NFL Picks Week 14: Predicting All the Winners
We're coming to the home stretch of the NFL season now that it's Week 14.
The playoff races are being decided slowly but surely, as teams prove that they're either contenders or pretenders.
Will the Patriots continue their dominance after destroying the New York Jets on Monday Night Football last week?
Can the Carolina Panthers win their second game?
Read on to find the answers and more.
Indianapolis Colts vs. Tennessee Titans
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Now 5-7, the Tennessee Titans really don't have anything left to play for. The Indianapolis Colts, on the other hand, do, as they're now one game back of the Jacksonville Jaguars and don't have a realistic chance at a wild card spot.
Peyton Manning has been historically bad over the last three weeks, throwing 11 interceptions. That's almost unheard of for a quarterback of his caliber.
But this is a big game, and it's prime time on Thursday night, and that makes it tough to bet against the Colts.
Remember, the Titans haven't been any good either lately.
Prediction: Indianapolis Colts
Cleveland Browns vs. Buffalo Bills
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Both the 5-7 Cleveland Browns and the 2-10 Buffalo Bills don't really have much to play for other than pride at this point in the year.
That makes me lean towards a proven winner like Colt McCoy, whose need to win drives him to perform better no matter the situation.
If the Browns could beat a better team than Buffalo last week in Miami, then they should be able to win this one.
Prediction: Cleveland Browns
Atlanta Falcons vs. Carolina Panthers
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For those of you in survivor pools, here's your lock of the week: The Atlanta Falcons at 10-2 should have no difficulty at all with the 1-11 Carolina Panthers.
Even though this game is at Carolina, the Falcons have too much talent to lose.
Matt Ryan has been incredible lately, and Roddy White is distinguishing himself this season as the best receiver in the NFL.
Unless there are major injuries or something very strange happens, the Falcons should have this one wrapped up by halftime.
Prediction: Atlanta Falcons
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Green Bay Packers vs. Detroit Lions
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The 8-4 Green Bay Packers should be able to handle the 2-10 Detroit Lions with ease.
Detroit has proven quite adept at hanging in games until the third quarter and then finding interesting ways to lose them.
A blowout in this game could leave the Lions in the dust before they figure out a creative way to lose.
The Packers' running game isn't going to work well against Ndamukong Suh and the Lions' defensive front, but there is no way the less talented Detroit secondary can stop the aerial attack of the Pack.
Prediction: Green Bay Packers
Oakland Raiders vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
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At 7-5, the Jacksonville Jaguars have to be the most surprising division leader in the NFL, especially because they've actually been outscored this season.
As for the Oakland Raiders, they are 6-6 and trying desperately to hang with the Kansas City Chiefs.
You can count on a lot of running in this game, as the teams combine to average 300.5 rushing yards per game.
Maurice Jones-Drew is on a roll lately, running for a career-high 186 yards last week. I don't expect the Raiders to do a great job stopping him.
Prediction: Jacksonville Jaguars
New York Giants vs. Minnesota Vikings
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The 8-4 New York Giants will take on the 5-7 Minnesota Vikings.
Even though the Vikings don't have much to play for at this point, interim head coach Leslie Frazier has done a great job of motivating his team.
It doesn't hurt that Adrian Peterson has been on an absolute tear recently. Just look at his three touchdowns last week.
Even though the ground game has been working to perfection lately for the Giants, Eli Manning hasn't played too well.
Prediction: Minnesota Vikings
Cincinnati Bengals vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
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In a battle of AFC North teams, the 9-3 Pittsburgh Steelers take on the lowly 2-10 Cincinnati Bengals.
Something tells me that this one won't even be close. The Bengals are back to being the "Bungles," while the Steelers are coming off a physical win against a playoff team, the Baltimore Ravens.
Ben Roethlisberger, who won't have to worry about much of a pass rush, is going to have a field day against the injury-depleted Bengals secondary.
Prediction: Pittsburgh Steelers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Washington Redskins
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This Sunday, the 9-3 Tampa Bay Buccaneers will take on the 5-7 Washington Redskins.
While the Redskins are realistically out of the playoff hunt, the Bucs are still firmly in both their divisional race and the wild card hunt.
Tampa Bay, despite its loss last week to the Atlanta Falcons, still is a great young, improving team.
Mike Williams is becoming one of the better wide receivers in the league, while LeGarrette Blount is proving to be quite adept at punching through defensive lines.
Washington doesn't have nearly as many positives.
Prediction: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
St. Louis Rams vs. New Orleans Saints
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The St. Louis Rams (6-6) are taking on the 9-3 New Orleans Saints.
The Rams have won their last two games and seem to be improving each and every week. Even as a rookie, Sam Bradford is becoming one of the better quarterbacks in the NFL.
As for the Saints, they've won quite a few games in a row, but the last two were kind of lucky. Against the Cowboys they barely pulled out a fourth quarter comeback, and they beat the Bengals after drawing an offsides on a hard count.
Here's your upset special of the week.
Prediction: St. Louis Rams
Seattle Seahawks vs. San Francisco 49ers
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It seems like the 4-8 San Francisco 49ers should be out of contention for the NFC West crown, but if they beat the 6-6 Seattle Seahawks, they still won't be.
Too bad that won't happen, as the 49ers seem to be back to starting Alex Smith at quarterback. With the injury to Frank Gore, there isn't enough talent to compete with a mediocre-at-best Seattle team.
Matt Hasselbeck also loves playing against the 49ers. He's 10-3 against them in his last 13 starts.
Prediction: Seattle Seahawks
Denver Broncos vs. Arizona Cardinals
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Two of the biggest disappointments in the league, both 3-9, will face off in this game.
We'll see how the Broncos respond to the firing of Josh McDaniels—maybe Tim Tebow will even play.
As for the Cardinals, they're just completely inept. I refuse to pick them. We may even see John Skelton, the rookie out of Fordham, start at quarterback.
If this wasn't against the Cardinals, I would refuse to pick the Broncos too.
Prediction: Denver Broncos
New England Patriots vs. Chicago Bears
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In a potential Super Bowl preview, the 10-2 New England Patriots will take on the 9-3 Chicago Bears.
Both teams are playing well lately, and the Bears defense has a chance to neutralize the high-flying Patriots.
That said, it's impossible to pick against a team that's coming off a prime time 42-point win over a nine-win division rival.
Prediction: New England Patriots
Miami Dolphins vs. New York Jets
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Both the 6-6 Miami Dolphins and the 9-3 New York Jets are coming off miserable losses and will face each other in an AFC East clash.
Chad Henne needs to rebound after throwing three picks, including a late one deep in his own territory. The Jets got trounced on national television Monday night, losing by 42 points to the New England Patriots.
Rex Ryan is too good of a coach to let his team lose all its momentum. Expect them to be the more resilient team when Sunday rolls around.
Prediction: New York Jets
Kansas City Chiefs vs. San Diego Chargers
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If you had told an NFL fan before the season started that the San Diego Chargers would be 6-6 and playing the 8-4 Kansas City Chiefs in Week 14 to try to stage a furious rally for the AFC West title, they would have looked at you like you were crazy.
Yet somehow that's exactly what's going on.
The Chargers have one of the NFL's best defenses and will be looking to stop the Chiefs' top-ranked rushing attack. They also need to stop the touchdown machine known as Dwayne Bowe.
But the Chiefs, who won at Arrowhead in Week 1, will need a victory on the road to get their first sweep of the Chargers since 2003.
Prediction: San Diego Chargers
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys
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The 4-8 Dallas Cowboys are essentially eliminated from playoff contention, but they would still love to hurt the 8-4 Philadelphia Eagles' chances of making the postseason.
Ever since Jason Garrett took over, the Cowboys have played like a fire was lit under them.
Unfortunately for America's Team, that's how Michael Vick and LeSean McCoy have been playing all season.
NFC East games are always intense, and this Sunday night game should be no different.
Prediction: Philadelphia Eagles
Baltimore Ravens vs. Houston Texans
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The 5-7 Houston Texans need to win to stay alive in the playoff race, while the 8-4 Baltimore Ravens need a victory to stay in the hunt for the AFC North title after losing the lead to Pittsburgh last Monday.
The Texans should give the Ravens some trouble. Arian Foster is tough to stop on the ground, and Matt Schaub, Andre Johnson and company can give a shaky Ravens secondary a challenge.
However, the Texans defense is too incompetent to have any hope of stopping Ray Rice, Joe Flacco, Anquan Boldin and the rest of the Ravens offense.
This Monday night game really shouldn't be too close, but expect quite a few points to be scored.
Prediction: Baltimore Ravens
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