Mister B's NFL 2009 Week 14 Picks and Predictions, Part I

Was last Sunday a funky week for picks or what? I don't know about you, but I was screaming at my television quite frequently because team after team kept letting me down. As a fan there are two things that really get under my skin; red zone interceptions and missed goals within 30 yards. Bucs quarterback Josh Freeman and Redskins kicker Shaun Suisham committed these fatal sins and as a result both of their teams lost. Two teams that usually hold fourth quarters, the Pats and Steelers blew those leads. The Patriots can't seem win on the road anymore and Belicheat is getting out coached on a weekly basis, go figure. I still can't believe the Raiders beat the Steelers in Pittsburgh. I think if a team loses to the Raiders, their season should end right then and there. If you're a Raider fan, you have to be pulling out your hair because you have beaten the Eagles, Bengals and Steelers-all potential playoff teams. But you laid an egg on Thanksgiving against an overrated Dallas team that won't make the playoffs (Oh yeah look for my article here on AC about why I believe the Cowboys are going to choke down the stretch again). The Washington frickin' Redskins couldn't hold a 30-20 fourth quarter lead over the undefeated New Orleans Saints because Shaun Suisham couldn't make an easy field goal 23 yard field goal that would have sealed the upset for the Redskins. Thanks jerk, I lost a $25 bet thanks to you, but I digress. Let's get into this week's match ups.

Thursday Night Game, NFL Network-8:20 PM ET

Steelers @ Browns: Boy if the Browns ever had a great opportunity to play spoiler against its archrivals the Pittsburgh Steelers it would be tomorrow night on Thursday Night Football. The Steelers have struggled holding onto fourth quarter leads the last three weeks. Pittsburgh has lost four games in row overall. At 6-6, the Steelers are in must win mode for the duration of the season in order to salvage their playoff hopes. So what's been the Steelers main problem? In the 4^th quarter of their games this year, they have allowed 1, 037 yards passing and 9 touchdowns passes, very uncharacteristic of a team that prides itself on defensive stops in the clutch. The Steelers have been missing their pro-bowl strong safety Troy Polamalu with a knee injury. He's been in and out of the Steelers lineup all season long. Coach Mike Tomlin has to help his guys rediscover their swagger or else the (1-11) Browns could be primed for an upset.

Brady Quinn has shown steady improvement the past three weeks, throwing for 675 yards, 7 touchdowns and zero interceptions. Quinn will have to be very careful with the football to give Cleveland a chance in this game. I don't think Browns will be able to run on the Steelers 1^st ranked defense which gives up a league low 77.8 yards per game. On the flip side, the Steelers should be able to control the ball and the clock against Cleveland's 29^th ranked run defense, which gives up 154.2 yards per game. The Steelers desperately need to win this game to keep its playoff hopes alive. The Steelers may have to play this one without receiver Hines Ward, whose nursing a hamstring injury.

The Winner: The Browns will keep it close in the first half, but the Steelers pull away in the 2^nd half and win big 34-13.

Be on the lookout for Mister B's NFL 2009 Week 14 Picks and Predictions Part II, in which we'll look into the rest of the games for Week 14.