As the NFL runs out of quarterbacks, Week 15 marches on with a slate of five games between teams with winning records.
Mark Craig's Week 15 NFL picks: Yes, really, some star QBs are healthy and playoff contenders
While it may seem like the NFL is running out of quarterbacks, there are some marquee passing matchups in Week 15.
December 16, 2023 at 12:47AM
The 10-3 Cowboys and MVP candidate Dak Prescott travel to Buffalo to face Josh Allen and a Bills team that's 7-6 and currently 11th in the stacked AFC.
The 10-3 Ravens and Lamar Jackson have won three straight and travel to 8-5 Jacksonville, which has lost back-to-back games with Trevor Lawrence nursing a bum ankle.
And, of course, in Cincinnati, the QB matchup we all anticipated way back in July — Jake Browning vs. Nick Mullens — will unfold on Saturday. Mullens will become the Vikings' fourth starting quarterback this season. Browning will be going for his third straight win in his fourth straight start.
The former Vikings practice squad player has posted a 113.4 passer rating in his first three starts. The top four passer ratings for QBs through four starts in NFL history belong to Kurt Warner (136.0), Patrick Mahomes (125.8) and Frank Reich (114.9).
Here are seven games to keep an eye on this week, which features three Saturday games:
WHAT WILL THE VIKINGS DO?
Vikings (+2½) at Bengals: Browning and the Bengals have scored 68 points the past two games. The Vikings? 13. Bengals 24, Vikings 17
AROUND THE NFC NORTH
Broncos (+4½) at Lions: Denver is riding a 6-1 high. Plus, it seems safer to doubt Detroit. Broncos 27, Lions 24
Buccaneers (+3½) at Packers: 6-7 vs. 6-7. No. 4 seed vs. No. 7 seed. Playoff fever, NFC style! Packers 24, Buccaneers 21
Bears (+3½) at Browns: Joe Flacco looks efficient. The Bears are playing defense. Justin Fields is winning. Pigs are flying … Browns 20, Bears 13
LOCK OF THE WEEK
49ers (-12½) at Cardinals: After two consecutive losses, the LOTW will once again take a wild guess that a very good NFL team will beat a very bad NFL team. 49ers 31, Cardinals 17
UPSET OF THE WEEK
Chiefs (-7½) at Patriots: If you thought Patrick Mahomes was mad last week, imagine losing to Bill Belichick. What's that guy ever done? Patriots 24, Chiefs 20
GAME OF THE WEEK
Ravens (-3½) at Jaguars: Can Baltimore avoid its usual late-season slide with a fourth consecutive victory, on the road, in a battle of division leaders? Ravens 34, Jaguars 31
SEASON RESULTS
Season record straight up/against the spread: 44-42; 36-50.
Upset special: 4-10.
Lock of the Week: 11-3.
Vikings: 7-6.
Mike Conley was in Minneapolis, where he sounded the Gjallarhorn at the Vikings game, on Sunday during the robbery.
