Sports

[gardenman]

We start off week fifteen (Fifteen already? Yikes!) with a battle for NFC West dominance. Well, as much as anyone is dominating the NFC West this year. The Rams take on the Niners. The Rams are a game behind the Seahawks while the Niners are a game behind the Rams. Brock Purdy could use a big game to enhance his contract status this offseason and keep the Niners in playoff contention. Only the NFC West winner will probably make the playoffs. It should be a pretty good game. I'll give an edge to the Rams since they have Puka and Cooper Kupp both playing very well.

Sunday starts with the Cowboys heading to the Panthers. Carolina's playing very well these days. Dallas is dealing with issues. I'm giving the edge to the Panthers in this one. They've been almost beating some really good teams. The Cowboys aren't a really good team.

The Chiefs head to Cleveland to further embarrass the Browns. The Browns are wasting Myles Garrett. I'll take the Chiefs in a romp.

Miami goes to Houston in an interesting game. Miami's been playing pretty well. Houston has slipped a bit. I'm giving a slight edge to the Dolphins in this one.

The Jets and Jags fight it out to see which superstar QB has fallen the furthest. Both teams have just three wins. The Jets have already fired their coach. The Jags are just waiting a bit to fire theirs. Whispers out of Jacksonville is that Trevor Lawrence is available this offseason. Rodgers is probably not back for the Jets. Not a great game, but I'll give a slight edge to the Jets.

The Commanders and Saints square off in New Orleans.  The Saints are running out of QBs, so I'll give the edge to the Commanders.

The Ravens head to "Tear Your Achilles Field" to remind Giants fans of what football is supposed to look like. This won't be pretty. I'll take the Ravens by a mile.

The Bengals and Titans fight it out. The Bengals are clinging, barely, to playoff hopes. They have to win out and hope for the best. The Titans aren't likely to put up much of a fight. I'll take the Bengals.

The Patriots take on the Cards. Both teams have lost three in a row, so one of them will have to win the game. I guess I'll take the Cards.

Indy goes to Denver in a big, big test for them. An Indy win and they get closer to a playoff berth. I want Indy to win, but I think the Broncos in Denver might be just a tick too tough for them. I'll take the Broncos.

The Bills and Lions give us a potential Super Bowl preview. They're arguably the two best teams in the league now. This should be a fun one. The two alpha teams squaring off on a nationally televised game. I'm giving the slightest edge to the Lions in Detroit. Were the game in Buffalo, I'd pick the Bills.

The Bucs and Chargers are fighting for their playoff lives in a game. I'll give a slight edge to the Chargers in this one. Fear of the Harbaugh is a powerful motivator.

The Steelers take the turnpike east to face the Eagles. The Steelers find a way to win. The Eagles are the more talented team and present some unique challenges for opposing teams. I'll take the Eagles in this one.

Sunday night finds Green Bay heading to Seattle. It's never easy playing in Seattle. Both teams are playing pretty well. I'll give a slight edge to the Seahawks in this one.

Two Monday night games this week. We start out with the Bears at the Vikings. The Bears were supposed to be the Super Bowl contender this year having gotten their pick of kid QBs while the Vikings were supposed to be trash as they tried to recycle Sam Darnold. And it's worked out the opposite. The Vikings are playing very well while the Bears have already flushed their head coach. I'll take the Vikings in this one.

And our last game of week fifteen finds the Falcons taking on the Raiders. Eh, okay. If you're still desperate for football late Monday night, it's more or less football. Of a sort. I guess I'll take the Falcons.

[Big Joanie]

My son said the same thing about the Bills and Lions ..

A long suffering Bills fan here ...

Gosh I hate it when the season ends ...

[Spurt]

It's WEEK 15 as we edge closer to the end of the 2024 regular season. 

Rams VS 49ers---The Rams sent a message to the league, we are getting healthy and WE'RE BACK after their impressive win over the Bills. Now they take on a rival in the 49ers who lost McCaffrey again with an injury......Gotta take those resurgent RAMS for the WIN!

Cowboys VS Panthers---The Cowboys lost on a botched punt block .....and they also lost Overshown to injury, Parsons is losing his mind over the loss. Meanwhile the Panthers are showing some fight and their QB Bryce Young has improved his play.  They played it close to a very very good Eagle team.  If the Panthers almost beat a healthy Eagles team, they should be able to beat a banged up Cowboys team at home. I'm taking Doppio's favorite, the PANTHERS to WIN!

Chiefs VS Browns ---God answers prayers in His perfect timing...and while Winston waits for his interception issues to be resolved, it will continue to be a problem for the Browns! The Chiefs, well they are the CHIEFS, and they should add another knotch to their WIN column

Dolphins VS Texans---The Dolphins beat the Jets, that's not really an accomplishment considering their sorry state of affairs.  The Texans are coming off their bye week and are playing at home, taking the TEXANS!

Jets VS Jaguars ---In the Draft Order Bowl, these two losing teams square off against each other. I'll take the JETS their defense is slightly better.

Washington VS Saints--Washington is coming off a win followed by a bye week. Washington needs a win to hold on to their playoff spot. The Saint's QB Carr is questionable with an injured wrist, and it looks most likely the Saints will go with Jake Haener or rookie Spencer Rattler. I'm going with WASHINGTON, HTTR!

Ravens VS Giants----Ravens need to stay close to the Division leading Steelers, even my sister, the Giant's fan 

said, the Giants need to stop worrying about winning and take the lead in the 2025 Draft Order! RAVENS NO CONTEST!

Bengals VS Titans---Joe Burrow's mind might be back home and worried at more burglaries to his abode while he's in Nashville....The Titans are more focused on changes that they will be making in the 2025 season. Burrows may be banged up but he's the better QB---BENGALS with the WIN!

Patriots VS Cardinals ---The Patriots are coming off their bye week, while the Cardinals are coming off a loss to the Seahawks. I'll go with the well rested PATRIOTS!

Colts VS Broncos---The Colts are another team coming off a bye week, in the previous week they won by 1 point against the Patriots.  The Broncos also returning from a bye and have been playing well and have a good defense, their rookie QB is playing well under the guidance of Sean Payton, AND they are at home in Mile High....BRONCOS!!!

Bills VS Lions---A potential Super Bowl preview. Two

juggernauts meet.....Josh Allen coming off a performance that many think gets him the league MVP.  He may need another performance like he had against the Rams in this game as the team is matched up to an explosive Lion's offense.  Despite all the injuries to the Lion's defense, they are playing well with the next man up!!! This game is a coin flip, I'm taking the LIONS at home!!!

Bucs VS Chargers---The Bucs are playing well and getting healthy.  The Chargers lost a close game to the Chiefs.  I'm going with Baker Mayfield and company for the WIN! BUCS!

Steelers VS Eagles ---Another GREAT matchup!!! Controversy reigns as WR AJ Brown complains, points a finger at Hurts for lack of passes his way. Their HC says there's nothing to get worried about, Saquon is ready to let loose his running game as chants of MVP can be heard. The Eagles may have the best oline and dline in the NFL. Meanwhile, the Steelers are on a roll, QB Russell Wilson has been playing well, on defense they got TJ Watt, Tomlin continues his consistency towards yet another winning season. Pennsylvania bragging rights are at stake. And Santa's glad there's no snow in the forecast so he can focus on his Christmas Eve trip rather than snowballs from angry Philly fans. I'll go with the EAGLES and their strong running game at home!!!

Packers VS Seahawks---Important game for both teams vying for the playoffs.  Despite playing in Seattle, I'm going with THE PACKERS!

Bears VS Vikings---Bears rookie QB Caleb Williams has been struggling while the Vikings have been SURGING with Sam Darnold! VIKINGS win another game with QB Sam Darnold! SKOL!

Falcons VS Raiders ---Kirk Cousins stops his turnover habit and gets a FALCON'S WIN against the Falcon's former QB Ridder who is now with the Raiders!

GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!

[Spurt]

DOPPIO THE CAT'S PICKS WEEK 15--the real draft king 

Cowboys VS Panthers---Doppio says the PANTHERS will win based on inspiration from his favorite NFL mascot, Sir Purr 

Dolphins VS Texans---TEXANS!!!

Chiefs VS Browns---CHIEFS

Ravens VS Giants--RAVENS!- SURPRISE!! Doppio said his mom told him that the Giants are tanking for the best draft pick.

[Spurt]

Washington will be without WR Noah Brown with a "significant internal injury"......To take his place the team has Luke McCaffrey (who I've been hoping could get more involved in the offense), and Oz (Olamide Zacchesus) who has already caught 27,passes so far this season

And it looks like CB Lattimore will make his Washington debut against his old team.

[teganslaw]

The Cowboys are underdogs this week by 1.5. It shows are things have fallen in Dallas since they have a better record than the Panthers. I wonder how Jerry Jones is handling all of this.

I think the Chiefs-Browns game will be closer than some expect. The Chiefs aren't exactly lighting things up; they just know how to efficiently close out the game and do what's needed to win. I don't expect them to roll over the Browns, probably another close game decided by a field goal or penalty. 

Colts T Braden Smith could miss the remainder of the season. There is no timetable to his return, and things don't look good. Denver's Patrick Surtain will be someone to deal with. I don't know who he will be guarding: maybe Jonathan Taylor? Surtain was named AFC Defensive Player of November, so he's bound to be a huge factor for the Broncos. 

[gardenman]

Interesting. Bill Belichick is now the head coach at UNC. I'd expected him to look for a pro job. Watching Bill go around the country recruiting kids could be fun.

[teganslaw]

It will be interesting to see how successful Bill Belichick is at UNC. He's never coached at a collegiate level, but his past resume in the NFL should help. 

I wonder if he'll leave the show "Inside the NFL." I haven't found any details on that. 

[Spurt]

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@gardenman wrote:

Interesting. Bill Belichick is now the head coach at UNC. I'd expected him to look for a pro job. Watching Bill go around the country recruiting kids could be fun.

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@gardenman @teganslaw 

Bill Belichick took the UNC job to have wider dating pool options (he's currently dating a 24 yr old he met on a plane and helped her with her college homework 🙄).

LOL!!!!

I heard them say these days the head coach doesn't necessarily recruit the college kids, many colleges now designate the position coach or coordinator to handle that duty....

[Spurt]

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@teganslaw wrote:

It will be interesting to see how successful Bill Belichick is at UNC. He's never coached at a collegiate level, but his past resume in the NFL should help. 

I wonder if he'll leave the show "Inside the NFL." I haven't found any details on that. 

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@teganslaw 

Some folks said they don't think Bill really enjoys working as a broadcaster......one reason he decided to try college football...