NFL Week 14 Picks and Predictions

NFL Week 14

NFL Week 14 serves up 15 games, with the Washington Commanders and the Arizona Cardinals the last two teams to take their byes this season.

Join us as we weigh in with expert NFL picks and predictions for the entire slate of games, including the much-anticipated showdown between the Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs and the pivotal NFC East showdown between the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys on Sunday Night Football.

 

New England Patriots vs Pittsburgh Steelers
Thursday, Dec. 7, 8:15 pm ET

Arguably, this is the least anticipated matchup of NFL Week 14. Bill Belichick’s side (2-10) can’t seem to buy a win. The quarterback position is a mess, the offense is non-existent (evinced by last week’s 6-0 loss to the Chargers) and it is only a matter of time before New England is officially eliminated.

Pittsburgh’s offense isn’t what you’d call a powerhouse. But Mike Tomlin’s defense is sound and at 7-5 ahead of Week 14, the Steelers have skin in the game. The question is whether backup Mitch Trubisky, who is set to start in place of an injured Kenny Pickett, can hold it together. To not only guide the offense towards the much-needed win for his side but also –  in the interest of NFL betting fans – to deliver a big enough victory to cover what is a very generous NFL point spread, indeed.

NFL Picks:

Steelers -270 to win
Steelers -6 to cover

 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Atlanta Falcons
Sunday, Dec. 10, 1 pm. ET

Surprisingly, this is a huge divisional game in a wide-open NFC South. True story! The Falcons (6-6) won the first meeting 16-13 and rode a two-game winning streak into Tampa Bay. Now, as they look to make it three wins in a row, the NFL odds are cornered in their camp. Again, true story!

The Buccaneers (5-7) have a home advantage however for what is a must-win game. They’re coming off a narrow 21-18 win over the Panthers at home and will be hoping to make it two in a row at Raymond James Stadium. It’s a total tossup for NFL picks, but home advantage tips the scale slightly towards Baker Mayfield and Co. for the so-called upset.

NFL Picks:

Buccaneers +100 to win
Buccaneers +1.5 to cover

 

Detroit Lions vs Chicago Bears
Sunday, Dec. 10, 1 pm. ET

NFL Teams Lions vs Bears

 

Sportsbooks have rolled out a head-scratching 3.5 spread for this game, begging the obvious question: Why is this NFL line so low? You have to be living under a rock to miss the fact that these two teams are heading in opposite directions. The Lions (9-3) are not only leading the NFC North but there is a genuine contender buzz about them as the season hurtles toward the finish line.

Granted, the Bears (4-8) gave the Lions a run for their money a few weeks ago before blowing a 12-point lead to succumb to the 31-28 loss. Arguably, then, the Lions underestimated them. It’s hard to see them making that same mistake twice.

NFL picks:

Lions -175 to win
Lions -3.5 to cover

 

Indianapolis Colts vs Cincinnati Bengals
Sunday, Dec. 10, 1 pm. ET

The Bengals (6-6) closed as the double-digit underdogs in NFL Week 13 but backup quarterback Jake Browning didn’t get the memo. Instead, he coolly led the Bengals to a stunning 34-31 upset over the Jaguars on Monday Night Football.

This week, the bookmakers aren’t being quite so cavalier and tip the Bengals merely as the 1-point home underdogs against the surprisingly hot Gardiner Minshew-inspired Colts (7-5). It’s a coin toss. Or is it?

NFL Picks:

Bengals -105 to win
Bengals +1 to cover

 

Jacksonville Jaguars vs Cleveland Browns
Sunday, Dec. 10, 1 pm. ET

With C.J. Beathard likely starting for the Jaguars (8-4) in place of an injured Trevor Lawrence and veteran Joe Flacco probably leading the Browns (7-5) for a second straight week, this is likely one of the toughest games to predict as far as the outcome is concerned.

One thing we do know to expect however is a low-scoring game, as underscored by the lowly 30.5 total currently trading for this matchup at the sports betting exchange.

NFL Picks:

Browns -170 to win
Jaguars +3 to cover

 

Carolina Panthers vs New Orleans Saints
Sunday, Dec. 10, 1 pm. ET

The Panthers (1-11) are done and done. The first team to be eliminated in the 2023 NFL season. The Saints (5-7) are still in the chase for the NFC South title despite being under .500 and losing three on the trot.

The mercurial Jameis Winston is expected to start in place of an injured Derek Carr. So long as Winston doesn’t revert to his erratic ways, the Saints should capitalize on a Panthers team that is heading back to the drawing board. But don’t bet the farm on it.

NFL Picks:

Saints -240 to win
Panthers +5 to cover

 

Houston Texans vs New York Jets
Sunday, Dec. 10, 1 pm. ET

NFL Teams Texans vs Jets

C.J. Stroud, the No. 2 pick of the 2023 NFL draft, is a rising star who has made the Texans (7-5) the vogue NFL pick down the stretch. It’s the opposite for the Jets with a quarterback carousel that has wreaked havoc on their season. They’re back to Zach Wilson this Sunday. Enough said.

NFL Picks:

Texans -200 to win
Texans -3.5 to cover

 

Los Angeles Rams vs Baltimore Ravens
Sunday, Dec. 10, 1 pm. ET

The Ravens (9-3) are coming off a late bye week to take on a resurgent Rams outfit that is riding a three-game winning streak to improve to 6-6 on the season.

On paper, the Ravens are quite rightly favored to win and with the race for the No.1 seed in the AFC heating up, they’ll be keen to continue their winning ways. However, finding their momentum after a bye can be tricky, especially in the face of a former Super Bowl-winning outfit led by veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford. This feels like a trap game for the Ravens.

NFL Picks:

Rams +265 to win
Rams +7 to cover

 

Minnesota Vikings vs Las Vegas Raiders
Sunday, Dec. 10, 4:05 pm. ET

Both the Vikings (6-6) and the Raiders (5-7) are coming off bye weeks and ride a two-game losing streak into NFL Week 14.

The Vikings are sticking with Joshua Dobbs despite his four-interception performance in Minnesota’s last game before the bye. On the plus side, wide receiver Justin Jefferson is set to return to the lineup, which should bolster the Viking’s offense.

The Raiders are 2-2 straight up under interim head coach Antonio Pierce and with backup quarterback Aidan O’Connell as the offensive pivot. However, both victories came at the expense of two of the league’s worst outfits – the Giants and Jets.

NFL Picks:

Vikings -155 to win
Vikings -3 to cover

 

Seattle Seahawks vs San Francisco 49ers
Sunday, Dec. 10, 4:05 pm. ET

The 49ers threw down the gauntlet with a statement 42-19 win over the Eagles in NFL Week 13. At the same time, the Seahawks punched above their weight class in a 41-35 loss to the Cowboys on Thursday Night Football.

Taken in a vacuum, a case could be made for a more competitive divisional showdown than the NFL odds would have it. After all, they covered as the 9.5-point underdogs against the Cowboys. That’s nothing to sneeze at.

And yet, the Niners have the look of a Super Bowl contender. They took the first meeting 31-13 in Seattle and after their performance in the City of Brotherly Love, it’s hard to bet against them.

NFL Picks:

Niners -600 to win
Niners -10.5 to cover

 

Buffalo Bills vs Kansas City Chiefs
Sunday, Dec. 10, 4:25 pm. ET

NFL Teams Bills vs Chiefs

With a modest 6-6 record on the season, the Bills are outside of the playoff frame and faced with a must-win game against the Chiefs (8-4) at Arrowhead Stadium. Previous installments of Josh Allen vs Patrick Mahomes have surpassed all expectations. So, don’t be surprised if we are treated to another classic that could go either way.

NFL Picks:

Chiefs -125 to win
Bills +3 to cover

 

Denver Broncos vs Los Angeles Chargers
Sunday, Dec. 10, 4:05 pm. ET

The Chargers are the biggest underachievers this season behind a 5-7 record that doesn’t do Justin Herbert or the talent around him any justice. Case and point: they could only muster up six points in a shutout win over the hapless Patriots last Sunday.

The Broncos (6-6) came crashing back down to earth last Sunday behind a loss to the Texans that snapped their five-game winning streak. Can Russell Wilson and Co. get back on track?

NFL Picks:

Chargers -145 to win
Broncos +3 to cover

 

Philadelphia Eagles vs Dallas  Cowboys
Sunday, Dec. 10, 8:20 pm. ET

The Eagles (10-2)  and Cowboys (9-3) meet for the second time this season with the divisional title in all likelihood on the line. The Eagles have the upper hand having edged the Cowboys 28-23 in Philly last month. And yet, somewhat surprisingly, they are being tipped as the +3.5 underdogs.

At best, this market is a kneejerk reaction to the Niners’ 42-19 demolition job in Philly. At worst, it’s a potential overreaction to Dallas’ four-game winning streak since losing to the Eagles. Let’s face it, beating the Giants, Panthers, Commanders, and Seahawks isn’t exactly a ringing endorsement of Dallas. The Cowboys haven’t beaten an above .500 team yet.

NFL Picks:

Eagles +155 to win
Eagles +3.5 to cover

 

Tennessee Titans vs Miami Dolphins
Monday, Dec. 11, 8:15 pm ET

On paper, this is a total mismatch. The Dolphins (9-3) are flying high in the AFC standings and Tyreek Hill is on pace for a record season that could see him clinch the regular season MVP honors. The Titans (4-8) aren’t pushovers, but the Dolphins will have too much offensive firepower for them.

NFL Teams Titans vs Dolphins

NFL Picks:

Dolphins -900 to win
Dolphins -13 to cover

 

Green Bay Packers vs New York Giants
Monday, Dec. 11, 8:15 pm ET

Jordan Love and the Packers (6-6) are coming off a statement win over the Chiefs and they should carry the momentum into New York. Granted the G-men (4-8) are riding a two-game winning streak with backup quarterback Tommy DeVito at the helm. But wins over the Commanders and Patriots are hardly the kind to hang one’s hat on for your NFL bets.

NFL Picks:

Packers -310 to win
Packers -7 to cover