Dallas (6-5-1) has won three straight games and the defense has shown improvement in that span. The offense continues to hum, especially the passing game and if quarterback Dak Prescott can avoid turnovers, the Cowboys will be in good shape. Wide receivers CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens have been outstanding this season and Prescott will look to continue that trend. The Lions (7-5) lost last week against Green Bay and could be without top wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (ankle injury) for the game. The Lions offense will look to mix it up with running backs Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery and quarterback Jared Goff still has Jameson Williams as a main target in the passing game. This game could be a shootout and perhaps the Lions (at home) will get it right this week.
On Sunday night, the Kansas City Chiefs (6-6) take on the visiting Houston Texans (7-5), winners of four in a row and with a defense that is currently playing out of their minds, holding opponents to 16.3 points per game. The Chiefs offense has been so-so this season because the running game has lagged behind Patrick Mahomes and the passing attack. Neither team has been knocking it out of the park on offense in the past month or so meaning this game could be a low scoring affair. If the Chiefs don't get the win in this one, they could be staying home this January as in missing the playoffs. The good news is they almost never lose to the Texans, so they have that going for them heading into this huge game.
The Chicago Bears (9-3) have won five consecutive games and this Sunday travel up the road to Green Bay to face the Packers (8-3-1) in battle for first place in the NFC North division. Chicago leads the NFL in takeaways on defense (25) and would do well to keep it going against the Packers, who put up 31 points on Thanksgiving Day to beat the Detroit Lions. Getting to QB Jordan Love will be the key for the Bears to have a successful day in Cheeseland. The Packers defense is led by Micah Parsons, who has been ramping it up lately and has 12 1/2 sacks. The Bears will win if QB Caleb Williams doesn't make mistakes with the football and the defense does its thing. Green Bay wins if their defense wins the turnover battle. This game will likely go down to the final possession with the Packers sneaking away with the victory.
The Indianapolis Colts and Jacksonville Jaguars are both 8-4 this year and this AFC South game will be played in Florida, where the Colts have struggled in recent years. The Colts need QB Daniel Jones to play within his limits and not turn the football over while the same could be said of Jags quarterback Trevor Lawrence, who tends to try to do too much and that leads to interceptions. Jacksonville has won three in a row (and four of five) while the Colts have dropped three of their last four games, including two close games to Kansas City and Houston. Expect a battle with the game going down to the wire, but the Jaguars get the win at home.
In Baltimore, the Ravens (6-6) face the reeling Pittsburgh Steelers (6-6), who have lost three of the last four games. Pittsburgh head coach Mike Tomlin has been under intense fire this season and a win in this game would do good to quell the naysayers calling for him to be fired. Meanwhile, Ravens coach John Harbaugh has been under fire to a certain degree in 2025 as they have struggled with numerous injuries that nearly derailed their season with a 1-5 start. Five wins in succession helped big time, but then last week they looked terrible in a home loss against Cincinnati. Ravens QB Lamar Jackson needs to get off the schnide and play his style of football if the Ravens want to win this game. Call this one a toss up.
The Monday Night Football game in Los Angeles features a pair of 8-4 teams as the Chargers take on the Philadelphia Eagles, who have dropped two straight games and now have the surging Dallas Cowboys nipping at their heels in the NFC North race. Eagles QB Jalen Hurts will look to get the offense in gear after putting up just 15 points in last week's loss to Chicago and it would do wonders if running back Saquon Barkley could have his second 100-yard rushing game this season in this one. The Chargers have a real gauntlet of games down the stretch and will hope to have QB Justin Herbert (left non-throwing hand injury) ready to go in this game. Both teams have offenses that can be hit-and-miss at times, so whoever has it clicking better on Monday night will win this game.
The remaining schedule for Week Fourteen is featured with the capsule previews and the Heftyinfo picks for the games follows up.
Seattle (9-3) at Atlanta (4-8) - Can the Falcons pull of the upset at home? On any given Sunday . . . but not this time.
Cincinnati (4-8) at Buffalo (8-4) - Take the Bills at home in this game, but the Bengals and quarterback Joe Burrow will make it a battle.
Tennessee (1-11) at Cleveland (3-9) - The stinker game of the week . . . take the Browns at home.
Washington (3-9) at Minnesota (4-8) - Hard to believe both of these teams were in the playoffs last year.
Miami (5-7) at N.Y. Jets (3-9) - Jets rate a slight edge in frigid New York in December against Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa, who almost never wins football games in cold weather.
New Orleans (2-10) at Tampa Bay (7-5) - If the Buccaneers don't get the win at home in this game, they don't deserve to make the playoffs.
Denver (10-2) at Las Vegas (2-10) - The Raiders are terrible, but usually play the Broncos tough, so Broncos QB Bo Nix and company better be ready.
L.A. Rams (9-3) at Arizona (3-9) - The Cardinals are terrible, but usually play the Rams tough, so Rams QB Matthew Stafford and company better be ready.
The Heftyinfo picks for Week Fourteen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (Home teams are listed in bold; Lock of the Week is listed in BOLD CAPS)
Detroit over Dallas
Seattle over Atlanta
Buffalo over Cincinnati
Cleveland over Tennessee
Minnesota over Washington
N.Y. Jets over Miami
Tampa Bay over New Orleans
Jacksonville over Indianapolis
Baltimore over Pittsburgh
Denver over Las Vegas
Green Bay over Chicago
L.A. Rams over Arizona
KANSAS CITY over Houston
Philadelphia over L.A. Chargers
Last Week's Record - 11-5
SEASON RECORD - 126-67-1
Lock of the Week Record - 12-1
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