NFL Week 15 picks: Will Chiefs beat Chargers, stave off elimination?

A loss to the Bolts would be just about fatal to the defending AFC champs.
Three teams can clinch playoff berths Sunday.
A potential Super Bowl preview features the Packers and Broncos, both vying for a No. 1 playoff seed.
Colts QB Philip Rivers could potentially return to the field after a five-year absence.

All hands on deck.

The NFL’s bye weeks have been exhausted as the 2025 season rolls into Week 15 − which is chock full of gripping matchups … even if Thursday night’s NFC South pairing of the Atlanta Falcons and Tampa Bay Buccaneers isn’t one of them.

Sunday gets started with the New England Patriots attempting to sweep the Buffalo Bills, which would clinch the Pats’ first AFC East title in six years. Conversely, as they host the Los Angeles Chargers, the Kansas City Chiefs will not only be fighting for their playoff lives but trying to avoid elimination this weekend − though losing to the Bolts wouldn’t finish them outright.

The late afternoon window looks even better. The Green Bay Packers and Denver Broncos will face off in a potential Super Bowl 60 preview, both teams currently scrapping for their respective conference’s No. 1 seed. As they attempt to break back into the projected playoff field, the Detroit Lions will attempt to knock off the NFC-leading Los Angeles Rams on the road. (The Rams and Broncos can both clinch postseason spots with wins.) And while the Seattle Seahawks will be prohibitive favorites to beat the Indianapolis Colts, their game could mark the return of newly signed Colts QB Philip Rivers after a five-year hiatus.

The final two prime-time games feature national brands, even if they don’t project as great games. The Dallas Cowboys, trying to remain postseason-relevant, will host the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday night, while the Pittsburgh Steelers will hold first place in the AFC North on Monday if they can knock off the surging Miami Dolphins.

How does the 16-game lineup shake out? Here are the picks from USA TODAY Sports’ panel of NFL experts:

(Odds provided by BetMGM)