Because I’m a believer in NFL punditry accountability, before we dive in to my NFL bold predictions for Week 15, let’s see how weil I did (or more likely didn’t) do in Week 14. Hold your nose.
1) Cowboys QB Dak Prescott Could Throw for 400 Yards
Dude went for 376, a measly 24 yards off. So close. So very, very close. Alan’s Self-Imposed Grade: C
2) Titans QB Cam Ward Might Suffer 5 Sacks and Toss 3 Interceptions…and Lose His Job
One sack and one pick, but he put up a dismal 19.0 QBR, while opponent and fellow rookie, Browns QB Shedeur Sanders, dropped a 56.0, which keeps me from failing. Barely. Alan’s self-imposed grade: D-
3) The Chicago Bears Offensive Backfield Might Go Off…Again
Last week in a 28-21 loss to Green Bay, Bears backs D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai combined for 120 yards. In their Week 13 Black Friday 25-15 upset of Philadelphia, we’re talking 255. Alan’s self-imposed grade: F
4) The Minnesota Vikings Could Be Held to 7 or Fewer Points
Minny shut out the woeful Commanders 31-0, so…yeah. Alan’s self-imposed grade: F-
5) Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes Might Play Like Nathan “Worst Starting Quarterback Ever” Peterman
Hey, I got one right, and it was the boldest of ‘em all! In one of the worst, if not the worst game of his career, the former MVP managed just 160 yards on 14-of-33 passing, with 3 picks thrown in for good measure. His passer rating was 19.8 Peterman’s career passer rating was 39.4. Ta-da. Alan’s self-imposed grade: A+
This, ladies and gents, gives me a GPA of 1.83, my highest of the season. (Thank you for the stinker, Mr. Mahomes!)
Can I top that? Doubtful, but I’ll try. So let’s get bold.
NFL Bold Predictions, Week 15
Let’s see who might or (probably won’t) do some crazy statistical stuff on Thursday, Sunday, or Monday.
1) On Thursday Night, the Tampa Bay Defense Could Hold Atlanta QB Kirk Cousins to Under 125 Yards
To quote myself from this week’s Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em magnum opus, “Ever so quietly, journeyman QB Kirk Cousins has had himself a helluva career. His 43,824 passing yards rank him 20th all time, ahead of Joe Montana, Dan Fouts, and Johnny Unitas. Not Hall of Fame digits, mind you, but impressive. Now, however, Cousins is 37 and has a fair amount of tread on the tires, as evidenced by his QB46 spot in FantasyLand, and last week’s 4.5 fantasy point stinker against Seattle.”
I’ll very much stand by that, and add that Tampa’s D allows the fifth-fewest fantasy points to opposing QBs. Oh, and there’s plenty of precedent:
- 26 yards — 12/9/2012 vs BAL
- 48 yards — 10/27/2013 @ DEN
- 59 yards — 12/8/2013 vs KC
- 87 yards — 12/20/2021 @ CHI
- 98 yards — 9/8/2019 vs ATL
- 105 yards — 11/20/2022 vs DAL
- 111 yards — 10/7/2012 vs ATL
- 112 yards — 12/16/2024 @ LV
- 113 yards — 9/20/2020 @ IND
- 122yards — 12/23/2019 vs GB
Falcons QB Kirk Cousins vs. Buccaneers PrizePicks Projection: 206.5 Passing Yards
2) 49ers QB Brock Purdy Might Top 32 Fantasy Points
In his three games since returning to the lineup in Week 11, Purdy has averaged a grand total of 15.5 fantasy points which, spread out over the whole season, would have him finishing as QB23.
But at points during his four seasons, Purdy has been a statistical beast, most notably in 2023, when he chucked 31 TDs to 11 INTs and finished the year with an absurd league-best passer rating of 113.0.
This week in a key tilt against a 29th-ranked Tennessee defense that last week allowed Shedeur Sanders to drop 34.5 fantasy points, well, look out below.
49ers QB Brock Purdy vs. Titans PrizePicks Projection: 241.5 Passing Yards
3) Eagles QB Jalen Hurts Could Have a Bounceback Game for the Ages
Man oh man, last Sunday, didn’t the former Heisman Trophy finalist stink? Yes. Yes he did
IIn Philly’s Monday night 22-19 loss to the Chargers, last week’s fantasy QB28 (yikes) tossed for 240 yards on 21-of-40 passing, with 9 sacks and 4 picks thrown in for good measure. Oh, and lest we forget, as seen above, dude had 2 turnovers on one play. Even Nathan Peterman never pulled that one off.
On Sunday, the embarrassed Eagles have a far easier task: A showdown with the lousy Las Vegas Raiders in the (sometimes) friendly confines of Lincoln Financial Field. Fantasy digits tell us everything we need to know about the Raiders’ D: Despite the presence of stud DL Maxx Crosby, Vegas’ DST’s 4.2 points per game is 27th-worst in the league.
Once he’s done licking his wounds, Hurts will begin licking his chops.
4) Bills QB Josh Allen Might Account for 6 Touchdowns
Bills Mafia is always happy to remind you that on November 16, in a 44-32 win over the Bucs, reigning MVP Josh Allen threw 3 TDs to go with his 3 rushing tuddies, an absurd feat that had only been accomplished three times in NFL history (Dub Jones, Alvin Kamara, and Gale Sayers).
Nobody, but nobody has done it twice.
That, however, could change on Sunday, when the Bills travel to Foxboro to face the AFC East-leading Patriots.
“But Alan,” you might be saying, “New England allows just 18.5 points a game, the fifth-best in the league.”
You’re right. I can’t argue with numbers. But you can’t argue with desperation. The Bills, who currently sit at the six-seed, need this game so they can, at the very least, host a Wild Card game. Then again, if they win out — which, considering their remaining schedule (@Patriots, @Browns, vs. Eagles, vs. Jets) isn’t out of the realm of possibility. And it’s times like this when Josh Allen tends to do Josh Allen things.
Bills QB Josh Allen vs. Patriots PrizePicks Projection: 228.5 Passing Yards
5) A Deep-Cut Dolphins WR Could Go Off
There’s bold, and there’s silly, and this one falls into the latter bucket.
The Fins’ WR, Jaylen Waddle, is having himself a year, sitting at fantasy’s WR15 despite the fact that his quarterback, Tua Tagovailoa, is parked at QB37.
But since we are, indeed, being silly, we’re going to give some flowers to WRs Malik Washington, Cedric Wilson Jr., Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Dee Eskridge, and Tahj Washington.
Why? Well…
Because their Monday night opponent, the Pittsburgh Steelers, boast the league’s fifth-worst defense.
We’re bold. And silly.
Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa vs. Steelers PrizePicks Projection: 202.5 Passing Yards
Will any of these boldies come to fruition? Who the heck knows, but one thing we do know is you can win real money on PrizePicks with your NFL predictions.
Just pick More or Less on at least two player projections and potentially win real cash with your picks every week.
And follow Playbook for the entire NFL season, where you'll always enjoy boldness galore.
