Week 14 NFL Game Picks: Lions go for 2 straight? Bills or Bucs?

 With the top teams in the league solidifying, this week, and the rest from here on out get all the more interesting. Will those top 5-6 teams continue to win, or will they drop off into inconsistency just like pretty much everyone else this season? Week 14 is going to be big. We have the picks.

Week 13 Predictions Record: 10-4
2021 Season Overall: 114-79-1

Thursday Night Football - Pittsburgh Steelers (6-5-1) at Minnesota Vikings (5-7)

A decent TNF match for the first time in a few weeks it feels like. Two teams, inconsistent as they come, going at it trying to stack another win on to stay alive in their respective conference wildcard races. The Vikings offense, even though it's banged up and with Thielen and Cook, is still the better O in this one. The Steelers boast the better D by far. The game will be won when Pittsburgh's O is on the field and Minnesota's D is against them. Not only do I like the Pitt O to win that battle, but Kirk Cousins is terrible on primetime. Steelers take this one and I'm confident about it. 

The Pick: Steelers 26, Vikings 22

New Orleans Saints (5-7) at New York Jets (3-9)

Unless you got fantasy players in this one, I'm not sure who is really tuning in here. Saints are all but dead in the playoff race while the Jets have been since week 1. Will Taysom Hill have a bounceback game for NOLA? Will Zach Wilson, who has been improving, be able to take advantage of a bad Saint secondary? I think this one could be a slugfest, and I'm going upset, give me the Jets!

The Pick: Jets 23, Saints 20

Atlanta Falcons (5-7) at Carolina Panthers (5-7)

While the perception of both of these teams is very low right now, the team who wins here becomes very much alive in the NFC wildcard race. Off a bye week, Cam Newton + his Panthers should be able to bounceback. The Falcons played decent against Tampa last week, but we know how bad they really are, and I just trust the Panthers a lot more. The Falcons D is so poor they can make any QB look like 2015 Cam, maybe he will play like that in this one.

The Pick: Panthers 30, Falcons 21

Seattle Seahawks (4-8) at Houston Texans (2-10)

Is this the time the Seahawks can get hot late? After a thrilling upset win over the Niners in week 13, the Seahawks have a lot of momentum heading into Sunday's contest with the lowly Texans. This could be the blowout win they have longed for all season. It should be Davis Mills vs Seattle on Sunday which only bodes better for their chances of winning. This one shouldn't be close. 

The Pick: Seahawks 28, Texans 13

Las Vegas Raiders (6-6) at Kansas City Chiefs (8-4)

The rematch of the two division rivals who always play each other close. This one could be fun, and has upset potential for the Raiders. We've seen them beat the Chiefs in crazy upsets multiple times over the past few years and with both teams still fighting to lock up the division, this one could be good. Could be good and actually will be good though, are two much very different things. I personally believe the Chiefs take this one and don't leave much doubt.

The Pick: Chiefs 34, Raiders 26

Baltimore Ravens (8-4) at Cleveland Browns (6-6)

Just like that, these teams are playing once again. Just a week and change ago, the Ravens won UGLY at home against Cleveland, now the Browns have a chance for revenge. At home at FirstEnergy stadium, this one might just decide the Browns ' season. A win and they are very much alive for everything (including the North), a loss, and they might be out of the wildcard chase. I think coming off the bye healthier, the Browns win this time, and split with the Ravens in the season series.

The Pick: Browns 24, Ravens 21

Dallas Cowboys (8-4) at Washington Football Team (6-6)

All of the sudden the NFC East is back up for grabs. While Dallas got back into the win column vs New Orleans last week, they have looked a bit shaky lately overall. Washington has been the complete opposite as they are riding a 4-game win streak and don't look like they will go down any time soon. While Dallas is the better team, divisional games can go either way, and the heat that Washington is playing with leads to believe they will take this one.

The Pick: WFT 27, Cowboys 25

Jacksonville Jaguars (2-10) at Tennessee Titans (8-4)

After the rough stretch that the Titans have been on lately, following their bye, they have a presumably easy on here as the lowly Jags come to town. The team is hoping Julio Jones will be able to return for this one because if not, Tannehill will be throwing to Chester Rogers and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine again. Either way, I don't see the Titans losing this one, though it could be a popular upset pick with all of the injuries on Tennessee's side.

The Pick: Titans 23, Jaguars 18

New York Giants (4-8) at Los Angeles Chargers (7-5)

Not going to spend much time here. The Chargers look hot right now after slamming the Bengals last weekend, they face the banged up Giants who just won't be able to compete with the kind of offense we will see from the Bolts. Second-year QB Jake Fromm who recently signed with the Giants is expected to make his first career start. This one could get ugly.

The Pick: Chargers 36, Giants 17

Detroit Lions (1-10-1) at Denver Broncos (6-6)

If Javonte Williams didn't just have a crazy good week, I'd pick Detroit here. Seriously. Coming off of their first win of the season, the Lions are good enough to beat a wildly inconsistent team like the Broncos, even on the road. Their offense and defense both seem to be trending in the right direction. However, after the elite performance that rookie RB Javonte Williams produced for the Broncos this past Sunday night, I feel another great game coming on. Can't pick against him. Broncos win a close one. 

The Pick: Broncos 27, Lions 26

San Fransisco 49ers (6-6) at Cincinnati Bengals (7-5)

This is going to be one of the better games of the week. A super underrated matchup, both teams are fighting for a wildcard spot in their respective conferences and need this win. Both teams are coming off of embarrassing and seemingly unexpected losses. What version of each of the offenses are we going to get? They vary so much. While the Niners boast the better D barely, the Bengals boast a much better offense and I think that will be the difference maker. The loss to Seattle had to be a shellshocker for these Niners and I expect a big bounceback from Joe Burrow for Cinncy.

The Pick: Bengals 30, 49ers 27

JKFOOTBALL GAME OF THE WEEK - Buffalo Bills (7-5) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-3)

My mid-season Super Bowl prediction was for these two teams to be squaring off in LA this February. While it's looking less likely for the Bills, the Bucs have remained right on track, and nonetheless, this still could be it. What a match. So many stars will be out on the field this Sunday in Tampa. Brady vs Josh Allen meet again, for the first time with Brady in red and gold. This one could be a classic. The weather should be nice, meaning the full arsenal for both teams. I sense a shootout/classic on it's way. Can't wait for this one. I have Bucs by the skin of their teeth.

The Pick: Bucs 33, Bills 30

Sunday Night Football - Chicago Bears (4-8) at Green Bay Packers (9-3)

I get the ancient rivalry of these two clubs, but this is not going to make for a very entertaining SNF game. The Packers are red hot right now and are very unlikely to lose to rookie Justin Fields during his first trip to Lambeau. Maybe it starts out close, with the Bears leading briefly, but I don't see this rested Packer team dropping one at home here.

The Pick: Packers 32, Bears 20

Monday Night Football - Los Angeles Rams (8-4) at Arizona Cardinals (10-2)

If not for the Bills/Bucs game, this would be by far the best game of the week. Everyone will have their eyes on MNF as the Rams travel to the desert to seek revenge on the Cardinals who dismantled them earlier in the season. Both teams should be pretty much at full health in a contest that will have major playoff implications. Until I see a collapse with my own eyes, I can't pick against the Cardinals while they are so hot right now. Best team in the league. Kyler Murray will have his hands full with the defensive stars the Rams boast, but he will overcome it, as he always seem to do. While I see it being closer, the Cards take this one.

The Pick: Cardinals 27, Rams 23