After another week of excitement and controversy, there's no time to waste before making our picks for Week 15 of the 2023 NFL Draft. In Week 15, there are no more byes, so all 32 teams are in action. We also have three games on Saturday in addition to the usual Thursday and Monday games, making it one of the best weekends of the NFL season.
NFL Week 15 picks and predictions
Of course, predicting Week 15 will not be easy. Almost every game will have an impact on the crowded playoff race in both conferences. The AFC has six 7-6 teams while the NFC has six 6-7 teams, so things are tight. After exploring our options and looking closely at each game, here are our picks for NFL Week 15 in 2023.
Broncos vs. Lions
After being the talk of the town during the early part of the season, the Lions began to fade, losing two of their last three games. They have performed poorly in recent weeks and have been unreliable in defense all season. This creates some cause for concern, especially since he is the favorite against an exciting Denver team.
The Broncos have won six of their last seven games, knocking off the Chiefs, Bills and Browns during that span. Denver's defense completely turned things around and had a solid performance on the road last week. They don't look like a team that will lose by more than five points to anyone, especially the struggling Lions. In fact, Denver could be an underdog to win this week.
Pick: Bronco +5
Bears vs. Browns
The Browns may have found something with Joe Flacco leading the offense. The veteran looked good in last week's win over the Jags, as the Browns moved to 6-1 at home. It's hard not to support them under these circumstances, especially without a big line to cover.
Sure enough, the Bears are on a winning streak and have won three of their last four games. But they are also 2-5 on the road and have concerns on the defensive side of the ball. Justin Fields isn't exactly setting the world on fire. Cleveland's defense should contain him enough to give the Browns a comfortable win.
Pick: Brown -3
Chiefs vs. Patriots
The Chiefs are upset after back-to-back losses in which controversial calls by referees helped turn the game against them. They will certainly look to take out some of their anger against a New England team that has been terrible this season.
However, this may not be the right time to play for the Patriots. They are coming off a win and will get a little extra rest. Additionally, New England's defense has held five straight teams to 20 points or fewer, and three of those teams have been held to 10 points or fewer. KC's offense isn't exactly clicking on all cylinders right now. If the Chiefs can't get to 20 points, they'll have a hard time covering a 10-point spread, especially with Bailey Zappe making New England's offense look somewhat viable last week.
Pick: Patriots +10
Cowboys vs. Bills
Dallas is riding high after five straight wins, including a 20-point win over the Eagles last week. Not only do the Cowboys lead the NFL in points, but Micah Parsons has been on par with some of the greatest defensive players in NFL history throughout this season. There is every reason to believe Dallas can maintain this momentum.
Of course, those are the times when getting rid of the Cowboys is a good idea. They've had some ugly performances on the road this season and haven't always played well against quality teams. Plus, nothing is easy about a mid-December trip to Buffalo. The Bills had a big win over the Chiefs last week and know they are still playing for their playoff lives every week. Look for that sense of urgency to get another win in Week 15.
Selection: Bills -2
