December football is in full swing. We finally get 16 games every week. Every game means more and more, and the playoff picture is never truly set in stone. So many games can go either way, and we’re already starting to see that. That also means my picks might not be as accurate, but I won’t make any excuses on that front. I went an average 9-6 in Week 13, bringing my 2020 total to 105-54-1. We’re finally over 100 wins! Let’s get into this week’s picks:
Rams 23-17 Patriots 
Week 14 kicks off with a Super Bowl LIII rematch in LA. The Rams are in a very similar place compared to 2 years ago, but things are obviously very different for New England. Despite the immense turnover, the Patriots are still right in the playoff hunt and have been playing great football recently. However, I don’t think it’ll be enough to overcome the Rams. They have proven themselves as one of the league’s best teams, and their defense should be able to shut down the Pats’ subpar offense. Los Angeles will get their revenge, and hopefully they’ll score more than 3 points this time.
Texans 30-24 Bears 
This is a classic battle of under-performers. The Bears can’t buy a win right now, and the Texans love to piss away every chance they have at wins. Something’s got to give on Sunday! I’ll take the team with a vastly better QB. Deshaun Watson, despite the loss of his top target and being surrounded by a horrible cast, is still doing big things and playing elite football in Houston. Meanwhile, Chicago’s QB carousel has produced nothing but pain. This is an easy pick.
Cowboys 24-23 Bengals 
I think we can classify this as a Tank Bowl. Both of these teams’ fans probably want to lose, but somebody has to win. If Joe Burrow was playing QB for the Bengals, they’d be the easy pick here. Even with Brandon Allen under center, I think they have a good chance against a Cowboys defense that can’t stop a nosebleed. But, I don’t have it in me to pick Cincy here. I’ll take the more proven QB in Andy Dalton in a revenge game against his old team in his old ballpark.
Chiefs 28-24 Dolphins 
This is one of the more intriguing matchups of the week. The Dolphins have been one of the surprises of 2020, and rookie QB Tua Tagovailoa is getting the toughest test of his life after playing some cupcakes to start his professional career. I believe in Tua, but not here. It is way too tough of a test. The Chiefs are not slowing down at all, and although Miami has a very impressive defense, you need some divine intervention to stop Kansas City on offense. It will definitely be close, but I simply don’t see an outcome with the Dolphins coming out on top.
Giants 21-17 Cardinals 
This game is absolutely massive in the NFC playoff race. Both of these teams cannot afford a loss for the rest of the season, as one could easily knock them out of the playoffs. They’re each coming in riding different streaks, with the Giants winning 4 in a row and the Cardinals being on a 3-game skid. Something has to end on Sunday in New Jersey. Based on what I’ve seen from each of these teams in the last month or so, I have to pick the Giants here. Their defense has played exceptionally well, which has proven to be an issue for Arizona. Elite defenses give them loads of trouble. New York’s offense is nothing special, but against a porous Cards defense, it should be able to get the job done. It’s safe to say that both teams will be playing very hard as their seasons are on the line, and this game will be very interesting to see.
Buccaneers 31-28 Vikings 
Speaking of huge games in the NFC, this one should not be overlooked at all. In what would have seemed like a walk in the park for the Bucs a few weeks ago has turned into a must-win against a team vying to steal their playoff spot from right under them. The Vikings have won 5 of 6 and have entered the playoff picture as the NFC’s current 7 seed. The Buccaneers are coming off a bye and remain situated as the 6 seed. Both of these teams need wins badly to stay in the playoff race as wild card teams. I’m taking the Buccaneers for two reasons: the first being them coming off a bye. It’s very cliché, I know, but it is significant. It’s Tom Brady after a week off late in the season. That is huge. The second reason is that I think this is a team that is built to withstand the Vikings’ offensive attack. Their secondary should be able to keep Kirk Cousins and the passing offense in check, and their great front 7 is built to stop star RBs like Dalvin Cook. Plus, the Minnesota defense isn’t anything special, and Tom Brady will likely have his way with it. I can easily see this game going the other way, but I have to stick with Tampa.
Broncos 26-23 Panthers 
How about another Super Bowl rematch this week? This SB50 rematch sees neither of these teams even close to where they were 4-5 years ago, but I can still see the outcome being the same. Both of these teams have been playing decent football lately, sticking in games until the very end and almost coming away with wins. However, I simply think the Broncos defense is too much for an offense like Carolina’s to overcome, especially without RB Christian McCaffrey. That will be the difference in this game.
Titans 30-14 Jaguars 
Jacksonville played Tennessee very close in their first matchup this season 12 weeks ago, but that was a very different time. The Jags team of now is slipping and slipping, and this game will not be close. Yes, the Titans suffered a horrible loss last week, but that just means they’ll come out playing inspired football this week. They know that every game is a must-win in order to win this division. This should be free for them. If not… I won’t know what to think.
Colts 27-23 Raiders 
How about a massive game for AFC Wild Cards? The Raiders are lucky to still be anywhere near the playoffs right now, and the Colts are oh so close to being in the top 4 seeds. Las Vegas certainly needs this win more than Indy does, but I don’t think they have what it takes to get it done. They have shown me nothing but bad things in the last 2 weeks. The Colts haven’t looked their best recently either, but I can put trust in their defense to step up and make plays to help them secure a win. There is nothing with the Raiders for me to put trust in.
Seahawks 34-16 Jets 
Not a lot to talk about with this one. Yes, the Seahawks are slipping, and yes the Jets are a very competitive 0-12, but this will not be close. The Seahawks need this win badly, and the Jets need losses badly. Everyone will walk out of Seattle a winner!
Packers 31-20 Lions 
Another one that needs no explanation. The Packers are playing incredible football and are on fire. The Lions may be coming off a win, but come on. Perhaps the game will be closer than I anticipate, but I don’t see a single scenario where Detroit comes out with a win. Green Bay is just too good on both sides of the ball. Aaron Rodgers is playing some of the best football of his life, and the Lions do not have what it takes to slow that down.
Saints 23-21 Eagles 
Eagles rookie QB Jalen Hurts will be making his first career start in a very tough test against the NFC’s best team in the Saints. I have faith in the kid from Oklahoma/Alabama, but not enough to predict an Eagles W. I do think it will be very close thanks to the Saints having to start Taysom Hill at QB once again. Hill did show some flashes as a passer in last week’s win in Atlanta, and I don’t make anything of the Eagles defense, but I still think the game will be tighter than Vegas might think. Hurts has already shown his ability to make things close at the end of games, and perhaps he’ll do it again against another elite team. For now, I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt.
Falcons 31-26 Chargers 
This game is an absolute nightmare to pick. Two teams that insist on losing every week even if the win was right in front of them. How can one pick a game like this? I’m taking the Falcons because how on Earth can I ever pick a team coached by Anthony Lynn? At least under Raheem Morris, the Falcons simply lose games instead of choking them. They have played much improved football since firing Dan Quinn, and so, head coaching will be the difference in this game. And if it isn’t, then whatever. As I said, picking this game is damn near impossible. If anything is certain, it’s that this game should be entertaining. Both of these offense love putting up numbers. If I can guarantee anything else, it’s the over.
Washington 24-20 49ers 
You can proclaim this as a biased pick, but after what I saw on Monday night, is it really bias? The WFT has put the league on notice with back-to-back national TV wins including a relative shutdown of the Pittsburgh Steelers (after going down 14-0, that is). The 49ers have done nothing but slip and slip late in the season, whereas Washington is continuing to play great football, especially defensively. I think that will be the key on Sunday in Arizona. The SF offense is nothing special, and I think the WFT defense will do just enough to put their offense in a position to go and win the game. It’ll be hard for a unit without star rookie RB Antonio Gibson, but if they could beat Pittsburgh without him, then anything is possible.
Bills 26-20 Steelers 
Pittsburgh’s loss on Monday night may have been the only one they’ve faced so far in 2020, but it will not be the last. They have teams left on their schedule that definitely look a lot better than they do right now. Buffalo is one of those teams. It’s going to be a frigid, potentially snowy night in Orchard Park, and it will be a very tough test for the Steelers. Yes, the Bills’ strong suit is their offense, while Pittsburgh’s is their defense, but I still like Buffalo here. They are playing much better football recently. It’s not very close. Even HC Mike Tomlin has said that his Steelers “suck” in press conferences. Maybe last week’s loss was a wakeup call for them, but I just don’t see it happening based on the way they’ve played recently.
Ravens 27-21 Browns 
When these teams met in Week 1, they were in very different positions. Baltimore was looking like the league’s best team, and Cleveland was still struggling to figure things out with a new head coach. Now, Cleveland has looked like the better team and are 2 games ahead of the Ravens in the AFC Wild Card race. Despite that, there is one thing that I think hasn’t changed: the Ravens will beat the Browns again. I have a lot of faith in Cleveland’s elite run game, but against a defense as strong as Baltimore’s it’s tough to pick them. With QB Lamar Jackson back, the offense looked great and ready to make a playoff push. I think their defense will do just enough to put them in a position to win this pivotal game.
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