By Jacob Sanders
Week 14. I can’t believe it. It is Week 14. Where have the past 13 weeks gone by? It feels just like last week when the Browns stomped Baltimore and looked like a team realizing their potential. It seems so recent since Daniel Jones won his first game. And the Cardinals win streak? Yeah, it’s been 5 weeks since. Really doesn’t feel like time has been going by that fast at all but here we are. It’s crunch time. Some games this week ARE playoff games. Teams like the Raiders, Titans, Colts, and Rams can’t lose this week or they are unofficially eliminated. Mathematically, it would still be possible for them, but they would need a ton of help from multiple other teams which makes it far less likely. Yes, December football is here. Get excited.
Sanders went 8-8 last week putting him to 121-69-1 on the season. He also picked Dallas to win Thursday night and is 0-1 to start Week 14.
CAR Panthers vs ATL Falcons
At this point, it’s really hard to say anything positive about the NFC South. The 2nd best team, statistically, just lost to the Redskins. Yes, our fellow Panthers hit rock bottom and it only costed Ron Rivera’s job. With the Panthers up in the air, you’d think you want to pick their opponent but the problem is that the Falcons are having the worst season possible of the Dan Quinn era. This team has realized it’s potential at certain points in the season, but most of it feels fake in a lost season. Considering the matchup here though, why don’t we got with the team that has the starting QB healthy, and the head coach that still has his job. Pretty bad that’s the criteria I’m going with to a pick a Falcons win.
Panthers 19 Falcons 24
IND Colts vs TB Bucs
It’s odd. I think the Colts are a better team, but I get the feeling the Buccaneers lay down a whooping here. After being demoralized in a tough loss against the Titans, the Colts are being asked to travel to the east coast against a streaking Buccaneers team. That’s not ideal at all for a Colts team that has to winout in order to earn just a chance (not a guarantee) to make the playoffs. The Bucs on the other hand, have nothing to lose with no playoffs insight, and their coach to play for. If Jameis Winston wants to earn another year with the Bucs, he’s gotta finish the season hot. It’s possible that happens and would also be quite unfortunate for Bucs fans if it does. Winston isn’t the answer, and the Bucs org shouldn’t be fooled if Winston does go off in a game like this. Sure, Winston outduels Jacoby Brissett in this game. Doesn’t mean he’s the future. Those INTs stats are all we need to look at to know it.
Colts 14 Bucs 20
MIA Dolphins vs NY Jets
I’m keeping this one short. Like, really short. I’m confident the team with the better coach wins. So hey Miami Dolphins, kick the Jets butt. Make them rethink their Adam Gase hire because Sam Darnold needs hope for the future. Brian Flores > Adam Gase. Also, this Miami team plays with fire even in losses. The Jets look lost when they’re losing. Ugh.
Dolphins 28 Jets 17
SF 49ers vs NO Saints
Is it weird that I don’t think this will be the best game of the week? On paper, it looks like it will be, but I really don’t think it will be. It’s quite a test for the 49ers more than it is the Saints. The Saints get to play at home. If it were in San Fran, this game would be much more exciting if you ask me. But the Saints, to me, are just the better team at home simply because this crowd won’t let the 49ers communicate on the field. Also, we’re really gonna find out if no one in the NFL can guard Michael Thomas. If the 49ers can’t do it, no team will this season. Essentially, if you can shutdown Michael Thomas, you might be able to shutdown the Saints offense. Hasn’t happened all year. Probably won’t happen here either.
49ers 20 Saints 31
DET Lions vs MIN Vikings
Tough loss for the Vikings. But one thing’s for certain. They look playoff ready. If they can play those types of games where they allow less big plays or maybe even make one more big play on offense, the story is completely different. A game of inches quite literally is what Minnesota’s future will come down to. On the Lions side of this matchup, well, there’s not a whole lot of positivity to go around. The Lions may make this one tough because there isn’t a lot of tape on the David Blough, and it’s a division game, but the Vikings are clearly the favorite here. It’s the Vikings to lose.
Lions 17 Vikings 29
DEN Broncos vs HOU Texans
It would be quite the story in many ways if the Broncos came into NRG stadium and dropped an upset bomb on the Texans. Drew Lock would look like the future for the Broncos and everyone would wonder just how in the world the Texans beat the Patriots last Sunday night. Watson’s consistency would be called into question. I could go on about how great the storylines would be if the Broncos beat the Texans. But that’s more a dream if you ask me. The Broncos are a tough team to beat. I’ve stood by this memo all season. But, the Texans are a good team with a quarterback who can play, and a coach who’s always put his team into the right position to win. O’Brien’s offensive masterpiece against the Patriots D was nothing short of spectacular and I anticipate he’ll have another great gameplan cooked up to beat Vic Fangio and his defense.
Broncos 17 Texans 24
BAL Ravens vs BUF Bills
No I don’t think this will be the best game this week either but folks should be excited for this one. This is a matchup featuring the two 2018 QBs who were slammed the most for not having the traits to start in the NFL. Both deemed as busts before they were even drafted. Now, they’re the two best QBs drafted in the NFL with no question that they are looking ready to try and own the AFC. Yes, Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen have shocked the collective football world by playing with their team’s gameplan and enhancing it far more than anyone anticipated. The key to this matchup though, is how you think each team’s defense will fair. Upon first examination, I had the Bills winning this game simply because I have liked Sean McDermott’s gameplans all year and thought he would find a way to get past Baltimore’s defense. Upon further examination, I realized the Bills rushing defense isn’t good. Well, if your rushing defense isn’t good, you aren’t beating Baltimore. It’s been that simple all year. Can’t stop Baltimore’s running game? You can’t stop them from winning then.
Ravens 20 Bills 17
CIN Bengals vs CLE Browns
A divisional matchup that’s been painful for years to watch, this one feels more painful than normal. The Bengals are near lifeless at times, and the Browns have officially become the most overhyped team of this last offseason. Neither team has realized it’s potential, and both teams have players/coaches who just aren’t playing their best ball. Freddie Kitchens is potentially playing for his job, while Andy Dalton is playing for his job. So there’s some storyline intrigue here, but the way the season has gone, this just doesn’t look fun. Skip this one if you can ladies and gents. Not much to see here other than the Browns trying to save themselves from being a laughingstock.
Bengals 17 Browns 20
WAS Redskins vs GB Packers
Well, the Redskins are on a two game winning streak. What a world we live in. That stops this week as they are traveling to Lambeau Field to play the Packers. I’d like to be optimistic and think that Haskins is improving. But, the matter of the fact is, Haskins hasn’t shown much improvement in his game over his first couple starts and the running game led by Guice and Peterson have been carrying the load to back-to-back wins. Are they gonna do it here against Green Bay? Probably not. I anticipate the Packers to continue their angry run after a bad 49ers loss and drop another 30+points on a poor NFC East team.
Redskins 13 Packers 35
LA Chargers vs JAX Jaguars
I just really wish I didn’t have to talk about either of these teams this season. The Chargers are infuriating to watch because you know just how good they can be, but then they find the most creative and best ways to lose. If there was an award for “best team at losing” it goes to the Chargers. Ugh, I could write an entire column on the Chargers so don’t get me started. However, their opponent isn’t faring much better. No matter if Minschew or Foles is playing, the Jaguars are experiencing a problem where they have realized they have far many more roster problems than just the guy under center. The defense is sugar-coated candy shell of what it could be, and the offense lacks firepower. Overall, it’s starting to feel like the same ol’ Jags of the 2010s, and the Jaguars who made the AFC Championship feel like a distant memory fading away.
Chargers 27 Jaguars 17
PIT Steelers vs AZ Cards
It’s happening. I’m released. I’m finally given a Cardinals matchup where I don’t think their gonna win. If anyone has ready my column, you’ll see that I have dipped my hand into the “Cardinals potential” jar too many times this season. At this point, they are what they are. A team with an average offense, an exciting QB, but a dreadful defense. This is the exact type of team Mike Tomlin’s Steelers normally play down to, but that’s not happening this year. This is a different story for Mike Tomlin and Co. This is the type of campaign where the Steelers show everyone they are better off than everyone though. It’s the type of campaign, where you squash lower quality opponents. And it’s the type of campaign, where Mike Tomlin puts himself in the conversation for CoTY. Steelers stomp the Cardinals in the desert.
Steelers 28 Cardinals 16
TEN Titans vs OAK Raiders
I’ve officially jumped off the Raiders bandwagon. Man, you just can’t lose back-to-back games by double digits like that if you consider yourself a playoff contender. While this year’s Raiders are an improvement from last year, the playoff mojo they had is gone. And they have to regain it by facing a Titans team that has been recharged by a rejuvenated Ryan Tannehill. Not gonna happen. If I was a betting man, this is the game I put money on. Mike Vrabel is a fantastic coach, and he’s got this Titans team rolling all around. Their dangerous, and they’re gonna stay dangerous.
Titans 27 Raiders 18
KC Chiefs vs NE Patriots
This game doesn’t necessarily decide the AFC, but it certainly has “playoff bye” written all over it. Both of these teams are looking for the bye, and both of these teams need a win desperately. When looking at how both teams are faring, it’s really hard to sit here and doubt the Patriots. But they feel so off this year. More than usual. Am I gonna sit here and tell you the Patriots dynasty is finally ending? No. I’m no fool. But I certainly will be impressed if/when(?) the Patriots offense does bounceback and the Patriots go on this “You all doubt us” tour like they’ve done in recent years. For now though, the Patriots offense is below average, and their being asked to beat a KC team that’s gotten their offensive mojo back. The recipe for beating New England has been this: If you beat the Patriots defense, you beat the entire team. The Chiefs are just the team to be up to the task for it.
Chiefs 31 Patriots 20
SEA Seahawks vs LA Rams
This game is much more important than people think. If the Rams want to keep any playoff hopes alive, they have to win this game. In fact, they have to win every game this season. It’s that time of the year where contenders set themselves apart from the pretenders. Do the Rams have it in them? It’s possible, but if you watched that Seattle game last week, it’s really hard to justify the Rams winning here. The Seahawks are rolling, coming off a gritty win on MNF, and confidence is sky high. It’s not impossible for the Rams here. But there’s many doubts in believing the Rams will be able to stop Russell Wilson from doing his thing. If the Rams can stop Russell Wilson, then yeah, the Rams will probably win the game. That’s not very likely though…
Seahawks 28 Rams 20
NY Giants vs PHI Eagles
What a Monday night game. What a treat for us. Eli Manning will be playing vs the Eagles on Monday Night football. A real treat for us NFL fans who remember the days of Eli Manning crushing the hopes of the Eagles every year. But, it’s different this year. The Eagles have hope, yes, but you can’t find much of anything to say about the Giants in a lost season. Their head coach is certainly getting fired this year, Daniel Jones hasn’t looked great, and Eli Manning has, well, not been good since 2015. Harsh, but true. If there’s anything left in Eli Manning, and if the football gods want a feel-good ending for Eli Manning, the Giants win here. Not because they should, but because Eli deserves to ride into the sun giving his franchise a primetime win against a divisional opponent, and once again crushing the dreams of Philly’s playoff hopes. Nothing sounds better to me.
Giants 24 Eagles 16
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