NFL Week 14 Preview

NY Jets @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Spread: Jets, -3
o/u: 37
The Jets will be without starting QB Mark Sanchez this week, as he recovers from a sprained knee. Their running game should be more than up to the task against the NFL's second worst run defense. Can it win, though? After seeing Kellen Clemens in the second half against Buffalo, it'll have to. At least the Jets D should have an easy day, since Tampa's offense hasn't faired very well lately. They'll need to strong defensive game if they want to keep their plyoff hopes alive.
Pick: Jets 20 - Buccaneers 13



New Orleans Saints @ Atlanta Falcons
Spread: Saints, -10
o/u: 50
Things don't look good for the injured Falcons. Without their main offensive weapons last week, they were almost shut out at home for the first time ever. Only a late TD saved them from that embarrassment. Now they face a better defense on a better overall team, and that team is trying to complete a perfect season. Maybe the Falcons should just stay home this week.
Pick: Saints 35 - Falcons 20

Detroit Lions @ Baltimore Ravens
Spread: Ravens, -13.5
o/u: 39.5
The Steelers lost to the Browns on Wednesday night, and the whole world seems to have spun off its axis. That couldn't happen twice in the same week, could it? No, probably not. Matthew Stafford is probably out for the Lions, and Daunte Culpepper can't lead this team like he can. Add to that the fact that the Ravens D is nowhere near as bad as the Browns was against Detroit, and you have the Ravens staying in the playoff hunt.
Pick: Ravens 24 - Lions 17

Green Bay Packers @ Chicago Bears
Spread: Packers, -3
o/u: 41
Somehow, losing two of their best defensive players has led to the Packers D playing even better. And inexplicably, Jay Culter didn't throw a pick last week! Sure, the Bears were playing the Rams, but still, it's Jay Cutler. This game has every chance of being like the Bears-49ers game where he threw almost as many passes to the 49ers as his teammates. The only difference is, if he does turn the ball over, the Packers will actually be able to do something with it.
Pick: Packers 31 - Bears 13

Seattle Seahawks @ Houston Texans
Spread: Texans, -6.5
o/u: 44.5
The Texans have the advantage of being the home team this week, and they need a win to continue their yearly march towards 8-8. Both teams are currently on the fringes of being playoff contenders, and whichever team loses can probably kiss those hopes good-bye. Bad news, Seattle. Your team sucks on the road this year. Their only road win was against the Rams. At least you guys have a bad road record in common with the Pats.
Pick: Texans 28 - Seahawks 10

Denver Broncos @ Indianapolis Colts
Spread: Colts, -7
o/u: 44
The Broncos got back on a winning track by blowing out the Giants and Chiefs in back-to-back weeks. Now they have to face the unbeaten Colts on the road, and things don't look good for them. The Colts can put up too many points for the Broncos to compete. Really this game is just a blip on the radar, as both teams should still make the playoffs, no matter the outcome here. Just take the over and don't worry about the outcome.
Pick: Colts 31 - Broncos 20

Miami Dolphins @ Jacksonville Jaguars
Spread: Jaguars, -2.5
o/u: 44
The Jags are in a sorry state. They currently have a pretty good hold on the second Wild Card berth, but if no one come to their games, does it really matter? Miami is just one game back of them, and one game back in their division. Both teams need to win this game to stay in the playoff hunt. A Miami would lead to at least a two-way tie for the playoff spot, and Miami would hold some pretty good tie-breakers. A Jags win drops any 6-6 teams that lose this week(Pittsburgh) 2 games back with 3 to play, and the Jags would have the tie-breakers. The good news/bad news of the situation is that both teams play better at home, giving the advantage to Jacksonville and their empty stadium.
Pick: Jaguars 28 - Dolphins 20

Buffalo Bills @ Kansas City Chiefs
Spread: Pick
o/u: 37.5
So its all been building to this: Two teams that were terrible at the start of the season, improved in the middle, and now have no shot at the playoffs square off in the nation's heartland. Both teams might as well start tanking the rest of the season to get a better draft pick. The saving grace for this game is Todd Haley coaching for his job. If he can't put a couple more wins on the board before the end of the season, he could be a one-and-done coach. The Bills already know they'll have someone new on the bench next year, so they could use the low pick. They might keep it close, but KC wins in the end.
Pick: Chiefs 24 - Bills 17

Cincinnati Bengals @ Minnesota Vikings
Spread: Vikings, -6.5
o/u: 43.5
Something tells me all is not right with the All-Powerful Favre, and its not just his name showing up on the injury report. Vikings fans may have put a bit too much faith in the old man without waiting to see his full results. With Cincy's Chad Ochocinco already planning on celebrating his scores by blowing the viking horn, I get the feeling the Bengals want this one more.
Pick: Bengals 31 - Vikings 24

Carolina Panthers @ New England Patriots
Spread: Patriots, -13.5
o/u: 44
The Pats haven't been themselves this year. They only have one road win, but are still blowing teams out at home. Its a strange situation for a team that went undefeated two years ago. After losing back-to-back games for the first time in three years, the Pats get to come home and blow out a struggling, inconsistent Panthers team that just want to not have a losing record at the end of the season. Sorry, Carolina, your chances don't look good.
Pick: Patriots 41 - Panthers 20

St Louis Rams @ Tennessee Titans
Spread: Titans, -13
o/u: 41.5
The Vince Young Express got bumped around a bit by the Colts last week, but it seems to be back on track now. Coming down the other way is the Steven Jackson Locomotive, but its old and banged up. Plus, the Rams don't have any other major weapons if he goes down. Will he? Maybe. Even if he doesn't, VY and Chris Johnson will just run the defense over on their way to victory.
Pick: Titans 34 - Rams 20

Washington Redskins @ Oakland Raiders
Spread: Redskins, -1
o/u: 37.5
I've been preaching faith in the Redskins the past few weeks, but I can't do it any more. Their top running backs are injured, and Rock Cartwright isn't playing how they hoped he would. Now they'll be starting fourth-stringer Quinton Ganther and hoping the band-aid holds. It won't, not against a Raiders team that looks vastly improved with Bruce Gradkowski under center. Ganther may have a good game against a bad rush defense, but the Raiders offense has looked too good lately to give this one away.
Pick: Raiders 24 - Redskins 13

Sand Diego Chargers @ Dallas Cowboys
Spread: Cowboys, -3
o/u: 48.5
Not only is the Cowboy Collapse right on schedule, but Tony Romo is taking back his duties as holder on field goal tries. Remember what happened last time he held on a field goal? (Don't ask a Cowboys fan, you might get shot.) The Chargers look much better than they did to start the season, and much better than the Cowboys ever did this year. Romo may still be playing well so far, but I think that ends this week.
Pick: Chargers 35 - Cowboys 14

Philadelphia Eagles @ NY Giants
Spread: Giants, -1
o/u: 44
The Eagles led 30-7 at halftime of their last meeting for a reason: They can make the big plays the Giants can't stop. DeSean Jackson should be back and Brian Westbrook has been practicing after both took time off with concussions. While the Cowboys may have their late-season collapse, the Giants have been going through their own December worries. They just aren't as good in the cold, swirling winds at home as they are in warmer temperatures on the road. If this game was played in Tampa, or even in a dome, I might give them a chance. Not under these conditions, though.
Pick: Eagles 31 - Giants 14