After a thrilling Week Thirteen, the whole sports world is abuzz over the playoff scenarios and situations in the NFL. With a ton of intra-divisional matchups, Week Fourteen is going to be fantastic.
Thursday, December 9:
8:20 – Indianapolis (10-2) at TENNESSEE (7-5)
I love the home team with a great coach on a short week. Plus, I think that the Colts defense could be a little banged up after chasing around the Cowboys running backs last week, so this might be a big week for Chris Johnson. I like the Titans in a big upset on the Network.
Sunday, December 12:
1:00 – New England (9-3) at CHICAGO (7-5)
Can the Bears really get this done, coming off a stunning defeat to the Lions? I think they can. The Pats are coming off a brutal Monday night game at the Jets and now they have to travel to Chicago. Plus, the one main weakness for the Pats this year is their secondary, so Mike Martz might be able to dial something up. I’m not confident with this one, but give me ‘da Bears at home.
1:00 – CLEVELAND (2-10) at Buffalo (1-11)
Something’s gotta give, right? I just think the Browns will care more at this point in the season.
1:00 – Cincinnati (8-4) at PITTSBURGH (6-6)
A absolutely gigantic game in the Black & Blue division. The Steelers might really need this game at this point to stay alive and should come out with all their guns a-blazin’. I like the black & gold to take this one at home in a slugfest, even coming off a really tough game in B-more.
1:00 – Oakland (7-5) at JACKSONVILLE (4-8)
And, here is where the wheels completely come off for the Raiders. A 1:00 game in Florida is not exactly easy for a young Raiders team that is probably feeling the pressure right now. The Jags are still a decent team and should get this game at home, delivering a crushing blow to the Raiders playoff hopes.
1:00 – TAMPA BAY (1-11) at Washington (3-9)
The ‘Skins aren’t bad enough to lose at home to Tampa…right? Wrong. At 3-9, their only motivation left is to play spoiler to their division rivals. They have Dallas next week, so this game is not really on their minds. And, Josh Freeman, the young Tampa QB might be looking for a stand to take here in his young career.
1:00 – GREEN BAY (9-3) at Detroit (5-7)
The feisty Lions have been playing well as of late, but this is a tall order. Yes, the Packers have New England next week, but I think that they go on a business trip to Motown and get it done.
1:00 – N.Y. Giants (7-5) at MINNESOTA (6-6)
These teams seem to play important games late in the season every year and here they have it again. I just think the Vikings are a better football team and, if they are still whole by this game, should be able to take care of the Giants at home in a big game.
1:00 – Atlanta (9-3) at CAROLINA (7-5)
The Falcons had a week to smell themselves and think they’re great before getting jolted back to reality here. Carolina is a tough team that needs this game. I like John Fox’s motivational skills here to get Carolina a big win here in Week Fourteen.
4:05 – St. Louis (1-11) at NEW ORLEANS (8-4)
The Saints have Baltimore next week, but that shouldn’t change anything that happens here. This game might get ugly, if the Saints are taking out recent frustrations.
4:05 – Seattle (3-9) at SAN FRANCISCO (6-6)
San Fran can smell the division slipping away, so they should be up and ready for this one at home. The Seahawks probably won’t be in it by now and should go away quietly.
4:15 – MIAMI (6-6) at N.Y. Jets (7-5)
The Jets are coming off a really tough Monday night game against New England, while the Dolphins know that their season might come down to single games like this one. I like Miami’s coaching staff and their ability to get the team ready for the big games, and I don’t think that their style of play will be all that affected by the cold of Jersey in December. I like the Dolphins to deal a serious blow to the Jets here.
4:15 – Denver (4-8) at ARIZONA (5-7)
The Cardinals continue to take advantage of the soft spot in their schedule, as they should roll over a pretty defeated Broncos team by now.
4:15 – Kansas City (5-7) at SAN DIEGO (9-3)
The Chargers are finally putting some distance between them and the rest of their division and are now playing for the bye. They shouldn’t have any trouble with the Chiefs at home.
8:20 – PHILADELPHIA (8-4) at Dallas (8-4)
Okay, maybe I’m a homer, but, again, the schedule is speaking to me and it’s saying to pick the Birds here on the road. The Eagles have 10 days to prepare for this game, while the Cowboys are coming off a really tough road trip to Indy. Plus, it’s December, and if history has taught us anything, it’s that Andy Reid teams are terrific in December and Wade Phillips teams are abysmal. This is a tough one, but I’ll take the Birds on the road because that’s what the schedule is telling me.
Monday, December 13:
8:30 – Baltimore (8-4) at HOUSTON (6-6)
This is a really tough spot for the Ravens. The Texans are a tough team, especially at home, and this game falls right in between games against the past two Super Bowl champs (Steelers last week, Saints next week). This is just a real tall order. Give me the Texans here on Monday night.
STANDINGS AFTER WEEK 14
NFC EAST
9-4 Philadelphia
8-5 Dallas
7-6 N.Y. Giants
3-10 Washington
A huge win for the Eagles at Dallas, and the Birds take control of this division. The Redskins lose at home to Tampa and it has gotten really low for them.
NFC NORTH
10-3 Green Bay
8-5 Chicago
7-6 Minnesota
5-8 Detroit
Big wins for the top three teams in the North, as the Packers win in Detroit, the Vikings win at home against the Giants, and the Bears get the best of all with a win over New England.
NFC SOUTH
9-4 Atlanta
9-4 New Orleans
8-5 Carolina
2-11 Tampa Bay
A huge win for Carolina over Atlanta and the division is tied again at the top, with the Panthers knocking on the door.
NFC WEST
7-6 San Francisco
6-7 Arizona
3-10 Seattle
1-12 St. Louis
The Cardinals, with their fourth win in five weeks, are still just a game back of San Fran, who picked up a nice home win over Seattle.
AFC EAST
9-4 New England
7-6 Miami
7-6 N.Y. Jets
1-12 Buffalo
Both the Pats and Jets lose six days after their war on Monday night last week. The Dolphins, who beat the Jets in the New Meadowlands, are now tied for second and securely in the wild card mix.
AFC NORTH
8-5 Baltimore
8-5 Cincinnati
7-6 Pittsburgh
3-10 Cleveland
What a big week for the Black & Blue division. The Steelers knock off the Bengals (keeping them alive), while the Ravens lose in Houston. This division just beats itself up and might only produce one playoff team because of it.
AFC SOUTH
10-3 Indianapolis
8-5 Tennessee
7-6 Houston
5-8 Jacksonville
Tennessee shocks the Colts on Thursday night, and every team in the division gains a game on the leaders. A nice win for Houston over the Ravens, and the Jags knocked off Oakland at home.
AFC WEST
10-3 San Diego
7-6 Oakland
5-8 Kansas City
4-9 Denver
Four straight losses for the Raiders have dropped them to 7-6 and in a lot of trouble. The Chargers beat KC to open up a three-game lead. The Broncos lost in Arizona.
PLAYOFF PICTURE AFTER WEEK 14
NFC
#6 Dallas (8-5) at #3 Philadelphia (9-4)
#5 Atlanta (9-4) at #4 San Francisco (7-6)
t.b.d. vs. #2 New Orleans (9-4)
t.b.d. vs. #1 Green Bay (10-3)
In the mix: Carolina (8-5), Chicago (8-5), Minnesota (7-6), N.Y. Giants (7-6), Arizona (6-7)
After Week Fourteen, the Eagles and Saints have passed the Cowboys and Falcons as division leaders. The Saints are #2 because of their conference record. The Packers are a game clear of everyone for #1. The Eagles are #3. The Niners are, of course, #4, with the Falcons back in their familiar #5-spot. There is now a three-way tie for the final wild card, with the tiebreaker going to Dallas on the strength of their Week Two win over the Bears. The Giants and Vikings are a game back of the wild card. The Cardinals are a game back of the NFC West title.
AFC
#6 Baltimore (8-5) at #3 New England (9-4)
#5 Tennessee (8-5) at #4 Cincinnati (8-5)
t.b.d. at #2 San Diego (10-3)
t.b.d. at #1 Indianapolis (10-3)
In the mix: Houston (7-6), Miami (7-6), N.Y. Jets (7-6), Oakland (7-6), Pittsburgh (7-6)
New England and Indy both lost, while San Diego won. The top three spots didn’t change, though, as Indy’s Week Twelve win over SD gives them the top spot. The Bengals still have the tiebreaker over Baltimore for the North and the #4-seed. The Titans have a better conference record, so they are #5, while the Ravens are #6.
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