Playoff Picture: Week 14
AFC:
1st seed: Kansas City Chiefs (10-2)
2nd seed: New England Patriots (9-3)
3rd seed: Houston Texans (9-3)
4th seed: Pittsburgh Steelers (7-4-1)
5th seed: Los Angeles Chargers (9-3)
6th seed: Baltimore Ravens (7-5)
Wild Card:
Baltimore @ Houston
LA Chargers @ Pittsburgh
Still alive:
Miami (6-6), Indianapolis (6-6), Denver (6-6), Tennessee (6-6), Cincinnati (5-7), Cleveland (4-7-1), Buffalo (4-8), Jacksonville (4-8), NY Jets (3-9), Oakland (2-10)
Eliminated:
Oakland (2-10)
NFC:
1st seed: Los Angeles Rams (11-1)
2nd seed: New Orleans Saints (10-2)
3rd seed: Chicago Bears (8-4)
4th seed: Dallas Cowboys (7-5)
5th seed: Seattle Seahawks (7-5)
6th seed: Minnesota Vikings (6-5-1)
Wild card:
Minnesota @ Chicago
Seattle @ Dallas
Still alive:
Carolina (6-6), Philadelphia (6-6), Washington (6-6), Tampa Bay (5-7), Green Bay (4-7-1), Atlanta (4-8), NY Giants (4-8), Detroit (4-8), Arizona (3-9)
Eliminated:
San Francisco (2-10)
Minnesota will travel to Seattle this week in a huge game that will have ramifications in the seeding of the wild card. You have to remember that head-to-head is a deciding factor in the seeding process. I will have my pick for that game later.
Cool video of the week:
When it comes to Christmas music, you have such artists like Vince Guaraldi's Peanuts music, Nat King Cole, or Andy Williams. The more underrated artist of the Christmas music scene is The Beach Boys. Okay maybe not underrated in that aspect but there's more to it than just their holiday hits like "Little Saint Nick" or "Frosty The Snowman." In this video, you'll hear about 30 minutes worth of their Christmas songs. Enjoy.
Week 14 of the NFL regular season will kick off in Nashville, Tennessee and end in Seattle, Washington. There will be a Thursday night game, eight early games, five late games, a Sunday night game, and a Monday night game. No teams are on a bye. FOX will have the doubleheader and CBS will have the single, regional game this week. Let's get to work!
Jacksonville (4-8) @ Tennessee (6-6) (FOX/NFL Network): TW: Titans, CV: Titans
Both teams got a win last week as the Jaguars beat the Colts and the Titans beat the Jets. The week kicks off with kind of a lame game. The Jaguars haven't lived up to the expectations set forth early in the season while the Titans have gotten great wins. If the Titans can keep Jaguars starter Cody Kessler off-key during the game and their offense can do what it does best in running the ball, they should win.
Indianapolis (6-6) @ Houston (9-3) (CBS): TW: Texans, CV: Texans
The Colts lost to the Jaguars and the Texans beat the Browns last week. The Texans are currently riding the longest win streak in the NFL this season at nine games. I'm somewhat leaning to the Texans as they are at home for this game and still have JJ Watt on the field at defense. The two team's running games will be key in this game. I like the tandem in Lamar Miller and Alfred Blue of the Texans.
Carolina (6-6) @ Cleveland (4-7-1) (FOX): TW: Panthers, CV: Browns
Both teams took losses last week as the Panthers lost to the Buccaneers and the Browns to the Texans. The Browns winning quite a few games is a nice story in the NFL, most of their wins have been from home, I just don't know if I can trust them to get a win against a still hungry and powerful Panthers team. The Panthers took a lick the last few weeks sure, but I feel they can come back and get it done this time around, maybe.
New England (9-3) @ Miami (6-6) (CBS): TW: Patriots, CV: Patriots
Both teams got a win last week as the Patriots beat the Vikings and the Dolphins beat the Bills. South Beach had not been kind to Brady & Company for the duration of their run but a chance to clinch the AFC East is at stake for the Patriots and I feel they will be focused enough to get a win. I don't trust Miami enough to pick them, especially in a game where they try to play spoiler.
NY Giants (4-8) @ Washington (6-6) (FOX): TW: Giants, CV: Redskins
The Giants beat the Bears last week and the Redskins lost to the Eagles last week. The game will come down to if Mark Sanchez can lead the team to a victory. He has had two weeks to learn the system and I don't know if I can go with them. I like the Giants in the matchup based on their defensive play and how they run the ball. The Redskins are 9th in rush defense so it will greatly depend on how well the Giants can run it.
NY Jets (3-9) @ Buffalo (4-8) (CBS): TW: Bills, CV: Jets
Both teams took losses last week as the Jets lost to the Titans and the Bills to the Dolphins. The game is a rarity as I'm picking the Bills in the contest. The reason why is that the Jets are pretty bad on rush defense and the Bills offense relies on the ball-carrying skills of LeSean McCoy and Josh Allen with a few sprinkles of passes every now and again. The game will probably come down to if Sam Darnold can play but Josh McCown will more than likely get the start. Go Bills.
Baltimore (7-5) @ Kansas City (10-2) (CBS): TW: Ravens, CV: Chiefs
Both teams got a win last week as the Ravens beat the Falcons and the Chiefs beat the Raiders. The Chiefs struggled to beat the Raiders last week and though they got the win, the loss of Kareem Hunt was certainly a possibility. I like the Ravens in the game because of their great defense and if they can keep Patrick Mahomes off the field they have a shot to win the game. The Ravens have a great running game in Lamar Jackson who can also throw the ball mind you. If the Ravens defense can cause the Chiefs be a one-dimensional team, they also have that key as well. Good game to watch.New Orleans (10-2) @ Tampa Bay (5-7) (FOX): TW: Saints, CV: Saints
The Saints lost to the Cowboys last week and the Buccaneers beat the Panthers last week. The last time these two played each other was in week 1. The Buccaneers pulled off an upset in a shootout where the world was introduced to Ryan "Fitzmagic" Fitzpatrick. The two teams have gone in different directions since then. The Saints should get a bounce-back win in the game as they are way too good to have two straight losses, they also have the Chicago Bears breathing down their neck for that 2nd seed spot. Give me the Saints!
Atlanta (4-8) @ Green Bay (4-7-1) (FOX): TW: Packers, CV: Falcons
Both teams lost last week as the Falcons lost to the Ravens and the Packers to the Cardinals. The Joe Philbin era begins for the rest of the season as the Packers, later on, fired Mike McCarthy shortly after their loss to Arizona. The fans got their wish and now its time to move on. As much as I want the Packers to get a good draft pick in the draft, I hope they can get a win for Philbin. The Packers defense has been better and they still have Aaron Rodgers on the field, the Falcons still have a great offense with Matt Ryan and his receiving corp. Go Pack Go!
Denver (6-6) @ San Francisco (2-10) (CBS): TW: Broncos, CV: Broncos
The Broncos got a win against the Bengals and the Niners lost to the Seahawks. The game will depend on if the Broncos running game can continue to do their best work as the Niners are ranked 15th in rush defense this season. The loss of Emmanuel Sanders will be somewhat of a factor but I like the Broncos in the game as they still can get solid defensive play. The surprising dark horse in Denver, pun intended.
Cincinnati (5-7) @ LA Chargers (9-3) (CBS): TW: Chargers, CV: Chargers
The Bengals lost to the Broncos and the Chargers beat the Steelers last week. The Bengals have had a rough time since going 4-1 to start the season. Injuries have been a factor for them. The Chargers have a great offense with some great pieces on defense. They can be a dangerous team come playoff time. That is pretty much my reason why I'm going LA in the game.
Pittsburgh (7-4-1) @ Oakland (2-10) (FOX): TW: Steelers, CV: Steelers
Both teams took losses last week as the Steelers lost to the Chargers and the Raiders to the Chiefs. The two teams used to be huge rivals in the 1970s when they competed for Super Bowls but the rivalry died out in the 1980s. Safe to say I don't think there will be blood spilled in the game. I feel the Steelers will have a rebound game even though they won't have James Conner playing for them. Jaylen Samuels and Stevan Ridley will get the rushing workload. They can't possibly lose to the lowly Raiders this season, right?
Detroit (4-8) @ Arizona (3-9) (FOX): TW: Cardinals, CV: Cardinals
The Lions lost to the Rams last week and the Cardinals beat the Packers last week. The two teams have had bad seasons for the most part and I don't know if I can trust the Lions enough to give them a notch. It could be a toss-up game but I like the home team in the game. I don't want the Packers to be a last-place team, give 'em hell Arizona!
Philadelphia (6-6) @ Dallas (7-5) (FOX): TW: Cowboys, CV: Cowboys
Both teams got a win last week as the Eagles beat the Redskins and the Cowboys beat the Saints. The game will be a huge one in the NFC East race as the winner could be the division winner. That could possibly be Dallas who has had an up and down season. The Cowboys still have all their pieces on offense against an Eagles defense who is missing key personnel. Sorry, Philly.
LA Rams (11-1) @ Chicago (8-4) (NBC): TW: Rams, CV: Rams
The Rams got a win against the Lions and the Bears lost to the Giants. The game should see a return of Mitchell Trubisky who was out for a few weeks with an arm injury. I don't feel this will be enough as the Rams are a well-built team that can pass the ball with receivers and tight ends, a running game with Todd Gurley and a defense that can stifle teams. Chicago has those things but I tend to trust the Rams enough to get a road win.
Minnesota (6-5-1) @ Seattle (7-5) (ESPN): TW: Seahawks, CV: Vikings
The Vikings lost to the Patriots and the Seahawks got a win against the 49ers. The week finishes off with two teams with wildcard aspirations. The Vikings have a great defense and some semblance of a passing game that can give opposing defenses fits. Seattle also has a solid offense with Russell Wilson as a possible MVP candidate. It will come down to whether or not the Seahawks can give the Vikings offense some trouble and limit their running attack, forcing Kirk Cousins into passing the ball more often.
Local TV Schedule:
CBS Single:
Baltimore @ Kansas City
Jim Nantz, Tony Romo
FOX Early:
Atlanta @ Green Bay
Kevin Burkhardt, Charles Davis
FOX Late:
Philadelphia @ Dallas
Joe Buck, Troy Aikman
Records:
Tom (me)
2018:
Week 1: 10-5-1
Week 2: 6-9-1
Week 3: 8-8
Week 4: 12-3
Week 5: 6-9
Week 6: 10-5
Week 7: 10-4
Week 8: 11-3
Week 9: 9-4
Week 10: 7-7
Week 11: 8-5
Week 12: 11-4
Week 13: 10-6
Overall: 118-72-2
Cardinal Viking
2018:
Week 1: 8-7-1
Week 2: 9-6-1
Week 3: 5-11
Week 4: 9-6
Week 5: 9-6
Week 6: 6-9
Week 7: 12-2
Week 8: 10-4
Week 9: 8-5
Week 10: 9-5
Week 11: 7-6
Week 12: 13-2
Week 13: 11-5
Overall: 116-74-2
See you guys on Monday for the Week 14 recap column. Have a great weekend!
-Tom
No comments:
Post a Comment