Week 15 is now in the history books. The Rams are coming off a resounding thumping of the New Orleans Saints last weekend. This weekend they host a Tampa Bay team that - after beginning the season 0-8 - has come on to win 4 of their last 6 games. This game will be a tough match up for the Rams, but a game that's eminently winnable. The remaining 2 games on the Rams' schedule are important for this young team. Every play and minute on the football field gives these young players invaluable experience. Finishing the season on a high note will serve as a springboard to better results in 2014.

Week 15 Results

The accompanying chart presents the results of my picks for Week 15, and the season totals to-date:

Week Wins Straight Up Wins vs Spread Hot Picks vs. Spread Rams Straight Up Last Week 8 8 8 8 2 1 0 1 Season 154 70 139 85 34 11 8 6 Percentage 68.8 62.1 75.6 57.1

How are my results faring against the 93 experts Pickwatch is tracking? (link). My .500 record last week was enough to remain in 1st place overall in the standings, 2 wins ahead of John Halpin from Fox Sports. Last week was a terrible one for picking winners, as 5 divisional leaders lost. A week of upsets, proof positive of the football adage "on any given Sunday".

The chart below identifies the top 25 in the overall standings:

Rank Expert Affiliation Wk1 Wk2 Wk3 Wk4 Wk5 Wk6 Wk7 Wk8 Wk9 Wk10 Wk11 Wk12 Wk13 Wk14 Wk15 Wins Losses Win % 1 John Halpin FOX 9 11 11 10 7 12 10 11 9 8 12 10 11 12 9 152 71 68.16% 2 Gregg Rosenthal NFL 11 13 8 11 7 14 9 10 9 8 9 10 12 11 9 151 72 67.71% 3 Prediction Machine CBS 11 13 11 9 7 12 11 11 9 6 12 5 12 14 8 151 72 67.71% 4 Ron Jaworski ESPN 11 12 12 12 11 9 9 11 7 9 9 6 12 10 10 150 73 67.26% 5 Pete O'Brien USA Today 12 11 10 9 8 10 10 11 7 8 10 8 13 13 9 149 74 66.82% 6 Accuscore Accuscore 11 11 7 9 9 10 10 11 10 9 12 6 12 13 9 149 74 66.82% 7 Steve Mariucci NFL 12 13 8 8 8 11 10 10 8 9 11 7 10 14 9 148 75 66.37% 8 Chris Brockman NFL 10 14 11 9 8 10 11 9 8 9 10 8 12 12 7 148 75 66.37% 9 Nate Davis USA Today 11 14 8 8 9 11 9 11 8 9 10 8 11 11 9 147 76 65.92% 10 K.C. Joyner ESPN 12 12 9 7 9 11 9 10 8 7 12 6 12 15 8 147 76 65.92% 11 Sam Monson ProFootballFocus 8 14 9 11 7 10 9 11 7 7 12 7 10 14 10 146 77 65.47% 12 Chris Wesseling NFL 10 9 11 8 8 11 11 11 7 6 11 8 12 13 10 146 77 65.47% 13 Don Banks Sports Illustrated 11 14 10 9 8 10 9 12 7 6 11 6 11 14 8 146 77 65.47% 14 Simon Samano USA Today 10 12 10 10 10 9 9 12 6 7 9 10 12 12 8 146 77 65.47% 15 Dave Richard CBS 10 12 8 7 9 9 12 11 7 9 9 8 12 10 12 145 78 65.02% 16 Khaled Elsayed ProFootballFocus 11 11 9 9 8 12 10 10 9 8 11 5 11 11 10 145 78 65.02% 17 Michael David Smith PFT 12 12 10 9 8 11 8 10 8 6 12 5 13 12 9 145 78 65.02% 18 Nathan Jahnke ProFootballFocus 11 13 10 8 7 10 10 11 9 5 11 6 12 14 8 145 78 65.02% 19 Andrea Hangst Bleacher Report 10 11 12 9 9 9 11 11 9 9 9 5 11 13 7 145 78 65.02% 20 Brad Gagnon Bleacher Report 12 11 11 5 8 10 11 10 6 10 9 8 12 11 10 144 79 64.57% 21 Rick Drummond ProFootballFocus 8 12 10 10 9 11 9 12 7 8 10 7 10 12 9 144 79 64.57% 22 Black Tie NFL 13 11 6 11 10 9 11 10 8 9 9 7 11 10 9 144 79 64.57% 23 Chris Law NFL 13 11 7 11 8 11 8 11 8 10 8 5 12 13 8 144 79 64.57% 24 Cris Carter ESPN 12 13 10 8 9 10 8 10 6 7 8 7 12 13 10 143 80 64.13% 25 Dave Damashek NFL 9 11 7 9 9 11 10 10 10 10 7 7 11 13 9 143 80 64.13%

How did my "Hot Picks Versus The Spread" fare last week? Both Kansas City and San Francisco won and covered the spread. Philadelphia lost and didn't cover the spread. My record for the week: 2-1. Overall, my "hot picks" record is 34-11 for the season.

Week 16 Picks

For reference, the accompanying chart presents the straight-up, against the spread, and over/under records for all 32 NFL teams, after Week 15:

The accompanying chart presents the format - and my selections - for each game this week: home team - away team - the spread - my straight-up winner - which team covers/beats the spread - and the outcome of the game:

Home Away Spread Straight Up Vs. Spread Score Buffalo Miami Mia 2 1/2 Miami Miami 23 20 Carolina New Orleans Car 3 Carolina Carolina 24 20 Cincinnati Minnesota Cin 7 Cincinnati Cincinnati 27 17 Houston Denver Den 10 1/2 Denver Denver 31 17 Jacksonville Tennessee Ten 5 1/2 Tennessee Tennessee 23 17 Kansas City Indianapolis KC 6 1/2 Kansas City Kansas City 27 20 NY Jets Cleveland NY 2 1/2 NY Jets NY Jets 23 20 St. Louis Tampa Bay StL 4 St. Louis St. Louis 23 17 Washington Dallas Dal 2 1/2 Dallas Dallas 23 20 Detroit NY Giants Det 9 Detroit Detroit 31 20 Seattle Arizona Sea 10 1/2 Seattle Arizona 23 17 Green Bay Pittsburgh Pick Green Bay Green Bay 21 17 San Diego Oakland SD 10 San Diego Oakland 28 20 Baltimore New England Bal 2 1/2 Baltimore Baltimore 24 20 Philadelphia Chicago Phi 3 Philadelphia Philadelphia 24 20 San Francisco Atlanta SF 13 San Francisco San Francisco 28 14

Hot Picks Versus The Spread

Denver over Houston - Denver is in a battle for home field advantage throughout the playoffs. Houston has now lost 12 straight games.

Cincinnati over Minnesota - Cincinnati needs a victory to stay one step ahead of the Baltimore Ravens, in a close battle for the NFC North divisional crown.

Miami over Buffalo - Miami is fighting for a wild card spot. They are coming off a big win against the New England Patriots, and have won three straight games.

Keys For The Rams Versus Tampa Bay

In three wins as the Rams' starting quarterback in 2013, Kellen Clemens has thrown five touchdown passes and zero interceptions to go along with a 119.3 passer rating. In four losses as the starter, Clemens has two touchdowns passes and five interceptions to go with a 60.6 passer rating.

Winning the turnover battle will be key for the Rams. The Rams had a positive turnover differential in all six of their victories this season.

Tampa Bay QB Mike Glennon has been sacked 14 times in the last 4 games. Pressuring Glennon will make the game difficult for Tampa Bay, a team that is ranked last in the NFL in total offense.

The Rams must get off to a fast start in Sunday's game. In each of their six victories this year, the Rams have either been tied or leading at the half.

Minimizing penalties will allow the Rams better field position and momentum on drives.

The Rams must establish the running game with Zac Stacy, against a Tampa Bay defense that ranks 15th in the NFL against the run.

The Rams must contain running back Bobby Rainey and wide receiver Vincent Jackson.

Prediction: Rams 23 - Tampa Bay 17

Perspective On The Rams Versus Tampa Bay

Advanced NFL Stats takes an in-depth, statistical look at the match up between the Rams and Tampa Bay (link).

CBS Sports' Pat Kirwan and Pete Prisco preview the game between the Rams and the Buccaneer's (link).

ESPN's Mike Sando presents his "Inside Edge" on the Rams-Tampa Bay match up (link).

Bleacher Report breaks down St. Louis' game plan for Sunday's game against Tampa Bay (link).

Ramblin' Fans' prediction for Sunday's game:

Prediction: Rams 24 Buccaneers 13 "The Rams play well at home and the Buccaneers have not played well on the road. The Rams have been inconsistent this season, but I think Robert Quinn and the Rams defense gives Mike Glennon and the Bucs offense trouble and help get the Rams a win."

Pro Football Focus presents its 3 keys to focus on for Sunday's game (link).

ESPN's Nick Wagoner and Pat Yasinskas share their analysis of the Rams game vs. Tampa Bay (link).