Which 5-7 team will enter the NFL playoff chase in week 14?
That’s a guiding question when looking at four 5-7 teams with this opportunity. The Raiders, Lions, Browns and Steelers are all operating on the fringes of this playoff discussion.
Las Vegas is in the spotlight for Thursday Night Football vs. the Rams. Derek Carr, who has multiple TD passes in five straight games, could get the Raiders back in the game.
The other three teams have important division games. The Lions host the Vikings, and Detroit is favored. The Lions have been favored in three of their last four games. This is a crucial game for second-year coach Dan Campbell.
Cleveland had Cincinnati’s number under coach Kevin Stefanski, and the Steelers are favored to beat division rivals Baltimore – who may be without Lamar Jackson.
Which of these 5-7 teams will come through? That’s a fun question starting in week 14. A look at our track record this season:
Recording: 120-72-2
Here are our straight picks for week 14 (rows courtesy of BetMGM):
NFL POWER RANKINGS: Bills, Cowboys skip Chiefs, Bengals close
NFL picks, predictions for week 14
- Las Vegas Raiders (-6) at Los Angeles Rams
Thursday 8:15 p.m. Prime Video
It was a season to forget for the Rams, who lost six straight games. Injuries to Matthew Stafford and Cooper Kupp played a role. The Raiders are on a three-game winning streak and can’t afford to slip up here if they want a last-minute playoff push. The Raiders sweep Los Angeles teams for consecutive weeks.
Choose: Raiders 26, Rams 18
- New York Jets at Buffalo Bills (-9.5)
Sunday 1 p.m., CBS
Buffalo have not played a home game since the 33-30 loss to the Vikings on Nov. 13 and they will look to avenge the 20-17 loss to the Jets in the teams’ first meeting. Mike White has played back-to-back 300-yard games for New York, but it will be difficult to match Josh Allen in this game. The Bills maintain their lead for home field advantage in the AFC, which is important when you see who’s left on the game.
Choose: Bills 30, Jets 23
- Cleveland Browns at Cincinnati Bengals (-6)
Sunday 1 p.m., CBS
The Bengals have won four straight games since the Halloween disaster against the Browns. Joe Burrow is 0-4 as a starter against Cleveland, and the Browns are clinging to their playoff hopes with Deshaun Watson. Cincinnati is keeping it headed in the right direction, but Cleveland is keeping it close.
Choose: Bengal 28, Brown 25
- Houston Texans at Dallas Cowboys (-17)
Sunday 1 p.m., FOX
Since losing to the Packers in Week 10, the Cowboys are averaging 40.7 points per game and 180 rushing yards per game. Houston ranks last in the NFL for rush defense with 169.1 yards per game. Tony Pollard and Ezekiel Elliott keep Dallas going. Do you take the points here? That’s the real question.
Choose: Cowboys 38, Texans 23
- Minnesota Vikings at Detroit Lions (-1)
Sunday 1 p.m., FOX
The lions are preferred; a nod to the improvement under Dan Campbell as a sophomore. The last three games between the teams have been decided by a total of eight points, and Detroit won at Ford Field last season. Still, the underdog has value here. The Vikings are 9-0 in games decided by eight points or fewer. The Lions are 2-5 in the same situation.
Choose: Vikings 30, lions 27
- Philadelphia Eagles (-7) at the New York Giants
Sunday 1 p.m., FOX
This tie against Washington could hurt the Giants. This is the first of two meetings with the Eagles over the next two weeks. Philadelphia rushed for 363 yards in Week 12 and passed for 386 yards in Week 13. That’s why Jalen Hurts is right on the MVP talk. Philadelphia is 1-4 ATS down the road, so don’t be surprised if New York makes it to the finish.
Choose: Eagle 30, giant 25
- Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers (-3)
Sunday 1 p.m., CBS
Will Lamar Jackson play? It’s hard to make a pick until that’s known, and for now, let’s assume Tyler Huntley is going against the Steelers. Pittsburgh has won back-to-back and is playing with more confidence in rookie Kenny Pickett. However, Baltimore is finding a way to win ugly at Heinz Field to break a four-game losing streak against rivals AFC North.
Choose: Raven’s 20, Steeler’s 19
- Jacksonville Jaguars at Tennessee Titans (-3.5)
Sunday 1 p.m., CBS
The Titans have faltered in two games, but the Jaguars offer a good recovery game opportunity, especially in the running game. Derrick Henry, who has averaged just 34 rushing yards over the past two weeks, is breaking out of the bottom. So do the titans.
Choose: Titans 28, Jaguars 24
- Kansas City Chiefs (-9) at Denver Broncos
Sunday 4:05 p.m. CBS
This should be a huge preseason AFC West showdown. Instead, this is a setback for the Chiefs — who need it to keep chasing home advantage. Patrick Mahomes II improves as a starter to 10-0 against the Broncos, who have averaged just 11.2 points since bye week through four losses. Bad gets worse.
Choose: Chiefs 34, Broncos 14
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers at San Francisco 49ers (-3.5)
Sunday 4:25 p.m., FOX
This is a tough game given the 49ers quarterback situation that the former “Mr. Irrelevant” Brock Purdy seems to be. Imagine standing alongside Tom Brady on your first start. Purdy played well last week and the Bucs have a short week to prepare. The Buccaneers have also lost their last three away games. This time, however, Brady delivers.
Choose: Buccaneer 24, 49er 20
- Carolina Panthers at Seattle Seahawks (-3)
Sunday 4:25 p.m., FOX
The Panthers had a bye week during which Baker Mayfield was released; another sign of the times at the quarterback position. Carolina only had 250+ passing yards once this season. Who knew Geno Smith, who has four straight games with at least 275 passing yards, would keep Seattle in the playoff talk? Seattle remains in the NFC playoff chase.
Choose: Seahawks 28, Panthers 20
- Miami Dolphins (-3) at the Los Angeles Chargers
Sunday, 8:20 p.m., NBC
This line has dropped to -1 in some places. Is it another Tua Tagovailoa injury? The Dolphins quarterback downplayed the ankle injury he sustained against the 49ers. The Chargers are 2-3 in their last five games — all one-score games — and 2-3 S/U at home this season. Los Angeles will drop below .500 here in a game where the Dolphins pull away in the fourth quarter.
Choose: Dolphins 31, Chargers 26
- New England Patriots (-1) at Arizona Cardinals
Monday, 8:15 p.m. ESPN
The Cardinals lost four out of five games going into bye week, and this is literally their last chance if they still want any hope of making the playoffs. The Patriots are 3-2 S/U on the road, and their low-risk offense hasn’t turned over in three games. However, Mac Jones is right about the running game. The Patriots have averaged just 68 rushing yards over the past three weeks. That almost bites her in the street.
Choose: Patriots 23, Cardinals 19