NFL Picks Week 14: Picking Each Team's Biggest Question Mark

Week 14 in the NFL marks the beginning of the business end of the season. The playoff picture is starting to take shape and the destiny of each division will soon be determined in the coming weeks.

The schedule begins with a classic rivalry on Thursday night, as the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers renew hostilities at Heinz Field.

The true highlight of Sunday's games is the crunch NFC East battle between the New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys in Texas.

Here is a look at the biggest question marks in each contest, focusing on one player from each side whose frailty could cost his respective team the game.

Browns at Steelers: Phillip Taylor and Rashard Mendenhall

This game will likely be determined by the Browns ability to stop the run. Cleveland's defense has been one of the softest in the league against the run.

Ray Rice enjoyed a 200-plus yard effort against them on Sunday and the Browns currently rank second to last in the league against the run, allowing a whopping 151-yards per game.

The Browns will need massive rookie defensive tackle Phillip Taylor to carry the fight to the Steelers. Taylor has performed capably against the pass this season, but has struggled to hold up against the run.

The former Baylor ace could be overwhelmed by skilled and tenacious Steelers center, Maurkice Pouncey. If Taylor can't create movement inside, the Browns will be in trouble.

Stuffing the run against the Steelers means stopping Rashard Mendenhall. The bruising back trampled all over the Cincinnati Bengals tough defense on Sunday and could experience similar joy against Cleveland.

Their offense may have changed in recent seasons, but the Steelers still require no invitation to let their ground attack control a game.

Mendenhall has struggled for consistency this season, but he must deliver against a struggling Browns run defense.

His success can keep Cleveland's front four off Ben Roethlisberger. The Browns have been very adept at pressuring the passer this season.

If Mendenhall cannot escape the clutches of Taylor, the Steelers will be forced to try and counter the Browns' opportunistic and league-leading pass defense.

Buccaneers at Jaguars: Josh Johnson and Blaine Gabbert

This Florida derby promises to be decided by the play of its two unproven quarterbacks. Both Blaine Gabbert and Josh Johnson have a lot to do to prove themselves as reliable pro starters.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers need Josh Johnson to prove that he can be an adequate stand-in for the injured Josh Freeman.

If Johnson can't get the Bucs offense back on track, the pressure will increase on Tampa's injury prone and porous defense.

That is if rookie Blaine Gabbert can finally provide an indication of why exactly the Jaguars traded up to select him 10th overall in April's draft.

Gabbert has struggled mightily this season. Accuracy, technique and decision-making have all been highly questionable.

If Tampa Bay can at least limit the production of Maurice Jones-Drew, they can pressure Gabbert into some costly errors.

Chiefs at Jets: Tyler Palko and Mark Sanchez

Two strong defenses could enjoy big days against two struggling quarterbacks when the New York Jets entertain the Kansas City Chiefs.

Both teams are coming off impressive road victories. But the focus will still be firmly on temperamental trigger men Tyler Palko and Mark Sanchez.

The Chiefs need Palko to prove that he can be an adequate replacement for Matt Cassel after the unfortunate injury suffered by Kyle Orton against the Chicago Bears.

The Chiefs are no longer the force they were on the ground and if Palko can't deliver, they won't trouble the scoreboard.

For the Jets, Sanchez must demonstrate the ability to make decisive plays when it matters the most. He has shown improvement in the last two games and the Jets will need him to avoid mistakes against the aggressive and opportunistic Kansas City secondary.

The Chiefs relied on forcing an uncertain quarterback into mistakes against the Bears. If Sanchez falters, they could keep be able to keep the game close and decide it with some more select big plays.

Texans at Bengals: Cedric Benson and T.J. Yates

Third-stringer T.J. Yates will attempt to continue his winning streak when the Houston Texans take to the road to go against the Cincinnati Bengals.

The unproven quarterback has led Houston to two straight victories, but he faces a daunting task against the Bengals usually stout defense.

Yates will have to prove that he can stand in the pocket and make plays when under pressure from Cincinnati's relentless front four.

Against such a smart and aggressive defense, Yates' inexperience seems certain to be exposed. The Texans will need some offensive output to match the scoring potential of Bengals rookie duo Andy Dalton and A.J. Green.

But Dalton and Green will only succeed if they receive sufficient support from a running game led by Cedric Benson.

The Bengals runner has not played up to his talents at times this season. But Benson must produce a solid effort in order to keep the fearsome Texans pass rush at bay.

If Benson fails to deliver, then Dalton will be at the mercy of Wade Phillips' blitz schemes and a secondary led by former Bengals standout Jonathan Joseph.

Patriots at Redskins: Devin McCourty and Rex Grossman

The New England Patriots will be hot favourites to win on the road against the inconsistent Washington Redskins.

But the Patriots' injury-depleted secondary could prove to be their undoing. If Devin McCourty makes a full return to the lineup, he will need to start replicating the form he showed during his rookie season.

The Redskins have some talent at wide receiver in the skilled and dependable veterans Jabar Gaffney and Santana Moss.

The experienced duo have the ability to expose the frailties of the New England secondary. McCourty must at least match the ball-hawking efforts of Kyle Arrington.

But for the Redskins to take advantage of any slips in the back end of the Patriots defense, mistake-prone quarterback Rex Grossman will need to be more precise and efficient with the football.

The Patriots are experts at taking advantage of any mistakes and Grossman is notorious for making rash decisions. Not a good combination for Redskins fans to consider.

Falcons at Panthers: Matt Ryan and Terrell McClain

This game is a must-win for the Falcons, if they hope to keep their wild-card playoff hopes alive for another week.

But things won't be easy for Atlanta against a steadily improving Carolina Panthers team led by explosive rookie Cam Newton.

The Falcons will need quarterback Matt Ryan to be sharper and more accurate than he was against the Texans on Sunday.

Ryan overthrew two deep passes that would have resulted in touchdowns. The usually precise passer failed to connect with a wide open Roddy White and Julio Jones.

These missed opportunities cost the Falcons the chance to build a commanding early lead and put the pressure on the Texans' injury-depleted offense.

The Falcons must take their opportunities for big plays if they are going to keep pace with a prolific Panthers offense.

Carolina will likely look to stuff the run and put the game in Ryan's hands. The Panthers' defensive problems have stemmed from the lack of a dominant presence at the interior of their defensive front.

Rookie Terrell McClain has struggled to make an immediate transition to starting in the pros. If McClain cannot disrupt the Falcons' powerful center-guard trio, then Michael Turner will be able to control the clock and keep the ball away from Newton.

Eagles at Dolphins: Vince Young and Koa Misi

The Miami Dolphins will need to put Vince Young under intense pressure if they are going to force the Philadelphia Eagles offense into the kind of mistakes which have plagued them all season.

Second-year pro Koa Misi must start to step up and ease the burden on the outstanding Cameron Wake. Misi should be taking advantage of playing opposite a pass-rusher as dangerous as Wake and produce some sacks of his own.

The Eagles need Vince Young to avoid the kind of Jekyll and Hyde performance that has undermined him since he entered the league.

When on form, Young can expose any defense. But when he is off his game, Young can be a major liability, guilty of horrendous mental errors.

Saints at Titans: Cameron Jordan and Chris Hope

The New Orleans Saints will look to continue their impressive winning run against a Tennessee Titans team desperate to stay in contention in the AFC South.

Stopping terrific running back Chris Johnson has to be the top priority for the Saints defense. Johnson has enjoyed a spectacular return to form in recent weeks.

If Johnson can deliver on the ground, then he can help the Titans keep the ball away from the dangerous Saints offense.

Rookie defensive end Cameron Jordan has a crucial role to play in holding and setting the edge and preventing Johnson from escaping to the outside.

Jordan has endured mixed fortunes in his rookie season and the Saints will need him to have a breakout game in the Music City.

The Titans' vulnerable pass defense will have to play an exceptional game to limit the threat posed by Drew Brees.

Safety Chris Hope could well be the key. Brees is a master of looking off safety help and if Hope gambles and guesses wrong in coverage, the Saints will pick the Titans apart.

Colts at Ravens: Dan Orlovsky and Joe Flacco

This game should provide plenty of joy for any native of Baltimore who still feels betrayed by the Colts franchise scurrying away in the night to Indianapolis nearly 30 years ago.

After playing the New England Patriots on the road, the winless Colts travel to Maryland to take on the Ravens and conclude a brutal two-week stretch.

Dan Orlovsky's inexperience and indecision in the pocket can be exposed by the Ravens' experienced and aggressive defense.

Recognition will likely be Orlovsky's biggest challenge. His ability to read and diagnose a pressure scheme will be severely tested by Terrell Suggs and company.

For the Ravens, only self-destruction can cost them this game. That's exactly why Joe Flacco will need to avoid the kind of erratic performance he is sometimes guilty of.

The Colts ran the Patriots a lot closer than expected, so Flacco cannot give the game away.

Vikings at Lions: Cedric Griffin and Aaron Berry

This NFC North matchup brings together two secondaries that were horribly shredded in Week 13. Both Cedric Griffin and Aaron Berry will be anxious to recover from being routinely burned in their last game.

Griffin was extremely vulnerable against the Denver Broncos. Confusion in the coverage schemes didn't help, but the Vikings need Griffin to perform better this week.

But it won't be easy for Griffin or any member of the Vikings secondary, considering they will be going up against Calvin Johnson.

Berry stepped into an injury-ravaged Lions secondary that was victimised by Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints on Sunday night.

Whichever secondary manages to hold up the best will probably determine the winner of this divisional game.

Bears at Broncos: Caleb Hanie and Tim Tebow

Two teams whose fortunes have rapidly altered in the last few weeks will do battle in Denver. The Broncos and the Chicago Bears are moving in opposite directions.

No two players better personify this shift than the quarterbacks. The Bears' decision to turn the team over to Caleb Hanie after Jay Cutler's injury seems to have backfired.

As well as their defense might play, the Bears barely seem capable of troubling the scoreboard. Without star runner Matt Forte to rely on, Hanie will be left at the mercy of the Broncos pass rush.

The play of Tim Tebow has been the catalyst for Denver's remarkable turnaround. It is a measure of how far he has come that fourth quarter heroics are now expected.

But the question remains: How long can he keep doing it? How long Tebow keep overcoming sluggish first half performances?

The Bears' tough and resourceful defense might be the ideal unit to bring Tebow's streak to an end.

49ers at Cardinals: Alex Smith and Beanie Wells

The San Francisco 49ers' winning ways may come to an end on the road against a steadily improving Arizona Cardinals team.

Most of that improvement has come on defense and it will be interesting to see if 49ers quarterback Alex Smith can survive the pressure and still make plays.

Jim Harbaugh and his staff have done a good job of keeping Smith within the confines of a safe and structured system this season. But the Cardinals' emerging defense looks set to put that test.

The other big question is whether or not Beanie Wells can stop the record-setting pace of the San Francisco run defense.

Wells is the next running back in line to try and achieve 100-yards against the 49ers stout rush defense. The Cardinals will need yards on the ground, because it's difficult to see Kevin Kolb beating the 49ers defense on his own.

Bills at Chargers: C. J. Spiller and Phillip Rivers

Turnovers will most likely be the story of this game. Both the Buffalo Bills and San Diego Chargers have been crippled by their unfortunate penchant for giving the ball away this season.

One way for the Bills to ensure a more efficient game would be to re-establish a ground attack, something they have struggled to do in the absence of the injured Fred Jackson.

C.J. Spiller has yet to live up to the potential which saw him drafted ninth overall in 2010. Spiller may be able to experience some joy against a surprisingly soft Chargers run defense.

Whether or not Spiller can deliver the kind of breakout performance that Bills fans and coaches are still desperate to see, remains to be seen.

No team in the league has a better talent for beating themselves than the Chargers. How else can a team so talented, be rooted to the foot of the AFC West?

If Philip Rivers is guilty of the turnovers which have plagued him all year, then the Bills just might spring the upset.

Raiders at Packers: Carson Palmer and Morgan Burnett

The Oakland Raiders have to be alarmed by how easily they were handled on the road by the Dolphins in Week 13.

The offense took several steps back and the big question is, can Carson Palmer do a better job of protecting the football against the extremely opportunistic Green Bay Packers defense?

If not, then the Raiders will simply be gifting opportunities to an Aaron Rodgers-led offense which needs no invitation to rack up yards and points.

The only question mark surrounding Green Bay is when or if their 31st-ranked pass defense is going to cost them a game?

The Packers defense has binged on big plays this season, but it has to be a cause for concern that teams are routinely shredding them through the air.

The safety positions have struggled in the absence of Nick Collins. Free safety Morgan Burnett will have to stay alert against the Raiders.

Oakland possesses some useful weapons in the form of rookie flanker Denarius Moore and veteran tight end Kevin Boss.

Giants at Cowboys: Will Blackmon and Tony Romo

The crunch matchup of the weekend sees the New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys do battle in the first of a two-game series that will surely decide the fate of the NFC East.

The Giants will be hoping that their injury-hit secondary does a better job of coping than they did against the Packers.

Stopgap corner Will Blackmon was victimised by Jordy Nelson on Sunday and the Cowboys are sure to go after him.

The Cowboys defeat in Arizona showed that this ultra-talented team still has the unfortunate habit of self-destructing in December.

All eyes will be on Tony Romo to see if he can finally shake off his famous jinx in this month. Both teams have been susceptible to late collapses and whoever blinks first could find themselves out of the playoff running.

Rams at Seahawks: Mark LeVoir and Breno Giacomini

With uncertainty at quarterback plaguing two teams who are surprisingly adept at getting to the passer, this Monday night game will probably be won by whoever provides the best pass protection.

Stand-in tackles Mark LeVoir and Breno Giacomini face difficult assignments and their struggles could tip the game away from their respective teams.

Both will be tasked with containing the opposition's best pass-rusher. LeVoir will have to try and subdue Seattle's pressure specialist, Chris Clemons.

Giacomini will have to contend with rising St. Louis star, Chris Long. Whoever manages to keep his quarterback clean should determine the outcome.

The balance of power in more than one division is set to be determined this week. For struggling teams, time is running out to try and salvage some pride heading into the offseason.

The players on this list need to perform at their best and avoid being the weak link that undermines their team's hopes for victory.