NFL Week 14 Picks: Dallas Cowboys and Top Home Favorites Worth the Risk

The Dallas Cowboys are currently enduring a miserable week of practice fresh off blowing an easy win against the Arizona Cardinals.

The anger and frustration will be taken out on the New York Giants. That’s why you should take the Cowboys -3.5 at home.

The arrival of DeMarco Murray has done wonders for the Cowboys offense, that now ranks 14th in the league in rushing after being in the low 20s with Felix Jones.

He has made Tony Romo’s life much easier, and so will the return of Miles Austin. Combine a healthy Austin with Dez Bryant and the emerging Laurent Robinson and you have yourself a deadly receiving core to go along with Murray. Expect them to torch a banged up Giants defense that is a pitiful 29th in the NFL against the pass and 23rd against the run.

If the Cowboys plan on winning the division, this home game against their top competitor is a must-win situation.

Prediction: Cowboys 27, Giants 21

Also consider these two home favorites:

Houston Texans at Cincinnati Bengals -3

The Bengals have lost three of four, but the losses have been to Pittsburgh and Baltimore. It’s not like the Bengals are suddenly a bad team, they are still ranked in the top 10 against both the pass and the rush and should have terrific pass-rusher Carlos Dunlap back from injury.

The Texans will likely be without Andre Johnson, which is going to make life very difficult for TJ Yates. He was serviceable in his first career start, but now there is NFL tape on him and you can bet Bengals' defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer is going to dial up some exotic blitzes that force Yates into bad decisions.

Jonathan Joseph makes his return to his old stomping grounds, and will likely limit what AJ Green does. That means Jermaine Gresham and Jerome Simpson will be expected to step up…and I think they answer the bell.

The Texans are only as good as their QB and the Bengals are too desperate to not put fourth their best effort with a playoff spot hanging in the balance.

Prediction: Bengals 23, Texans17

Philadelphia Eagles at Miami Dolphins -3

This one doesn’t take a whole lot of thought.

The Eagles have officially given up on this season and their injured players are in no rush to return. Why should Michael Vick risk further injury for a 4-8 team? His status at the moment is questionable.

Their effort against Seattle was embarrassing and it’s hard to imagine things changing a whole lot. The Dolphins are a last-second field goal away from a five game winning streak and are playing for pride. The Eagles should take note.

The Miami run defense has been sensational of late and they can at least limit the effectiveness of the only player on the Eagles that still tries in LeSean McCoy.

Expect the resurgent Reggie Bush to have another big game and Matt Moore to take care of the ball, something Vince Young knows nothing about.

Prediction: Dolphins 20, Eagles 13

(Spreads courtesy of Covers.com)