Everyone is in action this week as the NFL spans across four days, highlighted by a triple-header on Saturday. We still have a short week to look at for Thursday Night Football, the usual bunch of games on Sunday – all capped by two big prime time matchups. Playoffs are heating up so no better time than now to make up some ground in your confidence pool. Here are your Week 15 Confidence pool picks!
NFL Week 15 Confidence Pool Picks
NFL Week 15 Confidence Pool Picks Winners are in bold, upsets are marked with ***
16 San Francisco 49ers (-910) at Arizona Cardinals
Low hanging fruit as it may seem, but the reality is even if they don’t cover, San Fran wins. It’s on the road against a poorly coached and managed team with zero defensive capabilities to slow down the Niners on offense.
If San Francisco didn’t have that 3-game skid mid-season it might be easier to justify a letdown here, but the Niners and Brock Purdy are in full destruction mode with the Cards set to die next.
15 Las Vegas Raiders (-152) vs. Los Angeles Chargers***
This is all about where you currently are in the standings. If you need a big week then hit this high – 15/14 on your list. If not, then drop it to about 10/11. Either way the upset is brewing out west as the Raiders are charged with winning a game after being shut out at home. It’s been five weeks since the Raiders even put up more than 17 points.
The Chargers are without their star QB Justin Herbert, but Easton Stick was able to move the ball against Denver. Now with a full week, both Stick and the Chargers defense should look better than last week. The Raiders are a disaster and Thursday night will confirm it.
14 Kansas City Chiefs (-440) at New England Patriots
It’s tough to fade the Chiefs despite their own mental issues on offense. Mistakes and dropped passes are killing this team yet their defense is still a force. The Patriots are a total mess on offense with zero signs of figuring this thing out by Sunday. Kansas City isn’g going to magically figure it out either, but at least they get a lifeless opponent done trying.
Hard to think anything Bill Belichick says is even resonating as most guys – at least on offense – are in danger of losing work. The Chiefs are desperate but a good type of desperation to back. Not a nervous, tight desperation like the Pats.
13 Los Angeles Rams (-295) vs Washington Commanders
The Rams are a dangerous team right now with a healthy Matthew Stafford. They may not look like the playoff contender believed to be at the start of the season, but at this point they are razor focused on making the playoffs – with good reason.
The Commanders already dealt their two best players on defense, losing six of their last seven games. Their lone win coming against the Patriots. Washington has given up at least 29 points in each of their last four games – all losses. Not much changes this weekend against the Rams.
12 Detroit Lions (-220) vs. Denver Broncos
The Lions dropped their second over three games last week against the Bears. Their two losses coming in a revenge scenario versus Chicago and a weird Thanksgiving loss against the Packers. Both in the NFC North. This is actually a bad spot for the Broncos who hit the road and put their
Recent success to the test. The Chargers lost their starting QB last week, and the Texans held on to beat Denver two weeks ago. Denver earned that five game winning streak but hasn’t looked quite the same since. Detroit is truly desperate to play better down the stretch. Denver may have gotten too comfortable where Detroit is being fired up by Dan Campbell all week.
11 Cincinnati Bengals (-180) vs Minnesota Vikings***
The Vikings are hoping Justin Jefferson will play through his questionable tag, but it’s not like they haven’t had success without him. People are waiting for the Jake Browning regression and it’s going to finally come this week. The Vikings were part of one of the more disgraceful football games in history – the only lowest scoring game in any indoor stadium, ever – but played just fine on defense.
Expect that to carry over where Browning will see some different looks than prior weeks. Also, Nick Mullens will start for the beat down Joshua Dobbs. With a full week to prepare the Vikings will be the better team.
10 Tennessee Titans (-132) vs Houston Texans***
CJ Stroud currently remains in concussion protocol but if he plays the Texans win, rather easily. A home favorite against a better team is exactly where Mike Vrabel does not want to be. Will Levis and this team come off a ridiculous win where they made plenty of mistakes, and ultimately took advantage of a way-too pompous Miami team.
That’s not happening in division against a Texans team too young and hungry for a playoff victory. Stroud’s health is the only concern here, other than that all systems go for Houston.
9 Miami Dolphins (-400) vs New York Jets
This game gets dropped for what should be obvious reasons – primarily the underachieving Miami Dolphins. Nobody can blame that loss to the Titans on not having Tyreek Hill for the majority of the game as the Titans handed the ball over multiple times to Miami. No, the Dolphins just aren’t that good.
The Jets have a good enough defense to keep in this game. They are getting decent to normal production of out Zach Wilson, and they hate Miami. There is a decent chance the Dolphins lose again so we are dropping this game for insurance purposes.
8 Cleveland Browns (-175) vs Chicago Bears
The Bears come off a major emotional victory handing a division rival a loss. There’s an expected letdown coming as the Bears face a ridiculously tough opponent on defense. The Browns play better defense at home and have Joe Flacco on board for the rest of the year.
While Justin Fields looks comfortable in Chicago, they will be slowed down on the road by the Browns. Points won’t be at a premium here, and Chicago can’t keep up even in a lower scoring game. Cleveland has found ways to move the ball despite being down multiple players on offense, that should remain the same against Chicago.
7 Indianapolis Colts (-130) vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Once again, it’s the Mitchell Trubisky show, featuring all the ups and downs of any well written drama on TV. Of course, much like those shows, we know how this one ends. The Colts are the only question here as short favorites at home against a bad backup QB. They beat up four bad teams then lost to the Bengals.
Gardner Minshew is playing like a starter over that time and should be taken seriously against this Steelers defense. Jonathan Taylor’s absence won’t hurt the Colts nearly as much as Pittsburgh not having Kenny Pickett.
6 Atlanta Falcons (-162) at Carolina Panthers
The Falcons are another team just super tough to trust, but they face a team with nothing to play for moving forward. The Panthers made a terrible mistake. They traded what should be a top pick overall this year for the right to draft Bryce Young – who can’t play the position. Maybe that changes but it sure as hell isn’t going to happen this weekend.
Atlanta has three offensive linemen questionable and a couple of starters on defense wearing the same Q tag. But Carolina is just floating lifeless in the water with no direction. The only main concern here is Atlanta has been bad enough at times to find a way to lose this game, dropping them to 6 allows some breathing room if they do.
5 Buffalo Bills (-134) vs Dallas Cowboys
The Bills are alive to the sound of the playoffs while the Cowboys come off an emotional ride at home. One team is cruising atop the NFC while the other is trying to avoid the bottom in the AFC. Dallas has certainly struggled on the road too, going a meager 3-3 with all three of their losses on the year coming away from Dallas.
Buffalo is a strong team at home; 5-2 at Orchard Park. They’ve overcome some serious injuries on defense while putting together a smart gameplan on offense – focusing on Josh Allen’s arms and legs. The Bills have a big play receiver to match one in Dallas and should ultimately beat the Cowboys.
4 New Orleans Saints vs New York Giants***
Tommy D is in the house! New Orleans may not be big enough to hold the Giants (new?) QB as Big Blue won their third straight game on Monday night. Make it four come Sunday night. The Saints are just begging to be upset right now as Derek Carr plays through multiple head injuries.
Their defense is playing well but they face a tough opponent in a running QB not looking to throw much. The Giants should blitz the ever-living hell out of Carr, and might face Winston by the time this game finishes.
3 Green Bay Packers (-175) vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Packers might lose again as the Bucs can at least score some points. The problem for Tampa is their defense. Green Bay suffered a bad loss to the Giants that shouldn’t cause much overreaction to how good they can be. The issue for Green Bay will be focus heading into a game where they overmatch their opponent in the passing game.
The injury situation didn’t hurt the Pack against New York, rather Jordan Love’s play. That was much improved before their loss and should revert back. Tampa is still technically in the hunt but their awful defense continues to be a problem this week against Green Bay.
2 Baltimore Ravens (-164) at Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jags are in upset mode here with Trevor Lawrence back in action. Baltimore is such a tough team to beat as evident by last week’s OT win. They do it on special teams, offense, even defense. The Jags are trying to avoid a late season letdown despite the injury factoring in to their loss to the Browns.
Jacksonville has been scoring but unfortunately giving up way too many points to be considered for the upset. Good enough, however, to drop this game to a 2-point play.
1 Philadelphia Eagles (-195) at Seattle Seahawks***
It’s kind of crazy to think the Eagles who once stood proud atop the NFL are in danger of losing their third straight game, but here we are in Seattle. This game gets dropped to the bottom simply because of Geno Smith’s health. If he were 100 percent this game gets bumped up rather significantly.
Here’s the skinny on Philly: they cant defend the pass, their QB turns it over too much, and they are one of the worst running teams since week 4. If they cant sack the QB then they lose – which has been another major problem for the Birds, the Philly Birds. Seattle wins outright.
Looking for more 2023 NFL predictions or info on NFL Week 15 Confidence Pool Picks?? Subscribe to OddsShopper Premium for our market-based betting model’s picks and best bets — or try it out for NFL Week 13 now!
