NFL Picks, Week 15: Will Colts Play Soft?

Figuring out what the Indianapolis Colts will do now that they've clinched everything depends on whom you listen to.

Bill Polian, the team president, and coach emeritus Tony Dungy say they will stick to what Dungy did when he coached them -- rest players who need rest. But coach Jim Caldwell says everyone will play when they go to Jacksonville Thursday night.

That might be a good idea. The only time in recent years the Colts played out the schedule was when they had to in 2006 and they won the Super Bowl that season.

In any case, Indy is favored by three points against the Jaguars, one of four 7-6 teams seeking an AFC wild-card spot. The best way to get it is to win out, so we know they'll be trying.

The Colts will be trying, too. Still, you get the sense that a loss might take a big of a monkey off their back. They nearly got that loss the first week of the season, when they beat the Jaguars 14-12 in Indianapolis.

Why not now?

Colts at Jaguars (Thurs.)

Team	Point Spread	Projected Score
Indianapolis Colts	- 3	12
Jacksonville Jaguars		14

The more the Cowboys lose in December, the more they seem resigned to losing in December. No, they don't say it, but Wade Phillips, whose specialty is defense, is more than defensive when he's asked about it. "We lost to a good team on the road,'' he said after the Giants' loss, then went out and lost at home to a better team, San Diego.

Unlike the Colts, the Saints' intentions seem to be to play things out in the tradition of the New England Patriots, who went all the way to 18-0 two years ago before the Giants upset them in the Super Bowl. They certainly aren't going to sit people for this one because they still have to clinch home field over Minnesota.

Cowboys at Saints

Team	Point Spread	Projected Score
Dallas Cowboys		21
New Orleans Saints	- 7	27

In their slide from 5-0 to 7-6, little has been wrong with New York's offense. But the injury-hit, underachieving defense has been one of the NFL's leakiest, as it was last week when the Giants lost to the Eagles 45-38 and surrendered control of their own playoff fate.

No one doubts the Washington defense and the offense has gotten better as second-year men Devin Thomas and Fred Davis develop.

Put the Giants out of their misery?

Giants at Redskins (Monday)

Team	Point Spread	Projected Score
New York Giants	- 3	30
Washington Redskins		31

The Packers keep the Steelers' free fall going.

Packers at Steelers

Team	Point Spread	Projected Score
Green Bay Packers		19
Pittsburgh Steelers	- 2	13

The 49ers needed seven takeaways to beat Arizona. Coming east on a short week is not a prescription for success against a team that as usual is playing well late.

49ers at Eagles

Team	Point Spread	Projected Score
San Francisco 49ers		20
Philadelphia Eagles	- 9	31

Bengals at Chargers

Team	Point Spread	Projected Score
Cincinnati Bengals		13
San Diego Chargers	- 7	22

Cardinals at Lions

Team	Point Spread	Projected Score
Arizona Cardinals	- 12	37
Detroit Lions		13

Vikings at Panthers

Team	Point Spread	Projected Score
Minnesota VIkings	- 9	27
Carolina Panthers		20

Dolphins at Titans

Team	Point Spread	Projected Score
Miami Dolphins	No Line	23
Tennessee Titans		24

Falcons at Jets

Team	Point Spread	Projected Score
Atlanta Falcons	No Line	12
New York Jets		19

Bears at Ravens

Team	Point Spread	Projected Score
Chicago Bears		13
Baltimore Ravens	- 11	20

Browns at Chiefs

Team	Point Spread	Projected Score
Cleveland Browns		2
Kansas City Chiefs	- 2	5

Patriots at Bills

Team	Point Spread	Projected Score
New England Patriots	- 7	23
Buffalo Bills		17

Texans at Rams

Team	Point Spread	Projected Score
Houston Texans	No Line	27
St. Louis Rams		16

Raiders at Broncos

Team	Point Spread	Projected Score
Oakland Raiders		3
Denver Broncos	- 14	37

Bucs at Seahawks

Team	Point Spread	Projected Score
Tampa Bay Buccaneers		10
Seattle Seahawks	- 7	31

Last Week: 8-7-1 (spread); 12-4 (straight up)

Season: 109-97-3 (spread); 135-74 (straight up)

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