NFL Week 15 Brings High-Pressure Matchups

At the onset of the season, the Atlanta Falcons are expected to start Michael Penix Jr at quarterback. Following a season where Kirk Cousins failed to deliver a playoff bid in 2024. Penix is a left-hander, which does affect offensive play calling and design far more than many observers realize. So, there will be an NFL odds transition for the 8th overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft. Head coach Raheem Morris enters his second season in Atlanta. Of course, the Falcons chose Morris over Bill Belichick in what increasingly looks like a wise decision.

2025-26 NFL Super Bowl Championship Future Odds

2024-25 NFL Week 15 Schedule

Thursday, Dec. 11

• Atlanta Falcons at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 8:15 p.m. ET (Prime Video)

Sunday, Dec. 14

• Cleveland Browns at Chicago Bears, 1 p.m. ET (FOX)
• Baltimore Ravens at Cincinnati Bengals, 1 p.m. ET (CBS)
• Arizona Cardinals at Houston Texans, 1 p.m. ET (FOX)
• New York Jets at Jacksonville Jaguars, 1 p.m. ET (CBS)
• Los Angeles Chargers at Kansas City Chiefs, 1 p.m. ET (CBS)
• Buffalo Bills at New England Patriots, 1 p.m. ET (CBS)
• Washington Commanders at New York Giants, 1 p.m. ET (FOX)
• Las Vegas Raiders at Philadelphia Eagles, 1 p.m. ET (FOX)
• Green Bay Packers at Denver Broncos, 4:25 p.m. ET (CBS)
• Detroit Lions at Los Angeles Rams, 4:25 p.m. ET (FOX)
• Carolina Panthers at New Orleans Saints, 4:25 p.m. ET (FOX)
• Indianapolis Colts at Seattle Seahawks, 4:25 p.m. ET (CBS)
• Tennessee Titans at San Francisco 49ers, 4:25 p.m. ET (FOX)
• Minnesota Vikings at Dallas Cowboys, 8:20 p.m. ET (NBC)

Monday, Dec. 15

• Miami Dolphins at Pittsburgh Steelers, 8:15 p.m. ET (ABC/ESPN)

The NFC South is justifiably derided as one of the worst sportsbook divisions in the NFL. But as bad as it is, somebody has to win it. And two of the teams who figure to be in the hunt are the 4-time defending NFC South champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Atlanta Falcons. Consider that both clubs are aiming for their first playoff season since 2017.

In the early Sunday window, there is an NFL betting odds matchup that could be critical in determining who wins the AFC North. The Cincinnati Bengals host the Baltimore Ravens in what could be the biggest game of the season for both teams. Correlate that the matchup has multiple postseason implications.

Meanwhile, a sleepy good matchup is the Arizona Cardinals at the Houston Texans. Arizona is considered to be a potential sleeper team after showing marked improvement in 2024. The Texans are coming off two playoff seasons with the dynamic duo of third-year head coach DeMeco Ryans and quarterback CJ Stroud.

One of the great old rivalries in pro football will be renewed in the AFC West when the Kansas City Chiefs host the Los Angeles Chargers. These teams have shared the same division since 1960. Following their blowout loss in last year’s Super Bowl, the Chiefs are facing increased doubts about their Super Bowl viability.

The most attractive game in the late Sunday afternoon window is an interconference matchup of the Green Bay Packers at the Denver Broncos.

The NBC Sunday Night matchup is a great example of the power of branding. The Dallas Cowboys will host the Minnesota Vikings. Specifically, it is a matchup that could have several different possibilities. The Vikings are coming off a strong season that followed a bad one. However, the first-year starting quarterback, JJ McCarthy. The Cowboys remain a powerful brand that harkens back to when they were tabbed “America’s Team” in the late 1970s. Now the question is whether they are any good.