The Pittsburgh Steelers get ready to take on a bad opponent as the rest of the NFL starts to crunch their schedule to a close.
The Steelers season hit rock bottom this past week after losing to the Ravens. This was a close game that was a part of many interesting matchups in Week 14 that should carry over to this weekend. Saturdays are back in the fold for the NFL as they bring games onto the coveted weekend timeslot that is normally dominated by the college ranks.
Overall prediction record: 76-55
It has been a couple of weeks since this series was brought back into the swing of things. The NFL season is coming down the main drag as most teams are starting to separate themselves between contender and pretender status. It has been a fun year to watch the league as a multitude of games have been great theatre to watch.
San Francisco 49ers (9-4) vs Seattle Seahawks (7-6), Thursday at 8:15 P.M. EST
Thursday Night Football gets week 15 started with a decent matchup that will help set the NFC playoff picture. The 49ers are still playing well despite all the injuries that they have suffered at the quarterback position. They are rolling with Brock Purdy for now and he has shown a great ability to take advantage of his opportunities. The defense is carrying them, which should continue this week against a Seattle team that is starting to slow down.
Prediction: 49ers 25, Seahawks 21
Seattle is going to give the 49ers a fight here, and they could win the game if their defense can force a couple of turnovers. The Seahawks are not rolling like they were earlier in the season whereas the 49ers are on the opposite end of the spectrum. No matter who is playing at quarterback come time for the post-season, San Francisco is going to be a threat.
Indianapolis Colts (4-8-1) vs Minnesota Vikings (10-3), Saturday at 1 P.M. EST
Kicking off the NFL’s slate of Saturday games is not going to be great. The Colts continue to sink further under the leadership of first-time coach, Jeff Saturday. He looks out of place and that is because he is. Minnesota is coming off a shocking loss to the Lions last week that saw the team play their worst game of the year.
Prediction: Vikings 31, Colts 14
One of the biggest factors going in the Colts favor is that they are coming off a bye week. They have had an extra week of preparation for Minnesota, but that is about the only positive going in their direction. The Vikings are going to be out for blood after last week’s upset and the Minnesota defense should be able to handle Jonathan Taylor.
Baltimore Ravens (9-4) vs Cleveland Browns (5-8), Saturday at 4:30 P.M. EST
Running the football will not be easy for the Ravens this time around. They destroyed the Steelers defense on the ground, despite becoming predictably one-dimensional. Both of their top two quarterbacks could be out of this game, which provides Cleveland a great chance to emerge victorious for the first time with Deshaun Watson in the lineup.
Prediction: Browns 23, Ravens 16
Even though Baltimore will likely be starting their third-string quarterback, they will have a chance in this game. Watson looks like he might not be the savior in Cleveland that the fan base has been so desperate for. The Ravens keep it close, but the lack of a passing game will cost them in the end.
Miami Dolphins (8-5) vs Buffalo Bills (10-3), Saturday at 8:15 P.M. EST
Here is the game on Saturday that will make everyone stop what they are doing to take notice. This could be a potential playoff preview on Saturday and that belief seems like it could become reality in the future. You have two offenses that are strong and a couple of defenses that are good groups of players.
Prediction: Bills 27, Dolphins 21
An overtime win seems like a nice sendoff for the NFL’s first Saturday slate of games in a snowy Buffalo atmosphere. These games will always come down to which quarterback can play mistake-free football and the Bills need a big win after falling back some. Both defenses have good players that could make some significant plays but expect Buffalo to do enough to win in overtime.
Atlanta Falcons (5-8) vs New Orleans Saints (4-9), Sunday at 1 P.M. EST
Atlanta is turning to a rookie quarterback to try and spark a late-season triumph to get into the playoffs. Desmond Ridder has been sitting behind the starter and trying to learn through mental reps on the sideline. Andy Dalton is not doing great things as the starter for New Orleans, but the coaching staff refuses to make a change.
Prediction: Saints 24, Falcons 14
A potential snooze fest could be in order as both clubs are not playing great football right now. The Falcons will rely on Ridder a lot and that could force a couple of turnovers going in the other direction. The Saints seem like they should be able to do enough on defense to get a home win in front of their fans.
Pittsburgh Steelers (5-8) vs Carolina Panthers (5-8), Sunday at 1 P.M. EST
The Steelers hit the road after losing their season in front of their fans after a couple of weeks of hope. They head to Carolina to take on the Panthers, who have started to show steady signs of improvement since they made a coaching change. The possibility of being without Kenny Pickett at quarterback for the Steelers could be enough to turn the tides of this one.
Prediction: Panthers 20, Steelers 16
Pittsburgh will likely stick with Mitch Trubisky even though fans begin to demand Mason Rudolph to start if Pickett cannot play. If Pickett plays, then it seems like the black and gold should have a stronger chance of winning, but it’s going to be close. Carolina just upset the Seahawks last week and that could lead to a storm against the Steelers that many do not expect.
Philadelphia Eagles (12-1) vs Chicago Bears (3-10), Sunday at 1 P.M. EST
One would imagine that this contest will not be close in any sense of the word. The Eagles continue to show that they are the best-constructed roster in the NFL right now as their record speaks for itself. Chicago will likely be without Justin Fields again at quarterback and that will take away any hope of upset for the Bears.
Prediction: Eagles 29, Bears 17
Another blowout performance by Philadelphia as their great season pushes further. They should be able to shut down a terrible offense with a backup quarterback taking the reins in the Windy City. Chicago is coming off their bye week, but that will not save them from the beasts that will drop down from the sky this week.
Kansas City Chiefs (10-3) vs Houston Texans (1-11-1), Sunday at 1 P.M. EST
We reach another blowout opportunity for the NFL this week as Kansas City gets ready to take on the worst team in football. Houston has not been able to find any stable ground this season as they flip-flop between their top two quarterbacks as the starter. It looks like a lot of turnover will be hitting that team in just a month or so.
Prediction: Chiefs 42, Texans 20
This contest should not be close as these two could not be any more different on the talent spectrum. Even if Patrick Mahomes was not in the lineup, it would seem like the Chiefs should be the favorites. Houston just has too much turmoil right now to stay competitive in a game like this.
Dallas Cowboys (10-3) vs Jacksonville Jaguars (5-8), Sunday at 1 P.M. EST
When the schedulers made this matchup before the season began, they probably imagined this being a terrible game. Jacksonville is starting to change the narrative on themselves with Trevor Lawrence and company starting to produce. The young Jaguars are far from contenders, but they have shown the ability to shock some teams.
Prediction: Cowboys 26, Jaguars 24
Dak Prescott is leading a strong offensive attack in Dallas currently. Jacksonville has some bright spots on their team, but the defensive side of the ball is not their best. Lawrence has seemed to have turned a corner in the past couple of weeks and should be able to become a major thorn in the side until the very end of this one.
Detroit Lions (6-7) vs New York Jets (7-6), Sunday at 1 P.M. EST
Detroit is right in the middle of a playoff hunt as they try and sneak into a wildcard opening. Their offense has been able to carry them to their current record, and they seem like they will not be slowing down anytime soon. New York is starting to fall back since their hot start to the year, but Mike White will do his best with some injured ribs.
Prediction: Lions 27, Jets 22
White has been solid since becoming the Jets starter, but he will struggle with his injury. Jared Goff is not getting enough respect for what he has been able to accomplish this season with the Lions. That offense is very talented and put up a lot of points every week, which included last week against Minnesota.
Arizona Cardinals (4-9) vs Denver Broncos (3-10), Sunday at 4:05 P.M. EST
Arizona just lost their starter to injury last week just like the Steelers did. Kyler Murray will be out for the remainder of the season after injuring his knee, while Kenny Pickett could be back at some point. Russell Wilson makes more than both of the two aforementioned players, and he should be able to put that money to good use this week.
Prediction: Broncos 21, Cardinals 12
Do not expect a ton of offense in this game as the two defenses will try and make things easier on their counterpart. Being without Murray is going to be a death sentence for Arizona as their offense had issues with him in the lineup. Expect Wilson to cook for two touchdowns and his defense to help Denver capture a third.
New England Patriots (7-6) vs Las Vegas Raiders (5-8), Sunday at 4:05 P.M. EST
Things are not kind to many coaches that leave the empire of Bill Belichick. He has constantly defeated those that have sprouted out of his coaching tree in head-to-head matchups. That will happen again this week as the Patriots head to Sin City and take on the Las Vegas Raiders.
Prediction: Patriots 23, Raiders 21
After a couple of weeks of hope, just like the Steelers did, the Raiders fell back to earth last week. Josh McDaniels is going up against a tough track record of coaches from the Belichick coaching tree that have not succeeded head-to-head. It should be close because the New England offense is still pretty bad, but the Patriots will escape with a win.
Tennessee Titans (7-6) vs LA Chargers (7-6), Sunday at 4:25 P.M. EST
Heading to the west coast already puts your team behind the eight-ball, let alone after coming off a tough loss the previous week. The Jaguars shocked many after taking care of the Titans without much fight from the division leaders. This is another potential playoff preview as the Chargers are piggybacking off Justin Herbert’s spectacular performances.
Prediction: Titans 28, Chargers 24
Both offenses should be able to have success in this contest as neither defense will shock you with talent. Herbert is playing well, but his offensive line is beaten to a pulp. Expect Tennessee to establish the run enough to slow Herbert down and get a win after a tough loss last week against the Jaguars.
Cincinnati Bengals (9-4) vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-7), Sunday at 4:25 P.M. EST
Not many teams have been playing better than the Bengals since their bye week. They took down the Steelers with ease and started to go on a roll that slayed a few playoff beasts in their path. Tampa Bay is struggling to hold onto their division lead currently, but luckily for them, their division is terrible this season.
Prediction: Bengals 35, Buccaneers 26
Tom Brady will not leave that stadium without putting up a fight against Joe Burrow and the Bengals. He loves to prove father time wrong in these types of situations where a younger quarterback tries to beat him. It should be a close game at different points, but expect Cincinnati to pull away late in the fourth quarter.
New York Giants (7-5-1) vs Washington Commanders (7-5-1), Sunday at 8:20 P.M. EST
We have seen playoff previews in this article before, but this might be the closest you can get to a playoff game in the regular season. New York is struggling ever since they started their season off hot. The Commanders are on the opposite end as they are surging right now with Taylor Heinicke as their starting quarterback.
Prediction: Commanders 28, Giants 21
Expect the explosive front of Washington to slow Saquon Barkley down to put the outcome of this game on the shoulder of Daniel Jones. That is going to destroy the Giants offense and will cost them the game in the end. Heinicke is playing well and will always be the biggest difference in the outcomes of their games going forward.
LA Rams (4-9) vs Green Bay Packers (5-8), Monday at 8:15 P.M. EST
The pre-season ends in early September, right? Well, that is the type of game we will likely see on Sunday if Jordan Love starts for the Packers. Both backup quarterbacks will be leading their respective offenses, which includes Baker Mayfield. Either way, this is a favorable matchup for Green Bay as they look to try and sneak back into the playoff picture.
Prediction: Packers 25, Rams 22
No matter who is on the field for either team because of injury, this outcome should end in Green Bay’s favor. They are the better team overall, especially when you consider which players will likely be out of the lineup for the Rams. It is going to be closer than expected, but the Packers take care of business at home.
The Steelers have a big matchup this week if they want to get any sort of respect from the league. The rest of the NFL has some huge games that will alter the entire season for some clubs.