Schrock's Week 15 picks: Do 49ers get back on track in Dallas?
Editor's note: All odds are provided by our partner, PointsBet. PointsBet is our Official Sports Betting Partner and we may receive compensation if you place a bet on PointsBet for the first time after clicking our links.The 49ers entered Week 14 with their playoff hopes on life support and Chase Young and the Washington defense plunged a stake through their hearts. Now at 5-8, the 49ers are left to play out the remaining three weeks with only pride motivating them.The Kansas City Chiefs (12-1) are on a roll and take their act to New Orleans in Week 15 to face a Saints team coming off their first loss since September. New Orleans' Week 14 loss to Jalen Hurts and the Philadelphia Eagles dropped them behind the Green Bay Packers in the race for the No. 1 seed in the NFC. A loss Sunday to the Chiefs would make it hard for them to catch the Packers -- who own the head-to-head tiebreaker -- with two games left.Elsewhere, the Pittsburgh Steelers have now lost two in a row and are leaking oil, but a date with the Joe Burrow-less Cincinnati Bengals should help them get back on track.Almost everything is still up for grabs with three weeks left in the regular season. We got back above .500 last week. So, let's get to the picks.RECORD: 95-94 SU (122-66-1)
Line: Bills -6.5
Don't look now, but the Broncos have been frisky over the past month (if you don't count their COVID QB game vs. the Saints).
The Bills are the NFL's hot ticket, but this feels like a possible slip-up spot as the Broncos look to gain momentum heading into 2021. Drew Lock put up a career game against the Panthers, but does he have enough to beat a good Bills defense? I'm not so sure.
Bills win but it's close.
Pick: Bills 24, Broncos 20
Line: Packers -8.5
Carolina has lost a ton of one-possession games this season and has put up a good fight against the Chiefs, Saints and Bucs.
They'll do the same here, but once again don't have enough to pull off the upset.
Pick: Packers 30, Panthers 26
Line: N/A
There's no line due to Matthew Stafford's uncertain status.
The Titans got back on track in Week 14 by hammering the Jacksonville Jaguars. They remain tied with the Indianapolis Colts atop the AFC South and need to keep winning to avoid a road playoff game.
If Stafford plays, the Lions have a shot at knocking off Tennessee. If it's Chase Daniel ... not so much.
I'd take the Titans anywhere under seven.
Pick: Titans 30, Lions 24
Line: Vikings -3
Both teams enter the week at 6-7 and needing a win to have a shot at a wild-card berth.
The Bears' defense will be able to slow down Dalvin Cook and the Vikings' offense, but I can't put money behind Mitchell Trubisky.
Vikings end the Bears' playoff hopes in an ugly game.
Pick: Vikings 20, Bears 16
Line: Ravens -14
Jacksonville had been covering against better teams and then got run over by the Titans.
Garner Minshew is back under center and I think he's good enough to keep this within 14. But just barely.
Pick: Ravens 31, Jaguars 20
Line: Bucs -6
Tampa Bay continues to look unimpressive even in its victories. At this point, the Bucs are what they are: A collection of talent that hasn't become a dominant cohesive unit.
That being said, I expect the Bucs to have enough to cover this number against a Falcons team that I think finally is cooked.
Pick: Bucs 27, Falcons 20
Line: Colts -7
Only a botched snap kept the Texans from beating the Colts two weeks ago, and I expect this game to be close again.
Houston has no incentive to lose and Deshaun Watson always gives Indy fits.
Texans. On the field.
Pick: Texans 27, Colts 24
Line: Dolphins -2.5
The Patriots' loss to the Rams was New England's worst offensive performance by EPA in the Bill Belichick era. That's less than ideal.
Now, they face a Dolphins defense that has been great against the pass and is getting better against the run.
But Bill Belichick doesn't lose to rookie quarterbacks. Ever.
Patriots. Upset special in South Beach.
Pick: Patriots 23, Dolphins 20
Line: Seahawks -6
Russell Wilson padded his MVP stats by torching the Jets in Week 14, but he'll face a tougher task this Sunday.
Chase Young anchors one of the best front sevens in football, and they will be hounding Wilson all day long at FedEx Field.
The issue is, we don't know if Alex Smith or Dwayne Haskins will be starting for the Football Team. Unless Wilson pulls a Nick Mullens and hands the WFT 14 points, the Seahawks should be able to leave D.C. with a win.
But, in typical Seahawks fashion, it will be close.
Pick: Seahawks 24, WFT 20
Line: Rams -17
We took the Jets last week and it backfired in spectacular fashion.
Seventeen is just too many points to lay in an NFL game.
I can't do it. I'd stay away from this game, but we'll take the Jets ... again. *gulp*
Pick: Rams 30, Jets 17
Line: Cardinals -6
Doug Pederson schemed up a great game plan for Jalen Hurts' first start. He got him out on the edge and didn't ask him to look to throw in the middle of the field.
Now that it's on tape, he'll have to come up with a more evolved plan.
Philadelphia was energized with Hurts under center. They blocked better, tackled better and were generally a more competent football team.
But the Cardinals started to get back on track against the Giants, with Kyler Murray using his legs to move the chains and spoon-feeding DeAndre Hopkins in the passing game.
Hurts keeps it close, but Kyler is too much.
Pick: Cardinals 27, Eagles 23
Line: Chiefs -3
We finally saw what happens when Taysom Hill isn't allowed to pay from ahead and it wasn't pretty. It doesn't look like Drew Brees will be back for this game, meaning the Saints will need their defense to contain Patrick Mahomes and ask their offense to control the clock and keep the chains moving.
If the Saints fall into a hole like the one they did in Philadelphia, this one will be over fast.
Take the Chiefs. They are on a mission.
Pick: Chiefs 28, Saints 23
Line: Browns -3
The only takeaway from the Browns' Monday night loss to the Ravens is this: Cleveland is for real.
Kevin Stefansky conducts an offense tailored to Baker Mayfield's strengths and the backfield duo of Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt is the best in the NFL.
The young Browns still have to learn how to win meaningful December games, and I think they get an important W at MetLife Stadium against a Giants team that was atrocious in a Week 14 loss to Arizona.
The Giants have the 15th-ranked offense in the NFC, and quarterback Daniel Jones loves to turn the ball over.
Browns in a romp.
Pick: Browns 27, Giants 16
Line: Steelers -13
Pittsburgh had been playing with fire all season and it finally burned the Steelers in back-to-back losses against the Football Team and the Bills.
Facing the Bengals without Joe Burrow is the perfect remedy, though.
The Steelers' defense scores two touchdowns and Pittsburgh cruises to 12-2.
Pick: Steelers 31, Bengals 13
Line: Raiders -3.5
The Raiders are sinking fast after getting hammered by the Colts. Jon Gruden fired defensive coordinator Paul Guenther, and now new defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli has just a few days to figure out a way to slow down Chargers rookie phenom Justin Herbert.
The last time these two teams met, Raiders cornerback Isaiah Johnson broke up back-to-back end zone fades in the final seconds to preserve the win.
The Bolts are playing hard despite being out of the playoffs, and the Raiders taking on water.
Chargers deliver the knockout blow to the Silver and Black's playoff chances.
Pick: Chargers 28, Raiders 27
Line: 49ers -3
Nick Mullens was abysmal against a good Washington defense. The good news is, the Cowboys can't stop any offense that isn't piloted by Brandon Allen.
This is a good get right spot for the 49ers as they look to finish the season from hell strong.
Pick: 49ers 27, Cowboys 20
