The run up to Christmas is always a ridiculously busy time for families and it does make it difficult to write out fuller threads ahead of the latest week in the NFL.
We are edging closer and closer to the post-season and we will begin to see teams being eliminated.
At this stage of the season, Seeding has to be on the mind of teams and players too and I think the decision made by the NFL to have Divisional games dominating December should make it a very interesting and fun end to the season.
San Francisco 49ers @ Seattle Seahawks Pick: In a seventeen game regular season, you can't really point out any good time to lose three in four games, but that is what is facing the Seattle Seahawks (7-6) as they prepare for a short week in which they host the NFC West leaders. The losses have seen Seattle lose the grip of top spot in the Division and right now there has to be one or two concerns that the Seahawks are trending in a direction where they are going to miss the PlayOffs completely.
In fact, if the PlayOffs were to start today, the Seattle Seahawks would be missing out on the top seven places in the NFC and the pressure is building on them. You can forgive the loss in Munich against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but home defeats to the Las Vegas Raiders and Carolina Panthers are much harder to take and now the Seahawks are under pressure to respond against an opponent that continues to pick themselves up from key injuries.
An injury to one Quarter Back is a blow, but to lose the backup too would usually mean curtains for any team with Super Bowl ambitions... Well any team other than the San Francisco 49ers (9-4).
Trey Lance started the season at Quarter Back and Jimmy Garoppolo came in and took the 49ers forward, but having the very last Pick in the Draft, 'Mr Irrelevant' next up on deck should have been a problem. Brock Purdy is really well liked in San Francisco, but even with that in mind, I don't think many would have anticipated just how good he has been in the game and a half that he has played.
The system is one that is designed to make things easier for the Quarter Back, but Brock Purdy did more than manage the wins over the Miami Dolphins and Tampa Bay Buccaneers and it is clear that the San Francisco Coaching staff truly believe in him. With the games left, the 49ers are hoping to improve their current Number 3 Seed in the NFC, although they are not expected to chase down the Philadelphia Eagles for the Bye through to the Divisional Round of the post-season.
Winning the NFC West is likely going to mean either the Number 2 or Number 3 Seed in the Conference and the 49ers can wrap up the Division as soon as Thursday Night. A win would mean a 3 game lead over the Seattle Seahawks and the sweep of the Divisional series would give the 49ers the tie-breaker too.
Brock Purdy was a little banged up last week, but admitted he could have finished the game against the Buccaneers if it had not been firmly in hand. He should be good to go, although the loss of Deebo Samuel is a blow considering how many targets the Wide Receiver had been given since Purdy moved into the line up.
I don't think it is an insurmountable injury as the 49ers have dealt with plenty this season and found a way to get the 'next man up'. They will also benefit in this game from the running schemes that are drawn up by Kyle Shanahan and I do think Christian McCaffrey will have a very big game at Running Back.
The 49ers Offensive Line will open up big holes for McCaffrey when he is given the ball, while the Running Back is also expected to be a big threat in the passing game. For much of the season the Seattle Defensive Line have struggled to contain the run and that was in evidence in the home loss to the Panthers in Week 14 who had D'Onta Foreman and Chuba Hubbard piling up the yards on the ground.
Being in front of the chains should make things easier for Brock Purdy, who has shown he has some capable wheels of his own if necessary, and I do think the 49ers will be able to move the ball with some consistency. They have not always been at their best Offensively this season, but I do think they match up well with the Seattle Defensive unit and ultimately that will show up in this one.
It also means the pressure shifts onto Geno Smith and the Seattle Offense, which has just made one too many mistakes in recent weeks to fall on the wrong side of a number of games. All credit has to be given to Smith and the work ethic which has seen him become a serviceable starter in the NFL after replacing Russell Wilson, but some may believe that the errors being made of late are signs that the magic is wearing off and the Geno Smith most have seen in the NFL before is returning.
The Quarter Back could benefit from having Kenneth Walker III back on Thursday Night Football, but the Seahawks have not been running the ball as efficiently as they would have liked. They are unlikely to find a lot of room to get things going on the ground against the 49ers and it becomes even tougher for the Seahawks if they are down a couple of scores and have to move away from the run and focus on the pass.
Regardless of the score, I do think the 49ers Defensive Line will continue to largely clamp down on the run and that means Geno Smith will be asked to throw from awkward spots.
Third and long will favour the 49ers Secondary, even though there have been some holes to exploit in recent games. I expect Geno Smith to find Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf in spaces at times, but the accuracy has weakened in recent games and that has led to balls being picked off, something the San Francisco Secondary thrives on doing.
Last week it was Tom Brady being lured into making mistakes and I would not be surprised if Geno Smith does the same in this one.
Those turnovers can be fatal and the Seattle Offensive Line has been having one or two issues protecting Smith in recent games. Like I said, I would not be surprised if Geno Smith has some nice passing numbers, but the 49ers are a team that will lull him into a sense of security before taking the ball away and I do think the road team can win and cover on Thursday.
San Francisco have covered in their last six games against Divisional rivals and they are 7-3 against the spread in their last ten on the road. They don't have the best record in Seattle and Brock Purdy has a different challenge playing in a loud atmosphere opposing him for the first time, but the Seahawks are trending in the wrong direction having failed to cover in four straight and the blowout loss in San Francisco won't be far from the mind.
This one should be much closer, but the 49ers can do enough at the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball to edge past this Divisional rival and confirm their place as NFC West Champions.
Indianapolis Colts @ Minnesota Vikings Pick: These two teams have very different ambitions between now and the end of the regular season, but that does not mean the spread isn't a bit too wide in favour of the home team. The Minnesota Vikings (10-3) failed to clinch the NFC North in Week 14 in a defeat to the Detroit Lions, but they are not likely to blow the lead they have built up, although the loss is more damaging when it comes to their hopes of finishing with the Number 1 Seed in the Conference.
Four games are left and the Vikings are 2 games behind the Philadelphia Eagles, while they are also losing the tie-breaker to the Eagles. Ultimately it means the team is preparing for the Wild Card Round of the PlayOffs and they will be looking for a strong end to the season considering the level of opponents that are left to face.
First up is this special Saturday scheduled spot where the Minnesota Vikings will be hosting the Indianapolis Colts (4-8-1) coming out of a Bye Week and on the brink of elimination from the PlayOffs. This has been a remarkably tough year for the Colts, who have not been helped by injury, and the decision to trade for Matt Ryan has proven to be a poor one, and one that cost Head Coach Frank Reich his job.
The appointment of Jeff Saturday upset may around the Coaching circles considering the former Colt had no experience of the Head Coach role at any level of the game. A win over the Las Vegas Raiders silenced some of the critics, but the Indianapolis Colts have lost three in a row since then, including a monster blowout to the Dallas Cowboys before heading into their very late Bye Week.
Jeff Saturday has stuck with Matt Ryan at Quarter Back, but that does not mean the Colts are not expecting a much better all around performance from their team. Ryan and the rest of the Offense have wasted some of the big efforts that have been given to them by the Defensive unit through the season, but this may be an opportunity for the Indianapolis Colts to have success when they have the ball in their hands.
I don't think Matt Ryan has been helped by the inconsistent season Jonathan Taylor has had at Running Back, but he did pile up 82 yards in the defeat to the Dallas Cowboys and I think Taylor can at least get something going on the ground in this one. The Colts Offensive Line has not been in the best form, but I do think they can get the better of the Minnesota Defensive Line in this battle in the trenches and that should put Taylor in a position to keep the Offensive unit in front of the chains.
We have not seen that enough this season, but Matt Ryan also deserves the criticism he has received having underperformed at Quarter Back. Fumbling issues and playing behind an Offensive Line which has not offered enough time in the pocket has hurt the veteran, who has been sat down once already this season with many more voices believing Ryan should sit out the rest of the way.
For now Matt Ryan will get the start and he is facing a Minnesota Secondary which has continued to give up a huge amount of yards through the air. The Vikings have not really been able to generate a strong pass rush and that has only exposed those in the Secondary that much more, although Harrison Smith is expected to be back this week to bolster this side of the ball. Even then, Matt Ryan has to find some spaces to expose and with Taylor keeping the team in third and manageable, I do think the Colts could have better Offensive success than we have seen for much of the season.
A banged up Offensive Line did not help Minnesota last week, but they also look to be getting a couple of key Linemen back in time for Week 15. That is vitally important for Dalvin Cook and the whole Offense having struggled to run the ball without the Offensive Line being at full health, but they should be able to move the ball much more comfortably in this one.
The Colts have been trampled during their losing run and I do think Dalvin Cook will bounce back from a couple of rough outings. That is key for the Vikings who have just been struggling for some consistency on this side of the ball and also helps Quarter Back Kirk Cousins who is going to be facing a tough Indianapolis Secondary.
If Dalvin Cook is running the ball as he could, Kirk Cousins should be able to find his Receivers with quick passes and avoid the Colts pass rush, which has been playing pretty well. Justin Jefferson is not easy to stop, but I do think the Colts Secondary will feel they can play hard enough to limit the big plays made by Minnesota and that could help them keep this close.
I certainly think they can keep this game closer than the oddsmakers believe and the public are pounding the home team, although you have to respect the fact that the Vikings are getting healthier as we approach the post-season.
The thumping loss at Dallas is a worry for how the players could be responding to Jeff Saturday as the Head Coach, but I do think the Colts can come out of the Bye Week and make this one much more competitive against a Minnesota team that have regularly given up more yards than they have earned in games this season.
It is hard to back the Colts with a lot of confidence considering how poorly they have played this season, but I do think they can keep this one close against an opponent that may be thinking ahead to big NFC battles rather than this non-Conference tilt. Take away the blowout at the Cowboys and you also cannot ignore the fact that Indianapolis have at least been in competitive losses more often than not and a backdoor cover could be earned at the very least.
Baltimore Ravens @ Cleveland Browns Pick: A decision is yet to be made about who will be starting at Quarter Back, but Tyler Huntley has cleared concussion protocol and should be starting for the Baltimore Ravens (9-4). Lamar Jackson is edging closer to a return, but not expected to suit up in Week 15, while Anthony Brown is an Undrafted rookie and won't have nearly enough experience to guide the Ravens, even if he has been taking first team reps in practice.
I am not sure Tyler Huntley is capable of winning too many games, but he is not going to lose games and that is all the Ravens can ask as they rely on their strong Defensive unit to guide them through games, even when Jackson is available and starting.
That Defensive unit will be looking to test Deshaun Watson and the Cleveland Browns (5-8) who were beaten by the Cincinnati Bengals last week and probably one more loss away from being out of PlayOff contention. It is no surprise that Watson has been shaking off the rust having been out of action as long as he has, but he was better in the loss against the Bengals than the win over his former team Houston.
I don't think it would be harsh to suggest that this is going to be the toughest Defense that Deshaun Watson is going to face on his return to the NFL and it could be a very difficult day for the Quarter Back. Next season should be a much stronger one for Watson and the Browns, but in Week 15 of the 2022 season, I do think they are going to have a tough time moving the ball with any consistency in this game.
The Cleveland Browns do want to get a push behind the Offensive Line and get Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt pounding the rock, but recent games have been a bit of a struggle for them. Last week was particularly tough for Chubb and the Baltimore Defensive Line is one that has been very proud of the way they have been able to shut down runners.
Doing that completely to Nick Chubb is not something I would expect every week, but the Ravens can at least limit the damage done on the ground and in turn force Deshaun Watson to try and beat them through the air.
Pressure up front makes the Ravens that much more dangerous and Watson may need a bit of time to work out a strong Defensive unit in front of him, time that won't be afforded to him when throwing in obvious passing down and distances. Quarter Backs have had some success throwing into the Baltimore Secondary in recent games, but there is not a lot of encouragement there for Deshaun Watson who is still working his way back to full strength after missing as much time as he has over the last couple of years.
No one will be expecting a lot out of the Baltimore passing game either, but a key difference for the road team and current AFC North leaders is that they are likely going to be able to run the ball much more effectively than the Cleveland Browns. A Committee approach is taken by the Ravens and Tyler Huntley is also capable of moving the ball with his legs and I expect the Ravens to be able to establish the run for much of this game against this Browns Defensive Line.
They allowed Joe Mixon to have a decent return last week and I think Baltimore will find a way to pound the rock in this one and keep Tyler Huntley in front of the chains.
The Quarter Back should be able to employ play-action and short screen passes to get something going through the air, but the Ravens can control the clock with their ground and pound approach and I do think the underdog can be backed to cover the spread.
Baltimore have a very good record against the Cleveland Browns having produced a 5-1 record against the spread in the last six between them, while also going 6-1-1 against the spread in their last seven visits to Cleveland.
The Ravens have been strong on the road this season and they are 2-0-1 against the spread in three games when set as the underdog, including an outright win at the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 14. Cleveland, on the other hand, are 1-3 against the spread when favoured by less than 7 points this season and I do think the Browns could end up coming up short with Deshaun Watson still working his way back.
Miami Dolphins @ Buffalo Bills Pick: Back to back road losses will have stung the Miami Dolphins (8-5) and it has also meant they have lost control of the AFC East, and that makes this a very important game for the team. Losing at San Francisco is one thing, but the performance in the defeat to the Los Angeles Chargers was simply way below the kind of standards that have been set in 2022 and will have some fans worrying.
A number of losses to teams in and around the AFC Wild Card Race could be problematic for the Miami Dolphins in the weeks ahead. They also have to play three Divisional rivals in their final four games and those could be pivotal in deciding the final position for the Dolphins within the Conference.
First up is a trip to AFC East leading Buffalo Bills (10-3) who just about edged out the New York Jets in Week 14 and they have not been as convincing since early November, despite the fact that the Bills have won four in a row. Josh Allen and company will be hoping for better conditions on Saturday with this being another game scheduled into a standalone spot, although there will be a confidence in the Bills as they prepare to face a banged up Miami Defensive unit that put in a huge effort in limiting the Chargers in the Sunday Night Football defeat last week.
Injuries are piling up, but the Dolphins will be asked for another big effort in their bid to sweep the season series from the Buffalo Bills. Conditions are really not favourable to a team coming out of a warm weather environment, but the Dolphins Defensive Line have played well enough of late to believe they can have some success at slowing down the Bills rushing attack.
Of course it is hard to clamp down completely because Josh Allen is just as capable of moving the ball with his legs as he is his arm, but forcing the Bills to have to throw from third and long spots on the field will be considered a big win for Miami. Doing this will allow the Dolphins to unleash their pass rush, which is greatly improved by the addition of Bradley Chubb, and I do think the Miami Defensive Line can penetrate into the backfield and try and harass Josh Allen if the Quarter Back is looking for time to make his throws down the field.
Buffalo have a team that is more than capable of winning the Super Bowl, but you also have to factor in the recent performances. They have averaged less than 200 passing yards per game in their last three wins and Allen had a tough game against the New York Jets Defensive unit last week as Buffalo just about cracked 20 points.
That was enough for the win in Week 14 and the last two road performances of the Miami Dolphins will have to be vastly improved if 20 points isn't going to be enough to beat them too. The Dolphins were getting high praise for the performance of the Offensive unit as they moved to the top of the AFC East, but they have only scored 17 points in each of the last two games and last week it was a miserable all around Offensive performance.
Despite facing a banged up Los Angeles Chargers team, Miami could not run the ball and Tua Tagovailoa had another inaccurate game. These are the moments when the Quarter Back position once again comes under the microscope, although Tagovailoa may have been playing a little banged up over the last couple of weeks.
Tyreek Hill wasn't himself either, while Jayden Waddle has not been the kind of factor that the Dolphins would have hoped in the last couple of weeks. He is another that may not be operating at 100%, but the Dolphins will need all of their players to step up, especially in the passing game.
With Jeff Wilson likely out, Raheem Mostert will get the majority of the carries for Miami, but he is not expected to have a lot of success against the Bills Defensive Line. That only puts Tua Tagovailoa and the passing game under more pressure and a banged up Offensive Line may not give the Quarter Back as much time in the pocket to locate his Receivers down the field.
However, there are one or two issues in the Buffalo Secondary that have seen the likes of Mike White have opportunities to make plays down the field and I am expecting Tua Tagovailoa to have those in this game.
In a game where both Defensive units will feel they can make big plays at the line of scrimmage, I do think the recent struggles of both passing games will continue here. The weather may not be ideal for throwing the ball in Buffalo on Saturday evening and this makes me believe it will be a close game, which makes the points offered to the Miami Dolphins look pretty appealing.
The Dolphins have been blown out a number of times in recent years when visiting this Divisional rival, which is a concern, but I do think they bounce back after two back to back poor efforts.
Miami have not been very good on the road in recent weeks, but they have a strong record against the spread when facing Divisional rivals, including beating Buffalo at home earlier in 2022.
The underdog is also 3-1-1 against the spread in the last five games between these AFC East rivals and I do think the points being offered to the Dolphins look big enough to back the road team. With Josh Allen and the Buffalo passing game not quite operating at full tilt, Miami should be able to keep this one competitive even in a losing effort and I think the Dolphins can show they are better than the efforts of Week 13 and Week 14.
Detroit Lions @ New York Jets Pick: If you go back to August, neither the Detroit Lions (6-7) nor the New York Jets (7-6) would have been tipped up by too many to make the PlayOffs, but both have two very strong Head Coaches that have extracted the very best out of the roster. If the post-season was to begin this week, both teams would be just missing out, but there are four games left to turn that around.
Turning things around is the mindset for the Jets more than the Lions- New York have lost some momentum with four losses in six games. On the other hand, Detroit have won five of their last six games and Dan Campbell may actually feel it would be a massive disappointment if the Lions are now not able to push into the top seven in the NFC with the Seattle Seahawks faltering in front of them.
The Lions also have a decent schedule to end the season if they are able to win in this Stadium for the second time this season having already upset the New York Giants. It would not be the same kind of upset in beating the Jets, but Detroit have to show they can handle the increased sense of expectation around this team in their bid to end a long wait for a return to the post-season having last done that in 2016.
Jared Goff has to be given credit for the way he has worked in this system, but this may be the toughest Defensive unit he has faced in some time this season. Jets Head Coach Robert Saleh has gotten the New York Defensive unit playing at an incredibly good level in just his second season with the team and this is a Secondary that simply does not give up many yards.
The Lions Offensive Line will be key in trying to help the team establish the run and that has been a slight weakness on the Jets, although not to any great extent where it will be easy to move the ball with a lot of consistency on the ground. However, it will be important to keep an Offensive balance for Detroit and it will also be key for Jared Goff to be kept in third and manageable spots and that is going to be difficult for the Lions against the Jets Defensive unit.
I expect the Lions to give Goff some time in the pocket, but this is a stout Secondary that does not give up many yards and I think that will be a tough test for this Lions team.
My feeling is that things should be a touch more simpler for the New York Jets when they have the ball in their hands and especially with Mike White trending towards starting this game. He has been a huge upgrade on Joe Flacco and Zach Wilson at Quarter Back and I can imagine his team-mates are impressed with White for continuing to fight against the Buffalo Bills despite taking two huge hits that forced him to sit out a couple of plays last week.
Showing toughness can get others on your side and Mike White will have the Jets playing hard for him as they look for a vital win that can keep them in contention in a loaded AFC. Winning the East Division looks beyond them after the loss to the Bills in Week 14, but they are still in touch with the top seven places and I think White will have a strong outing to set New York up for a win.
The Quarter Back is likely to be helped by the Jets running attack, which should be able to find a bit more consistency than the Detroit Lions on the other side of the ball.
Keeping Mike White in third and manageable spots should aid him against a Lions Secondary that have given up some huge yards through the course of the season. Recent games have been more of the same for the Secondary and being in third and manageable should open up the playbook for Mike White as he looks to help the Jets earn the victory.
I have to lean with the New York Jets to win this game and the sharps seem to have shifted the line from a small home underdog into a small home favourite, largely down to the fact that Mike White is looking set to start. I would not want to be on Zach Wilson at Quarter Back to win this game, but White looks the much superior Quarter Back and I think he will put the Jets in a position to win this game.
Ignoring how well Detroit have played against the spread would be a mistake, but the New York Jets are 5-0 against the spread when playing off a straight up loss. Robert Saleh and Dan Campbell are strong Head Coaches that deserve respect and I think this will be a competitive game with a lean towards the home team covering in a winning effort.
[UPDATE]: Soon after posting this Pick, Zach Wilson was confirmed as the starter for the Jets on Sunday- this is far from ideal, d'oh!
Pittsburgh Steelers @ Carolina Panthers Pick: For most teams sitting at 5-8, the post-season would feel a long way away, but the Carolina Panthers (5-8) are fortunate in a couple of ways after winning in Seattle in Week 14. For starters they are still only a couple of games out of the Number 7 Seed in the NFC, despite being three games below 0.500, while they are also playing in the worst Division in the NFL and that means they are only a game behind the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the lead in the NFC South.
Winning the Division would mean hosting a PlayOff game and the Panthers still have to visit the Buccaneers in the regular season so will feel like they are firmly in the PlayOff mix. They can ill-afford to overlook the Pittsburgh Steelers (5-8) who lost a tough home battle with rivals the Baltimore Ravens last week and are almost certainly going to hand Head Coach Mike Tomlin his first losing season of his career with the Steelers.
There is still an opportunity for the Steelers to avoid that fate, but reaching the PlayOffs looks beyond them after the narrow loss to the Ravens. Kenny Pickett is likely going to be sat down the rest of the season at Quarter Back after entering concussion protocol again and that means Pittsburgh have to go with either Mitchell Trubisky or Mason Rudolph at Quarter Back.
Neither looks a good option, but the Steelers could benefit by getting a little more out of their run game this week against this Panthers Defensive Line. That is key for Pittsburgh who won't want to take massive risks by throwing against a Secondary that turned the ball over a number of times last week in the win over Geno Smith and the Seahawks, but being in front of the chains should make life that much more comfortable for either Trubisky or Randolph when it comes to finding their Receiving options.
The Pittsburgh Offensive Line have been able to offer their Quarter Back a touch more time than previous seasons, although it has helped that Kenny Pickett and Mitchell Trubisky have been happy to move out of the pocket. Mason Rudolph may not be as keen to do that and it could lead to some issues for the Steelers when it comes to moving the ball, although I do think the Offensive Line will help in pounding the rock at the Panthers in this one.
It is going to be a similar approach for the Carolina Panthers who bled the clock at the end of the win over Seattle by handing the ball off to D'Onta Foreman and Chuba Hubbard over and over again. The game plan is not expected to be much different in Week 15 and both Foreman and Hubbard could have strong games against the Steelers Defensive Line that could not stop the Baltimore Ravens last time out.
Even though the Panthers have not really had the home run Back since trading Christian McCaffrey to the San Francisco 49ers, they won't change their approach and Foreman and Hubbard can wear down Defensive Lines. I think they will have success running the ball against the Steelers, but Pittsburgh may also choose to bring extra men towards the line of scrimmage if they do not respect the ability of Sam Darnold to throw the ball against them.
Sam Darnold starting games again is a surprise, but he is only being asked to manage games much as possible and the numbers in the Carolina passing game reflect that. They want to play 'old school' Football and that means relying on the run and trying to stay in front of the chains and Darnold may not be asked to do too much.
He does have DJ Moore practicing again, but this whole game has the feeling of a grind it out kind of contest and one that makes the points being given to the road underdog that much more appealing.
Having a full three points with the Steelers looks hard to ignore, especially as they have largely been competitive this season and Carolina's Offensive game plan is not one that will lead to a lot of blowout wins.
As well as the Panthers have done to remain in contention in the NFC South, you cannot avoid the fact that it is down to how poor the Division is rather than Carolina pulling up any trees. They have been a poor home team to back against the spread and Carolina have a 3-9 record against the spread in their last twelve games against a team with a losing record.
Carolina are also 0-3 against the spread when favoured this season, while a well Coached Pittsburgh team are unlikely to give away anything easily. This could end in a push, but I think the Steelers are worth backing with the points against a team that has a lot more to lose and who have struggled in a favourite spot.
Arizona Cardinals @ Denver Broncos Pick: This has been a season of huge regret for the Denver Broncos (3-10) and the Arizona Cardinals (4-9) having begun the year with real expectations of making the PlayOffs. Instead, the Broncos are eliminated ahead of Week 15 and the Cardinals are likely to soon join them following a defeat on Monday Night Football and I think there are going to be a lot of questions as to the direction of the two teams in the off-season.
Head Coaches are usually the first to pay and I would not be surprised at all if the Broncos and Cardinals are searching for new leaders once the season is completed.
Nathaniel Hackett has never looked comfortable with the Broncos and the trade for Russell Wilson could not have gone much worse with the team struggling on the Offensive side of the ball. In Week 14 they put in a huge effort to try and upset their Divisional rivals the Kansas City Chiefs, but Wilson was knocked out of the game with a scary looking concussion and it would not be the worst decision in the world for the Broncos to sit him the rest of the regular season.
Russell Wilson is pushing to play this game, but he has yet to clear concussion protocol and it would feel like a poor decision to play him considering the elimination from the post-season has already been confirmed. That would mean Brett Rypien taking over at Quarter Back, as he did last week, but regardless, this feels like another game in which Denver may struggle Offensively.
The Broncos may be able to establish the run, especially against the Arizona Defensive Line, but you do have to wonder what the motivation is for players after putting in so much into the defeat to the Chiefs. They have another go at Kansas City to come and this non-Conference game may not mean a lot to a team who are missing some key players on this side of the ball.
If Brett Rypien starts, I really do think the Broncos could have issues moving the ball, even with the run likely to be established. The Quarter Back is playing behind an Offensive Line which has struggled in pass protection all season and Rypien is simply not a player that can be relied upon to make throws with the injuries at Receiver.
Denver may have some success considering Arizona are on a short week and virtually eliminated from the PlayOffs, but the Broncos have shown little consistency Offensively all season and their backup Quarter Back is hard to trust.
The Cardinals will also be playing with a backup after Kyler Murray went down with an ACL injury, but Colt McCoy is a veteran who should have a decent outing. Kliff Kingsbury is another Head Coach firmly on the hot seat in Arizona, and you do have to wonder if the players have given up on what they may feel is a lame duck Coach, but the match up is one that can be exploited by Colt McCoy.
One concern for McCoy is the Offensive Line which has struggled in pass protection, but I do think he will get the ball out of his hands much quicker than Kyler Murray, who was always willing to run with the ball if Receivers haven't broken open. It will be down to McCoy to make the right reads with the Cardinals not expected to establish the run with any consistency, but the Quarter Back does have Receivers who can win their battles against this Secondary and I think the Broncos are a vulnerable favourite this week.
Of course it isn't easy to trust the Cardinals on a short week having effectively been eliminated from the PlayOffs, but I do think Colt McCoy will give them a push.
The Cardinals have tended to bounce back from losses and have a surprisingly strong 11-4 record against the spread in their last fifteen road games, while the Denver Broncos have not covered in five attempts as the favourite this season. Add in the huge effort in coming up short against the Kansas City Chiefs last week and it is easy to imagine a scenario where the Broncos find themselves struggling to match the motivational levels of Week 14 and ultimately fail to cover this spread too.
MY PICKS: San Francisco 49ers - 3.5 Points @ 2.00 Sky Bet (2 Units)
Indianapolis Colts + 4.5 Points @ 1.85 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Baltimore Ravens + 3 Points @ 1.86 Bet365 (2 Units)
Miami Dolphins + 7.5 Points @ 1.83 Sky Bet (2 Units)
New York Jets - 1.5 Points @ 1.91 William Hill (2 Units)
Pittsburgh Steelers + 3 Points @ 1.86 Bet365 (2 Units)
Arizona Cardinals + 3 Points @ 1.95 William Hill (2 Units)
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