NFL Week 15 Picks by Cooper NFL Analyst and Cup of Joe in the D

       NFL Football Week 15 begins with the Los Angeles Rams (4-9) traveling to face the Seattle Seahawks (8-4-1) in an NFC West showdown. Plenty of drama surrounds this game as the Rams fired HC Jeff Fisher after last Sunday's blowout defeat at home just weeks after giving Fisher a 2 year contract extension.  Rumors already surround the Rams wanting to go after a big name Coach, possibly College Coaches Jim Harbaugh or Nick Saban.  Also, Seahawks CB Richard Sherman attacked the NFL in stating that Thursday NFL games are bad for the Players and hurt them more then help them. Interesting since games have been played on Thursday's for a long time now. Why not give the teams another bye week to offset playing games on Thursdays?                                              
       In the first Saturday games of the season, the NY Jets coming off an OT win will host the currently playoff bound WC team Miami Dolphins. Miami will be playing the rest of the season without QB Ryan Tannehill and will need lots of help to stay in the playoff race.
       In the early games on Sunday, Jacksonville, losers of 8 straight travel to Houston to face the 1st place Texans. The Browns, win less this season will visit the Bills in Buffalo in a game that the Bills, Marcell Dareus guarantees that Buffalo will not lose to Cleveland. This also may be the beginning of the end for the Bills HC Rex Ryan as the team once again under his helm will fail to reach the playoffs.  In a battle of top NFC teams, the NY Giants will host the Detroit Lions. Both teams are currently in the playoffs but this is a must win game for both teams. Lions QB Matt Stafford dislocated a finger in his throwing hand and this could be a huge issue for the Lions in their last 3 games of the year. The Colts, who will be without QB Andrew Luck again will travel to Minnesota to face the Vikings in a game that RB Adrian Peterson could be back after being out since week 2 with a knee injury. Kansas City will host the Titans in a battle of 2 first place teams in the AFC. It is also a game that neither team can afford to lose, especially Tennessee.   Green Bay, winners of 3 straight travel to Chicago to play a dangerous Bears team with a real good defense. Weather could play a huge part in this game as well as a banged up Packers QB Aaron Rodgers.  In a big game for the Steelers, they visit the Bengals, who have come on of late but will miss the playoffs this year. Star Cincinnati WR AJ Green, will be back after missing numerous games with a hamstring injury.   And in the final early game on Sunday, the Ravens host the Eagles. This is a must win for the Ravens who are a game out of 1st place in the AFC North behind the Steelers. Philadelphia is looking to be a spoiler for they have nothing to play for in the last 3 games.             
      The Sunday late games start with a game with San Francisco traveling to Atlanta to take on the 1st place Falcons. The 49'ers, losers of 12 straight are seeking to win their 2nd game of the season.  Arizona whose season is over, play host to the Saints in a game that both teams are playing for pride and little else. Oakland goes down the road to San Diego to play the Chargers who will be without RB Gordon and possibly DE Bosa. The Raiders looking for a must win after last weeks debacle against KC.  New England with the best record in the AFC travels into Denver to play the Broncos. A must win game for Denver who are fighting for one of the 2 Wild Card spots in the AFC.                                
        The Sunday night game is a battle between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Dallas Cowboys. The Buccaneers have won 5 in a row and are looking to keep a hold on one of the WC spots in the NFC while the Cowboys coming off only their second loss of the season look to get back on track.  Drama follows the Cowboys and its Owner Jerry Jones who despite a team record of 11-2 behind rookie QB Zak Prescott continues to inject the drama into the teams locker room with his comments about backup QB Tony Romo. Jones will never learn to just but out and allow his HC to Coach the team and this is a real good team this year but I have a feeling Jones will interfere and destroy this teams chances of going to the Super Bowl. 
        On Monday night, the Redskins host the Panthers in a game that means everything to Washington and nothing at all to last years Super Bowl runner up Carolina. It is a reunion of sorts for Redskins CB Josh Norman who started out his career with the Panthers only to bolt to Washington in the off season when the Panthers refused to offer him the contract he wanted.                     
      A question for all those who love the NFL, is the NFL becoming too friendly of a league between the players?  It seems the days of hated rivalries and teams playing good tough physical football with a chip on their shoulders has gone by the wayside.
       With injuries mounting for many NFL teams this season, those who have fantasy football teams are scrambling to just put a team out there in the fantasy Football Playoffs   Week 14 results;  Cooper 10-6, YTD; 156-50-2   CupofJoeintheD 10-6 ,  twitter; @cupofjoeinthed  email; cupofjoeinthed@gmail.com

                            Cooper the NFL Cat Analyst after making Week 15 picks

 

		NFL - Week 15			CupofJoe		Cooper
Los Angeles at Seattle					Sea		Sea
Miami at NY Jets					Miami		Miami
Jacksonville at Houston					Hou		Hou
Detroit at NY Giants					Det		Det
Philadelphia at Baltimore					Balt		Balt
Indianapolis at Minnesota					Minn		Minn
Tennessee at Kansas City					KC		KC
Green Bay at Chicago					Chicago		GB
Pittsburgh at Cincinnati					Pitt		Pitt
San Francisco at Atlanta					Atl		Atl
New Orleans at Arizona					Az		NO
Oakland at San Diego					Oak		Oak
New England at Denver					NE		Den
Tampa Bay at Dallas					Dal		Dal
Carolina at Washington					Wash		Wash