New England Patriots

WhatIfSports NFL Week 15 predictions: Steelers strengthen playoff odds

Published Dec. 15, 2015 3:00 p.m. ET

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Each Tuesday, WhatIfSports.com's NFL simulation engine generates predictions and box scores for every NFL game for the coming week. Our highly sophisticated algorithms simulate every play of every game to produce each team's likelihood to win. Each matchup is simulated 501 times.

To account for injuries and roster moves announced late in the week, we will be re-simulating games on Thursdays through the season.

Note: Our predictions use the latest available team and player information, while NFL S imMatchup includes all players that were or will be available at any point during the 2015 season so that theoretical and "what if" scenarios can be simulated.

Week 14 Review

This past week was a rough one for our NFL simulation engine. For just the third time all season, the engine went under .500, going 7-9 in picking games straight up. Fortunately, the engine did much better against the spread, finishing 6-3. That's now nine weeks in a row the engine is .500 or better against the spread.

Nailed It: In our Game to Watch in Week 14, we predicted the Cardinals would beat the Vikings by an average score of 25-21. The actual final? Cardinals 23, Vikings 20.

Wide Right: We didn't predict an offensive explosion from Jacksonville quite like this. Our engine had the Colts beating the Jags by an average score of 25-22. Instead, the Jags ended up crushing the Colts, 51-16.

Track our 2015 performance or view our accuracy last season.

Week 15 Game to Watch

Broncos at Steelers: The Broncos are reeling, and the Steelers are in a heated wild-card battle in the AFC. Can Pittsburgh's vaunted passing attack have success against Denver's shutdown defense? Our NFL simulation engine predicts that the Steelers will pull off the home win 51.5 percent of the time by an average score of 23-22.

Week 15 Upset Pick

Dolphins (+2) over Chargers: It's a little crazy to see the Chargers favored to win, as they've been held without an offensive touchdown in three of the last four weeks. Our predictions seem to agree, as the Dolphins are projected to win this one 50.2 percent of the time, despite being listed as underdogs.

Fantasy Radar

Fantasy Start -- Brandon Bolden, NE: With LeGarrette Blount looking highly doubtful this week, Bolden should slide in as the early-down back for the Patriots. Our predictions have Bolden recording 12.6 fantasy points in a game where the Patriots should be up and milking the clock.

Fantasy Sit -- Emmanuel Sanders: Our predictions have Sanders putting up his third straight dud in a row as the Broncos’ struggles at QB continue. Sanders is projected to score just 7.3 fantasy points, which would only make him a borderline Flex play, at best.

Fantasy Add -- Tim Hightower: The journeyman running back is projected once again to handle the bulk of the workload in New Orleans. Although the matchup isn't great, Hightower should make up for it in volume. He's projected to score 11.6 fantasy points, which puts him in the RB2 category.

For more fantasy football tips, view our Week 15 player projections.

NFL Week 15 Predictions
Matchup	Win %	Avg. Score
Tennessee Titans	16.8	15	Box Score
@ New England Patriots	83.2	28	Simulate Game
Cleveland Browns	20.0	16	Box Score
@ Seattle Seahawks	80.0	27	Simulate Game
Chicago Bears	37.5	22	Box Score
@ Minnesota Vikings	62.5	27	Simulate Game
Atlanta Falcons	43.1	26	Box Score
@ Jacksonville Jaguars	56.9	27	Simulate Game
Detroit Lions	44.1	25	Box Score
@ New Orleans Saints	55.9	26	Simulate Game
Denver Broncos	48.5	22	Box Score
@ Pittsburgh Steelers	51.5	23	Simulate Game
Houston Texans	48.9	20	Box Score
@ Indianapolis Colts	51.1	21	Simulate Game
Miami Dolphins	50.2	28	Box Score
@ San Diego Chargers	49.8	27	Simulate Game
Buffalo Bills	54.9	25	Box Score
@ Washington Redskins	45.1	23	Simulate Game
Tampa Bay Buccaneers	63.8	26	Box Score
@ St. Louis Rams	36.2	22	Simulate Game
Green Bay Packers	66.7	27	Box Score
@ Oakland Raiders	33.3	21	Simulate Game
New York Jets	67.1	24	Box Score
@ Dallas Cowboys	32.9	17	Simulate Game
Kansas City Chiefs	67.8	26	Box Score
@ Baltimore Ravens	32.2	21	Simulate Game
Arizona Cardinals	72.5	27	Box Score
@ Philadelphia Eagles	27.5	19	Simulate Game
Carolina Panthers	74.8	24	Box Score
@ New York Giants	25.2	16	Simulate Game
Cincinnati Bengals	76.5	28	Box Score
@ San Francisco 49ers	23.5	17	Simulate Game