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To say that it has been a week of change has been an understatement.
First, there are starting dates and times that have changed. For example, the Raiders-Browns game has been shifted to Monday (5 PM ET). The Eagles-WFT game is now on Tuesday (7 PM ET), and the Seahawks-Rams will kick off at the same time.
You can blame Omicron for it, as there are now a slew of COVID cases being reported. You really can’t tell the eligible players without a scorecard, and that scorecard is ever-changing.
Oh, and there’s been a move to the “Sub-Urbs” in Jacksonville, in case you haven’t heard.
Texans at Jaguars Team Totals for Week 15
Time: Sunday, December 19 – 1 PM ET
Team Totals Odds: Jacksonville Jaguars — Over 21.5 Points (-115) / Under 21.5 Points (-115)
The Play: JAGUARS OVER 21.5 POINTS (-115)
Here’s one that we can’t support too much by giving you a bunch of fancy stats, but we can tell you that having listened to some quotes by players, media and even the interim coach, Darrell Bevell, there is probably a mood around the Jaguars’ camp that is a lot less tense now that Urban Meyer has been fired.
As a result, you’ll see a better attitude.
And that should be somewhat reflective on offense. Bevell is / was the offensive coordinator, and he unequivocally stated that James Robinson, whose benching was among the many Meyer issues, will be in the lineup and will be playing a major role. That seemed to be a direct reaction to what Meyer had done, which was to take him out of the game when he fumbled. I’m sure Bevell didn’t much like Meyer.
This is a team that will most likely go on the field having a lot more fun. Let’s see what happens with Trevor Lawrence, who said that it was “hard to focus” with all the drama that had surrounded his former head coach. And the Texans, who have an even worse offense than the Jags do, might be willing to accommodate them with field position (they’re 29th in starting line of scrimmage on defense).
And maybe the mood is festive enough to bring back Josh Lambo, who, by the way, IS the fourth-most accurate field goal kicker in NFL history.
Cardinals at Lions Team Totals for Week 15
Cardinals vs. Lions Prediction
Time: Sunday, December 19 – 1 PM ET
Team Totals Odds: Arizona Cardinals — Over 30.5 Points (-110) / Under 30.5 Points (-120)
The Play: CARDINALS OVER 30.5 POINTS (-110)
Rodney Hudson, one of the better centers around, has been placed on the COVID list. Also, DeAndre Hopkins has been lost, at least for the rest of the regular season. This promoted some talk that Larry Fitzgerald might come back and help the team down the stretch, but I’m not sure that has any legs.
This is what the Cards have done on the road: 38, 31, 37, 37, 31, 23 and 33 points. That’s an average of 32.9 points, and a few of those games came against teams you’ll see in the playoffs. The fact is, they have not lost at all away from home.
Another fact is that they have not faced a team – perhaps ever – who is as thin in the secondary as the Lions are right now. Not only are almost all the defensive backs in their rotation either injured or sick, so are a couple that they had to pull off the practice squad. They may have to play people they just signed on Tuesday.
And they are facing a quarterback (Murray, who is good to go as far as we can tell) who leads the NFL in completion percentage and yards per attempt and throws the deep ball about as well as anyone.
Guys are dropping like flies around the league, but the Cards should be able to have James Conner and Chase Edmonds available in the backfield.
Falcons at 49ers Team Totals for Week 15
Time: Sunday, December 19 – 4:05 PM ET
Team Totals Odds: San Francisco 49ers — Over 27.5 Points (-115) / Under 27.5 Points (27.5)
The Play: NINERS OVER 27.5 POINTS (-115)
Okay, to start off with, the Niners have averaged almost 29 points per game over their last five outings. This is a top-three offensive line, and Pro Football Focus, the analytics site a lot of insiders use, has given left tackle Trent Williams its highest grade ever at the position.
Atlanta’s defensive line is last in the league in “Power Success,” which essentially means it is not too good in short-yardage situations that take place when you’ve got third or fourth down. The Niners run it 47% of the time, and though the bad news is that Elijah Mitchell will not be available for them, the good news is that Deebo Samuel will be there to help in the backfield (and by the way, he leads the NFL in yards per route run).
And they have the hottest tight end in the league (with apologies to Travis Kelce, who went wild on Thursday) in George Kittle, who has caught 22 passes for 332 yards in the last two games. Atlanta safety Erik Harris, third on the team in tackles, is out for the year (chest injury).
Saints at Buccaneers Team Totals for Week 15
Saints vs. Buccaneers Prediction
Time: Sunday, December 19 – 8:20 PM ET
Team Totals Odds: New Orleans Saints – Over 16.5 Points (-125) / Under 16.5 Points (-105)
The Play: SAINTS UNDER 16.5 POINTS (-105)
I write this acknowledging that New Orleans has won three straight regular season meetings against Tom Brady and the Bucs. But we also acknowledge Sean Payton’s absence from the team (COVID issues). Maybe that doesn’t make much of a difference with Pete Carmichael calling the plays, but it couldn’t help.
What’s worse for the Saints is that they are missing two Pro Bowl offensive tackles – Ryan Ramczyk and Terron Armstead – and that can’t be a good place to start from. Granted, New Orleans did have 152 yards on the ground the last time these teams played, but Tampa Bay will key on that first. Do you really think that Taysom Hill (7 ypa) is going to carve up the Bucs’ secondary? Alvin Kamara, for all his virtues, has by far the worst pass blocking grade of any running back (per Pro Football Focus).
