NFL Picks: Week 14

Last week: 10-6
Season record: 114-79 (including last night)

Wow, just four more weeks of the regular season. This is when it gets exciting, though I keep thinking about the fact that we are likely looking at a lockout in 2011. So we all need to enjoy NFL football while we can.

New England at Chicago--Something's gotta give here. The Patriots are on fire, playing like the 2007 version of themselves. Meanwhile, the Bears' D has been playing inspired and the team keeps finding ways to win. Patriots 23, Bears 22

Cleveland at Buffalo--I'm really, really afraid to look at the weather forecast for this one. It seems like every time these two teams play each other, it's in December and you can't see the field. Bills 16, Browns 10

Cincinnati at Pittsburgh--The weather can't be much better here. To say the Bengals are struggling is like saying Cincinnati chili goes right through you. Steelers 35, Bengals 10

Oakland at Jacksonville--Amazingly, this game has a ton of playoff implications for BOTH teams. Jaguars 27, Raiders 24

Tampa Bay at Washington--The Redskins are thinking about golf, beaches, and pizzas. The Bucs are hoping they don't have to think about those things just yet. Bucs 17, Redskins 13

Green Bay at Detroit--It's hard to believe the Packers would miss the playoffs if the season ended today. But that's why the season is not 12 games. Packers 30, Lions 17

NY Giants at Minnesota--The Giants are 0-4 against Minnesota since 2005. This time, they aren't messing around. Giants 31, Vikings 23

Atlanta at Carolina--As hard as the Panthers try, they can't string four quarters together, and this week that's going to be very evident. Falcons 27, Panthers 6

St. Louis at New Orleans--This is a chance for the Rams to show they are playoff worthy. Incredibly, it's also a possible wild card round preview. Saints 24, Rams 16

Seattle at San Francisco--For the Niners, see Redskins, Washington above; meanwhile, Seattle is battling St. Louis for the NFC West title and a not-really-deserved 4-seed. Seahawks 20, Niners 10

Denver at Arizona--I didn't even look to see who was coaching the Broncos now, but their opponent this week is the baseball equivalent of soft-toss. Broncos 23, Cardinals 17

Miami at NY Jets--The Dolphins are practicing at the Giants' facility today and got to NY early so they could see "Lombardi." Too bad they still can't match the Jets' talent on the field. Jets 21, Dolphins 14

Kansas City at San Diego--If the Chiefs want to show us they've grown up, they will end the Chargers' season on Sunday. I don't think they are grown up enough yet. Chargers 27, Chiefs 20

Philadelphia at Dallas--The difference between the Cowboys in October and the Cowboys now is that they have gone from looking like the Bengals to looking like the Patriots. However, the Eagles just need this game more. Eagles 31, Cowboys 27

Baltimore at Houston--Maybe not billing this as the game of the year will work out better this week for Monday Night Football. Texans 20, Ravens 19