Week 14 NFL Picks: Final Vegas Odds and Predictions for Sunday's Slate

We believe in Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots. At least when it comes to their Week 14 games against the Houston Texans.

The Patriots have lost two games in a row and injuries have taken their toll on the defending Super Bowl champions. 

However, it's teacher vs. student as Belichick leads his team into Houston against jumpy Bill O'Brien, a former New England assistant. 

The Texans have perhaps the most physically gifted defense in the league with J.J. Watt, Brian Cushing and Jadeveon Clowney, yet their performance has been up-and-down this season.

For nearly all of the first half of the season, the Texans put together a series of uninspired performances, and the losses mounted. Then the switch went on when they went to Cincinnati in Week 10 and handed the undefeated (at the time) Bengals their first loss by holding them to two field goals.

The defense picked it up after that, but dipped again in Week 13 at Buffalo. That's no way to prepare for the Patriots.

Belichick's team is constantly working on the small details and will unearth all of the Texans' weaknesses. The Patriots are also starting to get healthier, and they could have tight end Rob Gronkowski back in the lineup here. Even if they don't, the Patriots have a major advantage.

In addition to having Tom Brady at quarterback, New England has a huge edge on special teams. Forget about the fluky Week 13 performance that saw the Patriots give up a punt return for a touchdown, a blocked punt for a score and a failed onsides kick attempt against the Eagles.

Prior to that dreadful showing, the Pats had the No. 1 special teams in the league. Now they are No. 6.

That's cold comfort to the Texans, who have the 32nd-ranked special teams in the league, according to Football Outsiders. 

The Patriots are 3.5-point favorites, according to Odds Shark, and they simply don't lose three games in a row. Look for the Pats to play a solid road game and take charge in the fourth quarter. They will get the cover.

Game	Line	Over-Under	Selection
Atlanta at Carolina	Carolina -9	46.5	Atlanta; Over
Washington at Chicago	Chicago -3.5	43	Chicago; Over
Pittsburgh at Cincinnati	Cincinnati -2.5	50	Pittsburgh; Over
San Francisco at Cleveland	Cleveland -1	41	Cleveland; Over
Indianapolis at Jacksonville	Even	46	Indianapolis; Over
San Diego at Kansas City	Kansas City -11.5	44.5	San Diego; Under
Tennessee at N.Y. Jets	N.Y. Jets -8.5	43	N.Y. Jets
Buffalo at Philadelphia	Even	46.5	Buffalo; Under
Detroit at St. Louis	Detroit -2.5	41	Detroit; Over
New Orleans at Tampa Bay	Tampa Bay -4.5	50.5	Tampa Bay; Under
Seattle at Baltimore	Seattle -13	40.5	Seattle; Under
Oakland at Denver	Denver -7.5	43.5	Oakland; Under
Dallas at Green Bay	Green Bay -7.5	42.5	Green Bay
New England at Houston	New England -3.5	45	New England; Under
N.Y. Giants at Miami	Even	46.5	N.Y. Giants; Over

Chiefs will hold the Chargers in check in low-scoring game

The Kansas City Chiefs had no problems in Week 11 when they went to San Diego and punished the homestanding Chargers 33-3.

The Chiefs are streaking, having won six games in a row, while the Chargers have fallen down the rabbit hole and have lost seven of eight games. 

There was nothing flukish about that first game between the two teams. The Chiefs have gathered even more momentum since that game while the Chargers appear to be running on fumes.

They were held to three points by the Denver Broncos in Week 13, as their offense is limited. Quarterback Philip Rivers is throwing the ball well, but he just doesn't have the weapons to mount an assault on a strong defense.

That's just what Kansas City's defense has become. After a slow start, the Chiefs rank ninth in fewest yards allowed. 

The Chiefs and quarterback Alex Smith could approach the 33 points they scored in the first meeting, but we don't see the Chargers hitting double digits. The total in this game is 44.5 points, so go with the under and watch the San Diego offense struggle.

Tom Dahlin/Getty Images

Ravens lack the weapons to stay with Seahawks

The linemakers are begging football handicappers to take the Baltimore Ravens this week.

John Harbaugh's team is at home, and they will be lining up against the Seattle Seahawks. Seattle has won three in a row, and appears to have hit its stride after a very ordinary first half of the season.

The Seahawks have regained the respect of the linemakers, as they are 13-point road favorites. That's an intimidating number, but the once-formidable Ravens offense doesn't have Joe Sacco, Steve Smith Sr. or Justin Forsett. All have been sidelined by injuries.

Matt "Pick-Six" Schaub is under center for the Ravens, and he seems to throw at least one interception that gets taken back all the way at least once a game.

Meanwhile, Russell Wilson is red hot for the Seahawks and has thrown eight of his 21 TD passes in the last two games. Thomas Rawls is a surprisingly effective running back and Doug Baldwin is a tough, hard-nosed receiver who has caught 55-778-8 this season.

The Ravens will have a hard time getting the ball in the end zone, and they won't score more than three field goals. Meanwhile, look for the Ravens to score at least four touchdowns. 

It's a huge number, but the Seahawks will get the road cover.