Richard Graves and the Miami Dolphins UK make their NFL picks

Image: NFL Predictions

It was a vital win for Sky Sports reporter Richard Graves against the UK Broncos fan base in week 14, keeping hopes of a play-off place alive.

Richard finished with a 12-4 record, while the Broncos could only manage 10 correct predictions. It means that Richard still has a shot at a positive overall record this year, if he can get another win this week. 

Standing in Richard's way are @MiamiDolphinsUK. The Dolphins feature live on Sky Sports 1 from 12:30am on Sunday morning, hoping to continue their push for the post-season against the New York Jets.

NFL Week 14 Grades

Top marks for the Chiefs and Patriots, but disappointment for the Seahawks and Rams.

Richard's 2016 Results

Richard UK Fan Base Season Record
v Jaguars 10-6 11-5 0-1
v Bengals 10-6 7-9 1-1
v Redskins 5-11 9-7 1-2
v Raiders 8-7 8-7 1-2-1
v Vikings 9-5 10-4 1-3-1
v Eagles 9-6 9-6 1-3-2
v Patriots 8-7 7-8 2-3-2
v Bills 8-5 (OT loss) 8-5 (OT win) 2-4-2
v Giants 8-5 10-3 2-5-2
v Panthers 9-5 8-6 3-5-2
v Seahawks 10-4 9-5 4-5-2
v Steelers 12-4 14-2 4-6-2
v Bears 9-6 11-4 4-7-2
v Broncos 12-4 10-6 5-7-2

Los Angeles Rams @ Seattle Seahawks, Friday 12:30am, Sky Sports 1

Richard: What a week it's been for the Rams organisation already! Hammered at home by the Atlanta Falcons and sacking head coach Jeff Fisher, before heading to the Pacific North West for a divisional clash against a Seattle team who have a point to prove after losing in Green Bay. 

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The Packers got plenty of joy through the air, exploiting the hole left by the loss of Seahawks safety Earl Thomas to a broken leg. The problem for LA is they have a rookie QB still finding his way at this level, operating behind a poor offensive line and even without Thomas, this remains one of the better defensive units in the NFL. 

The stats say the Rams offence is the worst in the league. Combine that with the upheaval this week off the field and only a short week to prepare for one of the toughest environments in football. There's only one winner... Seahawks

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Image: Russell Wilson's Seattle Seahawks are expected to get back to winning ways against the Rams

Dolphins UK: After a blip on the Seahawks' season last week, I see them dominating this game on both sides of the ball. This is a perfect 'get healthy' game for Russell Wilson and co to rack up some big points. Seahawks

Miami Dolphins @ New York Jets, Sunday 12:30am, Sky Sports 1

Richard: All indications are that Todd Bowles' position as head coach of the New York Jets is safe, but their play has been far below what was expected this season. So low, they needed overtime to beat the hapless 49ers last weekend!

The Dolphins have problems of their own. It appears QB Ryan Tannehill is lost for the year with ACL and MCL sprains, so this becomes back-up quarterback Matt Moore's ship to steer. That shouldn't really effect their game plan though. Miami will lean on Jay Ajayi to run the ball against a defensive line which gave up 193 yards on just 17 carries to Carlos Hyde last weekend. The Jets defense has now slipped to 17th against the run. 

For the Jets, they'll be pleased with the way young QB Bryce Petty lead their fightback from 14 points down on the road in San Francisco, but the Dolphins are an entirely different proposition. They now face a team who still harbour genuine playoff ambitions and likely have too much on both sides of the ball for the Jets to handle. Dolphins

Dolphins UK: Tough game for the fins in an AFC grudge match, and with Moore deputising for Tannehill, this could be high scoring with a lot of mistakes... Whichever team can take advantage of the turnovers will win this game. Dolphins

Image: The Miami Dolphins have Matt Moore under centre, following a knee injury to Ryan Tannehill

Detroit Lions @ New York Giants, Sunday 5:30pm Sky Sports 2

Richard: This is a huge game - for both teams! Victory for the Detroit Lions would clinch them the NFC North title if Green Bay were to lose in Chicago, while the Giants could clinch a play-off spot with a win and other results going their way. 

Both teams are coming off the back of big wins. The Giants are the only team to have beaten the Dallas Cowboys this season - now, they've done it twice! While the Lions improved to a 9-4 record with their eighth fourth quarter, come-from-behind win of the season, an NFL record.

The Giants defence was simply outstanding on Sunday night. However, their offence was worryingly unimpressive and they would have lost, but for a brilliant 61 yard touchdown reception from Odell Beckham. 

Image: If the Detroit Lions can stop Odell Beckham Jr. they stand a chance of beating the Giants

Therein lies the key to this game for Detroit - shut down Odell Beckham and the chances are they win this match-up but that is easier said than done. 

Both teams are accustomed to winning tight games this year and this really is a coin flip to call. Defence wins championships, but are the Giants good enough to cover for an offence which appears to be struggling more with every passing game? Giants

Dolphins UK: Giants have to be favourites at home in a tight match up, but with Detroit being the kings of comebacks this year you can never count them out. Giants

Premier League Goals!

Watch goals from all midweek PL games with the Sky Sports Football Score Centre app

New England Patriots @ Denver Broncos, Sunday 9pm, Sky Sports 2

Richard: A repeat of last season's AFC Championship game and the stakes for Denver are just as high. Lose this and the defending Super Bowl champions' play-off push would be precariously placed. 

Meanwhile, it's a familiar story for the Patriots. Win this game and they tie up the AFC East division and clinch a first round bye in the play-offs. 

Denver's defence was the difference in that Championship game 11 months ago - it will need to be again if they are to win on Sunday. That unit ranks third overall, first against the pass, sixth in points allowed, sixth in takeaways and are second with 38 sacks, BUT they're just 29th against the run! That is where New England will look to exploit through the physical running of LaGarrette Blount. 

The biggest difference in New England this year is their defence. Only Minnesota are conceding fewer than the average of 17.7 points a game given up by the Patriots. Denver's offence is ranked a lowly 25th and is scoring fewer than 23 points per game. They lost in Tennessee last weekend because they couldn't get the ball into the end zone. As promising as the Titans are, they're not the New England Patriots and this will have to be Denver's best performance so far this season, if they find are to way to beat Brady and co again. Patriots

Dolphins UK: The NFL's number two defence against a tough broncos team could produce a low scoring chess match. With the pats running game going well behind Brady, I can only see one winner. Patriots 

Image: LeGarrette Blount set a franchise record for rushing touchdowns last week, and will hope to continue his good form

Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Dallas Cowboys, Monday 1am, Sky Sports 1

Richard: Few teams in the NFL are hotter right now than the Tampa Bay Buccaneers - they've won five in a row and are suddenly tied for the lead in the NFC South. In that run they've not conceded more than 21 points in a game, and that includes a road win at the Kansas City Chiefs. This may be exactly the right time to play a Cowboys team, whose offence has misfired in the last two weeks.

The Cowboys have converted just two of 24 third down attempts in their last two games. They've scored a combined total of just 27 points in that span and rookie QB Dak Prescott, coming off his worst game as an NFL player, hasn't thrown for 200 yards in any of his last three games. Before we predict the sky is falling in on the Cowboys though, it's worth keeping in mind, they are the only team which has clinched a play-off spot. Victory this weekend wins the NFC East and secures a 1st round bye with a Giants loss.

In rookie RB Ezekiel Elliott, they have the NFL's leading rusher in the fifth ranked offence. As bad as that unit has appeared to be in the last two games, their defence has been good. They've conceded just 25 points in that time, secured four turnovers and are now ranked fifth in points allowed. 

In comparison, the Bucs are averaging 22.5 points per game offensively while their improved defence is tied for the NFL lead with 25 takeaways. 

This promises to be an intriguing match-up between a team looking to bounce back, proving they are a genuine threat in the post season and a team looking to do something only the Giants have achieved this season - beat Dallas. Cowboys

Dolphins UK: This looks like a high-scoring game, with both teams averaging just under 300 yards each week. Expect the Cowboys to continue utilising their running game for the W. Cowboys

Image: The Cowboys can clinch home advantage for the play-offs if results go for them this weekend

Carolina Panthers @ Washington Redskins, Tuesday 1:15am, Sky Sports 1

Richard: Week 15 finishes up in Washington DC with the Redskins looking to chase down the New York Giants and ensure their place with a wild card spot in the play-offs.

The Carolina Panthers have been hugely disappointing this season but their defence is showing signs of life and now lead the league in sacking the quarterback. Last weekend's win over San Diego salvaged some pride but their only road win this season came at the beleaguered LA Rams. 

The Redskins gained a hugely significant win on the road, outlasting the Philadelphia Eagles and snapping a two game losing streak. The concern for them is the number of points their defence is giving up - 24.4 points per game, and that continues to put pressure on their offence to win games. That is the real danger for Washington heading into this match-up. The consolation, the Panthers themselves are giving up an average of 25.9 points per game.

In short, it's a game the Redskins simply must win. The Panthers will relish the opportunity to crash the party. Redskins

Dolphins UK: The Panthers haven't lived up to the 2015 hype, while Washington are still fighting for a play-off spot. Expect Kirk Cousins and the Redskins to take this one by at least one touchdown. Redskins

Image: Both Richard and the Dolphins UK fan group think that the Washington Redskins will triumph over the Carolina Panthers

Week 15 Predictions

Richard Dolphins UK
Rams @ Seahawks Seahawks Seahawks
Dolphins @ Jets Dolphins Dolphins
Lions @ Giants Giants Giants
Browns @ Bills Bills Bills
Eagles @ Ravens Ravens Ravens
Steelers @ Bengals Steelers Steelers
Colts @ Vikings Vikings Colts
Packers @ Bears Packers Packers
Titans @ Chiefs Chiefs Chiefs
Jaguars @ Texans Texans Jaguars
Saints @ Cardinals Cardinals Saints
49ers @ Falcons Falcons Falcons
Raiders @ Chargers Raiders Raiders
Patriots @ Broncos Patriots Patriots
Buccaneers @ Cowboys Cowboys Cowboys
Panthers @ Redskins Redskins Redskins

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