Commissioner's Picks Week 15

My picks this week:

TB
CHI
CIN
HOU
JAX
KC
BUF
NYG
PHI
DEN
CAR
LAR
SEA
SF
DAL
PIT

The injury lists just keep growing. PIT LB TJ Watt underwent surgery for a collapsed lung, out indefinitely. NO RB Alvin Kamara out with a knee. NYJ are down to starting Brady Cook. Who is that you ask. He is an undrafted rookie out of Missouri getting his first NFL start. CIN WR Tee Higgens concussion.

Upsets this week? We've already seen the Buccaneers get into the holiday spirit (better to give than receive) and gift the Falcons a victory. Ahh, my dreaded nemesis, the Atlanta Falcons checking the Grande Report and making sure my winning percentage takes a hit. Wait until next week, you dastardly Falcons! What other teams are in the holiday spirit? There are several games that could go either way and not considered an upset, BAL@CIN, BUF@NE, GB@DEN. The Saints and QB Tyler Shough are gaining experience and confidence but do they have enough to beat CAR? Bryce Young has ups and downs but if they lean on their running game this should not be an upset. The game that could be an upset is MIA@PIT. First, the Dolphins are riding a four game winning streak and RB DeVon Achane has been carrying the team. The Steelers will be missing LB TJ Watt and that is a big hit for a surprisingly weak defense. What I can find, when Watt is out of the lineup the Steelers are 1-10. But the Dolphins don't play well on the road and play even worse in temperatures under forty degrees. Tua got his first win last last week when the temperature was under 40 degrees. Historically, MIA has won four times at PIT (4-9), 1972 and the undefeated season, 1984 with Dan Marino, 1990 again with Marino, 2013 the Steelers went 8-8. FLASHBACK: 2007 Week 12 MIA@PIT, the Monday Night Mud Bowl, PIT 3 - MIA 0. A game that was delayed due to weather and played in rain on a soggy field.

An interesting scenario would be if PIT loses and BAL wins this would put both teams at 7-7. It is possible the AFC North winner could finish with an 8-9 record. It is my personal opinion that the NFL should change it's rules and any division winner that finishes under .500 should forfeit their playoff spot to a team with a winning record. And while we are in fantasy land, drop the seventh playoff spot and go back to six playoff teams per conference. Also, the NFL is a billion dollar industry, why don't they hire the referees full time and establish an NFL Referees University and every official has to graduate.