Hi, hello & welcome to Week 14 of the National Football League! In case you’re wondering why things have felt a little different over the past few days, we actually had a good week with the picks. That’s probably got something to do with it, along with the holiday season being in full swing. I try not to toot my own horn too much on these things, but this is the first time this season I’ve actually had reason to. So toot toot.

We make no promises for positive Week 14 results, as we know how things tend to go in the NFL. Up & down like a dang elevator. Let’s take a look at where the elevator is taking us this week. Lines provided by Vegas Insider.

Thursday, December 9

Pittsburgh at Minnesota (-3)

Vikings and Steelers have one thing in common: we’re the only teams to tie and lose to [what was] the winless Lions.

Thursday will be interesting 😂

— Melissa (@mdrizzy22) December 8, 2021

I blame the media. We all know that the Pittsburgh Steelers are at their best when people start doubting them. Certain teams are just like that, like the Alabama Crimson Tide. The one time in the past decade people started doubting them, they beat the hell out of Georgia and are back in the catbird seat in the College Football Playoff. Pittsburgh is no different. Once people start talking about how Ben Roethlisberger is washed & the Steelers are falling apart, that’s when they make their move. Damn you all.

Meanwhile, the Vikings will probably be missing most of their offensive weapons. As I said last week, asking Kirk Cousins to do more with less is usually asking for trouble. The Steelers got this.

Sunday, December 12

Las Vegas at Kansas City (-9.5)

#Chiefs are 14-3 against the Raiders under Andy Reid

— Aaron Ladd (@aaronladd0) December 7, 2021

Talk about two teams headed in opposite directions. The Chiefs are reminding people that they are what we thought they were. So are the Raiders, actually. This is the time of year where they wilt and teams like the Chiefs thrive.

New Orleans (-5.5) at NY Jets

The Saints/Jets game on Dec 12th will feature two starting BYU QBs for the first time since 11/10/1997, when Steve Young and SF beat Ty Detmer and Philly 24-12.

— CougarStats (@CougarStats) December 6, 2021

There was a time where it seemed like the Saints had a chance to do something. There was also a time where people were convinced that Taysom Hill could be a competent NFL quarterback. If there’s a chance for Hill to prove Sean Payton right, it’s this game against the Jets after a 10 game break. Fantasy experts are pleading with you to pick him up even if his performance against Dallas didn’t inspire any confidence. I’m gonna need to see more before I join the chorus.

That all being said…I’m still picking the Saints over the Jets. Maybe this is one of those weeks where the Jets randomly show up, but I can’t trust them. Plus, Alvin Kamara might actually play.

Jacksonville at Tennessee (-9.5)

It has now been 810 days since the Jaguars have beaten the Tennessee #Titans https://t.co/q4UMjqdE1H

— Chris Veli (@KirkaVeli) December 7, 2021

I was looking back at my picks last week and was horrified to see that I actually picked the Jaguars to cover. Don’t know what happened there. After a brief stretch of somewhat competent football, the Jags have gone back to their usual selves in the last three weeks. The Titans are coming off a bye after being humiliated in New England, so you know they’ll be up for this one.

Baltimore at Cleveland (-2)

The AFC North 🔄:

➡️ The Browns have beaten the Bengals 3 straight times

➡️ The Ravens have beaten the Browns 4 straight times

➡️ The Steelers have beaten the Ravens 3 straight times

➡️ The Bengals have beaten the Steelers 3 straight times pic.twitter.com/XmmBJI97vi

— Sportskeeda Pro Football (@SKProFootball) December 8, 2021

The Ravens are getting hosed on this one. Baltimore & Cleveland just played back in Week 12. Week 13 saw the Ravens play the Steelers while the Browns finally got their bye week and a chance to rest some people. One of the main things going against the Browns all season has been injuries, and some time to relax might be just what they needed. Expect a low scoring AFC North-style game in Cleveland with the Browns breaking the Ravens’ streak against them.

Atlanta at Carolina (-2.5)

The Falcons passing attack hasn't cleared 300 yards in a month and is facing a top-flight defense. The Panthers haven't cleared 200 passing yards in a game since Week 4.

I hope you like rushing!

— The Falcoholic (@TheFalcoholic) December 7, 2021

The Panthers are coming off of a bye while the Falcons might as well be coming off of a bye after getting shellacked by the Buccaneers. I kinda still want this Cam Newton comeback to be a thing since it makes for interesting content, so I’m thinking the Panthers take care of business here and hang on to playoff hopes.

Dallas (-4) at Washington

We want Dallas? Washington eyes first three-game winning streak against Cowboys since 1988. https://t.co/nGr8NubWSd

— The Insider (@Insider) December 7, 2021

All of a sudden, the Football Team has won four straight games after losing four straight games. That the thing about Washington. We’d like to be able to ignore them since they’re a dysfunctional franchise with terrible ownership that continually embarrasses themselves with some bit of stupidity. Yet, they end up contending for a playoff berth more often than not, and even make it in sometimes.

Of course, the Cowboys are also know for their embarrassing ways, so it makes sense that the two teams are bitter rivals. Take the Cowboys since the Football Team can only beat them when Dak Prescott isn’t playing. He’s only thrown one interception in eight games against Washington & only lost once.

Seattle (-7.5) at Houston

Looks like Davis Mills will get another chance to start.

He is “expected” to start on Sunday against the #Seahawks and possibly for the rest of the season, per Aaron Wilson.

👀

— EverythingTexans (@EvTexans) December 8, 2021

Are the Seahawks back? It won’t really matter here. The Texans’ season is officially over and now they’re playing for draft position. Their biggest worry for the next few months will be figuring out if they can finally do something about this whole Deshaun Watson thing.

Detroit at Denver (-7.5)

Javonte Williams was the overall fantasy football RB1 in his first week as the Broncos unquestioned lead back. Finishes the season with the Lions (30th in PPR points/game vs. RBs), Bengals (24th), Raiders (29th) and Chargers (27th). Potential to be playoff MVP if Gordon stays out

— Ian Hartitz (@Ihartitz) December 7, 2021

The Lions finally got over the hump last week! Can this lead to further success? Once teams taste victory once, they’re going to want some more of it. Unfortunately, Denver’s not the best place to find more victory. The Broncos & countless fantasy teams will ride Javonte Williams to victory this week.

NY Giants at LA Chargers (-10.5)

It's Week 13, so we obviously should have all seen this coming from the Chargers

Chargers in odd week games this season: 5-0 with an average 33.0 points per game.

Chargers in even week games this season: 1-5 with an average of 18 points per game. pic.twitter.com/kd86hIGBSX

— John Breech (@johnbreech) December 5, 2021

The Chargers’ odd/even trend is going to get a stiff test this week from a Giants team that’s running Jake Fromm out there fresh off the Bills’ practice squad. There was a time when Fromm was one of the top prospects in college. He wound up being a fifth round pick by the Bills, who cut him and placed him on their practice squad during the 2021 off-season. Now he’s a Giant, and now he’s getting a chance to show people what he’s made of.

If the Chargers team I saw last week shows up this week, it won’t be much.

Buffalo at Tampa Bay (-3)

Tom Brady [35 total] has more touchdowns this season than the Packers, Ravens, Browns, Seahawks, Dolphins, Raiders, WFT, Broncos, Jets, Steelers, Falcons, Panthers, Bears, Lions, Jaguars, Giants and Texans teams have scored on the year. https://t.co/qSyPyOVcAc

— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) December 6, 2021

So how worried is the Bills Mafia right now on a scale from 1-10? Probably at least fifteen. There was a time where we thought they could run away with the AFC East, but now that’s the Patriots’ deal. Again. They’ve beat one team over .500 all season, and that was the Chiefs back when we were wondering what the heck was wrong with the Chiefs. They’ve gone W-L-W-L the last four weeks, and now they’re going against Tom Freaking Brady.

I got bad news for Bills fans, they’ll still be worrying after this week. Brady probably won’t throw four touchdown passes again, but the Buccaneers will still put up some points on these boys. Look for Leonard Fournette to have himself another week.

San Francisco at Cincinnati (-1)

49ers-Bengals: Two-time Super Bowl history. Both very good, close games pic.twitter.com/sT4pmkpdiu

— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) December 8, 2021

It sure seemed like the 49ers had turned things around when they blew out the Rams back in Week 10. Their schedule opened up afterward, and you could easily see them on a four-game winning streak heading into Cincinnati. The only problem was that the Seahawks actually showed up last week and put the streak to a stop at three. Which is bad news for the Bengals, since their best hope for a win here was for San Francisco to come in overconfident.

The last few weeks have been a roller coaster ride for the Bengals. They’ve blown out the Raiders & Steelers. They’ve gotten blown out by the Browns & Chargers. The schedule won’t be getting any easier for this team, as they follow this up with a trip to Denver, then two home games against legit AFC contenders. They need this one, so obviously I’m picking the 49ers.

Chicago at Green Bay (-12.5)

In honor of Bears week, here’s a fun fact:

If you went back and handed the Bears a 7-0 lead before every Packers-Bears matchup in the combined Brett Favre-Aaron Rodgers Era (60 games, dating back to 1992) the Packers still would have outscored the Bears head-to-head in the Era. pic.twitter.com/CuszPZdbRH

— PackersHistory.com (@PackersHistory1) December 7, 2021

A couple of weeks ago, we talked about how the one of the few things everybody can agree on is collective disgust over the Lions being featured on television every Thanksgiving. Something else we can agree on? A collective disgust over the NFL’s insistence on putting the Bears in multiple prime time games every year. Who asked for this? Like, who took a look at this schedule of games and thought “Yeah, Bears vs. Packers! That’s what people want to see on Sunday night!”?

Should be a barn-burner, meaning people would rather burn their barns than watch it. Packers win, as they usually do against the Bears.

Monday, December 13

LA Rams at Arizona (-2.5)

Cardinals were projected to finish last in the NFC West and can effectively clinch it in Week 14 with a win over the Rams.

— Kyle Odegard (@Kyle_Odegard) December 7, 2021

Kyler Murray & DeAndre Hopkins back and the Cardinals are looking like the Cardinals again. Which is bad news for a Rams team that only gets it done against the likes of the Jaguars, Texans, Lions & Giants. Any team better than that lot presents a major problem for LA. Arizona beat the Rams by seventeen earlier this season…it won’t be that lopsided again, but I do see the Cardinals creating more space between themselves and their NFC West peers.

Week 13 Results: 10-4

Overall Results: 86-105-3