When this game was scheduled, you would have never guessed it would be a battle of rookie quarterbacks. Sure, Cam Newton was going to be the starting QB for the Panthers, but you would have never imagined that he would be overshadowed by the story of T.J. Yates. Yates has filled in well for the Texans, but will most likely be without his best receiver in Andre Johnson. Behind Newton, the Panthers offense has impressed at times, but has struggled to close out opponents. Newton needs to continue to make spectacular plays, but more importantly limit the second-half turnovers. | Preview | Week 15 schedule

All season long we have been talking about Aaron Rodgers being the best QB in the NFL this season, but Drew Brees has been creeping up on him the last couple weeks. This isn’t good news for the Vikings, who are playing without their top four defenders in the secondary. You never know if it will be Jimmy Graham, Marques Colston or Lance Moore, but I promise you that Brees will throw for at least 300 yards. | Preview | Week 15 schedule

Josh Freeman has struggled this season, but the Cowboys’ secondary presents him with the opportunity to build momentum to take into next season. The Cowboys have holes in the back half, but their passing defense actually starts up front. The Bucs will likely keep in a tight end or a running back to double-team DeMarcus Ware on the outside rush. If they can do that, then Freeman should have time to survey the field. The Cowboys can’t afford another letdown, but they really couldn’t afford it the last two weeks either. They will lean on Felix Jones heavily as he is the only healthy back on the roster. | Preview | Video: Billick speaks | Week 15 schedule

It looks like Matt Moore will be ready to play on Sunday, but he may be without his starting left tackle, Jake Long. Without Long, the Bills will attack with blitz packages and attempt to confuse the new starter with a variety of looks. On the flip side, the Bills haven’t been the same without Fred Jackson and were dominated by the Dolphins’ front seven in the previous match-up. This one shouldn’t be all that different, but it will be interesting to see how inspired the Dolphins play under interim coach Todd Bowles. | Preview | Week 15 schedule

It appears that interim head coach Romeo Crennel will start Kyle Orton, but it is an unlucky draw for both of them with the Packers in town. Even if the Chiefs can muster up some offense, which has been challenging in previous weeks, it is highly unlikely they will account for enough points to outpace Aaron Rodgers. The Packers will be motivated to play hard to lock up home-field advantage in the playoffs. Even without Greg Jennings, the Packers should have no problem putting up 30 points against a defense that surrendered 37 to the Jets last weekend. | Preview | Week 15 schedule

Rams QB Sam Bradford is once again questionable to play against the Bengals, but it shouldn’t make much of a difference. Without a downfield vertical threat, the main focus for the Bengals’ defense will be stacking the box against Steven Jackson. The Rams will struggle to stop A.J. Green and Andy Dalton, but it will be Cedric Benson that will be the majority of the offense against a Rams D that gives up more than 155 yards on the ground. The Bengals get a break from their tough schedule, and will most likely need to win out to have a shot at the playoffs. | Preview | Week 15 schedule

No one has been looking forward to this game more than Marion Barber. He will be eager to avenge his poor play down the stretch last week, but the Seahawks have a pretty good running back of their own. Marshawn Lynch has rushed for 100-plus yards in five of the last six games, but only one of those coming against a top-10 defense. The Bears will make stopping Lynch a top priority and, in doing so, challenge Tarvaris Jackson to beat them down the field. The Seahawks will do the same with Caleb Hanie. This may not be a hugely explosive scoring game, but it should be a strategic chess match. | Preview | Week 15 schedule

The Redskins will attempt to run right at the Giants’ pass rushers and that could lead to a big statistical day for Roy Helu. The Giants will look to get Ahmad Bradshaw back into a steady rotation, but Eli Manning will be the difference in this game. Eli made headlines in the preseason by suggesting he should be considered amongst the league’s elite, and he has backed up his talk. He has been a constant for an offense that has shuffled receivers and backs, and is capable of taking over a game. | Preview | Week 15 schedule

This should be one of the most interesting match-ups of the season with two very different styles of QB play. Throughout the week, each has complimented the other’s play … just as you would expect from two of the classiest guys in the NFL. This will be Tebow’s biggest challenge since taking over as starter, not because of a daunting defense, but because he may need to keep pace with possibly the best QB ever. The Broncos will have home-field advantage, but I think their magic wears off a little bit this week. | Preview | Week 15 schedule

Mark Sanchez is coming off a four-touchdown performance last week, but he will get a tougher challenge with Jason Babin and Trent Cole in his face all day. Babin and Cole accounted for three sacks apiece last week, and should have plenty of opportunities against a shaky Jets offensive line. Shonn Greene started the season slowly, but in his last two games, he has cranked out 227 yards and four touchdowns. He should continue to impress against a still-struggling Eagles rush defense. | Preview | Week 15 schedule

Whether it is John Skelton or Kevin Kolb playing QB, there is one constant for this offense, and that is Larry Fitzgerald. That may be challenging this week as he will be locked up with Joe Haden all game, and that means Beanie Wells will need to pick up the slack. Haden and the Browns have the second-best passing defense, but also employ the second-worst rush defense. The Cardinals are one of the hottest teams in the NFL with wins in five of their last six, and that shouldn’t change this Sunday. | Preview | Week 15 schedule

Both of these teams need to look in the mirror and understand they tend to be their own worst enemies. It is no surprise that the Raiders lead the league in penalties, and the Lions, fourth in the league, have struggled to keep their composure in recent weeks. You hate to say that a game will come down to penalties, but neither can afford to continuously put themselves behind the chains. In the end, this game comes down to ball control; whoever wins the turnover battle should win the game. | Preview | Week 15 schedule

Matt Hasselbeck will most likely get the start on Sunday, but that doesn’t mean that Jake Locker won’t get any snaps. He will either get in late because of a blowout, or the Titans may use him in certain situations throughout the game. He has played well in limited time this season, and shows the athleticism and burst the Titans were hoping for when the drafted him. As for the Colts, it will be more of the same -- almost a complete abandonment of the running game followed by poor quarterback play out of Dan Orlovsky. | Preview | Week 15 schedule

The Ravens not only have to deal with a cross-country trip, but always get Philip Rivers while he is playing his best football of the season. Rivers is coming off back-to-back games of three touchdowns passes without throwing a single interception. The Ravens rank fifth in passing defense, only giving up 192 yards per game through the air, and that starts with the pressure they get up front. To have success, the Chargers will need to block Terrell Suggs and eliminate his negative presence in the passing game, or else he will add to his team-high 13 sacks. | Preview | Week 15 schedule

With a banged-up Ben Roethlisberger, the 49ers will unleash Aldon Smith and Justin Smith on the outside. Look for them to even line up both Smiths on the same side to apply joint pressure. Without Big Ben’s normal mobility, he will not be able to elude tacklers in the pocket and extend offensive plays. This could be one of the most physical games of the season, and I believe whoever can run the ball better will win the game. | Preview | Week 15 schedule