NFL Picks Week 14: New Orleans Saints and Every Team That Will Cover the Spread

With the Green Bay Packers' pursuit of perfection and Tim Tebow's magical year dominating the spotlight this NFL season, many have forgotten about the New Orleans Saints—a team no one will want to face in January.

Quarterback Drew Brees is on pace to break Dan Marino's single-season record for passing yards, and there is no one more important to his team than the Saints QB. Yeah, that includes Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

Let's look at the Saints and teams who will cover the spread this week.

Note: All spreads according to Bodog.eu

New York Jets vs. Kansas City Chiefs (Jets -3)

The New York Jets have a large spread this week against the Kansas City Chiefs, but a deeper look at this matchup suggests it would not be crazy to take it this week.

Just going by the the points scored per game averages for both teams could convince some to take this spread. The Chiefs only score 13.6 points per game while the Jets average 24.2.

Kansas City has not scored more than 10 points since Halloween: that is five games with very little offensive production.

With Tyler Palko at quarterback, the Chiefs have fallen to 29th in the NFL in passing, averaging just under 180 yards through the air per game.

The Jets have won two straight games since losing to Tim Tebow and the Denver Broncos three weeks ago, and over the past few seasons they have played well under enormous pressure to make the playoffs in the final few weeks.

With their playoff lives at on the line, the Jets will dominate a Chiefs team that is really struggling to score points lately.

New Orleans Saints vs. Tennessee Titans (Saints -4)

Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints have won four straight games and are poised to make another Super Bowl run.

The Saints have a great spread this week against the Titans, which I think is a bit low. I would certainly take a four-point spread in this matchup.

New Orleans will win this game with their incredible offense—one that looks like the 2009 squad that became champions.

Brees is leading the NFL's No. 1 passing attack with great efficiency this season, but the Saints offense is not one-dimensional. They are ranked eighth in rushing, and with the success their passing game gives them, opposing defense cannot stack the box to stop the run. 

The Titans are 18th in pass defense and 21st in rushing defense. They do not have the defensive playmakers or game changers in the secondary needed to contain the Saints passing attack.

The Saints have beaten two quality opponents the past two weeks, the New York Giants and Detroit Lions, and against an inferior Titans team this spread looks very good.

New England Patriots vs. Washington Redskins (Patriots -9)

The Patriots did not play well against the Colts in the second half last week, but held on for a 31-24 win. I would not take much stock in this second-half performance.

Bill Belichick was trying a lot of different schemes and defensive packages that the Patriots do not normally use in the game versus the Colts. After his players performed poorly in the second half, you can bet Belichick has been on them all week.

The Patriots have a nine-point spread this week, which is fairly large, but given the Patriots score 30 points per game, I would very much consider taking this spread.

The Redskins do have the eighth best passing defense in the NFL, but they have not faced an offense as dangerous as the Patriots.

Tight end Rob Gronkowski has been unstoppable this season with quarterback Tom Brady, and has caught eight touchdown passes in his last five games. That is insane, and the Redskins have no one to stop or even contain him on Sunday.

Expect the Patriots offense to improve from last week and cover this spread against the Redskins.

San Francisco 49ers vs. Arizona Cardinals (49ers -4)

The 49ers may rest some players in this game against the Cardinals since they have the NFC West division title all wrapped up, but even then they should cover this spread.

49ers Running back Frank Gore said the 49ers are not going to lay down after clinching a playoff spot, via CBS Sports: "We're trying to win these last four and hopefully whatever happens with Green Bay, we'll get the No. 1 or No. 2 seed and it would be great for us."

The 49ers defense will shut down the Cardinals offense, especially on the ground. San Francisco has the No. 1 ranked rushing defense, and will have little trouble stopping the 18th-ranked Cardinals run offense.

Arizona's 21st-ranked passing offense is not good enough to beat this spread or the 49ers on Sunday. Quarterback Kevin Kolb will not be able to beat the 49ers because his running game will be ineffective, and the team will become one-dimensional offensively.

That plays right into the 49ers' hands.

Green Bay Packers vs. Oakland Raiders (Packers -11)

This is a big spread, but the Packers are taking their pursuit of perfection seriously. Judging by the way the Raiders played last week, Green Bay could dominate this matchup.

The Dolphins got out to a 34-0 lead last week against the Raiders, and beat the silver and black 34-14. The Raiders cannot play that way against the Packers or quarterback Aaron Rodgers will destroy them.

Rodgers has been amazing this season, and has thrown for 37 touchdowns with just five interceptions. The Raiders don't have the playmakers in the secondary to contain the Packers passing offense, which boasts elite players such as receiver Greg Jennings.

Green Bay's offense will be too much for the Raiders to handle this week and they will cover this spread.