Bry’s Week-by-Week NFL Preview: Week Fourteen

A real interesting Week Thirteen opened the month of December.  The NFC East has four 8-4 teams (two games better than the division leaders in the NFC West).  The defending NFC champs are still in it, despite a 5-7 record.  The Steelers and Pats continue to run away with the byes in the AFC, while the South is getting real interesting.  Week Fourteen will be big, especially the Sunday Night game between the Eagles and Giants.

Thursday, December 10:
8:20 – PITTSBURGH (11-1) at Cleveland (4-8)
The last gasp of the Browns season goes out against the Steelers.  A short week definitely favors the better coached and more physical team–both of which are the Steelers in this one.  The Dawg Pound is tough, at times, especially in night games, but the Steelers are rarely intimidated, and they move to an impressive 12-1.

Sunday, December 13:
1:00 – NEW ORLEANS (6-6) at Atlanta (3-9) *
At 3-9, the Falcons have nothing left to play for, while the Saints, at 6-6, still have playoff hopes.  This won’t be an easy win for the Saints, but when it comes down to it, they should pull it out.  A 10-loss season is not what the Falcons had envisioned coming in, but that is the reality they are facing.  This one is tough to call because it’s hard to know just when, if at all, the Falcons will quit.  This is a tough game, either way.

1:00 – Denver (6-6) at INDIANAPOLIS (8-4)
Both teams are coming off tough wins against division rivals (Tennessee and Kansas City), but here in Indy, I don’t think the Broncos will have the firepower to keep up with the Colts, who are trying to keep control in the AFC South.  This loss is a tough blow to the Broncos playoff hopes.

1:00 – Seattle (6-6) at HOUSTON (7-5)
Honestly, I think the Texans are a better team.  If Schaub, Slaton, and Johnson remain healthy, they have a solid offense and should be able to beat the Seahawks, at home, at 1:00, with the season in the balance.  The Texans are now one win away from their best season in franchise history.

1:00 – Carolina (9-3) at NEW ENGLAND (10-2)
Fortunately for the Panthers, they have built up a 3-game lead in the NFC South, so they are not in dire need to a win in New England.  And, that is a good thing because I do not think they will get it in mid-December.  The Patriots just know how to win these important games and should get this one done.

1:00 – Buffalo (7-5) at KANSAS CITY (3-9) *
Okay, I cannot really explain why I am taking KC here, except for “this is just the kind of game that Buffalo gives away.”  The Bills have 10 days to prepare, and the Chiefs are pretty much out of it with nothing left to play for.  But, the homefield advantage is strong in KC and the Bills just may not be ready for a game like this.  And, this one hurts.

1:00 – BALTIMORE (7-5) at Detroit (2-10)
The Ravens, very much in need of a win here, will take care of the Lions.  Though this team has a history of playing down to bad opponents and they are coming off of a tough Monday Night game, I do not see them dropping this game in this spot.

1:00 – Cincinnati (2-10) at MINNESOTA (8-4)
The Bengals are finished–they proved that in losing at home to Detroit last week.  The Vikings get a nice break this week.

1:00 – NEW YORK JETS (2-10) at Tampa Bay (2-10)
In a game that will surely be riveting, I like the Jets to circle the wagons and get a nice road win.  Sanchez will have enough time under his belt to maybe be competent, and the Jets defense should be able to take care of an anemic Buc offense, especially with 10 days to prepare.

1:00 – St. Louis (3-9) at TENNESSEE (6-6)
A must-win for the Titans, so they should be fired up and ready to play today, coming off of a tough loss to Indy.  The Rams reach double-digit losses for yet another season.

1:00 – MIAMI (5-7) at Jacksonville (5-7)
Jacksonville was 5-5 and in contention until a loss in San Fran and then a home loss to Houston has pretty much ended their season.  They are definitely a team to roll up the tents when things go south, and by this point, I think they will have done so.  Whereas, the Dolphins, under Tony Sparano and Bill Parcells, should continue to play hard and win this battle of Sunshine State squads.

1:00 – Green Bay (9-3) at CHICAGO (6-6)
A do-or-die game for the Bears against their arch-rivals should be plenty to motivate them and get a BIG victory.  Throw in the fact that the Packers are coming off of a tough, physical win over the Ravens on Monday Night, and the Bears may be the more prepared team on the field this week.

4:05 – Washington (8-4) at OAKLAND (5-7)
A crushing loss for the Redskins, in Oakland, this week.  They were cruising along at 7-2 and looking good, but the schedule and their overall lack of “clutch” performers has caught up with them and they have lose 3 of their last 4 and are stumbling towards another disappointing finish.  The Raiders stay alive, barely, in the AFC West race.  I just think that the Raiders are a lot better than people give them credit for and this is one of those trap games for the Skins, sandwiched between New Orleans and the Giants on the schedule.

4:15 – SAN DIEGO (7-5) at Dallas (8-4)
The Chargers are just starting to click, and since the calendar has turned to December, we all know what that means for the Cowboys.  The ‘Boys lose their second straight, while the Chargers win their third in a row, in taking control of the AFC West.

8:20 – PHILADELPHIA (8-4) at New York Giants (8-4)
The Eagles are just starting to get things together.  The offensive line should be ready to go by now, and they should have everything figured out on both sides of the ball.  Also, they matchup very well with the Giants and should be able to structure a gameplan to exploit their weaknesses.  Plus, Brandon Jacobs, who runs as if every carry is his last, only has one guy to share the load this season, not two, so he may be wearing down by this point in the season.  Either way, this is going to be an absolutely huge game, as both teams watched the Redskins and Cowboys losing earlier in the day, so both team know that the winner of this game takes the outright lead in the East.  I like the Birds to get a big win this week.

Monday, December 11:
8:30 – Arizona (5-7) at SAN FRANCISCO (6-6) *
Both teams watched the Seahawks lose in Houston yesterday, so they know that this game will go a long way in deciding the NFC West.  The 49ers will find a way to win this game because they are just more hungry and more determined.  Plus, who knows what condition Kurt Warner will be in by this point in the season.  I like the Niners, at home, though it is a tough one to predict.

To go to Week Fifteen, click here

STANDINGS AFTER WEEK 14:
NFC EAST:
9-4   Philadelphia (2)
8-5   Dallas
8-5   New York Giants (6)
8-5   Washington

NFC NORTH:
9-4     Green Bay (5)
9-4     Minnesota (3)
7-6     Chicago
2-11   Detroit

NFC SOUTH:
9-4     Carolina (1)
7-6     New Orleans
3-10   Atlanta
2-11   Tampa Bay

NFC WEST:
7-6     San Francisco (4)
6-7     Seattle
5-8     Arizona
3-10   St. Louis

AFC EAST:
11-2   New England (2)
7-6     Buffalo
6-7     Miami
3-10   N.Y. Jets

AFC NORTH:
12-1   Pittsburgh (1)
8-5     Baltimore (5)
4-9     Cleveland
2-11   Cincinnati

AFC SOUTH:
9-4   Indianapolis (3)
8-5   Houston (6)
7-6   Tennessee
5-8   Jacksonville

AFC WEST:
8-5   San Diego (4)
6-7   Denver
6-7   Oakland
4-9   Kansas City

PLAYOFF PICTURE AFTER WEEK 14:
*-I am going to pick winners (why not?) up until the championship games.  You can draw your own conclusions from there.  And, since the playoffs can be a bit of a crapshoot, the picks for the playoffs will just based on how I’m feeling that day.

NFC:
Just out:  Dallas (8-5), Washington (8-5), Chicago (7-6), New Orleans (7-6), Seattle (6-7)

Wild Card Round
#6 New York Giants (8-5) at #3 MINNESOTA (9-4)
#5 GREEN BAY (9-4) at #4 San Francisco (7-6)

Divisional Round
GREEN BAY at #1 Carolina (9-4)
Minnesota at #2 PHILADELPHIA (9-4)

NFC Championship
Green Bay at Philadelphia

AFC:
Just out:  Buffalo (7-6), Tennessee (7-6)

Wild Card Round
#6 Houston at #3 INDIANAPOLIS (9-4)
#5 Baltimore (8-5) at #4 SAN DIEGO (8-5)

Divisional Round
San Diego at #1 PITTSBURGH (12-1)
INDIANAPOLIS at #2 New England (11-2)

AFC Championship
Indianapolis at Pittsburgh