NFL Picks Week 14: 3 Games You Can Bet on

It’s hard to believe that we are already in Week 14 of the 2011 NFL season. Picking games in the NFL isn’t as easy as one-two-three. There are too many talented teams that can ruin picks every week. However, here are three picks that WILL happen.

New York Jets over Kansas City Chiefs

It seems like we see the same thing every year. The Jets struggle in one way or another around the halfway point of the season, Rex Ryan publicly calls out Mark Sanchez in some way and the Jets make a push towards the postseason.

They are doing it again.

Slowly but surely, the Jets have won two straight games. Yes, I know they defeated the Buffalo Bills and Washington Redskins but you have to play who’s in front of you. They will get another opportunity to add to their win total (7-5) against the Kansas City Chiefs in New York.

Sanchez has turned his game around in the past two games. He has only thrown one interception compared to five touchdowns. In the previous two games, Sanchez threw three interceptions compared to one touchdown. He vastly improves as the season gets deeper into the season.

Kansas City has played solid football in the past two weeks so it won’t be easy pickings for the Jets. The Chiefs pushed the defending Super Bowl champions to the limit on Sunday Night Football two weeks ago and defeated the Chicago Bears 10-3 in Chicago last week.  

They are still involved (5-7) in the AFC West so this game is more important than what it seems from the outside.

However, they will probably fade because of Tyler Palko and his inabilities. He needed a Hail Mary that fell right into place to gain his first touchdown pass. Palko has one touchdown to six interceptions this season. He’s not that good

If New York is serious about grabbing a wild card position then they must defeat an inferior team that is without their starting quarterback and running back. This is a must-win game for the Jets.

Prediction: New York wins, 20-6. 

Seattle Seahawks over St. Louis Rams

For your viewing pleasure this game will be on Monday Night Football. I keep saying that this year’s Monday night schedule may be the worst I have ever seen.

Anyway—Seattle has been a solid club when playing at home in recent history. They were 5-3 last season in the greater Northwest. They are a tough team to play against in Seattle.

Ask New Orleans last postseason, ask Baltimore this season and ask any NFC West team every year—they have one of the best home fields in all of football.

Marshawn Lynch has been fantastic in their past four games. Lynch has grabbed over 100 yards in three of the four games. Coincidentally, the Seahawks have won three of those four games.

He has scored at least one touchdown in the past eight games. St. Louis has the worst rushing defense in the league, allowing 157.8 yards per contest. Lynch will explode in prime time.

The Rams have been decimated with injury all season long. Sam Bradford is listed as questionable for the game Monday night, adding to their list of injuries.

St. Louis has one of the worst offenses in the NFL. They have the 28^th ranked pass offense and 27^th worst rush offense. The Rams have definitely taken a step back after almost making the postseason a year ago. They continue to slide.

Prediction: Seahawks win, 31-17.  

Green Bay Packers over Oakland Raiders

It’s hard to argue that the Green Bay Packers are the best team in the NFL. It’s also hard to argue that Aaron Rodgers is playing at the highest level of any quarterback I have ever witnessed. He has been so precise and in rhythm with his receivers and tight ends. It’s something special to watch.

Rodgers has collected 3,844 yards passing and 37 touchdowns through the air. He has only thrown five interceptions all season long. Rodgers has at least three touchdowns in nine of his 12 games this season. He has multiple touchdowns in every game this season. He’s been nothing short of amazing.

Oakland is a solid club in 2011 but they aren’t even close to the level of the Packers. They are even farther away from the Packers without their star running back Darren McFadden who has been hampered with injuries all season long.

If they wanted to pull the upset, McFadden had to be available. Carson Palmer hasn’t been playing up to his capabilities, which should be expected because of his lack of practice time. He has thrown eight touchdowns to nine interceptions. Palmer will be expected to carry the offense against one of the worst pass defenses in the league.

It’s going to come down to quarterback play. I’ll take Rodgers against every quarterback in the league right now.

Prediction: Green Bay wins, 37-24.