Overview
What is that in the air? Is Christmas coming soon? No, that’s not it, it’s the playoffs getting closer and closer with week 14 of the NFL season already upon us.
For teams all around the league, but especially for those with strong playoff implications the time to put up or shut up is officially here, so let’s break down some of the most interesting matchups of the week.
Rams vs Raiders on TNF, Sure, Why Not?
After being treated to yet another week of top-notch action all around the league, NFL odds enthusiasts should get ready for what’s coming this week, starting with a Thursday Night Football showdown in SoFi Stadium between the Rams and Raiders.
Remember when we all thought LA and Las Vegas would be two of the better teams to keep an eye on this season? Those were the days huh? But don’t sleep on the Raiders just yet.
Even with scoring a win, that would still not be enough for Las Vegas to reach .500 in the season, but with how tight the race for second place in the AFC West is looking, losing is not an option for the Raiders.
The Rams on the other hand just picked up Baker Mayfield from waivers. Talk about how bad desperation can make a team act.
Keep an Eye on the AFC North
The always-tough AFC North will be seeing all four of its teams battle it out in intradivisional games where both the Ravens and Bengals will be gunning to take over the top spot in the division.
Over in Pittsburgh, Lamar Jackson and the Ravens will be looking to score a strong win against a Steelers team that’s starting to synch with the idea of a future led by Kenny Pickett as the leader of their offense.
Meanwhile in Cincinnati, NFL betting lines fans will be treated to a top-tier QB matchup between Joe Burrow and Deshaun Watson who’ll be starting in his second game after being sidelined with an 11-game suspension.
While football fans couldn’t get the chance to see these two former college football legends battle it out with Clemson and LSU, the stage is set for what promises to be an offensive shootout in Paul Brown Stadium.
The Bills Want Revenge Over the Jets
It was back in week 9 when the Jets shocked NFL lines experts all around by beating the heavily favored Bills by 20-17 in MetLife.
Now, in week 14, Josh Allen and his team are ready to get some revenge and continue cementing their status as the best team in the AFC East division.
The Bills are looking to continue building on their momentum, the same that has lifted them to scoring three consecutive wins.
As Buffalo gears up to face the rest of the season without their best player on defense, Von Miller, it will be up to Allen, Stefon Diggs, and the rest of the offense to stand up and take back what’s theirs against a difficult Jets team who will not go down without a fight.
Game of the Week Alert 1: Giants vs Eagles
It’s the talk of the town and we are firm believers in it too. The NFC East is the best division in the league this season. With all teams over .500, even the idea of seeing all four teams in the NFC playoffs does not sound as farfetched as one would think.
On Sunday, Jalen Hurts and the Eagles will be taking their almost perfect record on the road as they pay a visit to the 7-4-1 Giants in a game that could end up leaving Philly with the divisional title right in the bag.
After taking down Tennessee last week in AJ Brown’s revenge game against the Titans, the Eagles look ready to take over NY and cement their status as the top favorited team to win it all in the NFC according to the leading Vegas NFL odds makers.
But after tying against the Commanders last week, will the Giants be able to bounce back and hand the Eagles their second loss of the season?
Mr. Irrelevant vs. The Goat in Tampa Bay
Being Mr. Irrelevant is not a title any player wishes to be known for in the NFL. That moniker is usually given to the last player selected in each year’s draft, with said recognition going to San Francisco’s new starting QB Brock Purdy.
In any other scenario, Jimmy Garoppolo’s injury last Sunday, where he broke his foot against the Dolphins would’ve been an all-out tragedy for NFL lines fans wagering on San Francisco, but once Purdy took over, the Niners looked like they hadn’t skipped a single beat.
Now, as the Niners’ new starting QB gears up for his first career start in the pros, what better way than to do it against the greatest to ever play the game, Mr. Tom Brady?
With both teams leading their divisions, it’s a given that this will be an all-out brawl where leaving with an ‘L’ is not a scenario neither squad wish to go through.
Game of the Week Alert 2: Chargers vs Dolphins
If you were to check out the latest NFL lines for this season’s MVP award, finding Justin Herbert might be a bit of a stretch, but you know who’s definitely there, Miami’s Tua Tagovailoa.
With the Dolphins coming back to prime-time TV once again this season, Tagovailoa and the ‘Fins will be heading west to throw down against Herbert and the Chargers.
As the season continues, the story for LA continues to be the same. What could’ve been of this team if it hadn’t continued to fall victim to injuries once again? Herbert is a stud at QB, there’s no denying that, and LA’s defense and secondary have the chops to be a top unit in the league, even as the season continues to wind down.
With the Dolphins entering this matchup as favorites in all of the top NFL odds outlets, can the Chargers volt up and leave SoFi with the upset?
Monday Night Football
Closing out the week, two teams whose playoff hopes continue to slip faster and faster away as time progresses will link up in Arizona as the Cardinals play host to the Patriots.
The Cardinals, who are coming off their bye week want to try and salvage whatever is left of their season by putting on a strong performance against one of the most effective defenses in the AFC.
As Kyler Murray, DeAndre Hopkins, and company get ready to throw down in front of their home fans, what tricks will Bill Belichick have in store for the Cards? We’ll just have to wait until Monday to find out.
