I don't even want to talk about last week. It was God awful. There, enough said. This week I'm hoping for a little bit more. So while the US government seemingly wastes valuable time discussing a College playoff system, I'm gonna try to predict the winners in week 14.
Browns (+9.5) over Steelers
Pittsburgh has been in a free fall for the past few weeks without Polamalu and I knew it was gonna be a close game against the Raiders but I really think the Browns have very little to offer. That being said, both teams have been involved in close games and Cleveland has covered the spread the last three weeks, including games against the Chargers and the Bengals. I don't think the Browns will win, but Pittsburgh really has to work some magic to stop their disappearing act.
Saints (-9.5) over Falcons
Wow, Washington actually displayed some offense last week and gave the Saints a little scare. I must admit i was surprised. This Falcons team, however, does not look like it has the force to stop New Orleans' far-superior offense and this could be a blowout. Atlanta is 0-5 this season against teams over .500 and managed only 7 points against Philly last week, sans-Matt Ryan. I predict another beating at the hands of New Orleans.
Packers (-3.5) over Bears
Coming off one of the ugliest games I've ever seen in which my Ravens got beat badly, I would love to see Green Bay taken down a peg. I think they're inconsistent and don't really know what's in store for them if they should make the postseason. They should be able to beat a lowly Chicago though who gave up 36 points to Minnesota 2 weeks ago and just barely scraped by the Rams in week 13. However, the Bears have a pass defense that is ranked 9th in the NFL right now, allowing no pass over 50 yards the entire season. It could be a close game and Rodgers will be forced to hand off the ball rather than throw it. I would personally love to see an upset; fingers crossed.
Broncos (+7.5) over Colts
Indy has the best pass offense in the league, the Broncos have the second-best pass defense. Everyone knows the Colts have had problem with their running game this year, so i think this game is gonna be a lot tougher than people think. I like the Colts to continue their run for the perfect season, but Denver is gonna put up some key stops and this could be a close one. Not to mention that Denver has a lot more on the line than an Indy team that has already clinched their division and a playoff spot.
Bills (+.5) over Chiefs
I'm picking the Bills strictly based on the fact that Kansas City has allowed over 27 points/game. I also kinda like Fitzpatrick. Either way I'm probably not gonna watch this game.
Jets (-3.5) over Buccaneers
The Jets have looked OK as of late; Sanchez has regained some composure, and he seems to play a lot better when the temperature is not hovering around the freezing mark. In that sense, an away game is a lot better than a home game at this time of the year. Especially when they're playing one of the worst teams in football. I like the Jets chances here, and if Jacksonville manages to take out the Fins, the Jets might have a legitimate shot at the playoffs still.
Dolphins (+2.5) over Jaguars
That being said, I think Jacksonville is about to take a tumble. They have a tough schedule ahead of them, facing Miami, Indy, New England, and (*cough*) the Browns to finish the season. This should be a fun game to watch though as both are fighting for a playoff spot and have some of the best rush offenses in the league. This is gonna come down to who can put up the most stops, and I like the Fins in this one.
Baltimore is gonna tear it up the rest of the season. They've got an easy schedule and as long as Flacco keeps his cool and stops throwing picks at key moments, their defense should keep the Lions in check. I'm also hoping for a lot fewer flags this game.
Edit (12/10/09): looks like it's gonna be a mess in Bmore on Sunday. Temperatures around freezing and mixed precipitation. I'm still taking the Ravens to win, but this should be a low-scoring game.
Texans (-6.5) over Seahawks
The Texans have had a disappointing season, unable to capitalize on early leads and stop the pass rush effectively down the stretch, but I think Houston has something to prove in this lackluster year and aren't dead yet. If Schaub is healthy, he'll show the Seahawks why Houston has the fourth best passing offense in the NFL, winning this by at least a touchdown.
Bengals (+6.5) over Vikings
Minnesota's fabulous offense showed some weaknesses last Sunday against a Cardinals' team that surged at this time last year as well. The Vikings looked like they had one of the strongest offenses and defenses coming into the game, but if you look at their schedule, they've had it pretty easy. Cincinnati will not be so easy. The Bengals are boasting one of the top defenses in the league and have surprised everyone this season by going 9-3. I really like the Bengals to win this one, or lose in a spectacularly Favreian way by only a few points.
Panthers (+13.5) over Patriots
On the surface it looks like the Patriots should run away with this one, but that's exactly what the Panthers might do, literally. Carolina has one of the pass defenses in the league, and one of the top three rushing games. They're facing a New England team that has based pretty much their entire offense this season on throwing the ball, and one that has a mediocre defensive core. The Pats are going to have to figure out how to stop DeAngelo Willimas or their playoff hopes could be in jeopardy.
Titans (-12.5) over Rams
Tennessee fell back to earth last week, as predicted, but that was only because they were up against an incredible Colts' team. I don't think the loss will discourage Vince Young too much, and he should have an easy time handing the Rams their 12th loss of the season.
Redskins (-1.5) over Raiders
Washington showed last week that it's D isn't just good, it's damn good. Oakland on the other hand stood up and asked to not be completely ignored, beating the Steelers in probably the biggest upset of the week. When all is said and done however, the Redskins have a lot more positives from this season than the Raiders, who have simply managed to stir the pot a little bit and piss off a few teams. I think the Redskins should put a halt to an extremely weak Oakland offense.
Cowboys (-3.5) over Chargers
After a disappointing loss to the Giants at the opening of Jerry Jones' 1.3 billion dollar stadium, the Cowboys have managed to impress the voracious home crowd since, going 5-0 after the initial defeat. This next game against the Chargers' will be tough to win though, facing a San Diego team that has won seven straight. The Chargers have had some pretty easy competition though, and Dallas should be able to come out on top if they can run the ball consistently.
Eagles (+.5) over Giants
These have been two of the most unpredictable teams this season. It's a tossup really of which team is going to come out to play on either side of the field. I'm favoring the Eagles slightly even without Westbrook. They've looked good their past three games and look ready to challenge for the NFC East title. A win over the Giants here could make their chances a lot better.
Cardinals (-3.5) over 49ers
Remember what the Cardinals did last year at this time? Well a dominating win over the Vikings last week is bringing shades of '08 to light. This poor San Fran team is going to be next in line for Warner and it looks like they have little that will be able to stop him. Not really a great Monday night game given the other options, but still worth a watch to see what Arizona has to offer.
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