Jets & Giants Left in the Dust of NFL Playoff Push Week 15 Preview & Predictions
There is nothing colder on a December Sunday afternoon than Jets and Giants football with nothing to play for, unless you are obsessed with draft position. Seriously, aren’t we all a little tired of this?
The Giants haven’t been to the postseason since 2016, when they lost to Green Bay in a wild card game, just days after Odell Beckham Jr. and a number of Giants were photographed chilling out on a boat.
The Jets haven’t been back to serious January football since 2010. The last time the Jets even played meaningful December games, you’d have to go back to 2015, when they had a shot at getting into the playoffs before falling on the sword the last week up in Buffalo.
Sunday will be another cold reminder of what is the state of Tri-State NFL football. The Giants host the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday at 1 p.m. Surely MetLife Stadium will be jammed with Dallas Cowboys fans. Dallas has everything to play for this weekend. At 9-4 the Cowboys are closing in on a division title in the NFC East. They even have an outside shot at a number 1 seed if they win out and get some help.
Dak Prescott has been very good, even if he is playing on a bum ankle. The dominant force has been the Dallas D, led by Micah Parsons, who is blowing up rookie records. He has 12 sacks and 17 tackles for loss this year.
If there was ever a Dallas Cowboys team that has a shot to get back to a Conference Title game, a place they haven’t been to since 1995, this might be the team.
While the Giants face a Super Bowl contender, the Jets are limping into Miami against a Dolphins team looking to extend its win streak to six games.
HOUSTON, TEXAS – NOVEMBER 28: Zach Wilson #2 of the New York Jets reacts after being sacked by Kamu Grugier-Hill #51 of the Houston Texans in the first quarter of the game at NRG Stadium on November 28, 2021 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
Zach Wilson didn’t look good at all last week against New Orleans, and has been underwhelming for much of his rookie year. That, and the fact Gang Green has a defense that can’t stop anyone, is giving Jets fans agita. This week talk radio was inundated with Jets fans wondering if their team once again got it wrong with a rookie quarterback and head coach?
Mike Cohen’s Week 15 Fox Sports New Jersey Pick Six
Last Week: 4-2
Season: 34-20
N.Y. Jets (3-10) @ Miami Dolphins (6-7): The Dolphins are coming off a bye week, and are looking to extend their winning streak to six games. If that happens, they will be back to .500 for the first time since September. Would be easy to pick the Jets here since Miami might be a tad cold coming off an extended break. Problem is you can’t trust the Jets. At all. Even without receiver Jaylen Waddle (COVID), the Dolphins and Tua Tagovailoa should move the football on the Jets 31st ranked defense. Zach Wilson doesn’t just need a turnover-clean game, he needs to show signs of life in order to calm down Jets fans. PICK: DOLPHINS 22 – JETS 13.
Dallas Cowboys (9-4) @ N.Y. Giants (4-9): Only one thing left to say when MetLife Stadium is likely to be full of Cowboys fans on Sunday, and Mike Glennon will be under siege from Micah Parsons and company. …
Only one thing left to say indeed!
PICK: COWBOYS 37 – GIANTS 10
New England Patriots (9-4) @ Indianapolis Colts (7-6) Saturday, 8:15 p.m. Ok, it isn’t the good old days of Brady vs. Manning, but Mac Jones vs. Carson Wentz will certainly do. Both teams are fighting for playoff positioning. The Pats are trying to close in on reclaiming the AFC East crown. A victory on Saturday night would certainly help. The Pats have been hot as a fire cracker, winners of seven straight. However facing the Colts with dynamic running back Jonathan Taylor will be a huge story of this game. If Taylor has a big game, the Colts could be primed to pull out an upset. And, yes, Mac Jones will have to throw more than three passes this week. Feels like a Indy week. PICK: COLTS 30 – PATRIOTS 27.
ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 21: Jonathan Taylor #28 of the Indianapolis Colts runs the ball in the game against the Buffalo Bills during the first quarter at Highmark Stadium on November 21, 2021 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Joshua Bessex/Getty Images)
Tennessee Titans (9-4) @ Pittsburgh Steelers (6-6-1): The Steelers need a win to keep their slim playoff hopes alive. In come the Tennessee Titans who are coming off a 20-0 shutout over Jacksonville. This is a prime spot for a mini-upset. The Steelers are desperate, they are coming off a spirited comeback, yes, last week in Minnesota, but a game they still lost in the final minutes. Big Ben has played better of late. If T.J. Watt and the Steelers defense can slowdown a Titans team still without its running back Derrick Henry, this could get interesting. UPSET: STEELERS 21 – TITANS 17.
Green Bay Packers (10-3) @ Baltimore Ravens (8-5) Sunday, 4:25 p.m. FOX. Will the real Ravens please stand up? The Ravens have lost two straight, both in division. Lamar Jackson has struggled. He’s a turnover machine this year with 13 interceptions. On top of that he suffered an ankle injury last week and is questionable this week. He didn’t practice at all. If he can’t go, it’s going to be really hard for the Ravens to compete. Aaron Rodgers has his share of physical ailments, but it didn’t stop him from throwing three touchdowns on the Bears last week. If Jackson plays, an upset is possible. If not, the Packers could roll in this one. Packers can clinch the division and playoffs with a win. PICK: PACKERS 27 – RAVENS 21.
New Orleans Saints (6-7) @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10-3) Sunday night 8:25 p.m. NBC: The Bucs can clinch a playoff spot with a victory over their rivals, the Saints. This is a different Saints team than the one that upset the Bucs in October. In fact, the Saints quarterback issues began in that game when Jameis Winston was lost for the year with a knee injury. Yes, the Saints can run the ball effectively with Alvin Kamara. It won’t make a difference with Tom Brady throwing darts all over the field for Tampa on Sunday night. Brady won’t be denied a chance to clinch a playoff spot in prime-time. PICK: BUCCANEERS 34 – SAINTS 17.
