Week 15 of the 2023 NFL season kicks off, and we’ve already seen the Las Vegas Raiders shockingly demolish the Los Angeles Chargers 63-21 a week after being eliminated in a 3-0 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. This defeat marks the most points scored in Raiders franchise history and also the most points conceded in Chargers franchise history. The 63 points scored by Las Vegas is the second-most in NFL history in a single game after being shutout the previous week. It is also the third-largest single game in the Super Bowl era, since 1966.
Since anything can happen when it comes to the NFL, what’s next? Well, here are five bold predictions for this weekend’s Week 15 slate, which includes three games on Saturday.
Tommy DeVito became the first undrafted rookie QB in NFL history to win four straight starts
The reigning NFC Offensive Player of the Week is none other than rookie quarterback Tommy DeVito after helping lead the Giants to a last-second win against the then-rookie Green Bay Packers.
DeVito ran for 71 yards on 10 carries while completing 81% of his passes (17-21) for 158 yards and a touchdown through the air, becoming the first Giants rookie to throw with a completion percentage of over 80% in a game in which he threw the ball 20 or more times.
Thanks to his efforts, the Giants (5-8) are in line for their first three-game winning streak since Weeks 4-7 of last season, which they will get despite being six-point underdogs at the New Orleans Saints. (6-7). The Saints’ defense is tied with the Giants for third-fewest sacks allowed this season, but Giants second-year star Kayvon Thibodeaux will sack Derek Carr at least once or twice, putting DeVito back in position to lead another game-winning drive. This would make him the first undrafted rookie in league history to win four straight starts.
The Broncos upset the NFC North-leading Lions on the road
The Broncos (7-6) and Lions (9-4) are two teams trending in opposite directions. Denver has won six of its last seven games as it appears to be only the fifth team in NFL history to reach the postseason after a 1-5 start. The Broncos’ trajectory is based on attention to the football (their +11 turnover differential is best in the league since Week 7) and defense (15.6 points allowed per game second-best in the league since Week 7).
Meanwhile, the Lions have lost two of their last three games after an 8-2 start, including a 28-13 romp at the Chicago Bears in Week 14. Much of that is due to a defensive collapse since they’ve allowed 28.7 points per game since then. . Week 7 is the second worst week in the NFL. Quarterback Jared Goff also had an NFL-worst nine turnovers since Week 8, the worst in the NFL in that particular period.
Broncos running back Javonte Williams is heating up after a torn ACL last season with at least 70 receiving yards in six of his last seven games. Denver, a 4.5-point underdog, wins Saturday’s prime-time game with ball control and more sound defense to steal a victory from the Motor City in Week 15.
The Colts snapped an eight-game losing streak to the Steelers, defeating Pittsburgh for the first time since Peyton Manning was the QB.
The last time the Colts defeated the Steelers was in Week 10 of the 2008 season, when their starting quarterbacks were Pro Football Hall of Famer Peyton Manning and Ben Roethlisberger. Manning threw the game-winning 17-yard touchdown pass to running back Dominique Rhodes with 3:04 left to play.
Since then, the Colts have lost eight in a row to their AFC opponents. This year’s matchup is huge considering the Steelers are the current No. 6 seed while the Colts are the current No. 7 seed as two of the six teams in the conference at 7-6 entering Week 15.
On Saturday afternoon, the Colts will snap a losing streak thanks to a starting power forward who ranks 27th in the NFL. Pittsburgh is averaging 16.2 points per game, the fewest by a team with a 13-game winning record since Kyle Orton’s Chicago Bears in 2005. Indianapolis has scored 20 or more points in 11 games this season, the most in league, and doing so in Week 15 would be enough to get the Steelers’ top offense led by Mitch Trubisky.
This game was a bloodbath earlier this season as the Dolphins won on Black Friday 34-13 at MetLife Stadium. This time it will be more competitive.
The Jets are generating a quarterback pressure rate of 41.9% this season, fourth-highest in the NFL, though only 18.9% of the time, the lowest rate in the NFL. What does it mean? New York faces opposing quarterbacks simply with All-Pro defensive tackle Quinnen Williams and defensive end Bryce Huff, whose 22.4% quarterback pressure is the best in the NFL among those with at least 100 pass rushes. However, Miami is allowing a median pressure rate of 24%, the lowest in the NFL entering Week 15.
The Dolphins are 0-4 this season when quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has been sacked three or more times this season, and were sacked a season-high five times in their 28-27 loss to the Tennessee Titans on Monday Night Football. The bold prediction here is the Jets reach for Tua and sack him at least three times, but the Dolphins still won the game for the first time in those circumstances in 2023 thanks to Tagovailoa committing fewer fouls than Zach Wilson.
Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts marks his first game with at least 100 receiving yards since his rookie year
Yes, Kyle Pitts, the 2021 fourth overall pick, has had usage issues and injury issues as a pro. However, he will have his first game with 100 or more yards since his rookie season on Sunday against the 1-12 Carolina Panthers. Last week, he had a 36-yard receiving touchdown, the longest of his career, and 57 receiving yards, his second-most in a game this season.
On the other side of Pitts are the 1-12 Carolina Panthers, whose defense ranks 31st in scoring this season at 26.2 points per game. The nine takeaways created this season are the lowest in the NFL. Quarterback Bryce Young, the 2023 first overall pick, is averaging 5.3 yards per pass attempt, the lowest in the NFL since former Panthers quarterback Jimmy Clausen in 2010 (5.2). What that means is that the Falcons offense will be on the field more often and moving the ball toward a tired Panthers defense.
This couldn’t be a better situation for a Pitts Breakout to occur.
As the NFL heads into Week 15, there are some bold predictions on the horizon. The New York Giants’ quarterback, Tommy DeVito, is expected to continue to make history with his exceptional performance on the field. Additionally, the Denver Broncos are gearing up to stun the Detroit Lions and secure their seventh win out of the last eight games. With these exciting developments on the horizon, Week 15 is sure to be full of unexpected twists and turns in the NFL.