NFL Week 15 - Sunday Preview Part 2

Jacksonville Jaguars (2-11) @ Houston Texans (7-6) - NRG Stadium

The Texans can ill afford a slip up as they welcome in the Jaguars on Sunday to NRG Stadium. The Texans are coming off a huge 22-17 victory over the Colts, which kept them in control over their Division with three weeks remaining in the season. The Texans are looking to go to 5-0 in the division with a clash at the Titans in the final week of the season looming as a potential winner take all matchup. The Jaguars are a mess right now having lost their past eight games in a season full of disappointment. 

Verdict - Texans 23 Jaguars 3

The Jaguars are not winning this one. I expect the Houston defence to have a field day here. 

San Fransisco 49ers (1-12) @ Atlanta Falcons (8-5) - Georgia Dome

Th Falcons will be confident of racking up a big win when they host the reeling 49ers on Sunday. The Falcons demolished the Rams 42-14 to stay tied with the Bucs on top of the NFC South with three weeks to go in the season. Matt Ryan is right in the MVP race, having already thrown for over 4000 yards and 30 touchdowns this season in the the Number 1 ranked offense in the NFL. The 49ers blew another chance for a win last week, losing in overtime 23-17 to theJets in a game they controlled for long periods. It marked the 12th straight loss for the 49ers after their season opening 28-0 shut out win over the Rams. 

Verdict - Falcons 38 49ers 7

I predicted the Falcons would blow out the Rams and I think they will do the same to the 49ers. Their offence is high powered and the 49ers are already on holidays. 

New Orleans Saints (5-8) @ Arizona Cardinals (5-7-1) 

The Saint and Cardinals will be playing for pride when they clash in Arizona on Sunday. The Saints faint playoff hopes were put to bed with a tight 16-11 loss on the road in Tampa. Despite having averaged 418 yards of offense this season to rank Number 1 in yards per game, the Saints are staring at a third straight season outside the playoffs. The Cardinals' season was ended last week with a frustrating 26-23 loss to the Dolphins. Coming into the season as one of the favourites for the Super Bowl, it will be a long off-season of finding out what went wrong in Arizona. 

Verdict - Cardinals 29 Saints 28

With both teams having not much to play for I think this game could be quite open and exciting. Cardinals to edge a close one in a high scoring contest. 

New England Patriots (11-2) @ Denver Broncos (8-5) - MileHigh Stadium

The Patriots return to the ground where they lost the AFC Championship game last season. Tom Brady and Co were denied the chance at another Super Bowl triumph when a Denver defence got on top in frigid conditions. The stakes are not so high this year for the Patriots as they are looking certain of a first round bye and home field advantage throughout the playoffs if they can get a win on Sunday. The Broncos are suddenly in danger of missing the playoffs as defending Super Bowl Champions, after back-to-back 3-point losses to the Chiefs and Titans. 

Verdict - Patriots 23 Broncos 20

Patriots to get revenge for their AFC Title game loss with a tight win here. I expect Denver to play one of their better games of the year, however Tom Brady is in a menacing mood right now and I think New England will have too many points in them. 

Oakland Raiders (10-3) @ San Diego Chargers (5-8) - Qualcomm Stadium

The Raiders can seal a first playoff birth in 15 seasons with a victory at their rivals the Chargers on Sunday. Despite losing control of the AFC West with a 21-13 loss to the Chiefs last week, the Raiders' defence played one of its better games, keeping things  close, as Derek Carr had a rare off day. The Chargers could be playing their second last home game after the town failed to supply money for a new stadium in San Diego. The Chargers could be sharing a home ground with the Rams in Los Angeles next year. 

Verdict - Raiders 31 Chargers 28

The Raiders to win a shoot out here. The Chargers have lost so  many close games this year, and the Raiders will not want to drop two straight Division games at this time of the year. Expect this game to be wild and high scoring.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-5) @ Dallas Cowboys (11-2) - AT&T Stadium

The Cowboys will be looking to bounce back from their second loss of the season when they host the Bucs on Sunday. The Cowboys lost a tense, low scoring struggle 10-7 at the Giants with Dak Prescott having his second consecutive below par game. The Bucs are the hottest team in the NFC right now, having won five straight games to climb to a share of the lead in the NFC West with the Falcons. The Bucs' defence has been dominant in those five victories giving up just 64 points in total at an average of under 13 points per game. 

Verdict - Cowboys 26 Bucs 20

This will be a close and high quality game. With pressure building on Dak Prescott I expect him to rebound with a big win and lock up home field advantage for the Cowboys throughout the playoffs.