The San Francisco 49ers, with quarterback Brock Purdy, are 3-point road favorites at the Seattle Seahawks in the early NFL lines for Week 15.
Purdy, playing in place of injured Jimmy Garoppolo, won his first NFL start 35-7 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday. San Francisco (9-4) leads Seattle (7-6) by two games in the NFC West, with the Seahawks losing to the Carolina Panthers 30-24 at home on Sunday.
“[Brock] reacts and runs around and makes some plays,” San Francisco coach Kyle Shanahan told the 49ers website. “And that’s how he was in college and that’s how he’s been so far in the league. When you do that, it’s how many good plays can you make without making the bad ones, and he’s done that really well so far.”
In the Week 15 Thursday Night Football game, the 49ers could be without wide receiver Deebo Samuel, who was carted off the field with an ankle injury in the second quarter.
In another important divisional game, the Buffalo Bills (10-3) opened as 6.5-point home favorites against the Miami Dolphins (8-4). Buffalo defeated the New York Jets 20-12.
“That was a good football team that we beat today,” Buffalo safety Jordan Poyer told the Bills website. “We have another good football team coming in here next week that we [have to] prepare well and we’re going to have to play extremely well to win.”
Miami (8-5) lost to the Los Angeles Chargers 23-17 on Sunday Night Football.
The Bills-Dolphins game completes a three-game Saturday NFL slate that includes the Minnesota Vikings as 4.5-point home favorites against the Indianapolis Colts, and the Baltimore Ravens as 3-point road underdogs at the Cleveland Browns.
The Vikings (10-3) failed to clinch the NFC North on Sunday, losing as an underdog to the Detroit Lions, 34-23. The Lions (6-7) remained in the NFC playoff race and were an early 1.5-point road underdog at the Jets.
The Ravens (9-4) could be using third-string quarterback Anthony Brown, who made his NFL debut after Tyler Huntley was injured in the third quarter of a 16-14 win against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Huntley was playing in place of injured Lamar Jackson.
“Without our best player (Jackson), and then losing [Huntley], for Anthony to come in and play the way he did, demand the huddle the way he did, [it was] very impressive,” Ravens tight end Mark Andrews said, according to the AP. “It was a huge team win. It was awesome to see.”
Cleveland (5-8) is still looking for its first win with quarterback Deshaun Watson following a 23-10 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.
Other notable early NFL lines for Week 15 include the Dallas Cowboys opening as 6-point road favorites at the Jacksonville Jaguars, and the Washington Commanders as 3.5-point home favorites against the New York Giants.
Dallas (10-3) needed a last-minute touchdown for a 27-23 win against the Houston Texans (1-11-1).
“We can sit here and talk about all the things that didn’t go right,” Dallas coach Mike McCarthy said, according to the AP. “And I get it. But at the end of the day, you have to go win the game in the fourth quarter.”
Jacksonville (5-8) gained in the AFC South race with a 36-22 win at the Tennessee Titans (7-6).
“Just the start of what we hope to do to finish this season out and what we’re going to have to give ourselves a shot to make a run in the playoffs,” Jacksonville quarterback Trevor Lawrence said, according to the AP.
Washington (7-5-1) moved into an NFC playoff position on its bye week, after New York (7-5-1) lost to the Philadelphia Eagles 48-22. The Commanders and Giants tied 20-20 at New York in Week 13.
The New England Patriots and Bill Belichick were early 1.5-point road underdogs at the Las Vegas Raiders and Josh McDaniels, the former Patriots offensive coordinator. Belichick is 14-16 in regular-season games against a former assistant who is an opposing head coach.
New England (6-6) plays at the Arizona Cardinals on Monday Night Football. Las Vegas (5-8) lost to the Los Angeles Rams 17-16 on Thursday on a last-minute touchdown pass by Baker Mayfield that capped a 98-yard game-winning drive.
Mayfield and the Rams are 7.5-point road underdogs at the Green Bay Packers, who are coming off their bye week to play on Monday Night Football.
Be sure to check out our OddsShopper tool for the best early NFL lines for Week 15.
