NFL Week 14 Predictions: Road Favorites Guaranteed to Dominate

NFL teams can hear the clock winding down on the regular season. Some of them are feeling good about where they are. Others know they have work to do in order to make it to the postseason.

Week 14 is all about teams that are already in prime playoff position. 

These teams not only have nothing to worry about this week, but they are going to make a statement about just how good they are. And they are going to do it on the road. 

Going into enemy territory and exerting your will is the biggest confidence boost a team can get, and this week features a number of road teams ready to make the rest of the NFL take notice. 

Here are three road favorites that will dominate this weekend. 

New Orleans Saints (-3.5) vs. Tennessee Titans

Going on the road has been a challenge for the Saints this season. They are just 3-3 away from New Orleans, compared to 6-0 at the Superdome, but they are playing so well right now that it is hard not to like them regardless of where they are playing.

The Titans are making a nice run now that they have seen all the injuries hit the Houston Texans. Chris Johnson, it turns out, did not forget how to run the ball. It just took him a lot longer than any of us assumed it would to get back in the groove.

Still, Drew Brees has not been stopped by anyone this season. He has an argument to be the NFL MVP, but he faces an uphill battle thanks to that quarterback in Green Bay. He will at least make a compelling case this Sunday.

Saints 35, Titans 20

New England Patriots (-8) vs. Washington Redskins

Tom Brady vs. Rex Grossman. There are so many things wrong with that matchup that it isn’t even funny. I know they don’t actually play each other, but it is still a mismatch of epic proportions.

The Patriots are making a beeline toward the No. 1 seed in the AFC. They have an easy schedule over the final four weeks—at Washington, at Denver, vs. Miami, vs. Buffalo—so it's theirs for the taking.

The Redskins just want this season to end as soon as possible. They have lost seven of their last eight games after a 3-1 start, and there is no hope on the horizon until they figure out what is going on with their quarterback situation.

I don’t know how the Patriots are going to fare in the postseason, but I know they are going to look great over the final month.

Patriots 34, Redskins 14

San Francisco 49ers (-3.5) at Arizona Cardinals

Despite clinching the NFC West last week, the 49ers still have a lot to play for. They are still in the driver’s seat for the No. 2 seed and a first-round bye in the playoffs. Last week was not all good, though, as Patrick Willis went down with a hamstring injury and could be held out of Sunday’s game.

Even without Willis, the 49ers should cruise to victory in this game. The offense is starting to fire on all cylinders. Alex Smith is proving he is more than a manager of the offense, as he has begun to make big plays down the field, and the running game is still going strong.

The Cardinals did put forth an inspired effort against Dallas last week, but if not for a bonehead timeout by Dallas head coach Jason Garrett, they would have lost the game. Beanie Wells could get more yardage than most running backs do against the 49ers if Willis is out, but it still won’t be enough.

49ers 27, Cardinals 10