Week 15 Predictions for the 2025-2026 NFL Season: Staying the Course

Before I present my picks for the games that, in Week 15, will mark the start of the final quarter of the season, as always, I give you my quick reaction to the games from the previous week. In Week 14, some teams saw their season on the line to make the playoffs and there were division leaders to decide. Some teams were completely disappointing while others defied the odds and emerged victorious.

A team suffered a very unfortunate injury and the playoff picture is starting to take shape. On the season after 14 weeks, my record after a 9-5 mark last week stands at 125-83, a winning percentage of .600. How does this compare to some national experts?

Vinnie Iyer
Sports news
132-73 (0.643)

Pete Prisco
CBS Sports
140-67-1 (0.673)

Chris Fowler
ESPN
131-76 (0.632)

Seth Wickersham
ESPN
128-79 (0.618)

It seems like I’m doing well compared to the big guys. I’m up for the challenge so here we go with instant game reviews.

Week 14: knee reflexes

Detroit 44 Dallas 30: (Harv score: Cowboys 27-20). Before this game, the Cowboys knew a win was crucial. After Monday’s result against the Eagles, they must now blame themselves for this missed opportunity. If they had won this one, Dallas would be just one game out of first place Philadelphia. Now they probably don’t get into the dance anymore. They need two Eagles losses to catch Philadelphia. The Lions’ victory helps them, but they still find themselves two defeats behind division leader Green Bay.

Minnesota 31 Washington 0: (Harv score: Vikings 18-14). Jayden Daniels returns from injury and gets hurt. Go figure. Before leaving the game, he was not playing well and Marcus Mariotta failed to score some points offensively. JJ McCarthy wasn’t great statistically, but his rating was high.

Miami 34 New York Jets 10: (Harv score: Dolphins 23-21). The Jets have recorded double-digit losses for the season, and things just aren’t getting any better for the Green and White. Miami takes a four-game winning streak against cold Pittsburgh for Week 15.

Seattle 37 Atlanta 9: (Harv score: Seahawks 31-14). Sam Darnold and the Seahawks continue to roll and eliminate teams as Seattle remains tied with the Rams for the NFC West division lead with just three losses. The Falcons are a mess.

Pittsburgh 27 Baltimore 22: (Harv score: Ravens 33-20). I said the Steelers would need a perfect game to win this one and even if they weren’t, they made a valiant effort with a victory that was aided by some Ravens’ mistakes. Baltimore, now second, is on the outside looking in for a playoff position.

New Orleans 24 Tampa Bay 20: (Harv score: Buccaneers 48-9). The shocking result of the day. Just like that, the once-leading Bucs are tied for first place in the NFC South with none other than the Carolina Panthers. It was the Saints’ 2025 Super Bowl.

Jacksonville 36 Indianapolis 19: (Harv score: Jaguars 27-24). The Jaguars are quietly in first place in the AFC South and heading into the playoffs. Whoever plays them better not sleep in Jacksonville. The Colts are in disaster mode and had to call up the long-retired Philip Rivers to come back and become their quarterback. This at 44 years old.

Tennessee 31 Cleveland 29: (Harv score: Browns 17-6). Cleveland head coach Kevin Stefanski receives the “jerk of the day” award for attempting a two-point conversion in that loss, taking quarterback Shadeur Sanders off the field as the rookie was having a great afternoon. The attempt failed and the Browns lost to a team that had only one victory before this one. A wild play with Quinshon Judkins failed miserably and left Stefanski red-faced.

Buffalo 39 Cincinnati 34: (Harv score: Bills 29-17). The Bengals led 21-11 at halftime and with Joe Burrow seemingly cruising. They pushed that lead to 28-18 in the third quarter, then the wheels fell off when Christian Benford picked off Burrow for a 64-yard pick, Benford’s second defensive touchdown in as many weeks. Burrow would be intercepted twice on the day and with the loss, Cincinnati’s playoff chances are likely over.

Denver 24 Las Vegas 17: (Harv score: Broncos 30-3). The Broncos and Patriots have now won 10 straight games. Are they headed for an AFC Championship showdown? That remains to be seen, but beating the lowly Raiders by just a touchdown isn’t a good sign that Denver is one of the best teams in the conference. I’m sure Pete Carroll thought his team would win more than two games this season.

Chicago 21 Green Bay 28: (Harv score: Packers 28-24). The Bears may have lost, but they showed they can compete with the best teams in the league. It seems to me that the best teams are in the NFC right now, and the Packers are one of them.

Los Angeles Rams 45 Arizona 17: (Harv score: Rams 36-13). I think the NFL MVP favorite right now is Matthew Stafford. He’s having an incredible season and added three more touchdown passes here. I was a little angry last week to learn that the Steelers were vying for his services before the season started, but Mike Tomlin wanted Aaron Rodgers. The Cardinals are one of many teams in disarray.

Houston 20 Kansas City 10: (Harv score: Chiefs 35-21). Those who don’t like the Chiefs or are tired of seeing them in the playoffs year after year don’t have to worry about that anymore. Kansas City needs a miracle to get going and it’s unlikely to happen. The Texans are red hot after going 3-5 to win the last five games in a row. They’re now just one game behind the Jaguars, but they won’t face each other again this season, unless it’s in the playoffs. Andy Reid also wins the Jerk of the Day award after attempting to convert a fourth down from his own 30-yard line. Stupid.

Philadelphia 19 Los Angeles Chargers 22 OT: (Harv score: Chargers 23-17). Philadelphia, as the defending champion, now walks away with three straight Ls.

However, in their last four games, there is only one game in which they will struggle and that is game number 16 when they are in Buffalo. The other three are against the Raiders (at home) and the Commanders twice.

Now it’s time to make my game picks. There will be teams playing from this point on with nothing to play for except pride in their playoff chances down the toilet. For the other top teams, they are now playing for division titles and playoff seeding spots.

Week 15 Picks