Week 14 NFL Picks and Predictions - Red Hot Picks for Free!

It is hard to believe I am already laying out picks for week 14 NFL action. With thirteen weeks in the books, the NFL playoffs are beginning to take shape. The pretenders are separating from the contenders, and it won't be long before we see teams doing battle for the Super Bowl. There are some questions yet to be answered, however. For example, will Brett Favre be unable to start this week, and if he is able will Minnesota even want him to? Will the Titans ever find a way to get the ball to Randy Moss? Will I ever be able to overcome Zac Wassink in our AC sportswriter Office Challenge? After a few weeks now of weekly double digit win totals, I think my consistency will overcome him. This week was nearly a huge week, but a couple of blown leads (Think Detroit and Miami) really hurt. Still, we ended up among the leaders. Without further ado, here are your Week 14 NFL picks and predictions for your office pool:

THU, DEC 9

Indianapolis at Tennessee
The Colts and the Titans both are on life support and there does not seem to be any end in sight. The only thing going for each team is the fact that they are playing one another. Still, the talent level for the Colts should be enough to overcome anything the Titans can muster. Peyton Manning has two straight games with 4 interceptions. What planet are we on again?

Winner - Indianapolis Colts

SUN, DEC 12

Cleveland at Buffalo
The Browns and the Bills are very similar this season. They both have tons of talent in spite of their poor record, and they both are going to be pretty good teams within a few years. This match up should be fun, and I think that both teams will play well. I do think the Bills will pull out a tough one in the long run.

Winner - Buffalo Bills

Green Bay at Detroit
The Lions were my big upset pick last week against the Bears, and they should have pulled it off. They had the Bears on the ropes. Things are a bit tougher this week with the Packers. The Pack are beginning to find their stride again, and the Lions are in their way. Sound familiar?

Winner - Green Bay Packers

NY Giants at Minnesota
This game is truly going to be interesting. The Giants finally found their running game last week, but now they face a much tougher opponent against the run. The Vikings, for all their troubles, are still a tough opponent. In fact, I think they sneak one in against the G-men this week.

Winner - Minnesota Vikings

Cincinnati at Pittsburgh
The Bengals finally made an appearance last week, but still found themselves looking up at the scoreboard. This team was hugely disappointing this year, and this week will be no exception. The Steelers will roll on them.

Winner - Pittsburgh Steelers

Tampa Bay at Washington
The Tampa Bay Bucs had the Falcons right where they wanted them. They were up ten points in the fourth quarter and let em back in. That is not a good sign, and could be indicative of a deeper problem. The real problem is that they are young. Josh Freeman is going to be one of the all time greats at his current growth. This game is about as big as it can get. For the Bucs to stay in the playoff race for the wildcard, they have to win in Washington. That is tough regardless of the Skin's record. I think the Bucs will hit a speed bump in Washington.

Winner - Washington Redskins

Atlanta at Carolina
At one time, this would have been a marquee matchup. The Panthers and Falcons are always at each other's throats, and it usually means something. They will still be at one another's throats, but it won't mean much.

Winner - Atlanta Falcons

Oakland at Jacksonville
Oakland is absolutely impossible to figure out. One week they can not play their way out of a paper bag, and the next they are world beaters. This week, they face a red hot Jaguar team that is ready to break out and make a statement. It is a bad week to be a Raider.

Winner- Jacksonville Jaguars

Seattle at San Francisco
In a match up that holds every last gasp of playoff air for San Francisco, I expect that they will come up big. I do not think that the Niners are that good. I do think that the Seahawks are that inconsistent. Watch the NFC West become a four way tie for last/first place. That would be classic.

Winner - San Francisco 49ers

St. Louis at New Orleans
Now we get to see once again if the Rams can win the big one on the road. Bradford is certainly capable and with Steven Jackson in the backfield, all things are possible. The Rams are much better than people realize. I do not think that they will pull off a Saints upset, however, because the game means a whole lot to the Saints as well. No let down here.

Winner- New Orleans Saints

Miami at NY Jets
The Dolphins laid a rotten egg in a loss to the Browns this past week. The Jets did the same against the mighty Patriots on Monday Night Football. My money is on the Jets righting the ship.

Winner - New York Jets

Denver at Arizona
The Broncos finally flushed their coach, and many think it is a whole season too late. The Cardinals are just as bad. What will be interesting is if the Broncos follow the pattern of first games for new coaches this season. Minnesota fires Childress - wins next game. Cowboys fire Chan - win next game. I think Denver will complete the trifecta on emotion alone.

Winner - Denver Broncos

New England at Chicago
This is one game that I have been looking forward to, if only to see if the Bears are pretenders or contenders. If they can hold off Brady and the Pats at home, they might just be as good as their record seems to indicate. I think that they will lose, personally.

Winner - New England Patriots

Kansas City at San Diego
Kansas City has shown they can beat the teams they are expected to beat, but they seem to struggle with teams like the Chargers. I think that will continue.

Winner - San Diego Chargers

Philadelphia at Dallas
Philly and Dallas actually is creating some buzz once again. The Cowboys are actually playing like they were expected to all along, and doing it without Tony Romo. Still, the Eagles are much more talented than people expected. I think, in an upset special, that the Dallas Cowboys will throw a monkey wrench in the Philly plans.

Winner - Dallas Cowboys

MON, DEC 13

Baltimore at Houston
Baltimore is angry and showing it in some interviews. The Texans are likely to be loose and slinging the ball around the field on Monday night primetime. This is a game that could easily bite the Ravens in the tail. I think it just might.

Winner - Houston Texans

Houston 28 Baltimore 21

Week 13 NFL Picks and Predictions Record - 11-5
Season Record to Date - 116-75