NFL 2012 Week 15 picks

I had the second worst week of the season.  Lots of visitors, but not all those that I picked.  Since we haven't had two weeks in a row with lots of road teams winning, I picked with caution this week.

Thursday night:  Cincinnati Bengals at Philadelphia Eagles:  Nick Foles and the Eagles seem to want to play spoiler, but the Bengals are hungry.  If I've learned one thing from watching jungle movies, you never interfere with a hungry tiger!  You know Cincy will be rooting for Denver after this game.  BENGALS, 27-20

Sunday early games
Denver Broncos at Baltimore Ravens:  The Ravens are scrapping for the AFC North title, but Denver is battling New England for the top seed.  That means the Broncos will be driving hard on offense and battling hard on defense.  The Broncos have actually allowed fewer points than the Ravens, so that defense is working!  BRONCOS, 28-23

Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears:  Green Bay knows it can win the NFC North with a win here, but I don't want to pick too many road teams.  Besides, the Bears would have won the game against Minnesota, despite Adrian Peterson's nearly 200 yards rushing, if Jay Cutler had not turned the ball over.  He should still be out, and Jason Campbell takes fewer chances.  He doesn't have Cutler's arm strength, but I don't think they'll need too many long passes.  The Bears defense, even without Brian Urlacher, is pretty stout.  They haven't forced a turnover in two weeks, so I think it's time.  BEARS in an upset, 23-20

Indianapolis Colts at Houston Texans:  Whoo, I'd love to pick the Colts in the upset, and truthfully I think they might do it, but again I hesitate to pick too many road teams, and there other games where the road team is the much more obvious pick.  Besides, a Colts victory here should be allowed to be considered an upset, so I'll pick a stiff Texans team who may have woken up after last week's loss.  TEXANS, 24-23

Jacksonville Jaguars at Miami Dolphins:  Logically, the Dolphins should win this one, but I have to pick the road team here.  The Jags are improving, and this is Chad Henne's chance to outplay his old team.  This one may be won on the final field-goal producing drive, but I think the Jags, especially Henne, will engineer the upset.  JAGS, 23-20

Minnesota Vikings at St Louis Rams:  This is a pretty easy road pick, although the Rams play tough at home, so it'll be closer than the Vikes would like.  VIKINGS, 23-20

New York Giants at Atlanta Falcons:  The Giants exhausted two and a half weeks worth of offense last week.  Although the Falcons defense has been faltering recently, the Giants will be tired.  FALCONS, 30-17

Tampa Bay Bucs at New Orleans Saints:  The Bucs defense is faltering recently, which makes this upset pick easier.  The Saints should make a great home stand and knock Tampa Bay out of playoff contention.  SAINTS, 31-23

Washington Redskins at Cleveland Browns:  This is an obvious road pick, although the possibility of RGIII sitting out could make the game close.  Kurt Cousins is good, but not as good as RGIII.  Given a strong Browns defense, this will be a low-scoring game.  With Cousins at the helm, the Browns could win this one, but I like the Redskins players to build on their emotionally high upset victory from last week.  REDSKINS, 20-17

Sunday late games:
Carolina Panthers at San Diego Chargers:  Here is a game that the road team could win, but I like the possibility of the Chargers winning at home.  The Panthers defense is not strong, so the Chargers should be able to score enough to win.  CHARGERS, 27-20

Detroit Lions at Arizona Cardinals:  The Cardinals are mess, and Detroit nearly beat Green Bay, so this one is a no-brainer.  LIONS, 27-17

Kansas City Chiefs at Oakland Raiders:  Despite the Chiefs collapse, a decline in the Raiders defense makes these two fairly evenly matched.  I think the Raiders will squeeze it out (mainly so that I don't have to pick too many visiting teams), but Carson Palmer needs some help from the receiving corps, man!  RAIDERS, 21-20

Pittsburgh Steelers at Dallas Cowboys:  The Cowboys usually fade in December, but the Steelers are fading worse this season.  COWBOYS, 26-20

Seattle Seahawks at Buffalo Bills:  Seattle is firmly in the playoff hunt, and Russell Wilson has the offense moving the ball.  The defense comes and goes, but they don't have to be too strong to throttle struggling Buffalo.  SEAHAWKS, 30-21

Sunday night:  San Francisco 49ers at New England Patriots:  The Texans' defense couldn't hold back the Pats.  The 49ers have a slightly better pass defense, but the Pats will still overwhelm them, just not by as much.  PATRIOTS, 34-21

MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL -- New York Jets at Tennessee Titans:  The Titans aren't great, but the collapse of the Jets offense, and the fact that Tennessee is playing at home, draws me to an upset pick here.  TITANS, 23-17