Week 15 is in the books and Week 16 is here, so For The Win’s Charles Curtis and Steven Ruiz return to make their NFL picks. All odds courtesy USA TODAY Sports.
WEEK 15 RECAP
Charles: 5-10-1 (Season: 104-110-5)
Steven: 5-10-1 (Season: 119-95-5)
Charles: Ugh. The only good thing about his week is I did as well as Steven.
Steven: I was so close to getting to 30 games over .500 before that stinker last week. We will rebound.
I say what Josh Johnson and the Skins did last week was an aberration, and the Titans’ defense takes care of business at home.
I toyed with the idea of taking the points here, but the Titans defense has been good against the run and that's the only way I see the Redskins moving the ball with Johnson at quarterback.
If this line was any closer, I’d have to take the Chargers. But I like Lamar Jackson and the defense enough to cover. Barely.
The Chargers might be the best team in football right now. As much as I like Lamar Jackson's future, he's not ready to go toe-to-toe with Philip Rivers just yet.
Getting shut out last week was absurd but a bump in the road for the NFC East’s best team, who will run and pass all over the Bucs’ D in a blowout.
The Bucs defense is playing better in the second half, and I'm going to chalk the offense's poor performance in Baltimore up to the weather. Jameis Winston will bounce back and cover this spread.
The Jags defense keeps this one close in what should be an extremely boring football game.
The Dolphins have been good at home and Cody Kessler has been terrible since replacing Blake Bortles. I have no faith in the Jaguars scoring more than 10 points in Miami.
This is surprisingly easy. Josh Allen’s legs and Buffalo’s pass defense keep things close enough for a cover.
As tempting as it is to take the Patriots, I just can't. Not with how the offense looked in Pittsburgh. And it's going up against an even better defense here. Buffalo loses by 10.
I absolutely can’t put money behind Taylor Heinicke. No way.
I'm not sure how high this line would have to go for me to back Taylor Heinicke, but I know it's a lot higher than 3.5 points.
Without Odell Beckham Jr., the Giants offense can’t do much even with Saquon Barkley. The Colts’ defense shuts down the Giants, and Marlon Mack might have a big day like Derrick Henry did last week.
I love this Colts team, but when did we decide they were good enough to warrant a 10.5-point spread. Even without Odell playing, I'll take the points.
Neither of these teams is good, but the Lions are a lot worse. I imagine the Vikes put up enough points for something like a 23-10 win.
The Vikings defense is playing well, especially against the pass, so I could see Matt Stafford tossing a couple interceptions and this one getting out of hand.
So it’s come to this: Aaron Rodgers is in a pick ‘em with the Jets. What a wasted season in Green Bay. I’ll back the Pack in the hopes Rodgers has a vintage performance … that is, if he plays.
Backing Aaron Rodgers hasn't been the best strategy this season, but a pick 'em against a bad team and rookie quarterback? Yeah, I'm taking my chances.
I can hear the oddsmakers in my ears: “Oh, so you think the Browns are good? Here, put your money where your mouth is.” Well, fine! Baker Mayfield doesn’t have another four-touchdown day but is good enough to give Cleveland a 10-point win.
Nine points? I know Cincy is starting Jeff Driskel at quarterback, but I'm not trusting a mediocre team to cover so many points.
Nope. I’m not buying this whole Eagles resurgence, especially against Houston.
I think we're sleeping on the Texans here, and giving way too much credit to the Eagles. In particular, Nick Foles. He'll crash back down to earth after the win in L.A.
It’s time to take the idea of Chicago being a Super Bowl contender seriously. A road game in California against a pretty impressive Nick Mullens should be the kind of game that proves it.
This is a rare game where the 49ers offense won't have the coaching advantage. Kyle Shanahan has his hands full with Bears defensive coordinator Vic Fangio. Nick Mullens will struggle and the Bears will cruise.
Going the opposite way on this pick: Yes, the Los Angeles offensive struggles are real. But this is the kind of game the team uses to right the ship and gain confidence. A blowout would help a lot.
The Cardinals offense couldn't even score on the Falcons' putrid defense. This is a "Get right" game for the Rams. It will be over by halftime.
I hate this pick but I’m sticking with it. The Steelers will lose to the NFL’s most balanced teams, but I could see Big Ben backdoor covering.
The Steelers are due for a letdown after their cathartic win over the Patriots. This one being in the dome makes it a no-brainer for me.
This is kind of a big test for the Chiefs. Was last week’s loss to the Chargers a sign of things to come (note: I have no faith in Kansas City when the postseason begins)? I’m willing to boldly back the home dawgs here.
IF any team is capable of going into Seattle in primetime and blowing the doors off that defense, it's these Chiefs. Pat Mahomes has a big day, cements his MVP case and leads Kansas City to a comfortable victory.
I feel like I can’t pick right with the Raiders, a team that’s somehow sneakily won some games and covered spreads. Denver lost by one at home the last time these two met in Week 2, but I think the Broncos win by a field goal.
Honestly, I just flipped a coin here and it came up tails. I don't trust either of these teams.
