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Friday Afternoon Quarterback: NFL Week 15 Spread Picks and Locks

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

It’s time for me to admit I was wrong about Anthony Lynn. I was vocal last year that I thought he was a bad hire by the Los Angeles Chargers and thought he was not much more than a cheap place-holder for the eventual head coach they’d hire once the new stadium in Inglewood opened. He is not. He’s good and he has the Chargers tied for the AFC West lead with an inside track for not only a home playoff game, but a one-seed in the AFC Playoffs. He proved it once and for all Thursday night.

Unlike my usual TNF whiff or bulls eye, I hit the spread, but not the straight up winner.

To have won a game of this magnitude, on the road and in the fashion in which he did (coming back from 14 down and calling a two-point conversion to avoid overtime), solidifies it. Lynn is a good coach and the Chargers have as good a chance of making the Super Bowl as anybody after Thursday night.

After eating that much crow, let’s see how I can make up for it with your Friday Afternoon Quarterback NFL Picks:

Bet on MyBookie

Houston Texans at New York Jets (+6.5, O/U: 41.5)

You’d think for these Saturday feature games, the NFL Network would have picked a little better selection. The Texans are not only looking to start a new win streak, but there’s a real chance a No. 1 or 2 seed is possible. As big a surprise as Lynn turning into a good NFL coach is, I’m more shocked that Bill O’Brien seems to have pulled it off. Texans 27, Jets 20

Cleveland Browns at Denver Broncos (-2.5, O/U: 45.5)

If Gregg Williams keeps this up he might actually get a real job offer this offseason and not just the imaginary contracts he sees in his Ambien fever dreams. Browns 23, Broncos 20

Miami Dolphins at Minnesota Vikings (-7.5, O/U: 44.5)

It would be just like the Dolphins to lose this game after upsetting the Patriots with one of the greatest last-second plays of all time and it would be just like the Vikings to win after firing one of the most highly regarded offensive coordinators in the league.  Vikings 23, Dolphins 21

Related: NFL Betting Guide | Week 15 Odds

Oakland Raiders at Cincinnati Bengals (-3, O/U: 45.5)

Is it possible that Jon Gruden can direct a team to two victories in a row? Probably not, but I’m still picking the Raiders. Hue Jackson remains in the Bengals facility. Raiders 17, Bengals 13

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Baltimore Ravens (-7.5, O/U: 46.5)

I was tempted to pick an upset here, but then I remembered the Bucs haven’t fired Dirk Koetter yet. Ravens 20, Buccaneers 17

Dallas Cowboys at Indianapolis Colts (-3, O/U: 47.5)

Jason Garrett is feeling pretty good about himself right now so you know what’s about to happen. Colts 38, Cowboys 23

https://twitter.com/MrSisemore/status/1073284750025154560

Detroit Lions at Buffalo Bills (-2, O/U: 39.5)

There’s bad losses for Matt Patricia and the Lions, then there’s losing to the Bills. Bills 23, Lions 20

Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears (-6, O/U: 45)

The Bears are coming off their biggest win in half a decade. Here’s a fun fact: Aaron Rodgers is 16-4 against Chicago all time and he’s not hamstrung by Mike McCarthy anymore. Packers 24, Bears 23

Tennessee Titans at New York Giants (-1.5, O/U: 43.5)

The Giants are here to ruin everything. Even their chances of moving on from Eli Manning after the season. Giants 31, Titans 20

Washington Redskins at Jacksonville Jaguars (-7.5, O/U: 36)

I’m not the first one to bring this up, but this over-under is incredibly low, especially considering that one of the teams is favored by more than a touchdown. It’s mystifying. I can’t stop looking at it. It’s inspired me to make my own silly prediction. Jaguars 10, Redskins 0

Arizona Cardinals at Atlanta Falcons (-9, O/U: 44)

Every coach at this game should get fired before kickoff. Falcons 24, Cardinals 9

Seattle Seahawks at San Francisco 49ers (+3.5, O/U: 44)

Frank Clark can run his mouth about Richard Sherman all he wants, but I bet Russell Wilson still doesn’t throw at him. Seahawks 23, 49ers 17

New England Patriots at Pittsburgh Steelers (+2.5, O/U: 52)

Here’s another fun fact — the Steelers haven’t beaten the Patriots since Oct. 30, 2011. If you go back to 2002 (Brady-Belichick Year 2), the Steelers are 3-11 against New England. Which will make what I’m about to write even dumber that it should be. Steelers 27, Patriots 23

Philadelphia Eagles at Los Angeles Rams (-10.5, O/U: 52.5)

Carson Wentz won’t show up for this game, but to win it the Rams really need Jared Goff to. His talent has been a no-show for the last two weeks. Rams 40, Eagles 13

New Orleans Saints at Carolina Panthers (+6, O/U: 51.5)

The Panthers have lost five games in a row. The Saints are in the driver’s seat for NFC home field advantage. This looks like a recipe for disaster to me. Panthers 26, Saints 23

This week

Straight up: 0-1

Against the spread: 1-0

Last week

Straight up: 10-6

Against the spread: 7-9

Season

Straight up: 122-84-2

Against the spread: 102-106

 

Written by Adam Greene

Adam Greene is a writer and photographer based out of East Tennessee. His work has appeared on Cracked.com, in USA Today, the Associated Press, the Chicago Cubs Vineline Magazine, AskMen.com and many other publications.

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