NFL Week 15 - Sunday Preview Part 1

Cleveland Browns (0-13) @ Buffalo Bills (6-7) - Ralph Wilson Stadium

Robert Griffin III will be hoping to improve on his second start of the season as winless Cleveland travel to Buffalo on Sunday. Griffin managed just 104 yards on 12 of 28 passes and 1 interception in the Browns insipid loss to the Bengals. If Griffin wants to win the job for next year, he will need to start putting up better numbers than that as he returns from injury. The Bills look to be just about dead in the water after a 27-20 loss at home to Pittsburgh left them two games back in the AFC Wild Card race. 

Verdict - Bills 20 Browns 10

The Browns are destined to go 0-14 it appears. Rather than get more competitive as the season goes on, they appear to be losing heart. Their offense really can't do anything right now. 

Green Bay Packers (7-6) @ Chicago Bears (3-10) - Solider Field

Green Bay go in search of four straight wins when they travel to Chicago for an NFC North Divisional matchup with the struggling Bears. Green Bay got their biggest win of the season with a 38-10 demolition of Seattle, where its maligned defence picked off Russell Wilson five times. The Packers are still two games behind the Lions in the race for the NFC North title, however they are only one game out of an NFC Wild Card spot. The Bears are marking time before the end of the season, but were unlucky to lose playing out a tough 17-14 loss in Detroit last week. 

Verdict - Packers 30 Bears 13

I tipped the Packers to win the Super Bowl in the pre-season, however have hated that pick for most of the season. All of a sudden they are hitting their straps at just the right time, and with 3 more wins they will head into the playoffs with momentum on their side. 

Pittsburgh Steelers (8-5) - Cincinnati Bengals (5-7-1) - Paul Brown Stadium

The Steelers can go a long way to locking up the AFC North with a win over Divisional rivals Cincinnati on Sunday. The Steelers have won four straight and appear to be surging into the playoffs with momentum on their side. After giving up 35 points in Dallas in a home loss, the Steelers have given up just 50 points in their last four games as their defence finally appears to be getting their act together. The Bengals have won two straight for the first time this year after convincing wins over the Eagles and Browns. 

Verdict - Steelers 26 Bengals 24

Steelers need this one more than the Bengals. Having won four straight, I expect them to be ready for a Bengals' team which is better than their record suggests. These teams have a history of chippy games so expect some fireworks here. 

Tennessee Titans (7-6) @ Kansas City Chiefs (10-3) - Arrowhead Stadium

The Titans face a real acid test of their playoff credentials as they head to Kansas City to take on the high flying Chiefs. The Titans share first place in the AFC South with the Texans after a crucial 13-10 victory over the Broncos at home last team. Marcus Mariota had his worst game of the season, throwing for under 100 yards and being intercepted twice. The Chiefs got a huge 21-13 victory over the Raiders to take control of the AFC West. The Chiefs' defence limited Derek Carr to just 14 yards of passing and will be looking to get after Mariota this week.

Verdict - Chiefs 26 Titans 13

Kansas City are extremely hard to beat at home and at this time of year, in freezing temperatures, even more so. The Titans have improved this year, however I think they will be handed a brutal loss here as the Chiefs' defence gets on top. 

Indianapolis Colts (6-7) @ Minnesota Vikings (7-6) - U.S Bank Stadium 

Two teams clinging to life in the playoff race meet as the Colts visit the Vikings on Sunday. The Colts missed a golden chance to take control of their Division with a shock 22-17 home loss to the Texans. Andre Luck, despite playing at a high level this year,  was picked off twice making a couple of critical mistakes. The Vikings steadied the ship after losing 6 of their last 7 games with a 25-16 victory over a terrible Jacksonville team. The Vikings will likely have to win their remaining three games if they hope to win their Division or fall into a Wild Card spot in the NFC. 

Verdict - Viking 20 Colts 17

Vikings to edge this one at home. All the momentum and confidence the Colts had was destroyed last week, and Head Coach Chuck Pagano will be right back in the hot seat with another season outside the playoffs. 

Detroit Lions (9-4) @ New York Giants (9-4) - MetLife Stadium

Two seemingly playoff bound teams meet in New York on Sunday as the Lions visit the Giants. The Lions got a crucial 17-14 win over the Bears last week to take a two game lead over the Packers and Vikings heading into the final three weeks in the NFC North Title race. Matt Stafford suffered a dislocated finger in the win last week, and it will be interesting to see how that affects his throwing on Sunday. The Giants got a huge 10-7 win over the Cowboys, giving them a two game buffer for an NFC Wild Card spot. The Giants completed a season clean sweep over their bitter rivals as they look to end their 4-year playoff drought. 

Verdict - Giants 30 Lions 24

I like the Giants in this game at home, particularly after a huge win over the Cowboys. Expect this game to turn into somewhat of a shoot out, with offenses getting on top. 

Philadelphia Eagles (5-8) @ Baltimore Ravens (7-6) - M&T Bank Stadium

The Ravens face a must-win match against the Eagles at home on Sunday after a damaging loss at the Patriots last week. Despite only going down 30-23, the Ravens were outplayed completely in New England and the margin was only kept close by a couple of Special Teams errors by the Patriots. The Eagles' playoff hopes were officially put to bed last week in a close 26-24 loss to the Redskins. After winning their opening three games this season, the Eagles have lost 8 of their last 10 and look set for a second straight season at the bottom of the NFC East. 

Verdict - Ravens 24 Eagles 20

The Ravens should win this game, however I do not entirely trust them here after  a poor performance at New England last week. The Eagles have lost plenty of close games this season as their playoff hopes slipped away.