NFL - Week Fourteen Preview

The Dallas Cowboys (7-5) have won four consecutive games and are leading the NFC East division by one game over the Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Redskins, who are both at 6-6 entering Week Fourteen.
The Cowboys can put a real lock hold on the division with a win at home against Philadelphia this Sunday afternoon. They have already beaten the Eagles once this season and split their two games with the Redskins. The Eagles beat Washington last Monday night and for now hold the tie breaker between them for second place.
Dallas demonstrated real resolve after their 3-5 start this season and their defense dominated the powerful offense of the New Orleans Saints (10-2) in Week Thirteen.
If they can again beat Philadelphia and the Redskins lose to the New York Giants, they would be two games clear of both foes with just three games remaining in the regular season.
Another big matchup this weekend includes the Chicago Bears (8-4) hosting the Los Angeles Rams (11-1), who boast the best record in the NFL at this point, in the Sunday Night Football game.
The Rams have already clinched the NFC West title and a playoff berth while the Bears were surprised by the lowly New York Giants (4-8) last week in a road loss that went to overtime. The Bears currently lead the NFC North division over Minnesota (6-5-1) while Green Bay (4-7-1) and Detroit (4-8) are pretty much toast with just four games remaining in the regular season.
The Minnesota Vikings will be on the road in Seattle on Monday night to face the surging Seahawks (7-5), who have won three straight games to push themselves to the five-seed (wild card) in the NFC Playoff race. The Vikings are currently the sixth seeded team in the NFC Playoff picture.
One other big game involving playoff contenders this weekend is the Baltimore Ravens (7-5) facing the Kansas City Chiefs (10-2) in Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City on Sunday afternoon. This game will determine quite a bit in the AFC Playoff picture once things shake out this weekend.
The Ravens have won three consecutive games and their defense has been the key element along with rookie quarterback Lamar Jackson stepping in for the injured Joe Flacco in those victories. Meanwhile, Kansas City won a shootout with the Oakland Raiders last week and still boast the highest scoring offense in the NFL. However, their defense has been getting lit up in recent weeks and if they are to hold off the Los Angeles Chargers (9-3) in the AFC West race, they must improve in that area.
The other games in the NFL this week feature key games for playoff contenders as well along with some games involving teams who are just playing out the string. For a look at all the action in Week Fourteen, the following offers the capsule style previews along with the Heftyinfo predictions for this week.


NY Jets (3-9) at Buffalo (4-8) - The host team from upstate New York should win this one.

Carolina (6-6) at Cleveland (4-7-1) - The Browns can further ruin the playoff hopes of the Panthers in this one. Carolina has lost four in a row.  Ouch!

Atlanta (4-8) at Green Bay (4-7-1) - Both of these teams were pre-season hopefuls to perhaps meet up in the NFC Championship Game. Not so much any more.

Indianapolis (6-6) at Houston (9-3) - The Texans are gunning for their tenth straight win and they will likely get it in this game.

Baltimore (7-5) at Kansas City (10-2) - Can the surging Ravens hang with the high flying Chiefs?  It's possible.

New England (9-3) at Miami (6-6) - The Patriots usually struggle in south Florida for some reason and the Dolphins are hoping so again to keep their fading playoff hopes alive. The Patriots can clinch their tenth consecutive AFC East title with a victory.

New Orleans (10-2) at Tampa Bay (5-7) - The Bucs beat the Saints in the season opener, so look for another high scoring game between these two teams, but this time it's the Saints in the win column.

NY Giants (4-8) at Washington (6-6) - The Giants have won three of their last four games while the Redskins are banged up and have dropped three straight games.

Cincinnati (5-7) at LA Chargers (9-3) - The Chargers know they cannot look past Cincy to their huge game next Thursday night in Kansas City . . .  Chargers roll !

Denver (6-6) at San Francisco (2-10) - The Broncos have been riding high and are back in the AFC Playoff picture with three straight wins.

Detroit (4-8) at Arizona (3-9) - Yawn

Pittsburgh (7-4-1) at Oakland (2-10) - These two old rivals are on opposite ends of the spectrum, but don't expect the Raiders to just lay down in this one.

Philadelphia (6-6) at Dallas (7-5) - It's now or never for the defending Super Bowl champion Eagles this week. Cowboys are on a big time roll going into this game.

LA Rams (11-1) at Chicago (8-4) - Can the Bears defense slow down the Rams high powered offensive attack?

Minnesota (6-5-1) at Seattle (7-5) - Seahawks are soaring of late while the Vikings are just barely hanging on to the final playoff spot in the NFC race. Should be a good MNF game.

The Heftyinfo picks for Week Fourteen . . . . . .    (Home teams are listed in bold; Lock of the Week is listed in BOLD CAPS)

Tennessee over Jacksonville
Buffalo over NY Jets
Carolina over Cleveland 
Green Bay over Atlanta
Houston over Indianapolis
Kansas City over Baltimore
New England over Miami 
New Orleans over Tampa Bay 
NY Giants over Washington 
LA CHARGERS over Cincinnati
Denver over San Francisco
Detroit over Arizona
Pittsburgh over Oakland 
Dallas over Philadelphia
LA Rams over Chicago 
Seattle over Minnesota


Last Week's Record -  9-7

SEASON RECORD -  126-64-2

Lock of the Week Record -  11-2