Week 14 in the NFL

Well after taking the Thanksgiving holiday off to rest up and spend time with my family that I am grateful for I am back to give to you thoughts on the upcoming NFL slate of games. The overview of this week has many teams looking to secure playoff spots that they for better or for worse will eventually get regardless. The Giants can possibly clinch the NFC East, Arizona Cardinals can lock up their first playoff spot since the Jake Plummer run they had. Also they can clinch their first divisional title in 33 years. With a win and a loss by the San Diego Chargers the Denver Broncos can clinch a spot as well. Now let's dive into this weeks of games. Also last Sunday road teams went an outstanding 10-2.

Oakland @ San Diego
This week's Thursday Night flex game has two struggling teams. San Diego playing for their playoff lives to live another week and stay alive until the season's finale against division leading Denver. With a loss and a Broncos' win they will be eliminated from playoff contention. So in other words this is a "Must Win Game" for the Chargers. LT has not shown many flashes of greatness this season and if there was a time to start it would be now. San Diego needs this one, they are at home, and Phillip Rivers is due for a great game at home. His QB rating is a whopping 113.5 at home and look for him to continue his dominance at home against the Raiders. San Diego wins on the NFL Network 27-12.

Jacksonville @ Chicago
After being embarrassed and losing at division rival Minnesota on Sunday Night the Chicago Bears need to win to stay within striking distance of division leader Minnesota. The Jaguars are out of playoff contention and have been for quite some time but still playing for pay checks and respect will show up under Coach Del Rio but it will not matter. The Bears know time is running out and Devin Hester is well over due of scoring on a return this season. Maybe Sunday he finally gets into the end zone via punt return in a Chicago route winning against the Jags 26-13.

Minnesota @ Detroit
With a few off the field controversy looming in the clouds in Minneapolis the win less Lions may have finally found their break they have been looking for all season. The will they or won't they be suspended up in the air over the Pro Bowl caliber defensive tackles Kevin and Pat Williams (no relation) the Lions may be able to take one from the Vikes and win their first game of the season. Another note to this game Daunte Culpepper gets a shot to knock off his old team and get back at his former team for trading him. Adrien Peterson leads the NFL in rushing but it could be another young star in Calvin Johnson stealing the show in this game if the Lions want to win this game. I may be completely off on this one but I feel something crazy happening in Detroit on Sunday, Lions end the streak and win against Minnesota 20-16.

Houston @ Green Bay
The final game in the NFC North this week has the Houston Texans making their first ever trip to the "Frozen Tundra" of what is Lambeau Field. It is now finally the "Frozen Tundra" everyone in the state of Wisconsin waits for. Football played in the way it was made to be played. The Packers have lost back to back games against the NFC South and should have won last week against Carolina but could not make a tackle on a kickoff nor a DeAngelo Williams carry. Giving up 5 rushing touchdowns the Pack's D has for surely been hurting since Nick Barnett's injure and also combing that with Cullen Jenkins injury earlier this season the defense has been anything but disappointing. A-Rod needs to rally the troops and especially Ryan Grant needs to have a big game running the ball to control the clock to keep their own defense off the field and take pressure off of Rodgers. Rodgers' makes his first start for the Pack with snow on the ground and frigid temperatures needs to play not only well but smart in a "Must Win" for the Pack. The Green and Gold will look to take this one 27-19.

Cleveland @ Tennessee
The Titans almost having the South wrapped up needing only a loss by the Colts will do that, still looking for home field advantage throughout host the Browns who are without their top two QB's. Ten days to focus on the Browns is another key for the Titans who not only got rest and recovery from nagging injuries also got all of the film on Ken Dorsey needed to pressure him and confuse him. The Titans should be able to rush their "Smash and Dash" combo tailbacks and set up their playaction passes that they have done all year en route to another victory. Titans win at home 34-10.

Cincinnati @ Indianapolis
Peyton Manning and the Colts found a way to win last week against the Browns without scoring an offensive TD. Manning will likely get back on track and get his share of TD passes to both Harrison and Wayne. The run game will get some work in for both Addia and Rhodes both having big games racking up the rush yards in the second half. The Bengals are getting ready to play on the clock as they are looking to lock up a top 5 pick in next years NFL Draft in April. The Colts running away with this one 38-13.

Atlanta @ New Orleans
The Falcons staying right in the heat of things in the Wild Card and NFC South races with only 4 games to go in the season at 8-4. The Saints at 6-6 need a miracle to make the postseason this year and have not done much on defense to help out its offense. Drew Brees is likely to shatter Dan Marino's record for pass yards in a season but without the "W's" it won't mean anything for the team. Michael Turner looks to have a big game against a less than impressive defense and Matt Ryan should hook up with Pro Bowl probable wide out in Roddy White. The ATL locks in another win on the road and becomes one step closer to getting into the postseason with a 31-22 victory.

Philadelphia @ New York Giants
The Giants continue to roll against everyone and anyone. Even with the Plaxico Burress situation getting more and more interesting each and everyday the Giants do not seem to care about it. They have faced adversity before and probably will again this season. Each time they have reacted in a positive way that usually made their team more prepared and ready to whip their next opponent. The Eagles have not looked like a playoff team and will miss them again this year for the second straight time, but they will put up a fight against the defending Champs. Eli and the running game will be too much and dominate the Eagles. G-Men win even with all the distractions, 30-16.

Kansas City @ Denver
Denver can lock up the West and make it back into the postseason under Coach Shanahan once again. The Chiefs have nothing to play for except that they "Play to win the game, you don't play to just play" as Herm Edwards would put it. Young gun slinger in Tyler Thigpen have played his way to their starter next season but that may be their only bright spot on the season. Denver has not played exceptional ball this year but have squeaked out games here and there and this week will be no different. Rivals for many years they reacquaint themselves with one another this Sunday and the Broncos look to remind the Chiefs who is exactly going to be playing to win game as Denver wins 33-22.

Miami @ Buffalo
Miami travels to play the struggling Bills in the frigid temperatures and weather of Toronto? Yes, this game in going to be played in a Dome in Toronto as a home game for the reeling Bills. They have been 1-5 since starting 5-1 this year and don't look now but Miami may be playing for a playoff spot one year after only winning 1 game. Out of their last 4 games including this one they may end up with 10 or even 11 wins. Only the season finale against the Jets may leave them on the outside looking into the January games. The Bills will have to try again next season and hope for a better finish to next season to Circle the Wagons. Dolphins win in Toronto 27-24.

New York Jets @ San Fransisco
The Jets control their own destiny out East and possibly a first round bye in the AFC. They dropped one last week to the Broncos and will probably take out their frustrations of that game on the 49ers. Thomas Jones looks to have a big game in helping Brett Favre pitch and chuck the pigskin around to his weapons up and down the field. Big game for the J-e-t-s out West and win big. 41-13.

New England @ Seattle
The Pats tied with Miami in the division and one game back of the Jets. They need to win to keep pace or break even with a tie. Cassel and company, mainly Randy Moss, had awful games last week at home against the Steelers. Moss dropped several passes including a touchdown in the 33-10 lose. The struggling Seahawks may be just what the doctor ordered to help their ailing offense playmakers. No problem for the Pats against Seattle, as they cruise to victory 24-6.

St. Louis @ Arizona
Don't look at the standings in the NFC West, but the Cardinals, Yes! the Cardinals can clinch the West title with a win or a loss by the 49ers. It would be their first divisional title in 33 years. Boldin, Fitzgerald, and Breaston will be running wild in the desert against the Rams' secondary and MVP candidate Kurt Warner will get them the ball and put up some points in this game. The Cardinals played poorly on Thanksgiving will rebound and get ready for the push and into the playoffs as they run over the Rams, 34-16.

Dallas @ Pittsburgh
Arguably the game of the week is on in the "Steel City." Pittsburgh seems to have the game of the week each week over the past two months. Games that included: home against the Giants, home against Indianapolis, home against San Diego, at New England and now home to Dallas. They went 2-2 in those games and now look to go above .500 and beat the Cowboys. Tony Romo has been on track since returning to the lineup and T.O. is happy once again. This will be a hard hitting game as 2 of the power houses of the 90s renew their rivalry and do battle in the place where the "Terrible Towels" wave from start to finish. In a close defensive game, Pittsburgh gets it done down the stretch. Steelers prevail 23-20.

Washington @ Baltimore
Two defensive minded teams do battle in Baltimore where each team looks to make a run at bonus football. The Redskins may be without All-Pro Running Back in Clinton Portis and have been struggling as of late. The Ravens can possibly tie the Steelers for the divisional lead with some help with the Cowboys and by winning themselves. Rookie QB Joe Flacco has played outstanding to this point and will try and continue his play. The Ravens can smell blood in the Redskins and look to take this one at home. Baltimore wins at home 23-15.

Tampa Bay @ Carolina
This weeks Monday Night game has us watching the top two teams in the NFC South and arguably the top two teams in the NFC not named the Giants. Both teams sitting at 9-3 tied at the top of the South. Carolina has won ugly on several occasions this season and Tampa has not been married to a QB for the entire season and Gruden is only a few bad series to divorce Garcia and propose to another one of his potential brides on the bench. This will be a hard hitting smash mouth football game in Charlotte. The home team has won ugly and this could be an ugly game. Carolina "winner winner chicken dinner" winning 27-23.