Hello readers! Another week of National Football League action is coming upon us yet again. With five more weeks of the regular season left to go, there are still plenty of teams that are looking to make their push into the postseason. The games that I'm keeping an eye on the Steelers-Vikings, Ravens-Browns, Bills-Buccaneers, and Rams-Cardinals games this week. In this post I'll be doing the latest playoff picture, the Week 14 preview, the Week 14 picks, and the Early and Late game TV Pairings. Let's get to work!
Playoff Picture: Week 14
AFC
Seedings:
1st seed: New England Patriots (9-4)
2nd seed: Tennessee Titans (8-4)
3rd seed: Baltimore Ravens (8-4)
4th seed: Kansas City Chiefs (8-4)
5th seed: Los Angeles Chargers (7-5)
6th seed: Cincinnati Bengals (7-5)
7th seed: Buffalo Bills (7-5)
Super Wild Card Matchups:
Buffalo @ Tennessee
Cincinnati @ Baltimore
LA Chargers @ Kansas City
In the hunt:
Pittsburgh (6-5-1), Indianapolis (7-6), Las Vegas (6-6), Cleveland (6-6), Denver (6-6), Miami (6-7), NY Jets (3-9), Jacksonville (2-10)
Better luck next year:
Houston (2-10)
No clinching scenarios for this week. The Titans and Ravens are ahead of the Chiefs because of head to head (Both teams beat the Chiefs earlier this season). The Chargers and Bengals are ahead of the Bills because of conference record.
NFC
Seedings:
1st seed: Arizona Cardinals (10-2)
2nd seed: Green Bay Packers (9-3)
3rd seed: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-3)
4th seed: Dallas Cowboys (8-4)
5th seed: Los Angeles Rams (8-4)
6th seed: Washington Football Team (6-6)
7th seed: San Francisco 49ers (6-6)
Super Wild Card Matchups:
San Francisco @ Green Bay
Washington @ Tampa Bay
LA Rams @ Dallas
In the hunt:
Philadelphia (6-7), Minnesota (5-7), Carolina (5-7), Atlanta (5-7), New Orleans (5-7), NY Giants (4-8), Chicago (4-8), Seattle (4-8), Detroit (1-10-1)
A few clinching scenarios. Arizona can clinch a playoff berth with a Cardinals win or tie or a Minnesota loss or tie or 49ers loss. Green Bay can clinch the NFC North with a win and Vikings loss or tie. Green Bay can clinch a playoff berth with a win and Saints loss or tie or 49ers loss.
Week 14 Preview
The Fourteenth Week of the NFL's regular season will start in Minneapolis, Minnesota and finish up in Glendale, Arizona. The week will have a 14-game slate that will have 28 teams play. The Indianapolis Colts, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, and Philadelphia Eagles are on a bye this week. Week 14 will have a Thursday night game, seven early games and four late games, a Sunday night game and a Monday night game. FOX will have the single, regional game and CBS will have the doubleheader. Let's get to the picks!
Week 14 Picks
Note: TW is me and CV is Cardinal Viking, my former roommate. All game times are in US Eastern.
Pittsburgh (6-5-1) @ Minnesota (5-7) (FOX/Amazon/NFL Network; 8:20 pm): TW: Vikings; CV: Vikings
The Steelers beat the Ravens and the Vikings lost to the Lions last week. The week starts off with an interesting game between two teams trying to get back into playoff consideration. Pittsburgh finally got a huge win against the conference leading Ravens and usually the team that had the more emotional game usually have a let down. Minnesota really let the Lions win that game and they are probably ticked off. Like they're more than willing to take out their anger against one of the worst rush defenses in the NFL in the Steelers. I think the game will be a close one and I feel the Vikings will have a bounce back game.
Atlanta (5-7) @ Carolina (5-7) (FOX; 1:00 pm): TW: Falcons; CV: Falcons
The Falcons lost to the Buccaneers and the Panthers had a bye week last week. Both teams have been fairly inconsistent and the bane of pick 'ems this season. They either look bad when you pick them or look great when you pick against them. At this point I feel the Panthers will fade back to mediocrity. Carolina might be the better rested team but the last time they played, they got blown out by the Dolphins 33-10. I think it'll be anyone's game but at least one of these sorry ass teams will make me a genius or a moron.
Baltimore (8-4) @ Cleveland (6-6) (CBS; 1:00 pm): TW: Ravens; CV: Ravens
The Ravens lost to the Steelers and the Browns had a bye last week. A rematch of a game a couple of weeks ago. The Ravens are hurting on defense especially on the cornerback position. If Cleveland can exploit that it could be huge for them. Cleveland is the better rested team but they've been very inconsistent. They've been injured at key positions and the Odell Beckham Jr saga didn't end well. I think its going to be a much more wider open offensive game for the Ravens. I'll take the safe bet with the Ravens.
Dallas (8-4) @ Washington (6-6) (FOX; 1:00 pm): TW: Football Team; CV: Football Team
Both teams got wins last week as the Cowboys beat the Saints and the Football Team beat the Raiders. Sorry Washington, I really should've taken you last week against an inept Raiders team that likes to smell its own farts every December. Taylor Heinicke has been playing fairly good ball. Safe to say I think the Cowboys are the better team on paper but I think the Football Team will like nothing more to play spoiler. I could be wrong of course.
Jacksonville (2-10) @ Tennessee (8-4) (CBS; 1:00 pm): TW: Titans; CV: Titans
The Jaguars lost to the Rams and the Titans had a bye last week. Jacksonville has had a rough go of it but it has been to be expected as they were expected to be trash. Tennessee has been sort of a dead man walking with the hope of trying to get Derrick Henry back in time for the playoffs. That being said I think the Titans will take care of business as the Jaguars really have a terrible defense.
Las Vegas (6-6) @ Kansas City (8-4) (CBS; 1:00 pm): TW: Chiefs; CV: Chiefs
The Raiders lost to the Football Team and the Chiefs beat the Broncos last week. Las Vegas has reverted back to its old ways of playing good football early on and then like raiders in history, they fade away at the end. Kansas City has had a rough go of it as the defending conference champions. In spite all of that they have been playing better on defense and Patrick Mahomes has been more of a game manager than the Patrick Mahomes of old. I'll take the Chiefs as the safe bet.
New Orleans (5-7) @ NY Jets (3-9) (CBS; 1:00 pm): TW: Saints; CV: Saints
The Saints lost to the Cowboys and the Jets lost to the Eagles last week. New Orleans has been also a very inconsistent team that looked like the real deal early in the season. For example their blowout over the Green Bay Packers in Week 1. The Jets have been an interesting team that has had more downs than ups. Mike White looked like another folk hero but then the football gods are cruel sometimes. I personally like the Saints.
Seattle (4-8) @ Houston (2-10) (FOX; 1:00 pm): TW: Seahawks; CV: Seahawks
Last week the Seahawks beat the 49ers and the Texans lost to the Colts. Russell Wilson has been improving since his injury but he hasn't been the x-factor that turned the Seahawks season around. Their defense really has been the reason for the lack of a turnaround. Houston seems to be the pinnacle team of a dumpster fire could love. Years of bad trades and bad personnel decisions have made the Texans rot from within. The Texans were shutout by the Colts so I feel the Seahawks will do the same to them.
Detroit (1-10-1) @ Denver (6-6) (FOX; 4:05 pm): TW: Broncos; CV: Broncos
The Lions beat the Vikings and the Broncos lost to the Chiefs last week. The Lions finally achieved the pinnacle of any NFL team's season: winning a football game. What they face off against is a Broncos team that has been horribly inconsistent but they have is a defense that has been playing better with the exception of last week. Detroit could very well pull of the impossible and win consecutive games but I still think the Broncos will strive to get back into the playoff hunt. I'll take Denver.
NY Giants (4-8) @ LA Chargers (7-5) (FOX; 4:05 pm): TW: Chargers; CV: Chargers
Last week the Giants lost to the Dolphins and the Chargers beat the Bengals. New York got roasted by former linebacker Carl Banks who helped lead the Giants defense in the 1980's. It was warranted as the Giants have been awful with personnel. I'm not sure if a full blowup is needed but things have to change. Their awful on both sides of the ball. The Chargers have been playing better football with victories over the Steelers and Bengals. I'll take the hotter team in the Chargers.
Buffalo (7-5) @ Tampa Bay (9-3) (CBS; 4:25 pm): TW: Buccaneers; CV: Bills
Last week the Bills lost to the Patriots and the Buccaneers beat the Falcons. Buffalo really needed that game last week against the Patriots. Instead of being up 8-4 in record they have the possiblity of going 7-6 in a division and a conference that is up for anyone's grasp. Josh Allen has been the single most factor for Buffalo this year as he is the 2nd leading rusher on the Bills with 422 yards. Devin Singletary, the team's leading rusher, has 495. If the Bills have any shot of winning this one they will need to take the pressure off of Josh Allen. I've been saying it for years. Tom Brady will need to play better and have no turnovers in this game. Otherwise I'll take the defending champions.
San Francisco (6-6) @ Cincinnati (7-5) (CBS; 4:25 pm): TW: Bengals; CV: Bengals
Last week both teams lost as the 49ers lost to the Seahawks and the Bengals lost to the Chargers. Both teams are right in the thick of the playoff race as they're trying to stay in the wild card slots. Sadly in this league at least one will win. That being said, I still like the Bengals in the matchup but their defense really had a bad day last week. Joe Burrow has been banged up as well much to the dismay of Bengals nation. If the Bengals have any shot they will need to keep him upright and try to give Joe Mixon a better chance to succeed as the 49ers are 17th in the league in rush defense. San Francisco really shat the bed against a Seahawks team that is trying to get back into the playoffs with a slim chance. I still like the Bengals in the matchup.
Chicago (4-8) @ Green Bay (9-3) (NBC; 8:20 pm): TW: Packers; CV: Packers
The Bears lost to the Cardinals and the Packers had a bye last week. Things don't look too promising for the Monsters of the Midway in this game. Justin Fields is injured but Andy Dalton has been an okay to below average starter. Green Bay has looked like the complete opposite as they're trying to get the #1 seed in the NFC playoffs. I'm not necessarily saying that the Bears might pose a challenge but the Bears might not pose much of a challenge to the mighty Packers.
LA Rams (8-4) @ Arizona (10-2) (ESPN; 8:15 pm): TW: Cardinals; CV: Cardinals
Last week the Rams beat the Jaguars and the Cardinals beat the Bears. Week 14 wraps up with a fairly good game in a NFC West showdown. The Rams finally got out of their funk and whooped the Jaguars. Arizona finally got Kyler Murray and DeAndre Hopkins back in a dress rehearsal of a game against Chicago. With Green Bay right up on their heels, the Cardinals need to win this game. LA has a fighting chance to really play spoiler and drop the Cardinals out of the #1 seed of the playoffs. Remember, the Packers did beat the Cards earlier this season so if they have similar records, the Packers win out via head-to-head. I still think the Cardinals are still the tops of the NFC West.
Early & Late TV Pairings (courtesy of 506sports.com, check local listings):
Note: Games being shown in my area are in bold.
FOX Single
Dallas @ Washington
Kevin Burkhardt
Atlanta @ Carolina
Kenny Albert, Jonathan Vilma
Seattle @ Houston
Chris Myers, Daryl Johnston
NY Giants @ LA Chargers (LATE)
Adam Amin, Mark Schlereth
Detroit @ Denver
Kevin Kugler, Mark Sanchez
CBS Early
Las Vegas @ Kansas City
Ian Eagle, Charles Davis
Baltimore @ Cleveland
Kevin Harlan, Trent Green
New Orleans @ NY Jets
Andrew Catalon, James Lofton
Jacksonville @ Tennessee
Spero Dedes, Jay Feely
CBS Late
Buffalo @ Tampa Bay
Jim Nantz, Tony Romo
San Francisco @ Cincinnati
Greg Gumbel, Adam Archuleta
2021 Pick'em Records:
My record:
Week 1: 7-9
Week 2: 10-6
Week 3: 10-6
Week 4: 9-7
Week 5: 12-4
Week 6: 11-3
Week 7: 10-3
Week 8: 7-8
Week 9: 7-7
Week 10: 5-8-1
Week 11: 8-7
Week 12: 8-7
Week 13: 10-4
Total: 114-79-1
Cardinal Viking's record:
Week 1: 6-10
Week 2: 12-4
Week 3: 13-3
Week 4: 10-6
Week 5: 10-6
Week 6: 12-2
Week 7: 10-3
Week 8: 7-8
Week 9: 8-6
Week 10: 5-8-1
Week 11: 10-5
Week 12: 9-6
Week 13: 7-7
Total: 119-74-1
Previous Picking Records:
2017: 167-89
2018: 156-98-2
2019: 151-104-1
2020: 163-92-1
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