The NFL Roundup 2018: Week 15

Written by John Edward Betancourt

​The clock continues to tick on the NFL season since there are only a few weeks left for teams to make an impact on either their record or their playoff standings and that means, we are going to be in for quite the treat as team after team gives us their all when they take the field. Which means we should expect more upsets, more surprises and more compelling stories as the season begins to come to a close and with that in mind, it’s time for us highlight some of those stories and preview what should be some incredible games to watch.
 
Will the Rams rebound from their ugly and embarrassing loss to the Bears this week?
Sometimes losing demoralizes a team to the point where they slip into a tailspin and the loss the Rams suffered in Chicago is the kind of loss that does just that. But I think, the Rams are better than teams that let such things get under their skin and will use that ugly Monday Night game as fuel to fine tune their play and leave that embarrassment behind with a quality game against the Eagles and honestly, they couldn’t ask for a better opponent to host after that prime-time misstep. For Philadelphia is just a bad football team this year, and if the Rams can’t handle them at home, well then, I stand corrected when it comes to the character of this team.
 
Can the Broncos pull out a victory over the Browns?
It’s funny, if it was any other year, I wouldn’t even be asking this question, but this is no normal year. For the Broncos are a shell of their former selves and they now tend to take their opponents for granted and the Browns are also in a unique place since they are playing in fearless fashion this year. Which means, if Denver takes the field with the same anemic game plan we saw them use against the 49ers last week, expect the Browns to feast upon the Broncos secondary and punish Case Keenum and the offense. So really, the answer to my initial question comes down to which Broncos team is going to show up in this one, the one that beat two of the league’s finest teams, or the one that has caused Broncos Country to pull their hair out on a regular basis…
 
Can Carolina dig deep and defeat the Saints and save their season?
The Panthers have endured one strange season, since they started out strong and have fluttered away grand opportunities as the year rolled on. Which quite frankly, isn’t surprising since they aren’t a tough team mentally, and crumble when a team stands up to them. Which is bad news for them because they’re hosting a dynamic and hungry New Orleans squad this week, which means there is a chance that if they lose here and lose big, their hopes at a decent season or the playoffs for that matter as well, will fade. But the Saints are vulnerable and if Carolina can stay strong and execute and not let bad plays get under their skin, they can win this thing. But in all honesty, I expect the Panthers to lose this game since they really are a team without heart.

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The Most Fascinating Games to Watch This Weekend 

Los Angeles Chargers (10-3) at Kansas City Chiefs (11-2)
Arrowhead Stadium – Kansas City, MO
Thursday Night Football – 8:20 pm. EST
FOX/NFL Network/Amazon Prime 

It’s been a couple of years since I’ve truly been excited to watch an AFC West showdown that didn’t involve the Broncos, but this one, has the makings of a true classic for so many reasons. The first one being, that both of these teams are dynamic on offense and have been a delight to watch all season long. But the other reasons this game may become a classic, relate to the fact that so much is at stake here. For this game may determine who wins the AFC West and depending on how the rest of the games go on Sunday, it could also change the playoff standings in the AFC. So, there’s a lot on the line in this one, and I fully expect this game to be quite the thriller, to the point where I haven’t a clue who will win this one since the AFC West is as wild as it gets. 

Dallas Cowboys (8-5) at Indianapolis Colts (7-6)
Lucas Oil Stadium – Indianapolis, IN
1:00 p.m. EST – FOX 

You have to love games where teams are suddenly surging when it comes to their quality of play because, they’re just downright fun to watch and that’s precisely what I’m expecting from this matchup, a ton of fun and some quality football. Because the Cowboys and the Colts are simply firing on all cylinders right now and they’re hungry for a playoff berth and that means we can expect some serious fireworks in this game since it has the makings of a potential shootout. But, while it will be cool to watch Prescott and Luck do their thing, someone has to win this game, and, in all honesty, I think this game comes down to defense and the first one to figure out their opposing quarterback and shut down the pass will be the one to walk away the victor. 

New England Patriots (9-4) at Pittsburgh Steelers (7-5-1)
Heinz Field – Pittsburgh, PA
4:25 p.m. EST – CBS 

​A year ago, when these two teams took the field in Pittsburgh, home field advantage was on the line and we were treated to a thriller of a game. But oh, what a difference a year makes. Because this time around, both of these teams are a shell of who they were last year since the Patriots are making some boneheaded coaching calls and paying poorly on the field and well, the same applies to the Steelers as well. Which means, while this game is likely going to be ugly to watch, it could also turn out to be a battle for the ages since these squads know what’s at stake and can ill afford to let this one slip away. So, I’m expecting this one to be a knockdown, drag it out brawl and in all honestly, this one may simply come down to who wants it more.