Week-15 NFL picks: Seahawks on the brink of clinching playoffs

Three weeks to go, and only 11 of the league’s 32 teams are currently above .500.

The Seahawks’ playoff position is fairly secure, their hopes at a division title now a largely mathematical exercise. Seattle has a chance at clinching a playoff spot itself this weekend, but only if Tampa Bay loses Thursday night to the Rams. Here’s a look at the week that will be in the NFL:

Tampa Bay at St. Louis

The Seahawks are rooting for the Rams in this one as a Bucs loss opens the door for Seattle to clinch a playoff berth this week, and conveniently enough, St. Louis just snapped a five-game losing streak.

Pick: Rams 23, Bucs 19

New York Jets at Dallas

The Jets have outscored opponents 44-13 in the fourth quarter over the past five games. Meanwhile, the most hopeful thing you can say about the Cowboys is they haven’t put Tony Romo on injured reserve. Yet.

Pick: Jets 20, Cowboys 16

Kansas City at Baltimore

Hard to tell what’s more impressive: That the Chiefs have won seven in a row after a five-game losing streak or that they’ve done it without Jamaal Charles. What’s not surprising: The Ravens have struggled without Terrell Suggs. And Steve Smith. And Joe Flacco. And Justin Forsett.

Pick: Chiefs 23, Ravens 20

Houston at Indianapolis

It’s fitting that a division this bad may be decided by a matchup between T.J. Yates and Charlie Whitehurst, two quarterbacks who weren’t even on those respective rosters when the season began. Yep. Whitehurst could be coerced into duty if Matt Hasselbeck is out. How bad is the division? The Colts have allowed 81 points more than they’ve scored this season – worst in the division – and they’re tied for first.

Pick: Texans 15, Colts 13

Atlanta at Jacksonville

Pete Carroll’s former deputies square off with Dan Quinn’s Falcons in the midst of a six-game freefall while Gus Bradley’s Jaguars are feeling surprisingly frisky having just scored 51 points.

Pick: Falcons 24, Jaguars 20

Chicago at Minnesota

The Vikings apparently play to 21. They’re 6-0 when they score more than 20 points, 2-5 when they score 20 or fewer. Only one of Minnesota’s victories has come over an opponent that currently holds a winning record. Minnesota, however, has won three of the last four games in this series, and the Bears haven’t won in Minnesota since 2011.

Pick: Vikings 21, Bears 20

Tennessee at New England

The Patriots’ offense scored 30 or more points in six of its first seven games. They haven’t reached that threshold in any of their past six games. That shouldn’t matter against the Titans, though. They’ve failed to reach 20 points in eight of their 13 games this season.

Pick: Patriots 27, Titans 13

Carolina at New York Giants

Not only are the Panthers undefeated, but five of their past six games have been decided by double figures. Could be a little different this week, though, with running back Jonathan Stewart out.

Pick: Giants 23, Panthers 20

Buffalo at Washington

The Bills are the only team in the league with a losing record that’s scored more points than it has allowed. Meanwhile, Washington has allowed 26 more points than it has scored and is in position to make the playoffs. Yuck.

Pick: Epithets 34, Bills 23

Green Bay at Oakland

Last week’s victory over Dallas wasn’t exactly proof that Aaron Rodgers’ Hail Mary saved the season, but a victory over Oakland would go a long way to show that the Packers have corrected their course. The Raiders have been better on the road than they have been at home this season.

Pick: Packers 24, Raiders 17

Cleveland at Seattle

The Seahawks have won eight straight home games against AFC opponents, a streak that goes all the way back to 2011. Meanwhile, the Browns are 7-31 in road games since the 2011 season began.

Pick: Seahawks 27, Browns 16

Denver at Pittsburgh

The Steelers rank second in the league in total yards. The Broncos, meanwhile, have allowed the fewest yards. With Peyton Manning practicing this week, a second-straight loss would bring Denver to a boil about whether it’s time to put Brock Osweiler back on the bench.

Pick: Steelers 38, Broncos 23

Miami at San Diego

Remember the 1981 playoff thriller between these two franchises? Well, this game isn’t going to be mistaken for that. In fact, be careful you don’t step in this matchup between two teams whose playoff hopes when the season started are a distant memory now. San Diego isn’t going to win this game so much as Miami will lose it six days after getting beaten at home by the Giants.

Pick: Chargers 34, Dolphins 24

Cincinnati at San Francisco

This is actually one of the most interesting games on the schedule this week. The Bengals at the very least have to buy time until Andy Dalton gets back and in a worst-case scenario are turning their season over to backup A.J. McCarron. While a Bengals victory won’t tell us if he’s up to the job, a loss in San Francisco would say everything about Cincinnati’s long-term trajectory.

Pick: Bengals 20, Niners 17

Arizona at Philadelphia

The Cardinals are cutting it close, four of their past five games decided by seven points or fewer. Meanwhile, the Eagles have actually resembled the functioning contender they were supposed to be this season. Not only that, but Philadelphia is the team that has more to play for this week.

Pick: Eagles 27, Cardinals 23

Detroit at New Orleans

The most telling stat about this Saints team? They’ve outscored opponents 177-163 in the first half and been outscored 228-140 in the second. That’s a sign of too little horsepower on the roster. Meanwhile, Detroit has regained its form after it slipped up earlier this season and won three in a row.

Pick: Saints 31, Lions 24