For Jewish football fans, Thursday Night Football coincides with the end of Hanukkah. There is nothing like ending a holiday celebration with football.
Yet for fans everywhere of alls stripes, Week 15 is special for another reason. College football is over. The professionals take over the entire weekend going forward. Religious Jews can always tape the Saturday games, just as religious Christians can do when games conflict with church.
Week 15 begins the home stretch. The stakes are sky high.
In September, all 32 NFL teams are like little puppies with dreams in their eyes. This is December. Put the NFL puppies to bed. December brings the words of John Randle and Mike Singletary that ring as true as a quarterback getting his bell rung.
“This is when the big dogs come out.”
You can yap and yelp in September. In December, you better be snarling mad dog mean to win in the National Football League in December.
This is when the big dogs come out.
There is room for finesse in September. The weather is colder in December. The bodies are bruised, beaten, battered and bloodied. The best of these men will refuse to stay down. Talking does not win Super Bowls. The Lombardi Trophy is not hoisted by engaging in words. Winning teams in December bring their battering rams. December is smash-mouth offense, bone-crunching defense, and brutal, blustery football weather.
This is when the big dogs come out.
September brings sunshine and ease at moving the ball. December is a war of attrition where every yard is contested. Fourth and goal at the one is not so easy when the men in the trenches are fighting the elements of rain, snow, and cold as well as each other. Every loss brings a team closer to the season’s end short of the goal. In December, only the very strongest of the strong survive. The very strongest of those men thrive.
This is December football. These are the big dogs. This is when the big dogs come out.
NFL 2023 Week 15 Prequel
Thursday, December 14, 2023, 8pm
Los Angeles Chargers at Las Vegas Raiders (-3) — Both of these teams are a mess for different reasons. The Chargers would have been favored but Justin Herbert suffered an injured finger last week and is out for the rest of the season. The Raiders finally improved their defense but the offense is dreadful. They lost last week at home to Minnesota 3-0. Eason Stick is the backup Chargers quarterback starting his first NFL game. The Raiders defense should be able to tee off on him. Raiders cover
Saturday, December 16, 1pm
Minnesota Vikings at Cincinnati Bengals (-3 1/2) — The Vikings won a hideous 3-0 game at the Raiders last week, but the team was clearly sparked when Joshua Dobbs was replaced with Nick Mullens. The Vikings re down to third string quarterback AJ McCarron. Joe Mixon should be the difference in a close game. Bengals win but fail to cover
4:30pm
Pittsburgh Steelers at Indianapolis Colts (-2 1/2) — Both teams are 7-6 but the steelers just lost two straight games at home to two of the worst teams in the league. Mitchell Trubisky is not the answer in place of injured Kenny Pickett. Gardner Minshew is a very competent backup. Jonathan Taylor should be able to run the ball indoors at home. Colts cover
8pm
Denver Broncos at Detroit Lions (-4 1/2) — The Lions are 9-4 but have been stumbling in recent weeks. They were hit in the mouth this past week at home to a lowly Chicago team. The Broncos started 1-5 but have gone 6-1 since. The Lions have the track meet offense and the Broncos have a tenacious defense. Russell Wilson is playing well. It’s hard to bet against the Lions on offense at home, but recent performances suggest going with the defense. Upset special, Broncos win outright
Sunday, December 17, 1pm
New York Jets at Miami Dolphins (-8 1/2) — The Dolphins led 27-13 at home against Tennessee with 3 minutes left and became the first team in 767 games to lose in that situation. Now they get a Jets team coming off their best performance of the year. Zach Wilson finally had a good game. None of this will matter. Asking Wilson to have two straight good games is too much, especially against a tough and angry Miami defense. The Jets have a good defense, but Tua Tagovailoa and Tyreek Hill will rebound and connect early and often. Dolphins cover
Houston Texans at Tennessee Titans (-2 1/2) — The Titans overcame a 14 point deficit in the final three minutes to get a shocking road win at Miami. The Texans are a young and improving team on the rise, but it is hard to tell which Tennessee team will show up. Give the Titans the benefit of the doubt one more time at home in a physical game. Titans cover
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Green Bay Packers (-3 1/2) — This went from the Bay of Pigs to Baywatch to just another game between average teams. Jordan Love has the home field but Baker mayfield has better receivers. Go with the home field in a close one. Packers win but fail to cover
New York Giants at New Orleans Saints (-6) — The Giants showed grit and guts in a last second win over Green Bay. Tommy deviate is starting to become a sensation. The Saints are inconsistent on offense but have a very tough defense. The Saints are not playing well enough to justify the high spread. Go with the Saints defense to do just enough. Saints win but fail to cover
Atlanta Falcons (-3) at Carolina Panthers — The Panthers are the worst team in the league while the Falcons can’t seem to finish games. Nobody seems to want to win the woeful NFC South, and the Carolina defense is not horrible. Yet Desmond Ridder should be able to do just enough. In a close game, trust Younghoe Koo. Falcons cover
Chicago Bears at Cleveland Browns (-3 1/2) — The Bears did get a win at Detroit, but the Browns have a very good defense. Joe Flacco came off of his couch to be the third string quarterback for the Browns. Last week he showed flashes of the Super Bowl winner from a decade ago. He may not be totally washed up after all. Trust the Cleveland defense. Browns win but fail to cover
Kansas City Chiefs (-9 1/2) at New England Patriots — The Patriots are awful, but they got a stunning win at Pittsburgh last week. Their defense is not bad. The Chiefs are good, but not automatic wins like they were in years past. The Chiefs are 8-5 but have lost three of four and four of six. Patrick Mahomes still has enough weapons to win games, but not by blowout margins. Chiefs win but fail to cover
4pm
San Francisco 49ers (-13 1/2) at Arizona Cardinals ‚ The 49ers may be the best team in the NFC. The Cardinals are awful. The spread is very high for a road team, and Kyler Murray can still make plays. Brock Purdy has Christian McCaffrey and Deebo Samuel tp take the pressure off of him. The 49ers may have the best defense in the NFL. A garbage touchdown is certainly a possibility. 49ers win but fail to cover
Washington Commanders at Los Angeles Rams (-6 1/2) — Both teams started terribly, but the Rams had been quietly improving before losing last week Matthew Stafford still has cooper Kupp. The Commanders defense is not very special. At home, the Rams should do enough to win. A blowout is unlikely. Rams win but fail to cover
Dallas Cowboys at Buffalo Bills (-2 1/2) — Both of these teams looked like Super Bowl teams on paper in the preseason. The Cowboys disappointed earlier in the season but are now gelling on both sides of the ball. They blasted Philadelphia at home. The Bills have struggled all year but got a big road win at Kansas City last week. The Bills have a good defense. Dak Prescott and Josh Allen have both played below their potential in years past. As great as the Cowboys have been playing, the Bills are desperate and at home. Bills cover
8pm
Baltimore Ravens (-3 1/2) at Jacksonville Jaguars — Lamar Jackson is healthy and playing well. Trevor Lawrence is also a superstar. The Ravens win by running the ball and playing tough defense. The Jaguars are a good team. The Ravens are a great team. Justin Tucker is the best kicker in the game. If it comes down to a field goal, trust him. Ravens win but fail to cover
Monday, December 18, 8pm
Philadelphia Eagles (-3 1/2) at Seattle Seahawks — The Eagles started 10-1 but lost two straight games in which they were blown out. Yet San Francisco and Dallas are also top tier. Seattle is not. The Seahawks started strong before losing several straight. The Seahawks will be desperate, but the invincibility of the 12th man is not what it wad in past years. Jalen Hurts has enough talent to get the Eagles back on track. Neither Geno Smith or Drew Lock presents a threat. Eagles cover