Raiders vs. Browns Week 15 Prediction
The NFL will have a double header on Monday, with the first game kicking off in Cleveland where the Browns will host the Raiders at 5:00 p.m. ET. Will the Browns cover as a 3-point home favorite or are the Raiders the better play as the underdog?
Game Snapshot
333 Las Vegas Raiders (+3) at 334 Cleveland Browns (-3); o/u 40.5
5:00 p.m. ET, Monday, December 20, 2021
FirstEnergy Stadium, Cleveland, OH
TV: NFL Network
Las Vegas Raiders DFS Spin
Derek Carr completed 33-of-45 passes for 263 yards, one touchdown and one interception in the Raiders’ 48-9, Week 14 loss to the Chiefs. Carr’s interception should have been charged as a fumble to Foster Moreau. The tight end may not have officially completed the process of the catch, but he should have. Instead, he lost the ball and it was “intercepted” by the Chiefs. Carr was pressured throughout the game and had zero connection with any of his receivers outside of Hunter Renfrow. He will look to bounce back against the Browns in Week 15 and looks like a QB2.
Cleveland Browns DFS Spin
Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot reports “there’s been a disconnect all season between Baker Mayfield and Kevin Stefanski in terms of playcalling.” Cabot said “there’s a feeling that the Browns haven’t played to Mayfield’s strengths this season, but that’s also been hard because he’s been so banged up.” And there are other offensive players who have taken issue with Stefanski’s play calling this season, Cabot reports. Mayfield reportedly has not been happy with the team’s messaging about his litany of injuries, including a torn labrum in his left shoulder, bruised heel and knee, and a groin injury. Stefanski has said repeatedly downplayed the injuries and said they have not affected the QB’s on-field performance. Mayfield’s numbers have dropped off dramatically from last year’s red-hot second half of the season, when the Browns’ passing offense proved efficient with a heavy dose of play action. The team has utilized play action on 26.3 percent of Mayfield’s drop backs this season, a slight decrease from 2020. A healthier Mayfield will try to propel his team into the postseason despite the organizational strife. He’s scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent in 2023.
Raiders vs. Browns Betting Prediction
The favorite is 5-2 against the spread in the last seven meetings between these two teams, while the Browns are 6-2 against the number in their last eight home games when facing an opponent with a losing road record. The Raiders, meanwhile, are 1-5 against the spread in their last six games overall, are 1-5 against the number in their last six games played in the month of December and are 1-5 ATS in their last six games coming off a loss of more than 14 points.
NFL WEEK 15 BETTING PREDICTION: CLEVELAND BROWNS -3