NFL picks and score predictions for Week 14 as we head down the final stretch.
This is it. Only four weeks remain in the 2020 NFL season, and the postseason gets under way. It’s been a wild ride, and it’s sure to be just as hectic as the final few weeks of the year tick by. For now, though, we’re ready to deliver our weekly NFL picks!
As always, we’ve got you covered with the Week 14 edition of NFL picks and score predictions. Now I’ll never claim that these are going to be 100 percent on point. In fact, there’s a very good chance at least a few of my picks will go completely awry. I will, however, make my selections based on research, experience, and careful consideration.
The ball kept rolling in my direction in Week 13. After finishing 10-5 in Week 12, I followed that up with another solid 10-4 showing (Tuesday night pending) with my Week 13 NFL picks. That moves my overall record on the year to 117-73-1. This season hasn’t gone quite as I’d hoped, but I’m glad to see things are falling in my favor as we head down the final stretch of the 2020 campaign.
Just remember that making picks is not a science. As much research goes into it, anything can happen on any given Sunday. Isn’t that part of why we watch football in the first place?
Now that we’ve gotten all of that out of the way, here are my NFL picks and score predictions for Week 14. Just keep in mind that I assume no responsibility if you choose to place wagers based on my picks — that’s your decision, not mine.
Week 14 Byes: None
New England Patriots (6-6) at Los Angeles Rams (8-4)
Thursday, December 10, 8:20PM ET
Yes, the New England Patriots are coming off of one of the most lopsided blowouts we’ve seen in a long time. They dismantled the Los Angeles Chargers by a score of 45-0, and have to be feeling good heading into a tough Week 14 matchup with the other LA team.
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Will it be enough to outlast the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday night? I don’t think so. As great as the Patriots looked on Sunday, that’s not the team we’ve seen throughout 2020. It’s true that they’ve battled their way back to relevance in recent weeks, but this Rams team is no pushover — they’ll come ready to shut down anything the New England offense throws at them.
This Los Angeles defense is downright dangerous right now. Aaron Donald is giving opposing offensive lines fits, and Jalen Ramsey is looking like the elite cornerback he’s always claimed to be. Cam Newton and Damien Harris played well against the Chargers, but they’ll be in for a rude awakening against the Rams.
Look for Jared Goff to play some smart, strategic football while the Los Angeles defense does most of the work. The Rams get their ninth win of the season, and the Patriots are dealt what is likely a death sentence for their meager playoff hopes.
Prediction: Rams win 28-15
Minnesota Vikings (6-6) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-5)
Sunday, December 13, 1PM ET
Trust me when I say that I really wanted to pick the Minnesota Vikings in this one. They’ve battled their way back from a 1-5 start to legitimate contenders for a Wild Card spot. Unfortunately, I just don’t see them getting it done yet again in Week 14 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Here’s what the Buccaneers have going for them. For starters, they’re coming off a bye, meaning they’ve had plenty of time to rest and prepare for whatever the Vikings throw at them. Second, they’ve got one of the league’s best run defenses, which doesn’t bode well for Dalvin Cook. Finally, they love getting after the quarterback, which should concern Kirk Cousins.
Oh, and let’s not forget that Tom Brady is still calling the shots in Tampa Bay. While he’s had a down year in 2020, he’s still more than capable of lighting it up on any given Sunday. Against a Vikings secondary that’s been erratic all year long, I wouldn’t be surprised if the wily vet found a way to put up three or four touchdowns.
It’s been a fun story to watch unfold as the Vikings worked their way back to relevance this season. While I’m not saying they’re completely out of the picture yet, it’s hard to imagine this club doing enough to overcome the remaining hurdles they face before the postseason begins.
Prediction: Buccaneers win 31-23
Arizona Cardinals (6-6) at New York Giants (5-7)
Sunday, December 13, 1PM ET
I’m not sure what’s going on with the Arizona Cardinals right now, but it’s not good. They’ve lost three games in a row, and can’t seem to get their bearings as the 2020 campaign winds down. Meanwhile, the New York Giants appear to finally be hitting their stride.
In fact, the Giants are currently leading the NFC East and are looking like a sleeper to make some noise in the next month or so. While I wouldn’t go as far as calling them a potential Super Bowl contender, I don’t think teams are going to enjoy facing them between now and the postseason.
That includes the Cardinals, who haven’t managed to catch fire like they did earlier in the season. Kyler Murray is struggling to protect the football and score points, and the Arizona defense is giving up far too much on their end. Although most of their losses have been close calls, they end up falling short more often than not.
I’m predicting a similar occurrence in Week 14, with the Giants ascertaining the lead late in the fourth quarter. When the Cardinals make one last-ditch effort to move back into the playoff picture, a turnover by Murray costs them the game. It may be back to the drawing board for Kliff Kingsbury and Co. if the season continues this way.
Prediction: Giants win 20-18
Kansas City Chiefs (11-1) at Miami Dolphins (8-4)
Sunday, December 13, 1PM ET
All season long, the Miami Dolphins have relied on their defense to win them games. Unfortunately, going up against Patrick Mahomes (the reigning MVP and legitimate candidate to repeat) isn’t going to give them much of an opportunity to continue that trend.
Instead, the pressure will fall on rookie Tua Tagovailoa to keep pace on the scoreboard. However, as we’ve seen so far this season, the top draft pick isn’t exactly spurring the Miami offense to new heights. In fact, the Dolphins have generally been better with Ryan Fitzpatrick under center, which doesn’t entice confidence heading into this matchup with the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Dolphins defense will make plays here and there, but Mahomes has been allergic to turnovers in 2020. He’ll protect the football, and rely on his gaggle of receiving stars to keep the points flowing all game long. As long as Mahomes is healthy and in the game, I don’t see any way the Dolphins are going to create enough offense to stay in the race.
Miami is undoubtedly a serious contender for an AFC playoff spot. Unfortunately, their chances of tasting the postseason won’t be aided by the shellacking they’re about to take at the hands of the Chiefs.
Prediction: Chiefs win 41-17
Tennessee Titans (8-4) at Jacksonville Jaguars (1-11)
Sunday, December 13, 1PM ET
Seriously, I cannot get it right with the Tennessee Titans. I thought for sure they’d crush the Cleveland Browns this past weekend. Instead, they got blown out in the first half before making a too-late comeback attempt that fell one possession short.
Luckily, they face off against a Jacksonville Jaguars team that’s lost 11 games in a row heading into Week 14. While they’re better than their record would suggest, their inability to close out games (as we saw in Week 13) gives me confidence that the Titans can turn this ideal opportunity into a win.
The Titans need to focus on a balanced offensive approach. The Jaguars are solid against the run, meaning Tennessee can’t necessarily lean on Derrick Henry to get the job done. However, the Jacksonville passing defense is susceptible, meaning Ryan Tannehill should be able to lean on A.J. Brown and Corey Davis to put points on the board.
Jacksonville can’t buy a win at this point in the season, but the Titans need to be wary heading into this matchup. As long as they balance things out on offense and avoid turnovers (which they’ve excelled at in 2020), we should see them maintain their slim lead in the AFC South for another week.
Prediction: Titans win 31-23
Dallas Cowboys (3-8) at Cincinnati Bengals (2-9-1)
Sunday, December 13, 1PM ET
Well, this will be quite an interesting scenario. For the first time since his departure, Andy Dalton will make his return to the Cincinnati Bengals — as the starting quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys. Could this be the revenge I’m sure Dalton has been dreaming about?
Okay, maybe it’s not that heated of a relationship between the two parties. And yet, I’m sure Dalton would love to show up and cream his former team as both clubs simply look to survive the remainder of what’s been an awful 2020 season. Based on my prediction, he’ll get the opportunity to do just that.
Since Joe Burrow suffered his season-ending injury, the Bengals haven’t been able to muster much of anything on offense. They’ve been hamstrung by the subpar talents of Brandon Allen, and that should remain the case in Week 14 — even against an unimpressive Dallas defense.
The Cowboys get on the board early as Dalton comes out swinging. Although the Bengals don’t completely roll over and die like they have at times this season, Dallas gets the best of them and keeps its slim hopes of a playoff berth alive.
Prediction: Cowboys win 26-10
Houston Texans (4-8) at Chicago Bears (5-7)
Sunday, December 13, 1PM ET
It’s surprising where we find both of these clubs heading into Week 14. At the beginning of the year, both were expected to make a significant playoff push. Now, there’s a very good chance both will be watching the postseason from the comfort of home.
With that said, neither is completely out of the picture. Getting a win in Week 14 will keep them in the race, which means both teams will come out firing. However, when the dust finally settles, it’ll be the Houston Texans who walk away with the victory in hand.
As solid as the Chicago Bears defense has been this season, it’s not going to be able to keep Deshaun Watson and Co. from at least scoring a couple of touchdowns. Meanwhile, I’m not sure I can say the same for the Bears offense, which has been downright awful down the stretch. Even with Mitchell Trubisky under center, they haven’t been able to score enough to secure wins.
That’s why I’m confident the Texans will get the W in Week 14. Houston is far more firepower than Chicago, which will help them outscore their NFC North foe. The Bears drop their seventh game in a row and further prove that their 5-1 start to the season was nothing more than a fluke.
Prediction: Texans win 27-20
Denver Broncos (4-8) at Carolina Panthers (4-8)
Sunday, December 13, 1PM ET
Honestly, this one was a tossup. I’m not excited about what either of these teams brings to the table, but they’re also not completely worth writing off. We’ve seen both squads shine at times in 2020, but we’ve also seen plenty of bumps along the way.
So who shows up ready to play in Week 14? I’m leaning towards the Carolina Panthers. Not only are they coming off a bye week, but they’ve got home-field advantage — the Denver Broncos haven’t been themselves on the road this season. Plus, their defense should come ready to play against a turnover-prone Drew Lock.
Look for the Panthers to get the best of Lock, forcing him into at least a couple of turnovers. And while the Carolina offense isn’t exactly explosive, Teddy Bridgewater should be able to produce enough yards and points to make it a game.
This one comes down to the wire, but a late turnover by Denver gives the Panthers the edge. The win really doesn’t matter for either team, but Carolina accepts the morale boost as they look to prepare for what should be a better effort in 2021.
Prediction: Panthers win 26-23
New York Jets (0-12) at Seattle Seahawks (8-4)
Sunday, December 13, 4:05PM ET
It’s about time the Seattle Seahawks got their act together. They’ve looked like a shell of their early-season selves, having lost three of their last five while Russell Wilson quickly falls out of the MVP race. Can the New York Jets provide them with a shot in the arm?
I would think so. As you may have noticed, the Jets are the only winless team in the NFL. While they haven’t necessarily rolled over for opponents this season, they obviously haven’t been able to notch a win either — there’s a reason for that. New York boasts one of the league’s worst defenses, which is particularly incompetent against the pass.
That should open the door for a bounce-back game for Wilson, who floundered in Week 13 against the Giants. He should have plenty of chances to dissect the Gang Green secondary, especially since the Jets aren’t great at getting after opposing quarterbacks.
The Seahawks lost their grip on the NFC West lead, and need to keep the wins coming if they plan on retaining the top Wild Card spot. This matchup with the Jets is a scheduling miracle, although there’s also trap potential if they don’t take this game seriously.
Prediction: Seahawks win 34-20
Indianapolis Colts (8-4) at Las Vegas Raiders (7-5)
Sunday, December 13, 4:05PM ET
At this point, the Las Vegas Raiders may be the most unconvincing playoff contender in the NFL. They’ve stumbled their way through the last few weeks, culminating in a near-defeat at the hands of the winless New York Jets. Let’s just say it’s been an ugly run for Las Vegas.
Meanwhile, the Indianapolis Colts are doing their very best to make a run at the AFC South championship. Losing to the Titans a couple of weeks ago didn’t help, but they pulled back even with Tennessee in Week 13. Now they need to keep winning to avoid falling behind in what’s turned out to be a tight divisional race.
While the Raiders have been good at times in 2020, I don’t trust them to come out firing on all cylinders in Week 14. Derek Carr has been inconsistent at best this season, and the Las Vegas defense hasn’t had much luck with slowing opponents down. Although the Colts don’t boast an explosive offense, their defense does a great job of keeping things from getting out of hand.
In this one, the Colts defense does much of the job while the offense relies on the ground game to create points. That minimizes Philip Rivers’ opportunities to turn it over, and the Raiders can’t move it enough against one of the NFL’s elite defenses to get the win.
Prediction: Colts win 23-16
Washington Football Team (5-7) at San Francisco 49ers (5-7)
Sunday, December 13, 4:25PM ET
Suffice it to say, the Washington Football Team is legit. After downing the Pittsburgh Steelers and putting the first blemish on their 2020 record, we cannot discount the potential this team has as we inch closer to the end of the season. Neither can the San Francisco 49ers.
So can they pull off two wins in a row against quality clubs? Based on what we saw on Monday night, I think so. It’s not like the 49ers are going to have more rest than they are, and they’re dealing with their own problems after suffering a decisive loss at the hands of the Bills.
So what gives Washington the edge against San Francisco? Honestly, I’m leaning towards their defense. It’s been exceptional this season, often turning worrisome opponents into middling concerns, forcing the D.C. offense to either win or lose the game. With how Alex Smith has been playing, though, I’d say the Football Team is in a good place heading into Week 14.
The 49ers are certainly capable of coming out on top, as they have at least a handful of times this season. Unfortunately, injuries and inconsistent play have often done them in. That’ll likely be the case again in Week 14, giving Washington the golden opportunity to keep up with the Giants in the race for the NFC East crown.
Prediction: Washington wins 23-21
New Orleans Saints (10-2) at Philadelphia Eagles (3-8-1)
Sunday, December 13, 4:25PM ET
Right now, the New Orleans Saints are sitting pretty. They’ve rattled off nine consecutive wins, and are sitting atop the NFC as we work our way through the final few weeks of the 2020 campaign. What’s more is they’ve got a favorable Week 14 matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles.
As you may know, the Eagles are not right at this moment. Carson Wentz has been a mess this year as a lack of pass protection and playmakers has allowed his confidence to plummet. This past weekend, Jalen Hurts replaced him at quarterback and couldn’t bring the Eagles back. A starter hasn’t been announced, but my hopes aren’t high no matter who gets the call.
Why? Because the Saints are unstoppable right now. Even without Drew Brees, the offense is still rolling with Taysom Hill, Alvin Kamara and Michael Thomas all still doing work. While the Philadelphia pass defense has been exceptional this season, the Saints shouldn’t have too much trouble running over and around them all day long.
New Orleans looks like the cream of the crop in the NFC, while the Eagles are just trying to keep their dwindling playoff hopes alive. Unfortunately for the latter, I don’t see that happening. The Saints get the W and move that much closer to securing a first-round bye.
Prediction: Saints win 27-13
Atlanta Falcons (4-8) at Los Angeles Chargers (3-9)
Sunday, December 13, 4:25PM ET
Is it even allowed to pick the Los Angeles Chargers after the complete demolition they underwent in Week 13 at the hands of the Patriots? They suffered an embarrassing 45-0 blow out, and now are just looking to make it through the rest of the season without another meltdown.
Meanwhile, the Atlanta Falcons haven’t been all that bad in recent weeks. Sure, they’re still a 4-8, flawed team. With that said, they’re more than capable of racking up a few more wins before the season is over. It won’t be enough to make the playoffs, but it could be enough to give them some confidence heading into 2021.
Don’t be surprised if one of those wins comes in Week 14 against the Chargers. While Los Angeles is solid defensively and has one of the top Offensive Rookie of the Year candidates in Justin Herbert at quarterback, they’re a severely underwhelming squad that likely won’t play up to its potential against Atlanta. In fact, it may turn into another blowout scenario.
The Falcons get the relatively worthless win, and the Chargers continue to let down their fans. Matt Ryan has a solid day, and the offense keeps things rolling as they look to tally a couple of feel-good wins before their 2020 campaign comes to a close.
Prediction: Falcons win 31-18
Green Bay Packers (9-3) at Detroit Lions (5-7)
Sunday, December 13, 4:25PM ET
For the most part, the Detroit Lions have been fairly competitive in 2020. They’ve had a couple of awful outings, but we’ve seen some close calls that could have swung their season in a different direction. Unfortunately, things won’t go well for them in Week 14.
With the Green Bay Packers coming to town, the Detroit defense will be facing the daunting task of slowing whatever their NFC North rivals throw at them. Not only do they have to find a way to contain Aaron Rodgers, but they’ll be forced to try and slow Aaron Jones with one of the worst run defenses in the NFL.
Even though they lost last weekend, the Lions still had a tough time taking down a downtrodden Bears team. If it took them until the final minutes to overcome Chicago, we could see them fall behind quickly against a far superior Green Bay squad.
Right now, the Packers are among the best teams the NFC has to offer. While they’re far from perfect, they’re more than capable of schooling the Lions on Sunday and bringing them to the brink of irrelevance. My prediction is that happens, and Detroit suffers another ugly loss in the process.
Prediction: Packers win 35-16
Pittsburgh Steelers (11-1) at Buffalo Bills (9-3)
Sunday, December 13, 8:20PM ET
It’s official — the last undefeated team in 2020 has tasted defeat for the first time. The Pittsburgh Steelers are now 11-1, and the 1972 Miami Dolphins can rest easy knowing they’ll remain the only undefeated team in NFL history for at least one more year.
Regardless of what happened in Week 13, the Steelers have another game to look forward to in Week 14. And that involves a matchup with the Buffalo Bills, a team that is rearing to improve its standing in the AFC. After suffering their first defeat of 2020, could the Steelers be in for another unwelcome surprise? I think so…
The Bills are coming off a dominant victory against the 49ers, during which Josh Allen further displayed his ability to shred secondaries and take over games. Although having a plethora of playmaking weapons like Stefon Diggs helps, it’s clear the young quarterback is coming into his own while leading a promising Buffalo squad.
While both of these teams are well equipped, I wouldn’t be surprised if Pittsburgh is still reeling from its scheduling nightmare and first loss of the season. They come into this game unprepared mentally, and watch Allen work his magic against one of the top defenses in the league, inching the Bills closer to the top of the conference.
Prediction: Bills win 34-28
Baltimore Ravens (6-5) at Cleveland Browns (9-3)
Monday, December 14, 8:15PM ET
I didn’t think I’d be saying this at any point this season, but the Cleveland Browns are actually looking like a legitimate contender. Kevin Stefanski has this roster playing like a family, and they’re putting together one surprising performance after another.
As for the Baltimore Ravens, it’s been a second half of the season to forget. Since starting 5-1, they’ve got 1-4, looking lost on offense while getting overwhelmed on defense due to Lamar Jackson and Co.’s struggles to move the ball. If things don’t turn around soon, the reigning MVP may actually miss the playoffs.
Unfortunately for the Ravens, I don’t see another win coming in Week 14. The roster has already been ravaged by COVID, which will certainly have short-term side effects on the team’s chemistry and cohesiveness. Especially if Baltimore relies on the run against Cleveland, it’s unlikely it’ll go well as the Browns have excelled in that department in 2020.
Anything is possible with these AFC North matchups, but the needle seems to be pointing unmistakably in Cleveland’s direction. They took down the Titans in Week 13, and get another shot to topple a “contender” in Week 14 by pushing the Ravens’ playoff hopes nearer to extinction.
Prediction: Browns win 37-23