NFL Week 14 offers us some darn good football games. It starts with a “Thursday Night Football” matchup between a Patriots squad in must-win mode and a Los Angeles Rams team looking to remain viable in the NFC West race.
The week closes out with the Baltimore Ravens in desperate need of a win after losing four of their past five. Lamar Jackson will take on an 8-3 Cleveland Browns squad in a huge “Monday Night Football” tilt.
These are among the 16 games we focus on in looking at the NFL Week 14 schedule while providing game-by-game predictions.
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Updated: Dec. 13, 10 AM EST
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NFL Week 14 Sunday games
Tennessee Titans at Jacksonville Jaguars
Time/station: 1:00 PM EST, CBS
Titans-Jaguars Week 14 point spread: Titans -7.5 (over/under 52.5)
Now losers of three of four since a 5-0 start to the season, there’s renewed questions about the Titans’ status as a legit contender in the AFC. Last week against the Browns, Mike Vrabel’s defense gave up a whopping 38 first-half points. That included four Baker Mayfield touchdown tosses.
On the other hand, Jacksonville has been much more competitive in recent weeks. It just fell to Minnesota in overtime, dropping the team’s 11th consecutive game. With that said, four of the past five Jaguars losses have come by one score. While I am not ready to predict an upset here, expect a close game.
NFL Week 14 predictions: Titans 27, Jaguars 20
Minnesota Vikings at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Time/station: 1:00 PM EST, FOX
Vikings-Buccaneers Week 14 point spread: Buccaneers -7.0 (over/under 52.5)
The Vikings have more than righted the ship following a 1-5 start to the season. In fact, Mike Zimmer’s squad is now tied for the final playoff spot in the NFC after winning five of its past six. However, the Vikings’ most-recent win should raise some alarm bells. They needed overtime to take out a 1-10 Jaguars team. At the very least, it was a win. However, the Vikings simply need to play better moving forward.
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The same thing can be said about Tom Brady and his Buccaneers. To put it bluntly, the six-time Super Bowl champion has struggled for the suddenly 7-5 Buccaneers. He has thrown seven interceptions over the past four games, overseeing a 1-3 record in the process. In a battle between Cousins and Brady, I am taking the former here (gasp)!
NFL Week 14 predictions: Vikings 27, Buccaneers 24
Kansas City Chiefs at Miami Dolphins
Time/station: 1:00 PM EST, CBS
Chiefs-Dolphins Week 14 point spread: Chiefs -7.0 (over/under 50.5)
Simply stunning. That has to be the explanation for what we saw from Patrick Mahomes and Tyreek Hill during the Chiefs’ Week 12 win over Tampa Bay. Mahomes threw for 462 yards and three scores. Hill caught a resounding 13 passes for 269 yards and three touchdowns. Kansas City then laid an egg in an ugly 22-16 win over the Broncos in Week 13. This team has now won each of its past four games by one score. There’s certainly some minor issues for the defending champs despite their 11-1 record.
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On the other hand, these Dolphins are currently the sixth seed in the AFC with a surprising 8-4 record. Since starting out his tenure in South Beach with an 0-7 record last season, head coach Brian Flores has Miami at 13-8 in its past 21 games. Talk about a dramatic turnabout. Unfortunately, it won’t lead to a win in what promises to be a closer-than-expected AFC tilt in Week 14.
NFL Week 14 predictions: Chiefs 31, Dolphins 27
Denver Broncos at Carolina Panthers
Time/station: 1:00 PM EST, CBS
Broncos-Panthers Week 14 point spread: Panthers -3.5 (over/under 47.0)
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Denver rightfully used the excuse back in Week 12 that it legitimately did not have a true quarterback under center due to a COVID-19 scare. That still doesn’t explain away the fact that this team ranks 31st in scoring offense and has seen its true signal callers compile 14 touchdowns compared to 19 interceptions on the season. That was magnified with Drew Lock’s two-interception performance in a narrow Week 13 loss to the defending champion Chiefs.
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As for the Panthers, they have lost six of seven since starting the season with a surprising 3-2 mark under first-year head coach Matt Rhule. More than anything, it’s been about the absence of stud running back Christian McCaffrey (shoulder). Simply put, Carolina needs him at 100% if Teddy Bridgewater and Co. are going to have success on offense. Now that McCaffrey is out, there’s little reason to believe Carolina will come out on top. A recent COVID-19 outbreak (D.J. Moore, Curtis Samuel) following the Panthers’ bye adds another layer to this. Look for a Denver Week 14 win.
NFL Week 14 predictions: Broncos 20, Panthers 16.
Houston Texans at Chicago Bears
Time/station: 1:00 PM EST, CBS
Texans-Bears Week 14 point spread: Texans -1.5 (over/under 46.0)
Head coach Matt Nagy and general manager Ryan Pace are clearly on the hot seat. Despite being given the keys to Chicago’s offense following the injury to Nick Foles, former first-round bust Mitchell Trubisky is also as good as gone in the Windy City. All of this has added up to a 29th-ranked Bears scoring offense and the team losing six in a row following a 5-1 start to the season.
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As for the Texans, things have seemingly turned around. This team is 3-4 since Bill O’Brien was fired. Deshaun Watson had put up 19 total touchdowns against two interceptions in in his previous six games before struggling during a 26-20 loss to the Colts in Week 13. Watson will act as another reminder to the Bears about their draft failures in taking Trubisky over himself and Patrick Mahomes back in 2017, potentially sealing the fates of Nagy and Pace in the process.
NFL Week 14 predictions: Texans 27, Bears 17
Arizona Cardinals at New York Giants
Time/station: 1:00 PM EST, Fox
Cardinals-Giants Week 14 point spread: Cardinals -2.5 (over/under 46.5)
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With Daniel Jones out due to a hamstring injury in Week 13, New York shocked the masses by defeating heavily-favored Seahawks squad by the score of 17-12. It was a signature win for first-year head coach Joe Judge. It also now has the Giants at 5-7 and winners of four consecutive. Just think about that for a second.
As for the Cardinals, things have taken a horrible turn for quarterback Kyler Murray and Co. He turned the ball over twice, including a pick-six, in last week’s 38-28 loss to the Rams. Arizona has now dropped four of five since a 5-2 start to the season and is on the outside looking in when it comes to the NFL Playoffs. Despite this, I expect Arizona to get back on the winning track here.
NFL Week 14 predictions: Cardinals 30, Giants 23
Dallas Cowboys at Cincinnati Bengals
Time/station: 1:00 PM EST, FOX
Cowboys-Bengals Week 14 point spread: Cowboys -3.0 (over/under 44.0)
Dallas’ 41-16 loss to Washington on Thanksgiving was pretty much a 30-year low point for Jerry Jones organization. That’s not hyperbole. The team’s defense was a downright disaster. Ezekiel Elliott continues to struggle with putting the ball on the ground. And despite Jones committing to Mike McCarthy for next season, this team has apparently quit on the head coach. That was, once again, the case Week 13 against the Ravens.
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If Joe Burrow were actually under center for Cincinnati in Week 14, I’d be inclined to go with the underdog here. Unfortunately, Brandon Allen does not provide anything of substance at quarterback. Realistically, Cincinnati is playing out the string and hoping for the best when it comes to Burrow opening next season.
NFL Week 14 predictions: Cowboys 28, Bengals 17
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Indianapolis Colts at Las Vegas Raiders
Time/station: 4:05 PM EST, CBS
Colts-Raiders Week 14 point spread: Colts -3.0 (over/under 50.5)
Some figured these Raiders were looking at the same fait as last season. Remember, Las Vegas started the 2020 campaign with a 6-3 record before losing its past two games. That included a blowout 43-6 loss to Atlanta in Week 12. Down late in the fourth quarter this past Sunday, Derek Carr hit Henry Ruggs on a game-winning touchdown against the winless Jets. Sure it was an ugly performance from Las Vegas. But the team is now 7-5 and in playoff contention.
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As for the Colts, they are also coming off an ugly win over the Houston Texans. The time is now for Philip Rivers to prove his worth in the quarterback’s first season with the Colts. The good news here is that he’ll be taking on a Raiders squad that has yielded twice as many touchdown passes (20) as interceptions (10). In a huge game between two AFC Playoff hopefuls, I am hellbent on going with the road team.
NFL Week 14 predictions: Colts 31, Raiders 23
New York Jets at Seattle Seahawks
Time/station: 4:05 PM EST, CBS
Jets-Seahawks Week 14 point spread: Seahawks -14.5 (over/under 47.5)
We saw the bad Russell Wilson and Co. Week 13 against the New York Giants. Wilson was sacked a whopping five times while Seattle’s defense was torched by a New York rushing attack led by Wayne Gallman and Alfred Morris. Apparently, that’s a thing. Despite Seattle’s 8-4 record, it doesn’t look like a true contender in the NFC. In fact, the Hawks have just one victory against a team currently with a winning record.
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We couldn’t be looking at a more different story in Jersey. Adam Gase has his Jets at 0-12 on the season. They are being outscored by an average of two touchdowns per game. Sam Darnold is broken. He won’t be fixed until finding a new start somewhere else next season. All of this will lead to the biggest blowout on the NFL Week 14 schedule.
NFL Week 14 predictions: Seahawks 35, Jets 10
Green Bay Packers at Detroit Lions
Time/station: 4:25 PM EST, Fox
Packers-Lions Week 14 point spread: Packers -9.0 (over/under 55.0)
Detroit’s decision to fire head coach Matt Patricia comes with this team having been outscored 61-25 in its past two games. That has come against teams in the Panthers and Texans who are a combined 8-15 on the season. The good news? These Lions came back from a double-digit deficit against the Bears in Week 13 to win. The bad news? Green Bay is not Chicago.
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Sitting pretty at 9-3, the Packers are a completely different monster. Now that Davante Adams is completely healthy, this team looks like a juggernaut. He’s caught 84 passes for 1,029 yards and 13 touchdowns in just 10 games. Green Bay is averaging north of 33 points in those 10 games. You can do the math from here.
NFL Week 14 predictions: Packers 38, Lions 17
Atlanta Falcons at Los Angeles Chargers
Time/station: 4:25 PM EST, Fox
Falcons-Chargers Week 14 point spread: PK (over/under 49.0)
We have to give interim head coach Raheem Morris credit for having his team playing inspired football since the firing of Dan Quinn. Normally a veteran-laden squad like the Falcons would have given up following an 0-5 start to the season. That has not been the case with Atlanta boasting a solid 4-3 record under Morris. This, despite a Week 13 loss to the Saints.
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Speaking of coaches getting fired, there’s absolutely no reason why Anthony Lynn remains on the sideline in Los Angeles. His Chargers are 8-20 since the start of last season. That includes a 4-16 mark in one-score games. Sure Justin Herbert is the top NFL Offensive Player of the Year favorite. But that has not been enough for the 3-9. A humiliating 45-0 Week 13 loss to the Patriots only added to this. Expect another Los Angeles loss come Sunday afternoon.
NFL Week 14 predictions: Falcons 35, Chargers 27
Washington Football Team at San Francisco 49ers (in Arizona)
Time/station: 4:25 PM EST, Fox
Washington-49ers Week 14 point spread: 49ers -3.0 (over/under 43.5)
If we were to look at this NFL Week 14 matchup before the start of the season, it wouldn’t be great news for Washington. Instead, Ron Rivera has his squad tied for first place in the NFC East after a shocking win over the previously undefeated Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 13.
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As for the 49ers, a huge Week 12 win over the Los Angeles Rams had this injury-plagued nomad of a team in clear playoff contention heading into Week 14. That changed in short order during a mistake-filled 37-27 loss to the Buffalo Bills on Monday night. One has to wonder where the 5-7 49ers go from here on a short week against an ascending Washington squad.
NFL Week 14 predictions: Washington 27, 49ers 20
New Orleans Saints at Philadelphia Eagles
Time/station: 4:25 PM EST, Fox
Saints-Eagles Week 14 point spread: Saints -8.0 (over/under 42.5)
There’s a chance Drew Brees (ribs, lung) will be back on the field for this one. New Orleans will need him back for the stretch run if the team hopes to earn home-field advantage. Under Taysom Hill, the Saints have put up 545 passing yards in three games. That’s just not going to cut it.
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As for the Eagles, they sit at 3-8-1 on the season following an ugly performance against the Green Bay Packers in Week 13. Carson Wentz leads the NFL in interceptions with 15 and was benched for Jalen Hurts on Sunday. Doug Pederson is clearly on the hot seat. The team’s offensive line is a mess. Need we go further? Take New Orleans here, even if Brees can’t go.
NFL Week 14 predictions: Saints 27, Eagles 16
NFL Week 14 Sunday Night Football
Pittsburgh Steelers at Buffalo Bills
Time/station: 8:20 PM EST, NBC
Steelers-Bills Week 14 point spread: Bills -2.5 (over/under 49.0)
Pretty much the best game on the Week 14 slate, this could very well be a playoff preview. After that entire COVID-related drama back in Week 12, Pittsburgh found itself at 11-0 heading into Week 13’s outing against the Washington Football team. In shocking fashion, the team was exposed to an extent during a 23-17 loss. Will that carry over to this “Sunday Night Football” matchup against the Bills?
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Buffalo has won five of six since losing two consecutive. Its offense ranks in the top 10 of the NFL under the leadership of Josh Allen, who was absolutely brilliant in last week’s win over the San Francisco 49ers. Allen completed a whopping 32-of-40 passes for 375 yards with four touchdowns and zero interceptions. He should help propel Buffalo to another win, sending Pittsburgh to its second consecutive loss.
NFL Week 14 predictions: Bills 24, Steelers 20
NFL Week 14 Monday Night Football
Baltimore Ravens at Cleveland Browns
Time/station: 8:15 PM EST, ESPN
Ravens-Browns Week 14 point spread: Ravens -3.0 (over/under 46.5)
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Must win. That’s the situation Baltimore finds itself in at 7-5 and on the outside looking in as it relates to the AFC Playoff race. Prior to missing Week 12’s game against Pittsburgh, Lamar Jackson had struggled big time during a span that has seen Baltimore lose four of five. The reigning NFL MVP had tossed five touchdowns compared to four interceptions in his past four starts. He did return to form during a Week 13 win over the hapless Dallas Cowboys. But this is a much different monster.
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The good news for Baltimore in this NFL Week 14 “Monday Night Football” matchup? While Cleveland sits at 9-3 on the season, it has lost three of five against winning teams. The bad news? One of those three wins game Week 13 against a good Titans squad. Look for another disheartening Ravens loss here.
NFL Week 14 predictions: Browns 28, Ravens 27
NFL Week 14 Thursday Night Football
New England Patriots at Los Angeles Rams
Time/station: 8:20 PM EST, NFL Network/Amazon Prime
Patriots-Rams Week 14 point spread: Rams -4.5 (over/under 43.5)
Jared Goff remains the Rams’ Achilles heel. In the team’s four losses this season, the quarterback has accounted for five touchdowns compared to nine turnovers. In Los Angeles’ eight wins, Goff has 14 total touchdowns against two turnovers. That latter point became true during a solid Week 13 win over the Arizona Cardinals. Goff threw for north of 350 yards without an interception.
As for the Patriots, they remain in playoff contention at 6-6 after winning four of their past five games. That included a blowout 45-0 win over the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 13. New England’s pass defense has given up 16 touchdowns compared to 14 interceptions. It has made the likes of Lamar Jackson and Kyler Murray look bad in recent games. That could very well be enough for Bill Belichick and Co. to pull off the upset in Week 14.
NFL Week 14 predictions: Patriots 24, Rams 20