NFL Week 14 Picks
NFL Week 14 Picks
by Joe Brackets
Rams (5-6-1) at Bills (5-7): Buffalo-This is not one of those games that matters to anybody for any reason. They both got a win last week, but I have to admit, the Rams’ victory was more impressive. They were 20 seconds away from another tie with the 49ers when they kicked the winning field goal. As for the Bills, they beat Jacksonville at home. But since the Bills are at home again this week, and they usually seem to beat equally bad teams in Buffalo, they’re my pick.
Cowboys (6-6) at Bengals (7-5): Dallas-For the second straight week, tragedy strikes in the NFL. This time it was a fatal car accident involving two members of the Dallas Cowboys. This is sadly becoming a trend, and I don’t like it. Just like the Chiefs last week, I think the Cowboys will rally as a team and pull off a victory, which will keep them in the NFC playoff race. This was my pick before the events of Saturday, and I’m sticking with it.
Chiefs (2-10) at Browns (4-8): Cleveland-Just like the good teams end up having to play each other, the bad teams get to play each other, too. Was there anything more uplifting than seeing the Kansas City Chiefs win last week? That, along with Chuck Pagano returning to watch the Colts win, rank as two of the best moments in the NFL this season. I’m not sure Kansas City can keep it up this week. The Browns are less bad and have won two straight. Make it three.
Titans (4-8) at Colts (8-4): Indianapolis-Andrew Luck is the first rookie quarterback to win eight games in his first year, and this week he aims to be first with a winning record. I’m still not really sure how they won last week (Lions, guard against the screen pass!), but Indy’s Luck continues in its first Peyton-less season. And it’s because of the Colts that the AFC’s best team–Houston–hasn’t clinched the AFC South yet. They sure look destined for a wild card berth. However, two of their final three games are against the Texans, so the Colts might be in trouble if they lose to Tennessee.
Bears (8-4) at Vikings (6-6): Chicago-As jumbled as the NFC is, we know this much: Chicago and Green Bay are both going to the playoffs. Which one wins the North and which is a wild card is the only thing up for debate. Every time the Bears pull in front, they lose their next game and drop down to the five-seed. That’s where they currently sit after last week’s overtime loss to Seattle. Minnesota’s one of the four 6-6 teams just behind the Seahawks for the second wild card (although, the Seahawks should actually be 6-6, too). The Vikings have had a rough stretch. They lost to the Bears two weeks ago, then the Packers last week. Now they have to play the Bears again. A third straight loss will knock Minnesota out of contention. Guess what? The Vikings aren’t making the playoffs. The Bears will take care of that.
Chargers (4-8) at Steelers (7-5): Pittsburgh-How big was Pittsburgh’s win in Baltimore last week? The Steelers went from no chance at winning the AFC North to right back in the thick of things. It’s still an uphill battle for Pittsburgh to catch Baltimore, but they needed that win bad. And now they get Ben Roethlisberger back for their playoff push. Many thought this would be a matchup between two teams fighting for playoff berths, but that’s not the case at all. The Chargers are playing out the string and need to win out just to finish .500. That’s not going to happen. The Steelers take care of business heading into their crucial next two games against Dallas and Cincinnati.
Eagles (3-9) at Buccaneers (6-6): Tampa Bay-Since there’s very little point in actually analyzing this game, let’s talk about Greg Schiano’s idiotic suggestion to get rid of kickoffs. Or should we say how much of an idiot Roger Goddell is for not immediately dismissing it as completely ridiculous. I get that you saw Eric LeGrand’s injury first-hand, but eliminating kickoffs entirely? C’mon. That’s just stupid. (It would also take away the single most exciting play in football–the kickoff return touchdown.) And if your suddenly this big player safety advocate, how about not having your defense try to plow over the opposing offensive linemen when the other team is in victory formation? That’s how somebody gets hurt. Not a kickoff.
Ravens (9-3) at Redskins (6-6): Baltimore-For most of the week, I’ve been trying to figure out why Washington is favored in this game. I understand they’ve won three straight, but those games were all against their three division opponents. I guess some experts think the Ravens defense isn’t as good as it used to be and expect Robert Griffin III to just run wild, but I just don’t see it. The Ravens are in with a win and either a Steelers or Bengals loss, and they clinch the AFC North if they win and both Pittsburgh and Cincinnati lose. After last week’s loss to the Steelers, I see Baltimore rebounding and taking the “Beltway Bowl.” And if you want to talk tough remaining schedules, the Ravens’ final three games: Broncos, Giants, at Bengals. That’s brutal.
Falcons (11-1) at Panthers (3-9): Atlanta-Atlanta’s the only NFC team to have clinched anything, and that’s likely not to change this week. In fact, the Falcons could lock up everything with a win over the Panthers and a couple losses elsewhere. Regardless, Atlanta’s goign to clinch the 1-seed in the NFC sooner rather than later, then it’ll be rest the starters time. With Houston not playing until Monday night, the Falcons will be the first team in the NFL to get to 12 wins.
Jets (5-7) at Jaguars (2-10): Jacksonville-I don’t know what I find funnier about last week’s Jets game. That for all those people who don’t think Tebow sucks and have been clamoring for him all season, last week would’ve been his opportunity, but he was inactive. So they brought in third-stringer Greg McElroy, who led them to the game-winning touchdown. And for everybody who’s now jumping on the McElroy bandwagon, let’s take a deep breath and calm down. They were playing the Cardinals, and it was 7-6. (If I didn’t have NFL RedZone and was stuck with that miserable game as my only option, I don’t know what I would’ve done.) And let’s not forget the delusional Jets fans who think they’re going to win out and make the playoffs. They won’t. And they won’t. In fact, I see them losing to lowly Jacksonville.
Dolphins (5-7) at 49ers (8-3-1): San Francisco-Thanks to that tie with the Rams, the 49ers can clinch a playoff spot this week with a win and losses by all the 6-6 teams. Of course, they could’ve already taken care of that had they managed to beat St. Louis either time. Whether or not I think San Francisco’s a Super Bowl team is now questionable, but they’ll beat the Dolphins at home. Oh yeah, I almost forgot, Alex Smith’s back at quarterback this week.
Saints (5-7) at Giants (7-5): Giants-The Giants had a chance to put a stranglehold on the NFC East last week. Then they lost to the Redskins. Suddenly, they’ve got to deal with a division race. And a brutal final stretch (next two games: at Falcons, at Ravens). In other words, beating the Sinners this week is very important. If they don’t the Giants could find themselves tied for first place at day’s end. I’m curious to see how New Orleans is going to play now that their playoff chances are officially shot (as much as they might think they will, they’re not winning out and jumping over six other teams to get a wild card). I’m aware of the fact the Giants have lost three out of four, but remember what they did against the Packers in a must-win game. This is another must-win. The Giants will come to play.
Cardinals (4-8) at Seahawks (“7-5”): Seattle-OK. I’m convinced. We definitely have to take Seattle seriously now. Not only is Andrew Luck probably going to the playoffs, it looks like the rookie QB is Seattle will be playing in January, as well. I guess Pete Carroll knew what he was doing when he made Russell Wilson the starter. Arizona’s a shadow of the team that started the season 4-0. They’re currently on an eight-game losing streak and need to win out just to finish .500. They won’t. Make it nine.
Lions (4-8) at Packers (“8-4”): Green Bay-A part of me is surprised this game wasn’t flexed out of Sunday night. My guess is NBC wanted to keep the Packers, even though the matchup doesn’t really mean anything. Well, that’s not entirely true. As I mentioned before, Green Bay’s fighting Chicago for the division title, and the Packers are still in the mix for the No. 2 seed, as well (although that doesn’t look good, since they lost to both the Giants and 49ers). Next week’s game against the Bears is the one that really matters. They both go into it 9-4.
Texans (11-1) at Patriots (9-3): New England-Oh man! The game of the week is on Monday night. The four AFC first-place teams are forming their own mini-division over the next two weeks, as Denver goes to Baltimore next week. That’ll determine all four of the top seeds. The Texans have the luxury of that two-game lead, though. New England has won six straight to go from 3-3 to AFC East champs yet again, while the Texans’ only loss was that Sunday night game against Green Bay. I think Houston will lose again. I also think New England will lose again before the playoffs. Next week against San Francisco. I just have a feeling about the Patriots in this one.
This Week: 1-0
Last Week: 11-5
Season: 132-60-1
