It's going to be very difficult to follow up the show we saw in Week 13, but the NFL schedule in Week 14 is still loaded with rivalries, intrigue, and games with high stakes.
Unlike in Week 13, this week's slate of games includes the classic three primetime matchups: Thursday Night Football, Sunday Night Football, and Monday Night Football. And it all starts off with one of the biggest games of the entire week, an NFC clash between the Dallas Cowboys and Detroit Lions.
The Sunday night game features the Kansas City Chiefs, fighting for their playoff lives against the suddenly red-hot Houston Texans. On Monday night, the Los Angeles Chargers and Philadelphia Eagles cap off the week with a battle between two teams fighting for their 9th win. We're taking a look at each matchup and making our predictions for what should be some of the most intense matchups of the week.
NFL picks, score predictions for every primetime game in Week 14
Dallas Cowboys (6-5-1) @ Detroit Lions (7-4)
Thursday, December 4, 8:15 PM ET
The month of November was one of the weirdest months of football we've seen from Detroit Lions since they've been in their current championship window. I've never been more certain of predicting a team to win than I was at the start of November when the Lions were coming off of a bye and facing the Minnesota Vikings, but the Vikings found a way to upset them.
They beat the Commanders, who were more injured than ever at the time, but they lost games to the Eagles and Packers while getting taken to the brink in overtime by Jameis Winston and the New York Giants.
It has not been a consistent or great last five games for the Detroit Lions, whose loss to the Packers on Thanksgiving will either propel them into a focused start to December, or send them spiraling. They are taking on the Dallas Cowboys in Week 14, and while I believe the Lions are capable of beating any team in the league, I'm really not certain they can beat the Cowboys with the way Dallas is playing right now.
The fact that Vegas only has the Lions as three-point home favorites tells you all you need to know at this point. I'm taking the Cowboys to stay hot in this one, but obviously won't be surprised if Detroit finds a way.
Prediction: Cowboys win 27-23
Houston Texans (7-5) @ Kansas City Chiefs (6-6)
Sunday, December 7, 8:15 PM
Not only is this one of the best matchups of the week, but it's also one of the most eyebrow-raising.
The Houston Texans match up really well with the Kansas City Chiefs, even playing on the road, because they are good in all of the areas the Chiefs struggle. Especially right now, as the Chiefs are working with a patchwork offensive line and going up against a defense that can completely dominate games.
The Texans have one of the best pass rush duos in the NFL in Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter. They also have a secondary that can match up with what the Chiefs want to do offensively in terms of getting the ball out quickly and creating yards after the catch.
This is going to have to be a game in which the Kansas City Chiefs win situationally if they want to beat Houston, or else they're going to fall below .500.
The Texans do not run the ball very well at all, which is the primary concern in a game like this. If you want to go on the road and win in the NFL in December, you've got to have some semblance of a running game. The Texans just don't.
Kansas City's running game is middle-of-the-pack in terms of total yards, but they have been good when it comes to moving the chains on the ground and at least averaging a healthy number of yards per carry. Can they run on this Houston front with their patchwork offensive line, however?
Both CJ Stroud and Patrick Mahomes are going to have to flex their ability to make off-script plays in this one. The Chiefs are favored by 3.5 points at home, and as hot as Houston is, you can almost feel Kansas City squeaking this one out from a mile away.
Prediction: Chiefs win 22-19
Philadelphia Eagles (8-4) @ Los Angeles Chargers (8-4)
Monday, December 8, 8:15 PM
This matchup is going to be a great test for both teams. The Los Angeles Chargers are 4-0 against their AFC West opponents this season (which is huge), but 4-4 against the rest of the NFL so far this season.
That would include losses -- up to this point -- against both of the NFC East teams they have played (Giants, Commanders). Could the Eagles make it 0-3 for the Chargers against NFC East teams?
It's getting more and more difficult to predict Eagles games on a weekly basis. On the one hand, you can't help but lean toward picking them on a given week because of all they've proven over the past couple of years. On the other hand, you can't ignore all of the close encounters and disappointing games like we saw against the Chicago Bears.
One of the biggest factors for this game against the Chargers is the fact that Justin Herbert just had surgery on his non-throwing hand. And while he was head coach of the Broncos, Vic Fangio's defenses consistently gave Herbert a lot of fits.
After getting absolutely embarrassed on Black Friday against the Chicago Bears, I think we'll see the Eagles bounce back this week. I'm going to stop short of saying they're going to bounce back in a "big way", because this team hasn't really been the type to blow folks out lately.
The Chargers are dealing with a lot of injuries. They don't have the greatest home-field advantage. Their quarterback is beat up. The Eagles have had extra time to rest.
Prediction: Eagles win 24-20