NFL Week 15 Picks Straight Up – Predicted Upsets and Underdog Picks
- Lions, Rams top list of upset picks in NFL Week 15
- Steelers offer value as underdogs as Panthers wrestle with downfield injuries
- Read on for all the odds and trends going into Sunday’s NFL Week 15 action
The Detroit Lions top the list of underdogs to watch in NFL Week 15. Fresh off a pair of convincing victories over Jacksonville and Minnesota, the Lions’ stirring offense will be put to the test in Sunday’s date with the New York Jets as slim 1-point road underdogs.
The availability of Aaron Donald will be a key factor in the Los Angeles Rams’ bid to pay out as lengthy 7-point road underdogs in their Monday Night Football matchup with the Green Bay Packers, while injuries among Carolina’s receiving corps could level the playing field for the Pittsburgh in their road date with the Panthers as 3-point underdogs.
Here’s a look at our top picks to produce as underdogs in NFL Week 15.
NFL Week 15 Upset Picks
| Matchup | Spread | Moneyline | Pick | Units |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit Lions vs New York Jets | NYJ -1 | -105 | Lions | 1 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers vs Carolina Panthers | CAR -3 | +130 | Steelers | 1 |
| Los Angeles Rams vs Green Bay Packers | GB -7 | +250 | Rams | 1 |
Odds as of December 17 at Caesars Sportsbook.
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NFL Week 15 upset picks: Lions Offense Up to the Task Against Stingy Jets
Losers in six of their first seven games despite averaging 24.7 points per game, the Lions’ defense has finally caught up with the team’s potent attack during the 5-1 SU run that has rekindled their playoff hopes.
The Lions offense is for real and Jared Goff is having the best year of his career. They find ways to get aggressive passes down the field every week and the entire offense can do just about whatever they want. pic.twitter.com/cNaDfI4O1k
— Chris Simms (@CSimmsQB) December 12, 2022
The Lions outscored the Jaguars and Vikings by a wide 73-37 margin over the past two weeks, and while they face possibly the toughest defense they have seen in this weekend’s date with New York, it is tough to ignore the value in the Lions’ current position as slim 1-point underdogs in the NFL odds.
It may be too much to ask of the Lions to maintain that offensive pace in New York, where the Jets have limited just 16.5 points per game during a 3-1 run. However, it should be plenty to outpace a Jets attack in flux with the return of a chastened Zach Wilson under center. Wilson has failed to complete over 50% of pass attempts in two of three outings and returns to the helm of an offense that has failed to produce a scoring pass in three of the past four games.
Baker Mayfield Set to Shine Again in Primetime Spotlight
It has been a disappointing season for the Los Angeles Rams, who opened the campaign as defending Super Bowl champions but enter Week 15 near the bottom of the conference standings. The team received a huge lift from Baker Mayfield’s performance last week, just hours after being acquired by the Rams.
Against all odds: The Baker Mayfield game winning touchdown drive via NFL Filmspic.twitter.com/UEJK15yoAm
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) December 9, 2022
Mayfield flashed the form that made him the first-overall pick in the NFL Draft while leading LA to a 17-16 win over the Raiders on Thursday Night Football and will have another chance to do it under the lights on Monday night. Indeed, Mayfield faces a struggling Packers squad that surrendered 14 total scoring passes in six outings before last week’s win over the injury-riddled Chicago Bears.
The Packers continue to face injury concerns, most notably to offensive linemen David Bakhtiari and Elgton Jenkins, and rusher Aaron Jones, not to mention Aaron Rodgers’ nagging thumb injury. That makes Aaron Donald a huge wild card. Sidelined by an ankle injury, Donald has yet to be ruled out of Monday’s game despite not practicing.
However, if he can go, his presence changes the dynamic of an already formidable Rams defensive line that slammed the door on Derek Carr and the Raiders last week. Look for the Rams to cover, if not win outright.
Hobbled Panthers in Tough Against Stout Steelers Defense
The Pittsburgh Steelers arrive in Carolina for Sunday’s date with the Panthers facing uncertainty under center after rookie pivot Kenny Pickett was sidelined by a concussion in last weekend’s 16-14 loss to Baltimore. However, given the recent stingy performance of the Steelers’ defense, having journeyman Mitch Trubisky manage the offense may be good enough.
The Steelers face a resurgent Panthers squad that has won two straight and covered in six of seven. However, injuries to receivers DJ Moore and Laviska Shenault Jr. further limit a Carolina passing game that has generated just two scores and 134.8 yards per game over their past four outings.
With a stout Steelers rush defense allowing just three scoring runs over the past eight weeks, the Panthers will face a challenge to eat up the clock the way they did against the injury-raved Ravens, adding value to the Steelers as a Week 15 upset pick.
Daniel has been writing about sports and sports betting for over 23 years. The seasoned pro has contributed to the likes of Sports Illustrated, Sportsnet, NESN, Bleacher Report, OddsShark, the Globe and Mail, and The Nation magazine.
