With upsets in Chicago for the Bears, Miami against the Dolphins, and New Jersey for both the Jets and Giants (twice) in Week 14, the selection committee mimicked the 8-8 league that the NFL is. How many upsets will there be in the NFL Week 15 predictions?
Pro Football Network’s Week 15 NFL Predictions
How did the selection committee fair in Week 14, and who is the new leader in the clubhouse throughout the season?
- Dallas Robinson: 138-71
- Dalton Miller: 129-80
- David Bearman: 126-83
- Adam Beasley: 123-86
- Jay Morrison: 121-88
Last Week
- Miller: 10-6
- Robinson: 9-7
- Bearman: 8-8
- Beasley: 7-9
- Morrison: 8-8
Remember, these predictions are simply deciding between winners and losers. There are no point spreads here.
Los Angeles Chargers at Las Vegas Raiders
- Beasley: Raiders
- Bearman: Raiders
- Miller: Raiders
- Morrison: Raiders
- Robinson: Raiders
Interim HC Antonio Pierce may or may not be the Raiders’ long-term option as head coach, but there’s no denying that this football team has been different since Las Vegas rid themselves of Josh McDaniels, who has likely struck out on his chances of being an NFL head coach ever again.
The Raiders’ defense has been very strong over the back half of the season, while the Chargers’ offense has completely fallen apart. WR Keenan Allen is the only legitimate weapon that remains, but he’s officially been ruled out of the matchup. L.A. can’t run the ball to save their lives, and QB Justin Herbert is now out for the season.
Minnesota Vikings at Cincinnati Bengals
- Beasley: Bengals
- Bearman: Bengals
- Miller: Bengals
- Morrison: Bengals
- Robinson: Bengals
Speaking of teams moving in opposite directions…
The Minnesota Vikings looked primed to compete in the NFC shortly after trading for QB Joshua Dobbs at the deadline, but they quickly disintegrated on offense. The Vikings benched Dobbs last week against the Raiders, so veteran backup QB Nick Mullens will get the start against Cincinnati.
Fellow backup QB Jake Browning entered the fold after Joe Burrow’s season-ending injury, and most thought the Bengals’ goose was cooked. Instead, they’ve rattled off consecutive wins, and Browning looks like a legitimately productive passer at the NFL level.
The offensive game plan helped give him easy answers, but he’s been impressive even in the traditional dropback game.
Pittsburgh Steelers at Indianapolis Colts
- Beasley: Colts
- Bearman: Colts
- Miller: Colts
- Morrison: Colts
- Robinson: Colts
The Steelers have fallen apart over their past two games after overachieving to start the season. Although it’s different from their 2020 season when starting 11-0, it’s felt similarly unsustainable because of their offensive woes.
Losing QB Kenny Pickett has helped lead to consecutive losses against previously two-win squads. Now, they sit at 7-6 and in the thick of a wild AFC playoff race.
Meanwhile, the Colts have also overachieved, relative to expectations, but their wins and losses have felt more sustainable than the Steelers because their offensive structure is so sound under HC Shane Steichen.
Denver Broncos at Detroit Lions
- Beasley: Lions
- Bearman: Lions
- Miller: Broncos
- Morrison: Lions
- Robinson: Lions
The Broncos have turned things around from last season offensively and from early this season defensively. Since the midway point of the season, no defense has been more efficient than Denver. They’re first in EPA since Week 8.
Meanwhile, the Lions’ defense has fallen apart as the season has progressed. My colleagues believe that the Lions are simply more talented than the Broncos, but QB Jared Goff has struggled as the interior of his offensive line has stacked injuries.
Since their Week 9 bye, Detroit has snuck by the Chargers, got lucky that the Chicago Bears collapsed, lost to the Green Bay Packers, snuck by the New Orleans Saints, and then lost handily to the Bears for a series split.
The Lions are 9-4, but things have not been pretty in Detroit over the back half of the season.
Atlanta Falcons at Carolina Panthers
- Beasley: Falcons
- Bearman: Falcons
- Miller: Falcons
- Morrison: Panthers
- Robinson: Falcons
Atlanta’s defense has been one of the best in the NFL this season, and S Jessie Bates III has been a huge difference-maker. The Falcons kicked off the Panthers’ miserable season, and the safety picked off rookie QB Bryce Young twice in that first meeting.
MORE: PFN’s Week 15 NFL Power Rankings
Since then, things have spiraled out of control in Carolina, leading to a mid-season coaching change. Meanwhile, Young’s play hasn’t improved because of the offensive line, offensive structure, and weaponry around him.
Chicago Bears at Cleveland Browns
- Beasley: Browns
- Bearman: Browns
- Miller: Browns
- Morrison: Bears
- Robinson: Browns
QB Joe Flacco has entered the chat. He looks like a — well, he looks like a grown man — but he feels like a kid again. Flacco came off the couch and entered a contending team in the same division against the team he won a Super Bowl with.
The Bears are playing much better football than we’re used to seeing, but the Browns remain the more talented team. Additionally, the athleticism they have on the defensive line and at linebacker should help quell concerns about QB Justin Fields’ legs.
But because Cleveland loves to live in man coverage, they could open run lanes that a truck could fit through if they’re not careful.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Green Bay Packers
- Beasley: Packers
- Bearman: Packers
- Miller: Packers
- Morrison: Packers
- Robinson: Packers
The Buccaneers are in a battle for the NFC South, and the Packers are pushing for a playoff appearance as a Wild Card team. At 6-7, they’re still the seventh seed, yet they share that record with four other teams.
Tampa Bay is currently at the top of the NFC South, but they have the same record as their division rival Falcons and Saints.
We have two inconsistent teams meeting here, but the selection panel feels like the Packers should win this game. If they can get the play-action game going, things could get dangerous for the Buccaneers’ middle-of-field-closed-heavy defense.
New York Jets at Miami Dolphins
- Beasley: Dolphins
- Bearman: Dolphins
- Miller: Dolphins
- Morrison: Dolphins
- Robinson: Dolphins
A week after the Dolphins completely collapsed against the Tennessee Titans, they’re back on the field against a divisional opponent.
This might be the easiest matchup they’ll have on paper for the rest of the season. With the Dallas Cowboys, Baltimore Ravens, and Buffalo Bills remaining on the schedule, the Dolphins can’t afford another slip-up.
MORE: A Potential Fix to the Miami Dolphins’ 2 Biggest Offensive Issues
New York QB Zach Wilson is coming off one of the best games of his career, and the Jets’ defensive backfield could make things incredibly difficult for Miami’s passing attack if WR Tyreek Hill is anything less than 100%. CBs Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner, D.J. Reed, and Michael Carter II make up the best healthy defensive backfield in the NFL.
Kansas City Chiefs at New England Patriots
- Beasley: Chiefs
- Bearman: Chiefs
- Miller: Chiefs
- Morrison: Chiefs
- Robinson: Chiefs
The Chiefs need to get back on track — particularly offensively. Unfortunately for them, the one thing that New England can still do at a high level is defend their pants off.
HC Bill Belichick has his flaws — especially as an evaluator of talent — but those flaws exist solely on the offensive side of the ball. Even with a depleted defense, New England’s remained productive.
The same cannot be said for the Chiefs’ receiving corps. There are less attractive units in the NFL, but not by much. Although Kansas City’s group may be more physically gifted, mental and physical errors have mounted, unlike they have anywhere else in the NFL.
New York Giants at New Orleans Saints
- Beasley: Saints
- Bearman: Saints
- Miller: Saints
- Morrison: Giants
- Robinson: Saints
The Saints need to beat the Giants. While it’s not a must-win game because they still get games against the Buccaneers and Falcons within their division race, they need every win they can get leading up to those final two games. With the Los Angeles Rams in Week 16, there’s no guarantee that New Orleans has a winning record heading into Week 17.
Meanwhile, “Tommy Cutlets” has taken New Jersey by storm. While he, his family, and his associates are leaning heavily into the Italian stereotypes, he’s also playing some surprisingly impressive football.
Houston Texans at Tennessee Titans
- Beasley: Titans
- Bearman: Titans
- Miller: Titans
- Morrison: Texans
- Robinson: Titans
The Texans’ defense has been responsible for some of the best performances from some of the worst quarterbacks in the NFL this season. While their defense is far from horrific, it’s also not the best in the world.
Rookie QB Will Levis is playing some inspired football for the lowly Titans. And things become even more interesting if EDGE/LB Will Anderson Jr. can’t play.
The predictions may seem insane, given what we’ve seen from each team, but this is heavily skewed because rookie QB C.J. Stroud likely won’t make it through the concussion protocol in time to play on Sunday.
San Francisco 49ers at Arizona Cardinals
- Beasley: 49ers
- Bearman: 49ers
- Miller: 49ers
- Morrison: 49ers
- Robinson: 49ers
The 49ers are healthy and coming off of blowout wins against four playoff-hopeful teams in five weeks. San Francisco is the best team in the league, and it’s not particularly close.
But wait a minute. The Cardinals downed Dallas this season, and they’re coming off a bye week. Could they shock the world and beat their division rival?
It’s not likely, but we’ll all be keeping a close eye on the QB play over the last four weeks of the season.
Washington Commanders at Los Angeles Rams
- Beasley: Rams
- Bearman: Rams
- Miller: Rams
- Morrison: Rams
- Robinson: Rams
The Rams might be the best team in the NFL with a losing record. They have a legitimately fun offensive attack that is far more evenly distributed between run and pass than anybody could’ve expected.
MORE: Could Browns, Packers, or Rams Hoist the Lombardi?
Additionally, WR Puka Nacua is an animal, and WR Cooper Kupp is coming off a resurgent game. Getting the Commanders’ defensive backfield is a treat for QB Matthew Stafford and this passing attack.
Dallas Cowboys at Buffalo Bills
- Beasley: Bills
- Bearman: Cowboys
- Miller: Cowboys
- Morrison: Cowboys
- Robinson: Bills
Can the Cowboys keep up the momentum they’ve had since the bye week, or will they have a letdown game after pummeling the Philadelphia Eagles?
Despite their 7-6 record, the Bills have a 104-point scoring differential, which is the fifth-best mark in the entire league. They are a legitimate AFC contender, but they’re stuck in a logjam and need some wins to get out of it.
Baltimore Ravens at Jacksonville Jaguars
- Beasley: Ravens
- Bearman: Ravens
- Miller: Ravens
- Morrison: Jaguars
- Robinson: Ravens
The Ravens and Jaguars should be one of the most interesting matchups of the week. Jacksonville’s offensive line is struggling, but we’ve seen a few holes in the Ravens’ defense recently that we hadn’t seen for most of the season.
The thing is, we’ve rarely seen the Jaguars offense that we expected heading into the season. The real question concerning this game is which Ravens offense will we get?
Philadelphia Eagles at Seattle Seahawks
- Beasley: Eagles
- Bearman: Eagles
- Miller: Eagles
- Morrison: Seahawks
- Robinson: Eagles
The picks may look a bit different if QB Geno Smith was healthy, but he’s still rehabbing from a groin injury, and there’s no guarantee at the time of this piece that he will be able to play on Monday Night Football.
But does he need to? Yes. The Eagles just played the two best teams in the NFC, which is part of the reason why they’ve struggled.
But could Philadelphia’s struggles be even deeper than that? We know they have defensive issues, but does their offense have holes?
Want to predict the rest of the 2023 season with our FREE NFL Playoff Predictor? Looking for the most up-to-date NFL standings? What about a breakdown of team depth charts or the NFL schedule? Pro Football Network has you covered with that and more!