The playoff race is heating up with a lot of massive games this week that have high stakes. An incredible 30 of 32 teams are still in playoff contention, a record this late in the season, making almost every relevant in some way. Below are my picks for week 15.

Thursday, December 14

Raiders 17, Chargers 13

Both of these teams are clinging to faint playoff hopes entering this game. The Chargers will have to overcome key injuries to both Justin Herbert and Keenan Allen while the Raiders could be without their top back in Josh Jacobs. It’s hard to trust either of these offenses after dismal performances last week. The Raiders defense has a slight advantage going against Easton Stick who is making his first career start. Stick will need to rely on Austin Ekeler and Joshua Palmer, with Keenan Allen out.

Saturday, December 16

Bengals 23, Vikings 20

The Bengals offense continues to look impressive with Jake Browning under center for them. The Vikings blitz heavy approach will test Browning in a big way and he needs to take care of the football in those situations. Meanwhile, the Vikings made a switch going from Joshua Dobbs to Nick Mullens. Mullens will offer a more traditional pocket passer and the hope is he can help the offense get back on track and get the ball to Justin Jefferson consistently. The Bengals offense is more trustworthy right now and they will make more key plays to winning.

Colts 23, Steelers 16

The Steelers are in a tough position after losing two consecutive home games against very winnable opponents sin the Cardinals and the Patriots. Now they are in a much more dire situation due to a defense that has struggled the last couple weeks and an anemic offense. The Colts offense has also been less efficient recently but Shane Steichen seems to create enough offense for his team with creative play calling and schemes. The wild card for the Colts is Gardner Minshew who can get reckless at times, but it shouldn’t take a lot of offense to beat this Pittsburgh team.

Broncos 30, Lions 24

All of the early season optimism emanating from Detroit has started to dissolve in recent weeks as the defense has had no answers for any offense. This is the chance for the Broncos to finally put together a complete offensive game as they haven’t quite done that yet despite the flurry of wins they have collected. Beyond the resurgence of Russell Wilson, this Broncos offensive line is doing a great job in both pass protection and opening up lanes for their running backs. I think Detroit is going to be in a shootout meaning they have to throw more than they would like. That’s a bad recipe based on Jared Goff’s turnover problems as of late.

Sunday, December 17

Falcons 20, Panthers 13

The Falcons defense cost them a massive game last week by letting the Buccaneers drive down the field to win at the end. This week should be quite different against a hapless Panthers offense. The Falcons need to focus on eliminating the run game of the Panthers and making them one dimensional. One of the positives for the Falcons last week was getting a very good game for Desmond Ridder which might be tough against a sneaky good Carolina defense. I expect the Panthers defense to continue playing hard, making this a closer game than expected.

Browns 19, Bears 17

Joe Flacco has stepped in at QB for the Browns and has done a great job leading the offense. The pass catchers have all benefited and it makes them much more of a threat going forward. But this week they have to deal with a frisky Bears team that has quietly had an improved defense over the pat month. Their run defense has improved drastically and they are getting more turnovers. One of the big challenges for the Browns will be slowing down the connection between Justin Fields and DJ Moore. I think the Browns defense makes enough stops to win a tight game.

Packers 27, Buccaneers 23

Jordan Love took a step back last week as he was indecisive at times and had a couple turnovers. He should get back on track against this Buccaneers defense that doesn’t have a strong secondary. Getting Christian Watson back would be huge for the offense because they are a lot more explosive with him on the field. The Packers run defense continues to get gashed but that shouldn’t be a huge concern this week against Tampa Bay. The Buccaneers will probably look to get Mike Evans more involved after a game where he was limited to one catch. If the Packers can limit him for a second consecutive week, they should be in good position to get a much needed win.

Dolphins 26, Jets 17

The Dolphins blew a great opportunity to get the #1 seed in the AFC by collapsing against the Titans on Monday night. The Jets kept their faint playoff hopes alive by surprisingly beating the Texans handily. That all adds up to a huge AFC East contest in this one. Zach Wilson played very well in his return to the starting lineup. If he can make quick decisions and read the field the way he did last week, the Jets will have a shot. The biggest question mark for the Dolphins will be the availability of Tyreek Hill and how healthy he will be if he does play. The Dolphins have enough of an edge in their defense against the Jets, that I still think they win.

Saints 24, Giants 20

Tommy DeVito has filled in really well at QB for the Giants because of his decision making and athleticism. This should be another game where the formula is ride Saquon Barkley and get the ball out quick on some short passes. The Saints defense has no answer for defending perimeter runs, so DeVito could have another big day on the ground as well. The Saints, meanwhile, still have a very inconsistent offense that is out of sync for stretches during the game. Having said all that, I think they find a way to get a crucial home win in a game they really need.

Titans 24, Texans 17

The Titans thrilling comeback against Miami shows how hard this team continues to fight and the growth of Will Levis has also been encouraging. The Texans could have key injuries with CJ Stroud and Nico Collins both possibly out. It’s hard to trust the Texans defense to make enough stops after letting the Jets put up 30 points last week. The Titans formula should be a heavy dose of Derrick Henry runs with some play action shots mixed in to attack downfield.

Chiefs 20, Patriots 10

The Chiefs are at a point where it is time to panic about the offense. When teams take away Travis Kelce, they have few answers in the passing game to counter. Isiah Pacheco playing in this game would be a huge boost for them because at this point their offense is more run based than ever before. The Patriots have the defense to limit them, but I have a hard time seeing the offense performing like they did in Pittsburgh. For the Patriots to upset them, the plan should be simple on offense. Run the ball and make sure you take care of the football to avoid setting Kansas City up with favorable field position.

49ers 35, Cardinals 20

The 49ers offense really seems to be unstoppable at this point. Brock Purdy continues to play unbelievable and he has a wide array of weapons to utilize. The Cardinals are going to find it hard to keep up in this one and will have to contend with a defense playing lights out. This should be a game where the Cardinals utilize Kyler Murray in the run game more to create more opportunities to move the ball. At the end of the day, Arizona doesn’t have the firepower on offense or a strong enough defense to beat the 49ers.

Rams 31, Commanders 20

Nobody is talking about the Rams but they are looking like a dangerous team in the NFC if they make the playoffs. Matthew Stafford has been incredible the last few games and the WR tandem of Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp paired with Kyren William in the backfield makes this team so explosive. Hopefully, the Commanders secondary made some adjustments over the bye as this team has given up so many explosive plays this season through the air. The Commanders will probably need to win this in a shootout of they are to emerge victorious and that starts with Sam Howell playing better and eliminating some of the maddening turnovers and sacks he has taken.

Cowboys 27, Bills 20

The Cowboys look like the second best team in the league after the 49ers. Dak Prescott is playing at an MVP level and the entire offense clicks week after week. I’m not sure the Bills defense, which continues to battle injuries, can do anything to stop them. Josh Allen is going to have to step up and have a huge game as he often has to if they want to win. Getting James Cook the ball has worked out really well for the Bills and he could be used in certain matchups in the pass game. Ultimately, the Cowboys pass rush is too dominant for the Bills to win.

Ravens 30, Jaguars 20

Somehow Trevor Lawrence suited up last week but he did not look quite comfortable on his sprained ankle. That could be a big problem against Baltimore this week. The Jaguars should try to attack the CBs of Baltimore just like the Rams repeatedly did last week. Offensively, the Ravens can do whatever they want against a Jaguars defense that doesn’t defend the pass or run well. Josh Allen needs to have a big game by not just sacking Lamar Jackson but containing Jackson in the run game as well.

Monday, December 18

Eagles 27, Seahawks 24

Whether it’s Geno Smith or Drew Lock under center for the Seahawks, one thing is certain. They will be able to throw the ball to DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, and company against an Eagles secondary that continues to play poorly. For the Eagles, they seem to have gotten away from the run game. They should look to establish the run to make things easier for Jalen Hurts and the entire passing game. The Eagles also need to start faster because this could turn into a Seattle upset victory if they come out slow out of the gates once again.