip into their trip bag of tricks to survive this one.

THU, DEC 16 TIME (ET)

San Francisco 15 at San Diego 34 8:20 PM NFL W 

Qualcomm Stadium

SUN, DEC 19 TIME (ET)

Cleveland 21 at Cincinnati 27 1:00 PM CBS W

Paul Brown Stadium

Washington 23 at Dallas 27 1:00 PM FOX W

Cowboys Stadium

Houston 27 at Tennessee 17 1:00 PM CBS L

LP Field

Jacksonville 24 at Indianapolis 30 1:00 PM CBS W 

Lucas Oil Stadium

Kansas City 27 at St. Louis 24 1:00 PM CBS W

Edward Jones Dome

Buffalo 23 at Miami 26 1:00 PM CBS L

Sun Life Stadium

Detroit 23 at Tampa Bay 24 1:00 PM FOX L

Raymond James Stadium

Arizona 23 at Carolina 14 1:00 PM FOX L

Bank of America Stadium

New Orleans 27 at Baltimore 24 1:00 PM FOX L 

M&T Bank Stadium

Philadelphia 28 at NY Giants 24 1:00 PM FOX W

New Meadowlands Stadium

Atlanta 30 at Seattle 21 4:05 PM FOX W

Qwest Field

NY Jets 20 at Pittsburgh 27 4:15 PM CBS L 

Heinz Field

Denver at Oakland 4:15 PM CBS W

Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum

Green Bay 15 at New England 34 8:20 PM NBC W

Gillette Stadium

MON, DEC 20 TIME (ET)

Chicago 24 at Minnesota 18 8:30 PM W 

Mall of America Field