NFL Picks Week 14: Predicting the Biggest Games and Their Winners

As we close in towards the playoffs, there are a lot of teams looking to finalize their berth into the post season, and some even contending for a divisional race.

Every game is important to these teams, and there are some big matchups with playoff implications this weekend.

Here is a preview of the biggest NFL match-ups and a prediction of their winners.

James Evens is a Purdue student and Basketball/Football Featured Columnist for the Boilermakers, along with being a Writing Intern at Bleacher Report.   Follow him on Twitter or like him on Facebook.

Indianapolis Vs Tennessee

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HOUSTON - NOVEMBER 28: Cornerback Cortland Finnegan #31 of the Tennessee Titans is held back by an official after getting into a fight with Andre Johnson of the Houston Texans at Reliant Stadium on November 28, 2010 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Leve

This matchup will be key in the AFC South divisional race.

The Colts come in with a record of 6-6 and are second in the division, while Tennessee has a record of 5-7 and are sitting third in the division.

This is a key match-up for the Colts if they plan on making the playoffs again.  They have not missed a play-off berth since 2001.  

The big story in this one, is if Peyton Manning will be able to get back on track after a dismal three game losing streak.  In those three games, Manning has thrown 11 interceptions and only eight touchdowns.

Meanwhile, the Titans come in looking to have an outside shot at the division and get their season back on track following the Vince Young trouble.

This is a nationally televised Thursday night matchup and should be a good one.

Indianapolis

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INDIANAPOLIS, IN - DECEMBER 05: Peyton Manning #18 of the Indianapolis Colts pitches the football against the Dallas Cowboys at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 5, 2010 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Cowboys defeated the Colts 38-35 in overtime. (Photo by Sco

After facing some harsh criticism for the first time in a long time, Manning will rebound in a big showing and remind everyone how good of a quarterback he actually is.

With all of the critics out there watching this game, Peyton will be able to prove himself clutch enough to get this Colts team into the playoffs once again.

Giants Vs Minnesota

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MINNEAPOLIS, MN - DECEMBER 05: Brett Favre #4 of the Minnesota Vikings on the sideline during the game against the Buffalo Bills at the Mall of America Field at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome on December 5, 2010 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Ni

This game may seem like a dud, but it could turn out to be a great game.  The Giants come in with playoff aspirations, while the Vikings come in just looking for a win.

The Vikings have had a disappointing season of 5-7 which has included a lot of off the field drama involving former head coach Brad Childress, Randy Moss, and one of their team's "members".  Now Childress is gone, the Vikings are facing injury problems with their aging quarterback Brett Favre.  

Favre could possibly miss his first start in year in this one, which would be headline news across the country.

The Giants have a record of 8-4 and are in first in the NFC East.  They have been playing well as of late, and really have taken the bask seat to the media loving New York Jets.

This should be a great game, as the Vikings have been playing well under their new coach.

Giants

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - DECEMBER 05: Eli Manning #10 of the New York Giants in action against the Washington Redskins during their game on December 5, 2010 at The New Meadowlands Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

The Giants will win this game, although the Vikings will be able to make it close.  Brett Favre will play, which will ultimately be the downfall of the Vikings this week.  

Nothing against Favre, but the guy is really burdening to the team at this point.  Just look at the inspiring football Peterson played last weekend when Favre went down.

If the Vikings play Jackson this week, it could be a different story.

Oakland Vs Jacksonville

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NASHVILLE, TN - DECEMBER 05: Terrance Knighton #96 of the Jacksonville Jaguars dances back to the sideline after a turnover by the Tennessee Titans during the first half at LP Field on December 5, 2010 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Grant Halverson

If you wrote an article about how this game would have playoff implications before the season, people would be coming to you paying millions of dollars, because you can just plain predict the future. 

This game looked like a horrible NFL match-up between two of the leagues worst teams, but it actually has a shot to prove which team will get into the playoffs.

The Jaguars come into this game with a record of 7-5 and are sitting atop the AFC South, but are closely being hunted by the Indianapolis Colts.  If the Jaguars can win this game, they will pull away from the Colts if they happen to lose tonight.

Meanwhile, the Oakland Raiders are 6-6 this season and sit second in the AFC West.  Oakland has flown under the radar this season and really had a great season so far. 

Both of these teams are looking to make the playoffs this season, and it will be pivotal that they win this game, which should make it a very exciting matchup.

Oakland

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SAN DIEGO - DECEMBER 05: Rock Cartwright #25 of the Oakland Raiders celebrates after his team recovered a fumble in the first quarter against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium on December 5, 2010 in San Diego, California. The Raiders defeated th

Oakland has the edge in this match-up.  Although they have do not have a better record than the Jaguars, I just can't see them losing this match-up.  

Their rushing game should be able to tear apart the Jaguars.  The Jags have one of the worst defense in the NFL, and it will show when they play Oakland.

Philadelphia Vs Dallas

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INDIANAPOLIS, IN - DECEMBER 05: Jon Kitna #3 of the Dallas Cowboys passes against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 5, 2010 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Scott Boehm/Getty Images)

Although this matchup doesn't have many playoff implications, as Philadelphia is basically a sure thing, and Dallas is out of the mix, it still should be a great game.

Dallas has been on a roll as of late with a record of 4-8 and are recently coming off of an overtime victory against the Indianapolis Colts.  

After the replacing of head coach Wade Phillips, the Cowboys started stepping up, but basically have no shot at the postseason, but are still playing hard.  

They will miss their star rookie wide-receiver Dez Bryant in this one and for the rest of the season as he was placed on IR, but it shouldn't affect them to much extent.

Meanwhile, the Eagles are one of the best teams in football right now.  They have a record of 8-4 and are in first place in the NFC East.  

The Eagles are led by one of the most explosive offenses in the NFL and are averaging a little over 400 yards of total offense per game.  This offense is led by one of the most storied quarterbacks in the NFL, in Michael Vick, who is having a great comeback this season to the NFL.

Eagles

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PHILADELPHIA, PA - DECEMBER 02: Michael Vick #7 of the Philadelphia Eagles runs with the ball as he elludes the pass rush from Mario Williams #90 of the Houston Texans at Lincoln Financial Field on December 2, 2010 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo

The Eagles will win this one, and it will be a frustrating loss for the Cowboys.  The Eagles are coming off a win against the Texans, and it would be hard to imagine them to stop rolling along.

Expect Vick to take over this game and show why the Eagles are one of the best teams in the league.

New England Vs Chicago

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DETROIT - DECEMBER 05: Jay Cutler #6 of the Chicago Bears scrambles for a first down during the fourth quarter of the game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on December 5, 2010 in Detroit, Michigan. The Bears defeated the Lions 24-20. (Photo by Leo

This is by far the matchup of the week and could prove to be a preview of the Super Bowl.  Both of these teams have been playing well this season, and the Patriots have proved themselves as the best team in the league.

Chicago comes into this battle with a record of 9-3. They are led on offense by Jay Cutler, but it has been dismal this season.  They are ranked at the bottom of the league in offense but are held together as a team by their strong defense under the leadership of Julius Peppers and Brian Urlacher.

Meanwhile, the Patriots come in with a league best record of 10-2 and are coming off of a blow out victory against the highly touted New York Jets.  There was a lot of hype coming into that nationally televised game, and New England came out and stole the show with a 45-3 victory.

They are led on offense by one of the greatest quarterbacks in the history of the league, Tom Brady. Brady has the ability to win huge games and always plays well against tough opponents.

Patriots

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FOXBORO, MA - DECEMBER 06: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots throws a pass against the New York Jets at Gillette Stadium on December 6, 2010 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

Although the Bears have a great defense, it's hard to see them stopping the high powered New England offense.  With their performance last week against one of the best secondary cores in the league, it's difficult seeing the Bears tripping them up.

Another reason why the Bears will lose this game is because they won't be able to score enough points. They are facing one of the greatest coaches of all time and will be picked apart offensively by the Patriots.