Week 14 of the NFL Season begins Thursday Night with The New England Patriots heading to Los Angeles for a battle with the Rams. With just four weeks left, there are a ton of teams in both conferences that still have a shot at the playoffs. In the AFC there are three teams within two games of the Wild Card, and the NFC has five teams within one game of the last spot. Remember that we have an expanded playoff format this year, as there are now three wild card teams that get in. As of 12/9, there has been no shift in any games due to COVID, so we have our regular Thursday/Sunday/Monday schedule entering the week.
Recap of Week 13
A lot of teams have some questions to answer after some week 13 letdowns. The Tennessee Titans are coming off an embarrassing blowout loss at home to the Cleveland Browns and will look to bounce back vs the lowly Jaguars. Seattle suffered a surprising home loss to the New York Giants, but are in a great spot with a get right game vs the winless Jets.
Pittsburgh comes off a tough three game in twelve day stretch and draw the Bills on Sunday Night in Buffalo. The Steelers dropped their first game on Monday to the Washington Football Team, who somehow are tied with the Giants for the NFC East lead. Speaking of the NFC East, Jalen Hurts will get his first career NFL start as the Eagles finally benched Carson Wentz, how will he fare against a tough Saints squad?
See Bovada for updated lines and odds
TNF: New England Patriots @ Los Angeles Rams—8:20: The New England Patriots (6-6) head to Los Angeles to take on the NFC West leading Rams (8-4) who have ripped off three of their last four games. Both teams are coming off wins as the Rams beat division rival Arizona 38-28, and the Pats blasted the Chargers at home 45-0. Both defenses rank in the top 10, and both have struggled to score this season. Look for this to be a low scoring affair, as defense will shine.
Line: Rams (-5) Total: 45.5
Houston Texans @ Chicago Bears—1:00pm Sunday: The Houston Texans (4-8) head to the Windy City to take on the Bears (5-7). The Texans have played well under Interim Head Coach Romeo Crennel having won two of their last three, and arguably should’ve beaten division rival Indianapolis last week. The Bears on the other hand are sliding quickly. Chicago has lost six games in a row, including a heartbreaking loss last week to Detroit. This should be a great matchup of a strong defense vs. Deshaun Watson who has thrown for at least 300 yards in his last three games.
Line: Texans (-1) Total: 44.5
Dallas Cowboys @ Cincinnati Bengals—1:00pm Sunday: The 3-9 Cowboys head to Ohio to take on the 2-9-1 Bengals. The Cowboys come off a disappointing 34-17 loss to Baltimore on Tuesday Night where they surrendered over 250 rushing yards to the Ravens. Cincinnati enters after a low scoring 19-7 loss in Miami to the Dolphins. Dallas is somehow still in the NFC East race as they are just two games behind the Giants and Washington, however with Andy Dalton at the helm, it’s hard to imagine them stringing wins together.
Line: Dallas (-3.5) Total: 43.5
Kansas City Chiefs @ Miami Dolphins—1:00pm Sunday: The 11-1 KC Chiefs come storming into Miami to face an 8-4 Dolphins squad that is in the thick of the AFC playoff race. Miami sits just a game behind the Buffalo Bills for the AFC East lead, and have won 7 of their last 8 games. Kansas City will have to deal with the 2nd ranked Dolphins Defense who has forced a turnover in every game this year.
Line: Kansas City (-7.5) Total: 49.5
Arizona Cardinals @ New York Giants—1:00pm Sunday: The 6-6 Cardinals head to New York to face the 5-7 Giants who are on a four game winning streak. New York sits atop the NFC East as they hold the tiebreaker over Washington, and the Cardinals desperately need a win to keep pace in Wild Card Race. Kyler Murray has struggled of late, as the Arizona Offense hasn’t looked the same since he injured his shoulder vs. Seattle a few weeks ago.
Line: (NO LINE YET)
Minnesota Vikings @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers—1:00pm Sunday: Kirk Cousins and the resurgent Vikings head to Tampa Bay to take on a Bucs squad in desperate need of a win. The Vikings survived an overtime scare vs. Jacksonville to continue their hot streak as they have their eyes on a wild card spot in the NFC. At 7-5 Tampa is currently in the playoffs, and a win here would be huge moving forward.
Line: Tampa Bay (-6.5) Total: 51.5
Denver Broncos @ Carolina Panthers—1:00pm Sunday: RB Christian McCaffery is scheduled to return for the 4-8 Panthers who haven’t looked the same without him. McCaffery is hands down the most electric player in the NFL, and Teddy Bridgewater and company have sputtered during his absence. Drew Lock and the 4-8 Broncos played KC tough this weekend, but couldn’t emerge with a win. Both of these teams are out of the playoffs and playing for draft position now.
Line: (No line yet)
Tennessee Titans @ Jacksonville Jaguars—1:00pm Sunday: Tennessee is looking to rebound after allowing Cleveland to score on their first six offensive possessions just a week ago. Jacksonville has just one win on the season, and currently are slated to draft 2nd in the 2021 NFL Draft. QB Mike Glennon played decently against the Vikings last week, and looks to be the starter again for the Jags.
Line: Tennessee (-7.5) Total: 53
Indianapolis Colts @ Las Vegas Raiders—4:05pm Sunday: The 8-4 Colts enter as the AFC South Division leaders after a close win over division rival Houston in week 13. Speaking of close wins, the Raiders pulled off a miraculous last second win over the winless Jets to keep their slim playoff hopes alive.
Line: Colts (-3) Total: 51.5
New York Jets @ Seattle Seahawks—4:05pm Sunday: Will this be the week the Jets get a win? I wouldn’t count on it, especially as the Seahawks were upset last week by the Giants. At 8-4 Seattle is currently in a tie with the Rams for the Division lead and will look to blow out the Jets to keep pace.
Line: Seattle (-13.5) Total: 46.5
Green Bay Packers @ Detroit Lions—4:25pm Sunday: Green Bay QB Aaron Rodgers enters the game with 36 touchdowns and just 4 INTs, as he looks to claim his third regular season MVP award. Detroit upset Chicago last week in Interim Head Coach Darrell Bevell’s first game, and look to do the same against their division rival.
Line: Green Bay (-9) Total: 55
New Orleans Saints @ Philadelphia Eagles—4:25pm Sunday: Rookie QB Jalen Hurts will get his first career NFL start against the best team in the NFC. The Saints are currently the only team in the NFC with double digit wins, but their offense has slowed since Drew Brees went out with an injury.
Line: Saints (-7) Total: 44
Atlanta Falcons @ Los Angeles Chargers—4:25pm Sunday: Atlanta heads to LA to take on a Chargers team that was embarrassed 45-0 by the New England Patriots. Chargers HC Anthony Lynn still somehow has a job, and can Rookie of the Year Candidate Justin Herbert rebound vs a dreadful Falcons Secondary?
Line: Falcons (-2.5) Total: 49.5
Washington Football Team @ San Francisco 49ers—4:25pm Sunday: For the second straight week the 49ers will play a “home game” in Arizona. The Niners were blown out by the Bills on Sunday Night and look to rebound vs a Washington team coming off a monster upset win over the previously undefeated Pittsburgh Steelers.
Line: 49ers (-3.5) Total: 43.5
Pittsburgh Steelers @ Buffalo Bills—8:20pm Sunday: The Steelers head to Buffalo after a disappointing loss to the Washington Football team that saw their dream of an undefeated season come to an end. Buffalo QB Josh Allen torched the San Francisco defense for four touchdowns and will look to continue his hot streak vs. a banged up Pittsburgh defense.
Line: Buffalo (-2.5) Total: 46
Baltimore Ravens @ Cleveland Browns—8:15pm Monday: The 9-3 Cleveland Browns are now just two games out of the division lead due to the Steelers surprising loss last week. While firmly in the playoff picture, can Baker Mayfield and company surprise the Ravens and keep pace with the Steelers?
Line: Baltimore (-1.5) Total: 45.5
See Bovada for updated lines and odds.
