Three more weeks. That’s all that remains of the 2019 NFL regular season.
As the field of postseason contenders gets thinner by attrition, we focus on several games in Week 15 with particular importance to the playoff picture.
The Houston Texans visit the Tennessee Titans with first place in the AFC South at stake, and Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill has a chance to make history in a statistical sense.
The Los Angeles Rams travel to North Texas to face the Dallas Cowboys in a rematch of last season’s divisional playoff game. Even though the Rams have the better record, it’s the Cowboys who are in a better position to make the playoffs.
Finally, in what might be the best matchup of the week, the surprising Buffalo Bills hit the road to face the resilient Pittsburgh Steelers in a game with implications on the AFC wild cards.
To see which games will be shown in your area, visit our Week 15 game maps article here.
Without further ado, here are your NFL game previews for Sunday (Dec. 15) and Monday (Dec. 16):
New England Patriots at Cincinnati Bengals
TV: 1 p.m. ET Sunday, CBS
Records: Patriots 10-3, Bengals 1-12
Line: Patriots by 9½
Satellite radio: Pats feed on Sirius 134 (streaming 820), Bengals feed on Sirius 81 (streaming 806)
Patriots’ keys: Lean on Rex Burkhead and James White through the air against a defense that has struggled to contain running backs in the passing game.
Bengals’ keys: DEs Carlos Dunlap and Carl Lawson will have to get after Patriots QB Tom Brady and force him into game-changing mistakes.
Who wins? The Patriots’ defense is suffocating, and the offense can scheme up ways to exploit one of the NFL’s worst defenses. The Bengals have scored more than 20 points in a game twice all season and are unlikely to match a team coming off two straight December losses. Patriots 30, Bengals 13
— Chris Roling
NE@Cin / TB@Det / Chi@GB / Hou@Ten / Den@KC / Mia@NYG / Phi@Was / Sea@Car / Jax@Oak / Cle@Ari / Min@LAC /LAR@Dal / Atl@SF / Buf@Pit / Ind@NO
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Detroit Lions
TV: 1 p.m. ET Sunday, Fox
Records: Bucs 6-7, Lions 3-9-1
Line: Bucs by 3½
Satellite radio: Bucs feed on Sirius 135 (streaming 829), Lions feed on Sirius 111 (streaming 810)
Buccaneers’ keys: Tampa Bay’s biggest challenge will be to avoid beating itself with turnovers, penalties and missed opportunities. It starts with QB Jameis Winston making better decisions and taking care of the ball.
Lions’ keys: Detroit’s defensive playmakers, CB Darius Slay and S Tracy Walker, need to convert any opportunities to get the ball back for QB David Blough and the offense.
Who wins? The Buccaneers are tough to predict with their wild variability from week to week, but they have the better roster and play with more vitality. Bucs 31, Lions 20
— Jeff Risdon
Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers
TV: 1 p.m. ET Sunday, Fox
Records: Bears 7-6, Packers 10-3
Line: Packers by 4½
Satellite radio: Bears feed on Sirius 137 (streaming 805), Packers feed on Sirius 83 (streaming 811)
Bears’ keys: Keep QB Mitchell Trubisky rolling, dominate the flow of the game on defense and win in the red zone. Trubisky has thrown six touchdown passes and run for a seventh score over the past two games.
Packers’ keys: Stay balanced on offense, get RB Aaron Jones going early and keep Trubisky in the pocket. The Packers can’t get pass-happy.
Who wins? This has all the makings of another classic Packers-Bears battle. The Bears are clinging to their playoff lives, but the Packers are at home and charging toward an NFC North title. Packers 20, Bears 17
— Zach Kruse
Houston Texans at Tennessee Titans
TV: 1 p.m. ET Sunday, CBS
Records: Texans 8-5, Titans 8-5
Line: Titans by 2½
Satellite radio: Texans feed on Sirius 94 (streaming 812), Titans feed on Sirius 82 (streaming 830)
Texans’ keys: Starting fast and keeping the momentum will be important for the Texans, who have just 30 first-quarter points this season, the second-lowest total in the NFL.
Titans’ keys: QB Ryan Tannehill will need to stay hot in order for this offense to keep rolling in the right direction. On defense, takeaways will be key.
Who wins? Having moved into a tie with the Texans for first place in the AFC South, the Titans have a new energy and have played well against division opponents lately. Titans 21, Texans 17
— Crissy Froyd
Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs
TV: 1 p.m. ET Sunday, CBS
Records: Broncos 5-8, Chiefs 9-4
Line: Chiefs by 9½
Satellite radio: Broncos feed on Sirius 138 (streaming 809), Chiefs feed on Sirius 113 (streaming 815)
Broncos’ keys: The Chiefs can be beaten via a ball-control offense and keeping the ball out of QB Patrick Mahomes’ hands. The Broncos’ offense is built for that kind of game with RBs Philip Lindsay and Royce Freeman.
Chiefs’ keys: The Chiefs will need to dial up their pass rush and make sure Denver rookie QB Drew Lock doesn’t get comfortable.
Who wins? The Broncos are proving to be formidable in the latter half of the season. But they’re not complete enough to defeat the Chiefs at Arrowhead. Chiefs 30, Broncos 24
— Charles Goldman
Miami Dolphins at New York Giants
TV: 1 p.m. ET Sunday, CBS
Records: Dolphins 3-10, Giants 2-11
Line: Giants by 3½
Satellite radio: Dolphins feed on Sirius 136 (streaming 818), Giants feed on Sirius 119 (streaming 822)
Dolphins’ keys: Miami can’t get too pass heavy, no matter how tempting that might be for QB Ryan Fitzpatrick. The Dolphins will need to find a way to get rookie RB Myles Gaskin and RB Patrick Laird going to create some offensive balance.
Giants’ keys: The Giants should lean heavily on RB Saquon Barkley and feature him both on the ground and through the air.
Who wins? Both teams will be playing for pride and trying to develop young players. Look for the Giants to protect the home field. Giants 27, Dolphins 23
— Dan Benton
Philadelphia Eagles at Washington Redskins
TV: 1 p.m. ET Sunday, Fox
Records: Eagles 6-7, Redskins 3-10
Line: Eagles by 5½
Satellite radio: Eagles feed on Sirius 108 (streaming 825), Redskins feed on Sirius 121 (streaming 831)
Eagles’ keys: If the Eagles’ offensive line gives QB Carson Wentz time to throw, he likely will be able to take advantage of a banged-up Redskins defense.
Redskins’ keys: They will need to find the holes in Philadelphia’s secondary, which has been suspect this season. Though Washington won’t have RB Derrius Guice for the rest of the season, it can lean on veteran RB Adrian Peterson to keep the ground game moving the chains.
Who wins? The NFC East is still open at the top, and at some point Philadelphia has to make a move at the playoffs. The Eagles can’t afford to miss out on an easy win. Eagles 24, Redskins 13
— Zac Neel
Seattle Seahawks at Carolina Panthers
TV: 1 p.m. ET Sunday, Fox
Records: Seahawks 10-3, Panthers 5-8
Line: Seahawks by 5½
Satellite radio: Seahawks feed on Sirius 133 (streaming 828), Panthers feed on Sirius 105 (streaming 804)
Seahawks’ keys: Their success is largely the result of QB Russell Wilson’s career-best year, but the inability to protect him in the pocket is their Achilles’ heel. Seattle has been hurt by the loss of RB Rashaad Penny.
Panthers’ keys: They need to get back to riding RB Christian McCaffrey as QB Kyle Allen has been unable to handle the increased pressure.
Who wins? The Seahawks and Panthers have played each other nine times since 2010, and the Seahawks have won all but twice. The Panthers also are riding a five-game losing streak. Seahawks 37, Panthers 24
— Tim Weaver
Jacksonville Jaguars at Oakland Raiders
TV: 4:05 p.m. ET Sunday, CBS
Records: Jaguars 4-9, Raiders 6-7
Line: Raiders by 6½
Satellite radio: Jaguars feed on Sirius 133 (streaming 814), Raiders feed on Sirius 105 (streaming 824)
Jaguars keys: Their offense is carried by their two top wide receivers but DJ Chark and Dede Westbrook are injured, so RB Leonard Fournette will have to step up.
Raiders’ keys: The offense has relied on rookie RB Josh Jacobs to carry them this season, but a shoulder injury kept him out of action in Week 14. He is expected to return to the lineup.
Who wins? The Raiders still have a glimmer of playoff hope left and this also is their final regular-season home game in Oakland. Raiders 24, Jaguars 21
— Marcus Mosher
Cleveland Browns at Arizona Cardinals
TV: 4:05 p.m. ET Sunday, CBS
Records: Browns 6-7, Cardinals 3-9-1
Line: Browns by 2½
Satellite radio: Browns feed on Sirius 138 (streaming 807), Cardinals feed on Sirius 81 (streaming 800)
Browns’ keys: QB Baker Mayfield needs to find his playmakers and let them make plays. Also, taking care of the ball should help score points.
Cardinals’ keys: They have to get in an offensive rhythm early, involving RBs Kenyan Drake and David Johnson.
Who wins? The Cardinals close out their home schedule with a good showing offensively, but the defense makes things interesting and they lose their seventh game in a row. Browns 30, Cardinals 27
— Jess Root
Minnesota Vikings at Los Angeles Chargers
TV: 4:05 p.m. ET Sunday, CBS
Records: Vikings 9-4, Chargers 5-8
Line: Vikings by 2½
Satellite radio: Vikings feed on Sirius 135 (streaming 819), Chargers feed on Sirius 121 (streaming 816)
Vikings’ keys: On the offensive side of the ball, Minnesota needs to ride the hot hand with RB Dalvin Cook. Los Angeles’ run defense has been better in recent weeks, but it still is susceptible to giving up big plays on the ground.
Chargers’ keys: The offensive line needs to be at its best against a fearsome Minnesota pass rush. If it can do so, it should be enough for QB Philip Rivers, who’s coming off a strong game.
Who wins? The Vikings are fighting for their division. That urgency should make the difference. Vikings 27, Chargers 17
— Gavino Borquez
Los Angeles Rams at Dallas Cowboys
TV: 4:25 p.m. ET Sunday, Fox
Records: Rams 8-5, Cowboys 6-7
Line: Rams by 1½
Satellite radio: Rams feed on Sirius 137 (streaming 817), Cowboys feed on Sirius 83 (streaming 808)
Rams’ keys: It appears the pitch count for RB Todd Gurley is over, as he’s played a key role the past several weeks. Keeping him involved will reduce the pressure on QB Jared Goff, who has been inconsistent.
Cowboys’ keys: QB Dak Prescott will need to overcome injuries to both hands and provide accurate throws. He has a productive receiving quartet. A big game from RB Ezekiel Elliott would go a long way toward helping Prescott.
Who wins? Rams head coach Sean McVay will try to scheme around Goff’s deficiencies and take advantage of a Cowboys team that is allowing a lot of points. Rams 34, Cowboys 27
— K.D. Drummond
Atlanta Falcons at San Francisco 49ers
TV: 4:25 p.m. ET Sunday, Fox
Records: Falcons 4-9, 49ers 11-2
Line: 49ers by 10½
Satellite radio: Falcons feed on Sirius 134 (streaming 801), 49ers feed on Sirius 82 (streaming 827)
Falcons keys: The Falcons have to get a big game from RB Devonta Freeman, a dual threat who can give the 49ers trouble. On defense, Atlanta has to dominate the edges.
49ers keys: The 49ers have to get behind their run game against a Falcons run defense that’s struggled. RB Raheem Mostert has broken out, and RB Matt Breida is explosive and finally healthy.
Who wins? Simply more talented, San Francisco should roll in a game it needs to win to keep pace in a tightly contested NFC. 49ers 34, Falcons 20
— Kyle Madson
Buffalo Bills at Pittsburgh Steelers
TV: 8:20 p.m. ET Sunday, NBC
Records: Bills 9-4, Steelers 8-5
Line: Steelers by 2½
Satellite radio: Bills feed on Sirius 81 (streaming 803), Steelers feed on Sirius 83 (streaming 826)
Bills’ keys: Buffalo has to figure out a way to use tempo to wear down the Steelers’ defense. When that group is fresh it can terrorize any quarterback, even one as athletic as Josh Allen. For the Bills’ defense, it will be all about slowing down QB Devlin Hodges.
Steelers’ keys: Their offense has to continue to evolve and expand so they can sustain drives and give the elite defense a chance to rest. This means RBs Benny Snell Jr. and Jaylen Samuels have to get going early.
Who wins? This is a matchup as close as these two teams’ records. Look for this game to be close, very physical but in the end too much for the Steelers. Bills 28, Steelers 21
— Curt Popejoy
Indianapolis Colts at New Orleans Saints
TV: 8:15 p.m. ET Monday, ESPN
Records: Colts 6-7, Saints 10-3
Line: Saints by 9½
Satellite radio: Colts feed on Sirius 81 (streaming 813), Saints feed on Sirius 83 (streaming 821)
Colts’ keys: The 49ers proved in Week 14 that New Orleans could be outplayed on vertical passes, and the Colts need to follow that same game plan. But it’s going to be tough to do that with such a depleted receiving corps, especially if WR T.Y. Hilton can’t go. The Colts will need every break to get an edge over the playoff-bound Saints.
Saints’ keys: CB Eli Apple has to play more like his early-season self, and the linebacker corps could really use a jolt of good health. They missed starters LB Kiko Alonso and LB A.J. Klein against San Francisco. On offense, the Saints need a good option opposite WR Michael Thomas. The Saints hoped that would be TE Jared Cook, but his status is up in the air with a concussion.
Who wins? The Saints can’t overlook the Colts, just like they were shocked by the Falcons a month ago. Saints 30, Colts 21
— John Sigler
Lines by BetMGM.com
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