NFL Week 15 Picks & Power Rankings

Los Angeles does it big, all the time.

We dress big, we pay big taxes, we chill big, we steal NFL teams from other cities big and we fire football coaches big.

From John Robinson, to Mike Shanahan, to Art Shell, to Karl Dorell, to Lane Kiffin to Steve Sarkisian, if you wear a whistle on your neck in the City of Angels, you’re always in danger of a public execution. Even on an airport tarmac.

Welcome to the club, Jeff Fisher. I was rooting for you, I really was. I was your biggest apologist going back to your Titans days. I respected your mustache and your olive skin tone.

I even enjoyed your turn on “Hard Knocks.” I thought to myself, “This guy is the perfect person to lead a team back to Southern California.” He doesn’t have the energy of a Pete Carroll, but he has the chillax attitude of your typical marijuana dispensary worker.

Then came the drafting of Jared Goff. Then came the benching of Jared Goff. Then came the starting of Jared Goff, but with training wheels on. Watching the rookie play has been like watching a toddler take those first few uneasy steps while an enthusiastic parent stands a few feet away with their arms extended.

Then came the feud with Eric Dickerson. Then came a string of blowouts. Then came public comments from Todd Gurley ripping the team’s “middle school offense.”

Sorry, bro. You’re done. On a Monday with another game just three days away. Ouch.

Now, us Angelenos get to sit in a vape cloud of rumors until the Rams pick their next head coach. I just hope it’s not Norv Turner.

Now, that I’ve wasted everyone’s time talking about a horrible team, let’s move on to those which are actually relevant.

(You can discuss this on the BSL Board here.)

Here is this week’s Playoff Contender Power Rankings:

1. Patriots (Last week: 2) – I feel ashamed that I dropped them to the second spot last week. I’m sorry, Tom and Bill. That won’t happen again. You can’t say enough about their win over the Ravens on Monday night. They can beat you in a million different ways.

2. Cowboys (1) – I want to rip Dallas for laying an egg vs. the Giants, but every team is entitled to a stinker or two during a long season. However, the Giants seem to have the Cowboys’ number and there’s no way the latter wants to face them in the postseason.

3. Chiefs (5) – They didn’t just beat the Raiders, they took them apart. Kansas City’s defense is frightening and could be a legitimate threat to the Patriots in the playoffs.

4. Raiders (3) – The Silver and Black are stinging after that disheartening loss on the road. Derek Carr’s injury is clearly bothering him, and that’s a point of concern going forward. Lucky for Oakland, it has winnable games against San Diego and Indy coming up before closing the season out vs. Denver. They can still get a top-two seed with some help.

5. Giants (13) – Do I think the Giants are the fifth-best team in the league? Nope, but they’re sitting at 9-4 and just handed an 11-1 team (Dallas) its second defeat. Plus, their defense has really come together, even with the loss of Jason Pierre-Paul.

6. Lions (7) – This team is a lot like the Giants. I don’t really buy them as a serious contender, but I can’t argue with the results. Someone once said you are what your record is. And Detroit is 9-4. Kudos.

7. Seahawks (3) – I’m really down on Seattle. They had a blowout win over the Panthers sandwiched between two awful performances. Getting stomped in Green Bay can happen, but Russell Wilson throwing 5 picks was difficult to watch. This team needs to figure things out.

8. Buccaneers (12) – I’m so high on them. Holding the Saints offense to just 11 points should capture the attention of every head coach in the league.

9. Falcons (10) – I don’t want to give them too much credit for dominating a Rams team that’s circling the drain. But when Matt Ryan gets going, there’s nobody better in the game. And I love watching Vic Beasley get after the passer.

10. Broncos (6) – Did I drop this team too low? I’d listen to the argument, but I feel I had no choice. Getting beat by the Titans on the road and having no semblance of a running game will do that to you.

11. Steelers (9) – They’re in first place in the AFC North and are riding a four-game winning streak. Yet, somehow, I’m still not in love with them. Maybe I’m tough to please.

12. Redskins (14) – Nice win over the Eagles. Washington will come to regret that tie game vs. the Bengals earlier this season.

13. Dolphins (11) – Yes, they won and fell two spots. They also lost Ryan Tannehill for at least the rest of the regular season and have two straight road games before facing the Patriots in the finale. I don’t like their chances.

14. Titans (15) – They showed the world something by taking down the Broncos at home. Unfortunately, I don’t know if that will be enough to get them to games in January. They’ve got a bright future though.

15. Ravens (8) – The final score of that Monday night game made it seem close, but the Ravens got pushed around by the banged-up Patriots. This is rapidly turning into a lost season for Baltimore and it really shouldn’t be this way. There’s a lot of talent there, but it hasn’t completely come together.

16. Packers (19) – Is Green Bay back? Maybe, they’re back above .500 and looked great offensively vs. Seattle. But I’m holding back my praise. I still need to see more.

17. Texans (20) – I still hate this team. They’re going to be in the postseason while a more deserving team will stay home. That angers me.

18. Vikings (18) – Only here because they’re above .500.

Honorable mentions: Bills, Colts, Bengals, Eagles, Saints, Cardinals, Chargers, Panthers.

Make golf plans: Rams, Jets, Jaguars, Browns, Bears, 49ers.

WEEK 15

5 SEXY MATCHUPS

Lions at Giants

They should call this one the Make Sid Saraf Proud Bowl. Two teams with great records, but still have a plentiful supply of question marks. However, the Giants’ pass rush has been excellent, and I like them to get after Matthew Stafford at home.

Pick: Giants

Patriots at Broncos

New England is rolling, injuries be damned. Tom Brady has been wicked terrific … except in Denver. Everyone knows this is the one place that has given him fits over the years. I want to say he’ll break from his career trend this week, but I won’t. I think he’ll have another hiccup here.

Pick: Broncos

Buccaneers at Cowboys

Anyone else kinda worried about Dak Prescott? After his amazing run through November, December hasn’t been as kind. Touchdown passes have been hard to come by lately, even though teams are stacking the box to stop Ezekiel Elliott and daring him to throw. That’s a bad sign. The Buccaneers present a problem because they can get pressure on the QB while rushing the minimum. I love the baby B’s here.

Pick: Buccaneers

Titans at Chiefs

Tennessee desperately needs a win to stay in the playoff hunt. Even though the Chiefs lost star LB Derrick Johnson, they’ll be able to disrupt Marcus Mariota and control the ball on offense.

Pick: Chiefs

Steelers at Bengals

Pittsburgh will go a long way to clinching the NFC North with a win here, but that’s not why this matchup is sexy. I don’t care what either team’s record says, I want to see what the Steelers will do with Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict. Expect a fight to break out.

Pick: Steelers

6 MATCHUPS THAT ARE MILDLY INTERESTING

Rams at Seahawks: Richard Sherman calls Thursday night games a “poopfest.” He used a term commonly heard on grade-school playgrounds. Fine, I can play along. I think the Rams are full of cooties and will get dominated on short rest with an interim coach.

Pick: Seahawks

Dolphins at Jets: Miami starts its journey in a post-Tannehill world. Matt Moore will have enough to get the Fins a win.

Pick: Dolphins

Colts at Vikings: Two disappointing teams. I’ll go home the one playing at home.

Pick: Vikings

Eagles at Ravens: This game would have been great in Week 4, when both teams were sitting pretty at 3-0. Baltimore’s defense will give Carson Wentz fits.

Pick: Ravens

Raiders at Chargers: Oakland needs to keep pace in the race for the AFC’s top two playoff seeds. There’s nothing like a matchup against a hated rival to get the juices flowing. The Raiders should dominate.

Pick: Raiders

Panthers at Redskins: Carolina isn’t going anywhere, but the Panthers can make sure the Redskins don’t either. I want to see if Cam Newton guts out a win to build momentum heading into the offseason. But I don’t think he will.

Pick: Redskins

5 MATCHUPS THAT ARE A COMPLETE WASTE OF TIME

Jaguars at Texans – Pick: Texans

Browns at Bills – Pick: Bills

Packers at Bears – Pick: Packers

49ers at Falcons – Pick: Falcons

Saints at Cardinals – Pick: Cardinals