NFL STRAIGHT PICK-EM WEEK 14

LAST WEEK’S RECORD:(12-3)

SEASON RECORD: (114-81)

THURSDAY NIGHT GAME

LAS VEGAS RAIDERS AT LA RAMS

The eye test says it all in this match-up. Raiders have won three in a row. Rams offense has suffered injuries and are desperate behind center claiming Baker Mayfield off waivers. Mayfield is probably a better option than John Wolford. Josh Jacobs for the Raiders has become a beast at running the football. Rams defense is not that unit like they once were.

OUR PICK: RAIDERS

THE SUNDAY SLATE

NEW YORK JETS AT BUFFALO BILLS

For the Jets, Mike White is a way better option than Zach Wilson. It’s the Jets defensive front that scares me. Can the Jets sweep the season series versus the Bills? Bills have righted the ship since losing to the Jets. Josh Allen has shaken off his elbow injury he suffered in New Jersey against these Jets. The Bills defense played well last week versus the Patriots. Bills will be prepared for the Jets defense and their plan will work at home and settle a score against the up-and-coming young team the Jets are.

OUR PICK: BILLS

CLEVELAND BROWNS AT CINCINNATI BENGALS

The Browns have had the Bengals’ number lately. Deshaun Watson will be showered with boos and faces a much tougher defense than he did last Sunday versus the Texans. The Bengals offense looks unstoppable with Ja’Marr Chase back on the field. The Browns defense looked good against the Texans, but any unit can look that good versus a bad Texans offense. Browns defense will crumble like Watson will with the Bengal pass rush coming straight at him.

OUR PICK: BENGALS

HOUSTON TEXANS AT DALLAS COWBOYS

LOL!!!!

OUR PICK: COWBOYS (LOCK OF THE WEEK)

MINNESOTA VIKINGS AT DETROIT LIONS

Do you remember the vilian in the show Banshee named Rabbit?

At the end, Rabbit’s luck runs out. The Lions will chew the Vikings’ lucky rabbit and spit it out. Lions have been playing solid football as they gave the Jaguars a beat down last week. The Vikings seem to pull the rabbit out of the hat every week as they survive the Jets trying to win the game at the end of regulation on multiple possessions. It was a close game the first time the Lions and Vikings met. Vikings will have to wait another week to clinch the bad NFC North.

OUR PICK: LIONS

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES AT NEW YORK GIANTS

The Giants pulled out a tie last week versus the Commanders. Eagles are the cream of the crop in the NFC as everything is clicking for them. Giants have won close games this season and have not played like they did early on this season. Eagles can light up the score board rather quickly. I just can’t see Daniel Jones matching scores with Jalen Hurts. Saquan Barkley has a neck injury which may not be serious, but the Giants will be stiff in general and will not know what hit them after quarter number one. Giants can’t play from being down multiple scores because they are not built like that.

OUR PICK: EAGLES

BALTIMORE RAVENS AT PITTSBURGH STEELERS

The Steelers have given the Ravens some trouble in the last few contests between this heated rivalry. The Ravens will be without their star quarterback, Lamar Jackson. Tyler Huntley is like Lamar Jackson Jr., so Ravens offense won’t miss a beat. Only problem is the Ravens offense has flat-lined the last few weeks. Meanwhile the Steelers defense has been keeping the team in games. Most importantly, the rookie for the Steelers. Kenny Pickett has played better and has not turned over the ball. The Ravens will be in for a rude awakening in Pittsburgh as their playoff hopes will start slipping away.

OUR PICK: STEELERS

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS AT TENNESSEE TITANS

The Jaguars can’t win on the road. The Titans need to get back in the win column. The Jaguars are the perfect menu item in Nashville to shake off the Philadelphia beat down. I like Derrick Henry having one of his bigger games in this contest.

OUR PICK: TITANS

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS AT DENVER BRONCOS

I told myself I will not pick the Broncos ever again this year. Russell Wilson is playing like Ryan Leaf or like a guy who made a deal with the devil. Cough cough… Pete Carol. The Chiefs lose another one to the Bengals. Look for the Chiefs to have a big game while rebounding from that Bengal loss. Broncos’ defense has been solid all year. Chiefs will win by multiple scores, but it will not be a 40-point arse kicking.

OUR PICK: CHIEFS

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS AT SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS

Brock Purdy versus Tom Brady sounds like a gladiator movie. Maybe a game of gin rummy challenge. I’m not giving this game to Brady and the Buccaneers because Purdy is a rookie quarterback. What has Brady done so well this year? Brady still has to face the 49ers defense. The 49ers have a great running attack. The 49ers in history have done very well with quarterback changes when the team is this good late in the season. I think Purdy will do well and most importantly, make that mistake to lose the game.

OUR PICK: 49ERS

CAROLINA PANTHERS AT SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

This looks like a trap game for the Seahawks. The Panthers looked great last time we saw them with the return of Sam Darnold. Panthers are well rested to fly across the country to play in Seattle. The Seahawks were able to get back on track last week versus the Rams. I like this being a hard-fought game. Right now, I would go with Geno Smith putting together back-to-back good games which he has done all season, rather than Darnold in his second start of the year. Seattle keeps pushing for a playoff spot.

OUR PICK SEAHAWKS

THE SUNDAY NIGHT GAME

MIAMI DOLPHINS AT LA CHARGERS

Will the Dolphins find themselves losing two in a row in California? The Chargers are facing a must-win every game the rest of the way if they want to even sniff the playoffs. The Chargers defense is the biggest weakness on the field in this one. The Dolphins could kill the Chargers just by using their two backs and running it down their throats. I think Justin Herbert is the better quarterback in this match up versus Tua Tagovailoa. Tua struggled last week, and I feel the Dolphins are starting to play on a slippery slope. Herbert and the Chargers offense have a monster game. Tua may have an ankle injury from the 49er game. He may look like a trapped animal with Khalil Mack flashing his brights at him as Tua is run over by a truck on Sunday night.

Going with the upset.

OUR PICK: CHARGERS

THE MONDAY NIGHT GAME

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS AT ARIZONA CARDINALS

Patriots playoff hopes grew dim with the Bills man handling them at home last Thursday. The Cardinals season has been stuck in the dim part of the light switch all year round. Does Kyler Murray show up and have a big game behind center this week for the Cardinals who have lost two in a row? Do you trust Head Coach Bill Belichick’s plot that helps the Patriots rebound and stay afloat for a late season playoff push? I think the Cardinals players are focused on the off-season. The Patriots still have something to prove. You know Belichick is like a cockroach because after the first time you step on him, he grows stronger.

OUR PICK: PATRIOTS