Scully's Week 15 NFL Picks: Niners will roll past Falcons

Bye weeks are over, and all 32 teams will be in action over the next final four weeks. It sets up to be a great conclusion to the regular season.

Our Week 15 selections focus upon three teams looking to finish strong. Let’s get to the picks!

Patriots vs. Colts

A case can be made for New England’s defense. The Patriots allow 15.4 points per game, more than two points better than the league’s second-ranked scoring defense, and they’ve given up only 10.4 points per game during their current seven-game win streak.

The Patriots will make Colts quarterback Carson Wentz beat them, and that’s a vulnerability for Indianapolis, which is 1-4 in one-score games (the lone win came against Jacksonville).

Give us the Patriots to win straight up on Saturday night.

Indianapolis enters in good form, winning five of its last six behind NFL rushing leader Jonathan Taylor, but Taylor received only 16 carries in a loss to Tampa Bay in late November. In fact, Taylor has been held to 16 or fewer carries in the last five losses.

New England is big and formidable up front, and it’ll sell out to stop the run.

Unlike Wentz, Mac Jones has proven reliable. And while New England doesn’t ask him to do too much, Jones has been effective as a passer when necessary, throwing for more than 300 yards and a pair of touchdowns against Tennessee two games back.

The Patriots do everything well, and we won’t go against the AFC’s hottest team.

NFL pick: New England +2.5

Titans vs. Steelers

Tennessee went into a mini-funk after a sixth straight win in mid-November and lost its next two games by a combined 48-26 margin. However, the Titans got their mojo back by shutting out Jacksonville last week.

Pittsburgh has been inconsistent, to say the least. The Steelers scored points in bunches after trailing by double-digit margins in the second half to Baltimore, the Los Angeles Chargers, and Minnesota in recent weeks, but the Steelers' sloppy play will catch up to them in this spot.

The Steelers lack an identity on defense, allowing more than 34 points per game in the last four contests, and they haven’t been tackling well. The Titans are much more fundamentally sound.

Behind the second-ranked run defense, Tennessee will make Pittsburgh one-dimensional. And that will play right into head coach Mike Vrabel’s hands.

Defense will be the difference, lay the points!

NFL pick: Tennessee -1.5

Falcons vs. 49ers

San Francisco is discovering its best form at the right time in the season, and has been good for bettors, covering the last six straight-up wins. That trend will continue Sunday.

The Niners missed Elijah Mitchell last week and threw 41 passes against Cincinnati. The Niners also displayed enormous character by re-rallying to defeat the Bengals in overtime.

George Kittle and Deebo Samuel will continue to thrive against Atlanta’s soft defense, and San Francisco expects to have Mitchell back in the lineup.

Azeez Al-Shaair (11 tackles against Cincinnati) has emerged at linebacker, providing an outstanding complement to Fred Warner, and San Francisco’s pass rush was dominant against Cincinnati, recording five sacks and pressuring Joe Burrow all game.

The Niners are starting to believe.

Atlanta has made the most of a weak schedule, recording six wins, but it is not in the same class as San Francisco.

Look for a double-digit win!

NFL pick: San Francisco -9.5