NFL Week 15 has arrived, meaning there are just four weeks left in the regular season. With no more bye weeks, all 32 teams will be on the NFL schedule this week with a majority of the games on Sunday for the first time since Week 4. With playoff spots at stake, these should be some of the most intense games of the season.
Let’s dive into our NFL Week 15 predictions, projecting every matchup on the NFL schedule this week.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 28, Atlanta Falcons 20
In the last meeting between the Atlanta Falcons and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, coming back in Week 1, Atlanta put up nearly 100 more yards than Tampa Bay and dominated time of possession but still lost. Now, it’s Kirk Cousins under center for the road trip to Tampa Bay. If this matchup happened a few weeks ago, the Falcons might pull off the win. However, the Buccaneers offense is much healthier than it used to be and should pull out a close one on Thursday Night Football.
Chicago Bears 17, Cleveland Browns 13
There should be quite a few high-scoring games in Week 15; this won’t be one of them. Caleb Williams holds onto the football longer than any other quarterback in the league, and that’s great news for Myles Garrett and the Cleveland Browns pass rush. The Chicago Bears do have the best rushing offense in the NFL over the last two months, but this is also one of the league’s best run defenses. In a low-scoring game, the better quarterback and head coach will decide it, and that means Ben Johnson and Co. pull out the win.
Related: Cleveland Browns Coaching Candidates to Replace Kevin Stefanski
Cincinnati Bengals 24, Baltimore Ravens 20
The Cincinnati Bengals are rolling right now with their playoff hopes still very much alive entering Week 15. Meanwhile, the Baltimore Ravens offense just isn’t looking the same with Lamar Jackson playing through an injury and the offensive line a shell of the unit it used to be. This sets up for Cincinnati to win it at home, with Joe Burrow and Co. doing just enough to replicate their success in Baltimore on Thanksgiving Day and make it a season sweep over the Ravens.
Kansas City Chiefs 21, Los Angeles Chargers 17
Beating the Kansas City Chiefs twice in a season is extremely difficult and it feels even more unlikely for the Los Angeles Chargers given the state of the offensive line. Kansas City doesn’t have a good pass rush by any means, but Steve Spagnuolo can exploit the Chargers’ backup tackles. Plus, the Chiefs offense will have Rashee Rice in this one and he was sorely missed in Week 1. Those two differences will be enough for Kansas City to win it at home.
New England Patriots 24, Buffalo Bills 21
The New England Patriots beat the Buffalo Bills earlier this season because of turnovers. Months later, we simply believe the Patriots are the better team. New England is more capable of stopping Buffalo’s rushing attack and Drake Maye can absolutely exploit even a few mistakes made by Buffalo’s defense. It’ll be a great division battle, but the Patriots will complete the season sweep over the Bills.
Washington Commanders 31, New York Giants 28
Thanks to the return of Jayden Daniels, this suddenly becomes a very fun Week 15 matchup. Neither the New York Giants nor the Washington Commanders have particularly effective defenses right now, so there’s a good chance both teams score four touchdowns apiece. In a tight and high-scoring game, it’ll be Daniels’ deep ball and the Giants’ inability to stop the run on the final drive that allow Washington to win.
Philadelphia Eagles 24, Las Vegas Raiders 10
This game will say a lot more about the Las Vegas Raiders than it will the Philadelphia Eagles. Vic Fangio’s defense will take full advantage of the worst offensive line in football and that will lead to turnovers from Geno Smith. Great field position and a matchup against a Raiders defense that has seemingly thrown in the towel will allow Jalen Hurts, Saquon Barkley and A.J. Brown to put up some good numbers at home.
Related: Las Vegas Raiders Coaching Candidates to Replace Pete Carroll
Jacksonville Jaguars 28, New York Jets 17
The Jacksonville Jaguars are on a hot streak again, looking at the team that sat near the top of the AFC in early October. Meanwhile, the New York Jets are coming off an ugly showing against Miami. This should be a one-sided game. Jacksonville will be able to run with ease on New York’s defense and Trevor Lawrence should have a pretty clean pocket to attack the corners. Oh, the Jaguars’ pass rush should have another strong performance, as well. Jacksonville wins comfortably.
Houston Texans 20, Arizona Cardinals 13
The Houston Texans are an example that an elite defense can win games on its own as long as the offense protects the football and can take advantage of short fields. Now that C.J. Stroud is back, Houston’s ceiling offensively is just much higher. With the Arizona Cardinals depleted by injuries offensively and weak in the trenches, the Texans should move one step closer to a playoff spot with a Week 15 victory.
Green Bay Packers 21, Denver Broncos 20
The Denver Broncos certainly have the defense to beat the Green Bay Packers, which was good enough for Cleveland earlier in the year. What Denver lacks is an ability to move the football on the ground effectively; at least that’s not something they’ve been able to do since J.K. Dobbins went down. Jordan Love and Co. might only need 17 points to beat the Broncos, but we do tend to think that Bo Nix makes just enough happen with his arm that it comes down to a final drive. Green Bay’s defense gets the stop, winning by a point.
Read More: NFL Defense Rankings 2025
Los Angeles Rams 31, Detroit Lions 27
We’d be even more excited about this matchup if the Detroit Lions weren’t missing Sam LaPorta and multiple starters in the secondary. Still, Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams can win their matchups against the Los Angeles Rams cornerbacks. This should be one of the most entertaining Week 15 matchups, but the Rams defense is superior to what Detroit is throwing out on the field right now due to injuries. Los Angeles wins, keeping its hopes for the NFC’s No. 1 seed alive.
Carolina Panthers 24, New Orleans Saints 17
A month ago, the New Orleans Saints took away the Carolina Panthers rushing offense (3.2 yards per carry) and forced Bryce Young to beat them. He couldn’t. We have seen a different version of Young in recent weeks, and Dave Canales should be better-prepared for what New Orleans throws out at him. In addition, it just seems unlikely that rookie Tyler Shough is nearly as effective (128.9 QB rating, 2-0 TD-INT, and 10.4 ypa) as he was last time out against Carolina.
San Francisco 49ers 24, Tennessee Titans 13
The San Francisco 49ers should have little trouble dispatching the Tennessee Titans in Week 15. Christian McCaffrey is a near-lock for 110-plus scrimmage yards and a score, all the while Brock Purdy and George Kittle should put up some good numbers. There’s not much analysis really necessary; this is a top-10 team versus a Titans club that should arguably be winless this season.
Seattle Seahawks 27, Indianapolis Colts 10
With Daniel Jones lost for the season, the Indianapolis Colts are dead in the water. The Seattle Seahawks have a top-three run defense that can key in on Jonathan Taylor, and this secondary can win its individual matchups versus the Colts wide receivers. Given the developments from Week 14, the second half of the NFL schedule next Sunday could have multiple blowouts.
Dallas Cowboys 28, Minnesota Vikings 17
We’re not putting any real stock in J.J. McCarthy’s performance in Sunday’s victory over Washington. That’s in part because the Dallas Cowboys defensive line can cause a lot more problems for the Vikings offensive line than Washington did. More importantly, if CeeDee Lamb (concussion) is cleared to play on Sunday Night Football, Dak Prescott is better equipped than anyone to handle what Brian Flores throws at him and then exploit the Vikings’ secondary.
Pittsburgh Steelers 20, Miami Dolphins 17
As long as De’Von Achane (rib) plays on Monday Night Football, we believe the Miami Dolphins will extend their winning streak. Miami’s two strengths during this second-half run have been a top-five rushing attack and a fundamentally sound defense that is coached really well. Both of those strengths, plus Jaylen Waddle’s playmaking ability out wide, can propel the Dolphins to a $.500$ record that seemed unfathomable just over a month ago.
