NFL Picks, Week 14: Predicting The Weekend's Matchups

There are some great matchups this week around the NFL so let's get right into it! Here are my picks, with the current odds, as they come courtesy of Odds Shark. It's your choice if you want to ridicule them or put your car pink-slip down on them. In case you're wondering, I went 11-5 straight up last week, 12-4 the week before, and now I'm looking to improve on that.    

Thursday Night:

Cleveland Browns at Pittsburgh Steelers (-14): The Steelers are now rolling. Winners of seven out of their last eight (with the loss coming to Baltimore), the Browns don't look to be much of a challenge. Colt McCoy and the Browns offense will have trouble getting much of anything going and Rashard Mendenhall and the Steelers ground game will pound the football and control ToP. Pick: STEELERS

Houston Texans at Cincinnati Bengals (+1): This should be a very good game. The Texans, behind rookie T.J. Yates, look to stay on track after beating a tough Falcons team last week. Houston has won six games in a row and visit the Bengals, a team that started the year strong but have faded of late with a very tough stretch of their schedule. I still think the Bengals are a very good team, and though I have a tough time betting against the Texans two weeks in a row, I'm going with Cincy in this one. Pick: BENGALS

Minnesota Vikings at Detroit Lions: The Vikings have lost some close ones of late to Denver, Atlanta, Oakland and Carolina and just can't seem to catch a break, nor will the Lions afford them that chance this week. I have the feeling this one will be close and it will be interesting to see Joe Webb under center for the Vikes, but I'm going with the home team. Pick: LIONS

New Orleans Saints at Tennessee Titans (+4): The Saints are just so damn good. I can't see the Titans hanging with them offensively, and when you play the Saints it will, a lot of times, end up being a track meet. So I'm going with New Orleans. Pick: SAINTS

Philadelphia Eagles at Miami Dolphins (-3): The Dolphins are completely invigorated with Matt Moore under center and have been playing some really good football as of late. The Eagles, on the other hand... not so much. I just got done watching my Seahawks dismantle them last week so I'm tempted to believe they'll continue their slide. That said, they're getting a few of their key players back this week - Nnamdi Asomugha, King Dunlap, and of course, Michael Vick. I'm going against my logical side here and picking the Eagles. Pick: EAGLES

Kansas City Chiefs at New York Jets (-7): The Jets have started to get into a groove offensively, fielding 28 and 34 as a team in their last two outings. The Chiefs... well you just never really know what to expect with the Chiefs. I'm going with the home team here. Pick: JETS

New England Patriots at Washington Redskins (+7): The Redskins are another one of those Jekyll and Hyde teams but I don't see them challenging the Patriots in this one. Again, it'll be a track meet and who are you going to take? Tom Brady or Rex Grossman? Pick: PATRIOTS

Atlanta Falcons at Carolina Panthers (+3): OOOOOH, I want to watch this one. I admit I was a bit of a Cam Newton hater prior to this season but I'm a full-fledged fan now. It will be interesting to see how he plays against the Falcons' stout defense and tough pass rush. Still, I'm going with the more rounded Falcons team. Pick: FALCONS

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Jacksonville Jaguars: Seriously, who knows...? Pick: BUCS

Indianapolis Colts at Baltimore Ravens (-15): This one is fairly cut and dried. Pick: RAVENS.

Chicago Bears at Denver Broncos (-3): The Broncos are now favored over the Bears. Would you have guessed that a few weeks ago? That's why I love the NFL. I like to think the Bears will figure out a way to finally stop Tim Tebow but at the same time, I can really see the Bears and their distinct lack of weaponry on offense struggling with the Broncos solid defense. I'm going with Denver. Pick: BRONCOS

San Francisco 49ers at Arizona Cardinals (+4): I hate to say it, but the Cardinals are heating up. They've got Kevin Kolb back and have put together a few wins in the past month, winners of four out of five. That said, two of those wins were against the Rams and that loss came at the hands of the 49ers, 23-7. If I'm betting, I'm going with the 49ers. Pick: 49ERS

Oakland Raiders at Green Bay Packers (-10.5): Man, just when you think Oakland is rolling, they roll over in Miami. I'd love to see the Raiders give the Pack a run for their money but I just don't think it'll happen in Green Bay. Pick: PACKERS

Buffalo Bills at San Diego Chargers (-6.5): The Bills are in still in that tailspin, and there's no sign of them coming out of it. They've lost 7 of 8 and have none of the mojo that got them to 4-1 to begin the year. Then there's the Chargers. Hell, with my money I'm betting on the Chargers late in the regular season. Pick: CHARGERS

Sunday Night: 

New York Giants at Dallas Cowboys (-4): Well, this one should be good. Not sure how you do anything but guess here. I'm going with New York, for no reason other than I think they're due. Pick: GIANTS.

Monday Night: (you're welcome, America):

St. Louis Rams at Seattle Seahawks: The Seahawks are pretty damn good in primetime games, and are on ten days rest. The Rams are a mess - injuries, lack of momentum, new system - whatever the reason, they've struggled mightily this season. Seattle has their own injury problems and it won't be a cakewalk with three relatively untested players on the the offensive line, but because the Hawks are at home, I'm picking them to win this one. Pick: SEAHAWKS