Week 15 of the 2011 NFL campaign is going to get underway this weekend. Below you will find the current list of 2011 Week 15 NFL lines and spreads along with a breakdown of the Week 15 NFL odds. Be sure to check out the free NFL picks from the expert handicappers at Bankroll Sports this week…

For the first time this year, we have NFL betting action on Thursday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, and we here at Bankroll Sports aren’t going to miss a moment of all of the action.

We’ll begin with Thursday Night Football, where things are looking fine and dandy for the Atlanta Falcons. With so much carnage in the NFC Wild Card chase, the Falcons can put themselves in fine shape with a win on Thursday. The Jacksonville Jaguars just picked up their first win under interim Head Coach Mel Tucker, but the truth of the matter is that that came courtesy of seven turnovers last week by a bad Tampa Bay Buccaneers outfit. There’s a reason why Atlanta is favored by 11 points at the Georgia Dome, especially since this is going to be the third game in 11 days played by Jacksonville.

On Saturday, the Dallas Cowboys are going to be playing the aforementioned Bucs. Dallas blew a chance at really taking the NFC East by the throat on Sunday Night Football last week, but it still controls its own destiny for the division title. This is a game that it can’t afford to lose, and when the NFL odds open in this one, we expect to see it favored by double digits as well.

There are a lot of teams that are off the board right now that might be double digit favorites on Sunday as well. The New York Giants are hosting the Washington Redskins and will hope to avenge a Week 1 loss in Landover, while the New Orleans Saints travel to the Minnesota Vikings.

Another team that we do know is favored by double digits is the Green Bay Packers. The Pack are laying 13.5 at the Kansas City Chiefs, and it has become very apparent that there isn’t much between them and a perfect regular season. Green Bay has been a dominating side at home, but not so much on the road, and the last time we saw the Chiefs play at Arrowhead Stadium though, they took the Pittsburgh Steelers right down to the wire. Perhaps the Packers have a tad bit to worry about in this one.

There are some very interesting games that are going to be impacting the playoff chase in both conferences. We’ll start in the AFC, where there are four teams that enter this week at 10-3, all of which think that they can be the top seed in the conference when the postseason gets underway. The team with the easiest road this week is the Houston Texans. The newly crowned AFC South champs will celebrate at Reliant Stadium for the first time since getting into the playoffs this week, and they will open up as 6.5 point favorites over QB Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers.

The rest of these teams have to go on the road in tremendously tough battles. The New England Patriots are favored by six on the road at the Denver Broncos, where QB Tim Tebow will be hoping to win yet again to potentially move the Broncos within a win of the AFC West title. The Pittsburgh Steelers, who have to deal with an injured QB Ben Roethlisberger and might be without LB James Harrison, are going to be taking on the San Francisco 49ers in a game that is currently off the board on Monday Night Football. Finally on Sunday Night Football, the Baltimore Ravens are laying 1.5 at the San Diego Chargers, who could be fighting for their playoff lives.

On the back end of the AFC playoff picture, the Tennessee Titans are laying 6.5 at the Indianapolis Colts. The Titans are probably set to turn the ball over to rookie QB Jake Locker, who looked okay in relief last week of the injured QB Matt Hasselbeck. This is probably the best chance that the Colts have of winning a game this season. Meanwhile, the Cincinnati Bengals are off the board in a game in which they will be heavily favored against the St. Louis Rams, while the New York Jets are getting three from the Philadelphia Eagles, who are at least clinging to dim postseason hopes, two back in the NFC East with three to play.

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The NFC Wild Card race is going to be hot and heavy this week as well. Perhaps the most important game involves the Seattle Seahawks and the Chicago Bears. Seattle, assuming that it wins on Monday Night Football, is two back with three to play, while the Bears, who are in a bad way with tiebreakers, are a game outside of the chase. Both need a lot of help to get into the playoffs, but losing this one would be devastating. The NFL betting lines are off the board at the moment. Meanwhile, another team that is two back, the Arizona Cardinals, are likely to win their fourth straight game, as they are laying 6.5 on Sunday to the lowly Cleveland Browns at University of Phoenix Stadium.

The Detroit Lions survived a huge challenge last week from the Vikes at home to hang on to their Wild Card bid for the time being. With the Giants, Cowboys, and Cardinals all likely to win this week, and knowing that either Chicago or Seattle has to as well, Detroit is in for a tough challenge. It has to go on the road to face the Oakland Raiders, who are banged up and are in bad need of a victory. The loser of this game is probably going to be on the outside of the playoffs looking in for the time being, while the winner has to feel like it is in good shape.

2011 NFL Week 15 Odds @ SportBet Sportsbook (as of 12/12/11):
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Week 15 NFL Betting Odds for Thursday, December 15th
301 Jacksonville Jaguars +12.5
302 Atlanta Falcons -12.5
Over/Under 42.5

Week 15 NFL Point Spreads for Saturday, December 17th
303 Dallas Cowboys -7
304 Tampa Bay Buccaneers +7
Over/Under 47

Week 15 NFL Spreads for Sunday, December 18th (1:00 ET Kickoffs)
305 Washington Redskins +6.5
306 New York Giants -6.5
Over/Under 46

307 Green Bay Packers -13.5
308 Kansas City Chiefs +13.5
Over/Under 46

309 New Orleans Saints -6.5
310 Minnesota Vikings +6.5
Over/Under 51

311 Seattle Seahawks +4
312 Chicago Bears -4
Over/Under 35.5

313 Miami Dolphins OTB
314 Buffalo Bills OTB
Over/Under OTB

315 Carolina Panthers +6.5
316 Houston Texans -6.5
Over/Under 45

317 Tennessee Titans -6.5
318 Indianapolis Colts +6.5
Over/Under 41

319 Cincinnati Bengals -6
320 St. Louis Rams +6
Over/Under 40

NFL Week 15 Betting Lines for Sunday, December 18th (4:00 ET Kickoffs)
321 Detroit Lions -1
322 Oakland Raiders +1
Over/Under 47.5

323 New England Patriots -6
324 Denver Broncos +6
Over/Under 46

325 New York Jets +3
326 Philadelphia Eagles -3
Over/Under 44

327 Cleveland Browns +7
328 Arizona Cardinals -7
Over/Under 37

Sunday Night Football Week 15 Odds for Sunday, December 18th
329 Baltimore Ravens -1.5
330 San Diego Chargers +1.5
Over/Under 44

Monday Night Football Week 15 Lines for Monday, December 19th
331 Pittsburgh Steelers OTB
332 San Francisco 49ers OTB
Over/Under OTB

The Current NFL Week Fifteen NFL Odds @ Bovada Sportsbook
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We’re down to the nitty-gritty of the fantasy football season, and we are set to head into the playoffs. Find yourself in a bind? Check out these fantasy football sleepers for Week 15!

Heath Miller vs. San Francisco 49ers
The Niners still haven’t allowed a rushing touchdown this year, and it is completely up in the air whether QB Ben Roethlisberger is going to give it a go or not on Monday Night Football. That doesn’t mean that all of a sudden, Pittsburgh isn’t going to score. It’ll be tough to get the ball up the field to these speedy receivers against a great San Fran secondary, but the Steelers might be able to work the ball to Miller in the slot. Miller only has 56 points so far this season in standard ESPN.com fantasy leagues, but he really could be in line for a decent day, especially near the red zone if RB Rashard Mendenhall can’t find any holes to take advantage of. This is a sneaky play for a man that you could probably find on the waiver wire.

Sammy Morris vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Before you ask who Sammy Morris is and what he is doing in this article, we’ll answer those questions for you. He might be the back that is getting the goal line carries this week against a rush defense that ranks dead last in the game against fantasy backs this year. The Cowboys signed Morris on Tuesday, but with both RBs Phillip Tanner and DeMarco Murray going on IR in recent weeks, Jerry Jones had to do something to bolster his team’s running game. RB Felix Jones isn’t anywhere near a between the tackles back, and at 6’2″, 200 lbs, we very well could see some action for Morris straight off of the streets, a la Kevin Smith a few weeks ago for the Lions. Don’t say that we didn’t warn you, especially against a Tampa Bay team that is turning the ball over a ton and can’t seem to get out of its own way offensively this year.

Santana Moss vs. New York Giants
Last week, Moss had 11 targets, but he was only able to convert on three of those. That being said, he did have 81 yards and a TD, and now, he is going against a defense which ranks No. 31 against fantasy wide receivers this year in that of the Giants. New York just doesn’t have a great secondary, and if you want proof of that, just check the 76 yards that Moss had the first time that these two teams met in Week 1. It seems as though Moss is getting back into the groove again after missing a month injured, and he could be in line for another big time day for Washington, as it tries to pull off the upset of the G-Men to ruin their playoff chances.

Arizona Cardinals D/ST vs. Cleveland Browns
In spite of the fact that the Browns have a hard time putting points on the board, they really haven’t been all that bad about turning the ball over and giving up sacks thanks to the short passing game of QB Colt McCoy. The Cardinals aren’t a turnover forcing machine either, but in this one, we know that we have a safe play that isn’t going to cost you points. We always have the off chance at a defensive TD, especially against an offense that is going to be likely featuring QB Seneca Wallace on Sunday, and we know that DB Patrick Peterson is always capable of returning a punt for a touchdown. The Cardinals have only had one week since Week 7 in which they have scored fewer than eight points. They’re not going to be a play that wins you your week, but if you’re in a bind and want a consistent option that you know will get you some point, Arizona’s defense and special teams could probably be had off of the waiver wires.

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Week 15 of the 2010 NFL campaign is going to get underway this weekend. Below you will find the current list of 2010 Week 15 NFL lines and spreads along with a breakdown of the Week 15 NFL odds. Be sure to check out the free NFL picks from the expert handicappers at Bankroll Sports this weekend…

For all of the teams that just narrowly hung on to their playoff lives in Week 14, Week 15 picks are going to feature a matter of survival once again. The biggest teams that are still trying to survive are the San Francisco 49ers and the San Diego Chargers. These two teams both kept their seasons alive last week with huge wins, and now they’ll meet at Qualcomm Stadium on Thursday Night Football in what amounts to be the biggest game of the year for both teams to date. San Diego is probably in worse shape and needs this win more, as it has a tough task to run down the Kansas City Chiefs than the Niners do in the NFC West against all of the teams there. Still, this instate rivalry is going to be very, very intense, and both of these teams are going to be going all out to stay alive for the race to the playoffs. The Chargers are eight point home favorites and are probably going to be very, very public.

The Miami Dolphins are still staying alive at this point, as they pulled off the big time upset against the New York Jets last week. They still need to win out and get a heck of a lot of help to get the job done, but we have a hard time picking against Head Coach Tony Sparano. Sparano just tends to do what he needs to do on a regular basis. Though playing at home has been very difficult at time for the Fins, they’ll have to be at their best on Sunday. The Buffalo Bills and their big time cover streak are in town, and the visitors are catching 5.5 points in Week 15.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers just barely survived against the Washington Redskins last week, and now, they are getting a little bit closer towards a playoff berth after watching the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears both lose in Week 14. This is the easiest game of the year left for Tampa Bay on Sunday, as it has the Detroit Lions. Remember that these Lions beat those aforementioned Packers last week, and they have one of the best ATS marks in the league. However, if Detroit is going to prove to be frisky for another upset this week, it is going to have to do so as a six point underdog.

The biggest game of the day in Week 15 involves the New York Jets and the Pittsburgh Steelers. There really should be no doubt that these two teams are going to the postseason, but they are going to try to get a leg up on the other one in a potential playoff fight. New York badly needs to get back in the win column in a hurry to stop the sting from two straight losses, while the Steelers are just looking to make sure that they keep the Baltimore Ravens off of their backs. At home, it should come as no surprise that the men in black and gold are favorites, but it seems like a stretch that they are favored by 6.5 on the NFL betting lines.

The other big time game goes on in Indianapolis, where the Jacksonville Jaguars are going to try to put away the AFC South for all intents and purposes. If they can beat the Indianapolis Colts, the AFC South might be clinched, and the Colts will be eliminated from postseason contention. The season is on the line for QB Peyton Manning, who really needs to get back in gear after throwing 11 INTs in his last four games. The hosts are favored by 4.5 points.

All eyes in the NFC will be on the Atlanta Falcons, who might be playing their last difficult game of the season. We already know that someone is going to have to beat them in the Georgia Dome to make it to the Super Bowl, but a win on Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks could wrap up the No. 1 seed in the playoffs in the NFC. Seattle isn’t really expected to be able to put up a fight here, as it is a dog by 6.5 points.

2010 NFL Football Week 15 Lines @ BetUS Sportsbook (as of 11/15/10):
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Week 15 NFL Odds for Thursday, 12/16/10

301 San Francisco 49ers +8
302 San Diego Chargers -8
Over/Under 44.5

Week 15 Lines for Sunday, 12/19/10

303 Kansas City Chiefs +3
304 St. Louis Rams -3
Over/Under 42.5

305 Houston Texans +1
306 Tennessee Titans -1
Over/Under 47

307 Jacksonville Jaguars +4.5
308 Indianapolis Colts -4.5
Over/Under 48

309 Arizona Cardinals +2.5
310 Carolina Panthers -2.5
Over/Under 37.5

311 Cleveland Browns +1
312 Cincinnati Bengals -1
Over/Under 40

313 Buffalo Bills +5
314 Miami Dolphins -5
Over/Under 40

315 Philadelphia Eagles +3
316 New York Giants -3
Over/Under 46.5

317 Washington Redskins +7
318 Dallas Cowboys -7
Over/Under 44.5

319 Detroit Lions +4.5
320 Tampa Bay Buccaneers -4.5
Over/Under 42.5

321 New Orleans Saints +1.5
322 Baltimore Ravens -1.5
Over/Under 43.5

323 Atlanta Falcons -6
324 Seattle Seahawks +6
Over/Under 46

325 New York Jets +5
326 Pittsburgh Steelers -5
Over/Under 35.5

327 Denver Broncos +7.5
328 Oakland Raiders -7.5
Over/Under 42

329 Green Bay Packers +14
330 New England Patriots -14
Over/Under 43.5

Week 15 Spreads for Monday, 12/20/10

331 Chicago Bears -9
332 Minnesota Vikings +9
Over/Under 33.5

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Note: Below this post, there is a complete listing of all the NFL week 15 lines (sides & totals) from BetUS Sportsbook (100% signup bonus when you click here) if you would like to skip our weekly NFL lines breakdown.

Last week in the NFL, our expected low scoring trend continued around the league as we have predicted.  The under totals were 8-4-1 compared to the over totals in week 14 of the NFL season. It was the 3rd week in a row where the under totals have outweighed the overs as defenses have controlled the tempo in later weeks. As for our other trends, favored teams took home an 8-5 mark ATS this week and home favorites were also fairly strong with a 5-3 mark ATS. The home vs. away teams battle has been back in forth all year and they actually split right down the middle at .500 for the week. Looking into the week 15 NFL lines, the playoff factor will likely play influence on our trends. One theme that is pretty consistent in the recent NFL lines is the number of home teams that are favored. Home teams are favored in 8 of the 12 contests, but do not let that fool you. There are a few away teams that really need to come through including the Dallas Cowboys, who will be 7 point underdogs against the Saints on Saturday night in a game that has an over/under total at the highest mark of the week;  holding steady at 53 ½. Also, the week fifteen NFL lines have a ton of games where teams are favored by a touchdown or more; which is rather unusual at this point in the season. In 8 of the 12 games the betting lines show a team favored by 7 points or more.  It is very likely that the outcomes will be much closer in some of those games meaning there are some sharp underdog plays to be made. The week 15 NFL betting will kickoff this Thursday night when the Indianapolis Colts put their undefeated campaign on the line against the Jaguars; a rematch that resulted in a close 14-12 win earlier this season for Peyton Manning and the mighty Colts. The week closes with the New York Giants on the road, trying to salvage postseason opportunities as they will be mere 3 point favorites over the Redskins on Monday Night Football. Check out all the other action in between those exciting games below as the week 15 NFL betting lines below are brought to you by BetUS Sportsbook where you can get a HUGE 100% Bonus (Up to $500) Using This Exclusive Link. Be sure to also check out the complete NFL playoff pitcure below to see which teams are still alive and which teams will be watching the playoffs on TV.

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2009 Week 15 NFL Lines & Spreads From BetUS (as of 12/16 @ 4:00 am EST):
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The postseason picture continues to unravel as there are just 3 weeks left in the season. Shockingly we still have two undefeated teams in the Indianapolis Colts and New Orleans Saints. Both of those teams have clinched division titles and first round byes in the playoffs. However, there are many other teams that do not have that type of comforting feel about the postseason destiny. We break down the NFL playoff picture again heading into week 15.

NFC East:

Philadelphia Eagles (9-4) – The Eagles offense was just unstoppable in their big win over the Giants and they now sit alone atop the NFC East. With the Cowboys struggling, the Eagles appear to be big favorites to win the division. Philadelphia really only needs one more win against Dallas to clinch the division, but the way the offense is playing they have the possibility of running the table.

Dallas Cowboys (8-5) – The December woes continue and with meetings with both New Orleans and Philadelphia still on the schedule, things do not look good. The Dallas offense seems to be moving the ball, but just not putting it in the endzone. With the Giants on their trail and having beaten them head to head, the Cowboys will most likely have to win at least two of the last three.

New York Giants (7-6) – Despite the constant big plays by the Eagles, the Giants showed a lot of character and had a strong offensive showing on Sunday night. However, the week 14 loss to Philly really set their playoff chances back and took destiny out of their hands. The good news for Giants fans is that their next two games are very winnable before the season finale against Vikings; who may end up resting Brett Favre and Adrian Peterson in the last week. Giants fans should be rooting for New Orleans to seal up that one-seed.  At least one of the two wildcard teams will come out of the East.  But, the Giants are going to need some external help from the opponents of the Cowboys and Packers.

Washington Redskins (4-9) – Out

NFC North

Minnesota Vikings (11-2) – Clinched Division. The Vikes are just two back from New Orleans for the one-seed and home field advantage throughout the playoffs.  However, New Orleans would win the tiebreaker over Minnesota in the result of a tie for the one spot.

Green Bay Packers (9-4) – The Packers got a lot of ground support from running back Ryan Grant in their 21-14 win over the Bears this weekend. The win marks the 5th straight by the Packers as they are the leading team in the running for a wild card position. Green Bay also gets the struggled Pittsburgh Steelers followed by the Seahawks next on the schedule which should help pad their cushion for a playoff seat.  They still have a shot at winning the division, but it’s looking more and more like they are going to have that first wildcard spot.  The Pack are looking like one of the hotter teams in the NFC down the stretch.

Chicago Bears (5-8) – Out

Detroit Lions (2-10) – Out

NFC South:

New Orleans Saints (12-0) – New Orleans clinched the division and first round bye with their squeaker over the banged up and fading Atlanta Falcons.  The Saints can secure home field advantage throughout the playoffs with a win and a Minnesota loss.

Atlanta Falcons (6-7) – QB Chris Redman had an excellent showing in place of Matt Ryan throwing for over 300 yards in a near upset win over the Saints. The Falcons really needed the victory, but fell short 26-23. The Falcons absolutely have to win out to have a chance at the postseason now. However while most will write them off, every game remaining is very winnable.

Carolina Panthers (5-8) – Even at 5-8 somehow through a bizarre scenario of miraculous events the Panthers are still mathematically in the picture. The only thing that have to do now is win out and do it against the possibly 3 of the best teams in the NFC. It is likely that the Vikings could put them out of their misery next week.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-12) – Out

NFC West:

Arizona Cardinals (8-5) – The Cardinals looked like a solid playoff contender just two short weeks ago.  However, they looked like the complete opposite against the 49ers on Monday night. Arizona still needs another win and a 49ers loss before they will clinch the division.  If they continue to play like they did on Monday Night, the Cardinals may find themselves back in an underdog role in the playoffs; or even worse yet, missing the postseason all together.

San Francisco 49ers (6-7) – San Francisco did exactly what they had to this week against the Cardinals as the kept them selves in the playoff hunt with a 24-9 victory. The 49ers defense played extremely well forcing Kurt Warner to a couple of picks. The Niners are two games behind the Arizona Cardinals in the NFC West with just three games left to play.  They own the tiebreaker over the Cardinals having beaten them twice this year.  Their only realistic shot at the playoffs would be to catch the Cardinals for the division.  They would need a lot of chips to fall into place in order to get in as a wildcard this year.

Seattle Seahawks (5-8) – The Seahawks are another team that is somehow mathematically in the equation, but rather have no chance at actually making those events happen. Seattle was destroyed by Houston 34-7 last week and they have some major issues to resolve over the off season.

St. Louis Rams (1-12) – Out

AFC East:

New England Patriots (8-5) – The Patriots got off to a sluggish start last week against the Panthers and showed a lot of trouble stopping the run throughout the game. With Miami knocking on the door, the Patriots can not afford any more less than impressive performances. The good news is the schedule looks very manageable as it reads Buffalo, Jacksonville, and ends with Houston. It is most likely to assume two wins would get the Patriots into the playoffs as that would make Miami have to run the table. However, 3 straight wins would guarantee them the division.

Miami Dolphins (7-6) – Do not look now but the Dolphins are getting it done having won 4 of their last 5 as they held on to hold off the Jaguars 14-10 this past Sunday. The very interesting factor to this scenario is that a loss by the Patriots and a win by the Dolphins would actually put Miami ahead in the tie breaker scenario given their conference record. Miami also has a winnable remaining schedule where they will likely be favorites in each of their final 3 games. A couple of scenarios could play out depending on the Jets and Patriots outcomes over the next 3 weeks, but the Dolphins appear to need at least 2 wins in most probable cases.

New York Jets (7-6) – The Jets are right in the middle of the interesting AFC East battle that looks very similar to the 2008 regular season. New York beat up on Tampa Bay last week 26-3, but they have the most difficult schedule out of the division teams remaining. Atlanta next week will be interesting, but the last two games with the Colts and Bengals is frightening for their hopes at the postseason. The Jets would lose both tie breakers against Miami due to their head to head sweep and the Patriots due to a worse record in the division. Therefore, the division may be a long shot but a couple more wins could still find a wildcard spot if everything falls into place.

Buffalo Bills (5-8) – Out

AFC North:

Cincinnati Bengals (9-4) – Cincinnati could have really strengthened their chances to clinch the division last week, but appeared rather out-matched by the Vikings as they lost 30-10. Also, if they do not regroup quickly they could drop two straight considering they take on the red hot Chargers this weekend. The Bengals hold the tie breaker over Baltimore so just one more victory will clinch the AFC North.

Baltimore Ravens (7-6) – The Ravens exploded against the Lions last week to win by 45 points as Ray Rice had a huge performance racking up 166 yards on the ground. Baltimore is right in the thick of the wild card position battle and if they can continue to play well their schedule will allow a few more wins. However, they still may need the Jaguars to misfire to increase their postseason chances. The Ravens could also win out and hope the Bengals lose out to win the division. However, the most likely chance for the playoffs maybe through the wildcard position and it appears that they will have to at least be 9-7 to have that opportunity.

Pittsburgh Steelers (6-7) - Let’s just forget the playoffs talk. The Steelers were beating by the Browns of all teams who had just one victory previously. Pittsburgh now has the NFL’s longest losing streak at 5 straight losses. The defending Super Bowl Champions could at least find a way to go out with some dignity. Pittsburgh must win out to better position them selves for a possible wildcard position given they already out of the division race.

Cleveland Browns (2-11) – Out

AFC South:

Indianapolis Colts (13-0) – Clinched Division and home field advantage throughout playoffs.  The Colts appear to have nothing to play for now that the home field advantage is wrapped up. However, this team is still undefeated and the chance to end the season that way is very rare. In fact, only 4 teams have accomplished that feat in NFL history so do not expect the Colts to back off.

Jacksonville Jaguars (7-6) – The Jaguars lost a close battle with the Dolphins this week, but they would still be in the playoffs if the season ended today. However, with the Ravens playing well there is hardly any room for mistakes. The problem is how do you avoid any mistakes when you have the Patriots and Colts next on the schedule? The Jaguars would win any tie breaker scenario considering they have the best conference record of teams battling for a wildcard position. However, it depends on which team they would be up against considering they lost to Miami and beat the Jets which are two teams fighting for wild card positions if the season ended today. Jacksonville will likely need to get at least two more wins and need some bad luck from Miami and possibly Baltimore.

Tennessee Titans (6-7) – Chris Johnson led the Titans in a dynamic win over the Rams last Sunday 47-7. Johnson racked up 117 yards on the ground as well as 69 yards receiving with numerous big plays throughout the games. Also, both Kerry Collins and Vince Young were effective behind center. The Titans are still starring at an unconquerable mountain for the postseason needing to win out like the Texans, but they could really build some momentum to end the season as they have the chance to score some respectable wins over the next 3 games.

Houston Texans (6-7) – The Texans destroyed the Seahawks as QB Matt Schaub threw for 365 yards in the routing. Despite little chance of the postseason, Houston will likely be a team that plays a huge role in shaping out the AFC playoff picture as they play some teams that are right in the thick of the mixture. Houston could still win out and have a shot at the postseason giving a few more helpful scenarios as well. With 4 different teams already at 7-6 and the Broncos at 8-5, the Texans would have to get to 9-7 to have a chance at breaking any tie breakers.

AFC West:

San Diego Chargers (10-3) – San Diego captured a big time victory over the Cowboys 20-17 this week and really put a strangle hold on the AFC West. In the most probable scenario, the Chargers will most likely win the division with just one more victory. However, the Chargers may be one of the more dangerous teams in the NFL at this point in the season and they are known for playing well in December. If San Diego can manage just 2 more victories, they will get a first round bye in the playoffs.

Denver Broncos (8-5) – The Broncos suffered a setback this week in a loss to maybe the best team in the NFL as they fell to the Colts 28-16. Denver is in position to grab the first available wild card position and they are playing at a level which they should be able to maintain that position. Also, 2 of the last 3 games are against Oakland and Kansas City which should guarantee the Broncos will be in the postseason. However, they still have to get the job done and win the games. If they can just manage 2 out of the next 3 they will be hard to chance at 10-6. However, if the Ravens get hot the Broncos would lose tie breaker scenarios with them due to the head to head factor. As for any other tie breakers teams involved with the Broncos, it would fall by their final conference records as to which team won the tie breaker. Of course if they win out, they guarantee a playoff position.

Oakland Raiders (4-9) – Out

Kansas City Chiefs (3-10) – Out

With only two weeks to go in the regular football season there are still a bunch of teams battling for playoff positions and games to watch going into week 16 in the NFL. Looking back it was definitely a wild week in professional football with a number of huge plays and unlikely winners. The Dallas Cowboys had a full week of controversy surrounding their offensive standouts. Star wide receiver Terrell Owens accused QB Tony Romo of throwing the ball to tight end Jason Witten too often and it lead to a media field day. However, the Cowboys dominated the New York Giants Sunday night to win 20-8. The Giants were a team many thought clearly to be the best in the NFC. The win put the Cowboys who seemed like a long shot for the playoffs back in the captain’s seat for a wildcard spot. The Giants on the other hand dropped two in a row and now will play in a huge game next week against the Carolina Panthers to determine who has home field advantage throughout the playoffs.

The Carolina Panthers on the other hand continue to prove why many are considering them favorites to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl. The Panthers trampled the Broncos 30-10 and improved their home record this season to 8-0. A win next week would make the Panthers very difficult to beat considering they would get the rest of their games at Bank of America Stadium. The Chicago Bears and the Minnesota Vikings both got wins in their quest to win the NFC North. Both teams records are likely not good enough to earn a wildcard position and they are battling it out to try and win the division. The Vikings need one more win to clinch the division, but they will take on two of the better teams in the NFC in the New York Giants and the Atlanta Falcons. The Bears must run the table against the Packers and Texans because a single loss would end their postseason hopes.

The Washington Redskins troubles continued as they fell victim to the Cincinnati Bengals 20-13. The Redskins have just been torn apart in recent weeks losing 5 of their last 6 games. Sunday’s loss to the Bengals officially eliminated Washington from the playoff picture. The Philadelphia Eagles are set to collide with the Cleveland Browns primetime on Monday night. The Eagles still have an outside shot at making the playoffs and must win their last 3 games. A single loss will eliminate the Eagles from contention. The Eagles have been playing well and if they could pull of the 3 wins, they still could quite possibly need some help to still make the playoffs. However, with absolutely nothing to lose you can expect Philadelphia to keep up their stellar of recent weeks.

One of the more anticipated match-ups heading into last week showcased the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons desperately needed a win and that is exactly what they got as they edged the Bucs out by a field goal in overtime 13-10. Both teams now stand at a season record of 9-5 with the Cowboys. The Buccaneers hold the tie-breaker over the Falcons, but with two games to go anything can happen. Especially considering how well the Falcons are playing and the Buccaneers have now lost two straight. The Falcons really need to win their last two games because one loss simply does not look like it will get the job done. The Arizona Cardinals have already clinched the NFC West, but have now lost 3 of their last 4 games including a blowout loss to the Vikings Sunday 35-14. The Cardinals must get the offense back to playing as they did early in the season. The Cardinals looked like a team that could possibly surprise a few teams a few weeks ago and now look like they could be a cake walk in the first round.

In the AFC, the Baltimore Ravens and the Pittsburgh Steelers held a classic grudge match between their two stellar defenses. The Ravens lead nearly the entire game, but the Steelers would stage a comeback in the 4^th quarter for the 2^nd time in two weeks to clinch the AFC North. Pittsburgh now has the opportunity in a big game against the Tennessee Titans this week to earn the chance at home field advantage throughout the playoffs. The Titans and the Steelers both have already earned first round byes, but are now fighting for the home field and whoever wins this weekend will claim the home turf. On the other hand, the Ravens are now in a 4 way tie for the final wildcard spot and cannot afford a single loss. The AFC is as tough this year as it has been in the last decade and if a quality caliber team like the Ravens misses the playoffs this season that will say a lot for how strong the AFC has played this season.

The Indianapolis Colts held off a valiant effort from the winless Detroit Lions this week to win 31-21. The Colts now have a record of 10-4 and are one win away from clinching a wildcard position because they would win all tie-breakers due to the fact they only have two losses in the AFC. The AFC East division is wild horse race with 3 teams tied at 9-5 including the New York Jets, Miami Dolphins, and New England Patriots. The Jets hold the tie-breaker as of now, but every team will need to win out. New York received a gift on one of the wildest plays of the weekend. Down by 3 points to the Bills with under 2 ½ minutes to go in the game, QB J.P Losman fumbled the football that led to a Jets recovery for a touchdown. The play was huge in keeping the Jets in playoff contention and an absolute nightmare for the Bills. Buffalo should have been running the ball, but tried to get fancy and it cost them big time. That single play had huge consequences for a number of team’s playoff chances and hopes.

The Miami Dolphins and New England Patriots both picked up wins this weekend keeping pace with the New York Jets. The Patriots may have a slight advantage considering Miami and New York will meet in the last game of the season. The Patriots blew out the Raiders 49-26 and will get two struggling teams in Arizona and Buffalo to close out the season. Miami held on to a defensive battle to beat the 49ers 14-9 as well Sunday. The Dolphins victory kept things on the right path and they will need two more wins for a chance at the playoffs. Baltimore, Miami, New England, and New York all stand at the 9-5 mark and one loss would be devastating for any of those teams. The Ravens have perhaps been the strongest of the 4 this season, but they will take on the Dallas Cowboys in what appears to be a tough game next week. Week 16 in the NFL season promises to be as exciting as this past week as these playoff contenders leave everything on the field in their quest to make the postseason.