NFL Predictions for Week 14: Fast and Simple

As the 2010 NFL season enters the last month of regular season play, there are at 18 teams still in serious contention for a playoff birth with quite a few others holding onto fringe dreams.

As the intensity increases, momentum and health find their way into the public spotlight even more. Some teams, like the Packers, Colts, and Giants, have withstood masses amounts of injuries to their roster and remained viable championship contenders.

While the highlight of this weekend might be the match up of two division leading squads from different conferences, the implications of many other games hold an equal importance to those teams wanting to add a Super Bowl trophy to their front office trophy case.

Here is a fast and simple look at how things may go.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Washington Redskins

Larry French/Getty Images

BALTIMORE, MD - NOVEMBER 28: Kellen Winslow #82 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers can't make this endzone catch against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on November 28, 2010 in Baltimore, Maryland. The Ravens led the Buccaneers at the half 17-3. (Photo

Tampa Bay needs this to stay in the playoff run. Washington is in shambles again this season, and first year head coach Mike Shanahan has little to no respect in the locker room. 

Buccaneers 24   Redskins 21

Atlanta Falcons @ Carolina Panthers

Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

SAN FRANCISCO - OCTOBER 11: William Moore #25 of the Atlanta Falcons warms up before their game against the San Francisco 49ers at Candlestick Park on October 11, 2009 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

The team with the best record in the NFL takes on the team with the worst record. Expect Atlanta to roll. 

Falcons 31   Panthers 10

Cincinnati Bengals @ Pittsburgh Steelers

Jared Wickerham/Getty Images

PITTSBURGH, PA - NOVEMBER 21: James Farrior #51 of the Pittsburgh Steelers lines up before the snap during the game against the Oakland Raiders on November 21, 2010 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)

For all the talent the Bengals have on their roster, they might be the most disappointing NFL team in 2010. They can't seem to play four quarters. Pittsburgh prides themselves on defensive dominance for entire games. Expect more of the same. 

Steelers 27    Bengals 17

Oakland Raiders @ Jacksonville Jaguars

Jeff Gross/Getty Images

SAN DIEGO - DECEMBER 05: (L-R) Michael Bush #29, Langston Walker #70 and Marcel Reece #45 of the Oakland Raiders celebrate Bush's touchdown in the second quarter against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium on December 5, 2010 in San Diego, Califor

Both teams desperately need a win here. The Jaguars want to maintain their lead in the AFC South, while the Raiders are trying to catch up to the Chiefs for first place in the AFC West. Both teams run the ball well, but neither can stop the opposition at running the ball. 

Raiders 27    Jaguars 24

Green Bay Packers @ Detroit Lions

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

GREEN BAY, WI - OCTOBER 03: B.J. Raji #90 of the Green Bay Packers celebrates a defensive stop against the Detroit Lions at Lambeau Field on October 3, 2010 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Packers defeated the Lions 28-26. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Ima

Green Bay knows division leading Chicago has a tough game this weekend, so this is their chance to jump into a tie for first place. The Lions are young and pesky, but they aren't as hungry for a win because their 2010 season was over a long time ago. 

Packers 30    Lions 24

New York Giants @ Minnesota Vikings

Jim McIsaac/Getty Images

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - DECEMBER 05: Brandon Jacobs #27 of the New York Giants carries the ball into the endzone for a first quarter touchdown against the Washington Redskins on December 5, 2010 at the New Meadowlands Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jerse

If clubhouse cancer and egomaniac Brett Favre plays, the Giants win thanks to Favre's weekly turnoverfest. If the Hyckocrite sits, the Vikings have a shot. 

Giants 37  Vikings 14

Cleveland Browns @ Buffalo Bills

Marc Serota/Getty Images

MIAMI - DECEMBER 05: Running back Peyton Hillis #40 of the Cleveland Browns carries against the Miami Dolphins at Sun Life Stadium on December 5, 2010 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Marc Serota/Getty Images)

These two teams have improved greatly the last month, but both of their 2010 seasons were over before that. The star of this game will be the blizzard conditions surround the city of Buffalo. Expect Fred Jackson and Peyton Hillis to get a lot of touches. 

Browns 13   Bills 12

Seattle Seahawks @ San Francisco 49ers

Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images

SEATTLE - DECEMBER 05: Running back Leon Washington #33 of the Seattle Seahawks fields a kickoff against the Carolina Panthers at Qwest Field on December 5, 2010 in Seattle, Washington. The Seahawks won, 31-14. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)

Rumor is that quarterback Alex Smith will start again, probably the last ones of his feeble career. Seattle needs to win to stay in first place in the NFC West. 

Seahawks 17   49ers 10

Saint Louis Rams @ New Orleans Saints

Chris Graythen/Getty Images

NEW ORLEANS - OCTOBER 24: Devery Henderson #19 of the New Orleans Saints in action during pregame before the game against the Cleveland Browns at the Louisiana Superdome on October 24, 2010 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Image

The Saints are a game behind Atlanta, so winning is vital to them. The same importance rings true for the Rams, who are in a first place tie in the NFC West with Seattle.

Saint Louis has a young defense and excellent pass rush, but not enough defensive backs to stop Saints quarterback Drew Brees from spreading it all over the Super Dome. 

Saints 26   Rams 21

Kansas City Chiefs @ San Diego Chargers

Jamie Squire/Getty Images

KANSAS CITY, MO - OCTOBER 24: Derrick Johnson #56 of the Kansas City Chiefs carries the ball in for a touchdown after making an interception during the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars on October 24, 2010 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missour

The Bolts mythical December winning streak was halted by Oakland last week, causing them to fall two games behind the first place Chiefs in the battle for the AFC West. A Chiefs win here ends their season. 

Chiefs 28   Chargers 24

Miami Dolphins @ New York Jets

Rick Stewart/Getty Images

ORCHARD PARK, NY - OCTOBER 03: Mark Sanchez #6 of the New York Jets throws a pass to Dustin Keller #81 against the Buffalo Bills at Ralph Wilson Stadium on October 3, 2010 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images)

While Miami is only playing for pride right now, the Jets are still stinging from the embarrassment of a thorough butt-kicking on Monday Night Football a few days ago. They should be very angry this weekend. 

Jets 23   Dolphins 13

Denver Broncos @ Arizona Cardinals

Sam Greenwood/Getty Images

JACKSONVILLE, FL - SEPTEMBER 12: Perrish Cox #32 of the Denver Broncos runs for yardage during the NFL season opener game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Field on September 12, 2010 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Im

Two of the worst teams in the NFL face off. The Broncos first game head coach should prevail over the rookie Cardinals quarterback playing his first game. 

Broncos 34   Cardinals 14

New England Patriots @ Chicago Bears

Leon Halip/Getty Images

DETROIT - NOVEMBER 25: Devin McCourty #32 of the New England Patriots celebrates his interception with teammates Brandon Meriweather #31 and Jermaine Cunningham #96 during the fourth quarter of the game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on November

Game of the Week 

Bears middle linebacker Brian Urlacher recently told people he was confident Chicago would win this game. His logic is feasible because his teams offense has been playing better while the Patriots are coming off a short week after defeating the Jets on Monday Night Football. 

Both teams lead their divisions by a game. Defense decides this one more than any other area, but Tom Brady is better than Jay Cutler by a wide margin. 

Patriots 23   Bears 17

Philadelphia Eagles @ Dallas Cowboys

Al Bello/Getty Images

PHILADELPHIA, PA - DECEMBER 02: Michael Vick #7 of the Philadelphia Eagles throws a pass to Brent Celek #87 against the Houston Texans at Lincoln Financial Field on December 2, 2010 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Eagles won 34-24. (Photo by Al Bello/

Eagles fans hate Dallas, and for good reason. Michael Vick looks to keep his team in first place against a mediocre Cowboys defense playing for nothing. 

Eagles 30   Cowboys 21

Baltimore Ravens @ Houston Texans

Doug Benc/Getty Images

MIAMI GARDENS, FL - JANUARY 31: Haloti Ngata #92 of Baltimore Ravens looks on the sidelines during the 2010 AFC-NFC Pro Bowl at Sun Life Stadium on January 31, 2010 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Doug Benc/Getty Images)

After losing to Pittsburgh last Sunday, Baltimore fell to second place in the AFC North. They cannot afford any more defeats. Houston is still mathematically alive in the AFC South, but their defense just isn't good enough. 

Ravens 27    Texans 24

Power Rankings

Leon Halip/Getty Images

DETROIT - NOVEMBER 25: Ron Gronkowski #87 of the New England Patriots celebrates a first down catch during the fourth of the game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on November 25, 2010 in Detroit, Michigan. New England defeated Detroit 45-24. (Phot

1. Patriots
2. Falcons
3. Steelers
4. Eagles
5. Packers
6. Jets
7. Saints
8. Giants
9. Bears
10. Ravens
11. Chiefs
12. Buccaneers
13. Rams
14. Jaguars
15. Raiders
16. Colts
17. Seahawks
18. Redskins
19. Dolphins
20. Chargers
21. Browns
22. Texans
23. Vikings
24. Titans
25. Cowboys
26. Lions
27. Bengals
28. Bills
29. Broncos
30. 49ers
31. Cardinals
32. Panthers