Week 14. Just a few weeks left for teams to stake their claim to the playoffs. For many, it’s the beginning of fantasy playoffs as well.
Here we go:
GAME OF THE WEEK – Pittsburgh Steelers (7-5) at Cincinnati Bengals (10-2), CIN by 3 – The Steelers with Ben Roethlsiberger at the helm are a completely different animal, and the Bengals are going to have to contend with this high-powered passing attack. The division is basically the Bengals’ at this point, but the Steelers can put possibly an irrevocable grip on a wild card spot with a big win this week. It’s going to be a close one, but I have to go with the home team. Bengals 27, Steelers 24
THURSDAY NIGHT – Minnesota Vikings (8-4) at Arizona Cardinals (10-2), ARZ by 7.5 – The Vikings proved how much of a fraud they are in getting absolutely demolished at home by the Seahawks last week. Does anyone really think they can go on the road and beat the best-coached team in the NFC? Cardinals 31, Vikings 10
Buffalo Bills (6-6) at Philadelphia Eagles (5-7), BUF by 1 – There’s a lot riding on this game for both of these teams. The Eagles can keep a tie for the lead in the NFC East, while the Bills need a win to keep pace in the AFC wild card hunt. Over the past few weeks, I’d have to say the Bills have been more impressive, despite the Eagles picking up a win against a beaten up Patriots team. Bills 20, eagles 16
Atlanta Falcons (6-6) at Carolina Panthers (12-0), CAR by 7.5 – How fast the Falcons have fallen! They stand next to no chance against the Panthers, given how soft they’ve become. Panthers 30, Falcons 13
San Francisco 49ers (4-8) at Cleveland Browns (2-10), CLE by 1.5 – Johnny Football is back under center again for the Browns, but does it really make a difference? I’m done picking the Browns this year. UPSET! – 49ers 17, Browns 9
Washington Redskins (5-7) at Chicago Bears (5-7), CHI by 3 – Both of these teams are so hard to predict. The Bears are without Martellus Bennett for the rest of the season, which is definitely a huge loss, and the Redskins can’t seem to figure out whether they want to win the division or not. Playing at home, I’ll take Chicago. Bears 27, Redskins 20
Detroit Lions (4-8) at St. Louis Rams (4-8), PUSH – How do you even come back from a loss like that if you’re the Lions? Absolutely brutal. But they’re still playing better football than the Rams are right now, so I’m taking them here. Lions 23, Rams 17
San Diego Chargers (3-9) at Kansas City Chiefs (7-5), KC by 10 – It’s amazing the kind of winning streak the Chiefs have put together over the last couple months. They can take another step toward nailing down a playoff spot by beating the Chargers this week. Chiefs 31, Chargers 13
New Orleans Saints (4-8) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-6), TB by 3.5 – The Buccaneers have somehow pulled themselves into the playoff picture, but this seems like exactly the kind of game they’d lose. For no reason at all I’m going with the upset. UPSET! – Saints 33, Bucs 20
Indianapolis Colts (6-6) at Jacksonville Jaguars (4-8), JAX by 1 – The Jaguars definitely have the advantage here, as the Colts are without their top two QBs. I’ll take them to win here. Jaguars 26, Colts 20
Tennessee Titans (3-9) at New York Jets (7-5), NYJ by 7 – Not much to say here. The Jets are playing for the playoffs, while the Titans are playing for draft position, and it’s for a reason. Jets 24, Titans 13
New England Patriots (10-2) at Houston Texans (6-6), NE by 3 – No chance the Patriots lose three in a row. No chance. Patriots 27, Texans 17
Oakland Raiders (5-7) at Denver Broncos (10-2), DEN by 7.5 – The Raiders are feisty, but do they have what it takes to defeat the Broncos on the road in December? Definitely not. Broncos 20, Raiders 16
Dallas Cowboys (4-8) at Green Bay Packers (8-4), GB by 7 – The Packers can deliver a knockout blow to the Cowboys this week with a win at Lambeau. But despite their crazy come-from-behind win in Detroit, this is stil a team with a lot of problems. Expect a close one. Packers 23, Cowboys 20
Seattle Seahawks (7-5) at Baltimore Ravens (4-8), SEA by 9 – The Seahawks are peaking at exactly the right time. The rest of the NFC should be worried about having to face this team in the playoffs in a few weeks. Seahawks 31, Ravens 13
New York Giants (5-7) at Miami Dolphins (5-7), NYG by 1.5 – This game could be a death blow for the Dolphins and a chance for the Giants to get a hold on their division, or a last-ditch attempt for Miami to get back into wild card contention. I’ll go with the former. Giants 20, Dolphins 10
