Picking NFL Week 14

-How I did last week: 7-8

My first losing week, and utterly deserved. My crystal ball was particularly cracked with regards to the Sunday and Monday night games where the Vikings and the Ravens got completely outplayed by the Cards and Packers respectively.

-Record on the season: 42-31

Really in desperate need of a couple big weeks.

-Saints at Falcons: Looks like Matt Ryan is going to be missing another one, and after watching the Chris Redman-led Falcons get trounced in Philly, I can't pick against the Saints in this one. Even with some of the miracle plays they needed to beat the Redskins last week. Saints.

-Broncos at Colts: The Colts would set an NFL record for most consecutive wins (22) with a victory against the Broncos. Denver has been good the last two weeks, but there were no signs of Indy taking their foot off the gas against the Titans. Don't let him fool you, Peyton will have his eye on the history books Sunday. Colts.

-Seahawks at Texans: Both teams have disappointed this year, particularly the Texans who've lost their last five. Seattle has actually won its last two, against divisional opponents, but I think Houston will bounce back in this one...a couple weeks too late. Texans.

-Bills at Chiefs: Last time these teams locked horns, the Bills put up 54 on the hapless Chiefs who turned the ball over 5 times. Moreover the Chiefs win at Arrowhead against the Steelers has turned out to be far less of a momentum shifter than a lot of people (including this writer...of course) thought, as they got killed in their next two games, not to mention the fact that the Steelers have been terrible themselves. Bills.

-Dolphins at Jaguars: Hands down the Jaguars have been the quietest 7-5 team in the league. With the Colts having already clinched the AFC South, their only route to the playoffs is through the wild card race. Beat Miami, and they will put themselves in a great position, two games ahead of one of their closest rivals in that race with three weeks left. However, the Dolphins, at 6-6, have had a much tougher schedule to this point, and beat New England last Sunday. I also think Chad Henne is the real deal for them at quarterback. Expect a hard fought game. Dolphins.

-Panthers at Patriots: The problems for New England have been on the road (they are still winless), not a Foxboro. Questions still surround Tom Brady's fitness for the game, but I think he'll play, simply because the Pats can't allow their poor form to continue with Miami only one game back in the AFC East. Patriots.

-Bengals at Vikings: Boy, did we see a different Vikings team Sunday night...They couldn't run or throw the ball, and they couldn't slow down Kurt Warner and the Cardinals offense. Meanwhile the Bengals, despite dragging their feet through wins against the Lions and Browns and slipping up to the Raiders, have beaten all the really good teams they've faced this season (that fluke against Denver notwithstanding). I'll let injuries rule the day in this one. With Bengals running back Cedric Benson in, and linebacker E.J. Henderson, the leader of the Vikings D, out: Bengals.

-Lions at Ravens: Don't expect a shootout here, folks, with both offenses equally toothless. Rookie Lions QB Matthew Stafford will miss this one, meaning veteran Daunte Culpepper will have to face Ray Lewis et al. On the other side, Ravens QB Joe Flacco continues to suffer from the lack of receiving options he has. Derrick Mason seems to be the only receiver he really likes to throw to, but while Mason is a solid possession receiver, he isn't enough of a threat to base an entire NFL-level passing game on. Thankfully for Baltimore, the Lions have the 2^nd worst defense in the league, and won't be able to exploit the lack of offensive weapons the Ravens have. Ravens.

-Packers at Bears: It's hard not be impressed with Green Bay after their fourth win in a row. The offensive line seems to have pulled it together, and is giving quarterback Aaron Rodgers the time he needs. The team is also stacked with a ton of talented young defensive players from linebackers A.J. Hawk, rookies Clay Matthews and Brad Jones, to cornerback Tramon Williams and defensive tackle B.J. Raji. Even in the absence of two of their best defensive players, Aaron Kampman and Al Harris, you get the feeling that, in the third year since Favre's departure, this “post-number 4” Green Bay team is beginning to shape up. Packers.

-Rams at Titans: Both Vince Young and Chris Johnson are doubts for the game, and yet I still can't pick the Rams. That should tell you a little bit about how far the Rams have to go, starting with drafting a quarterback of the future in April's draft, if only so we don't have to keep watching Kyle Boller struggle back there. Titans.

-Jets at Bucs: With rookie QB Mark Sanchez out, Kellen Clemens is going to get a great chance to prove to America that the Jets and Rex Ryan made the wrong choice in rushing Sanchez into a starting role ahead of him in August. At 26, he must know that this could be the last chance he has at be a starting quarterback in the NFL, either with in New York or somewhere else. I say he'll seize the moment. Jets.

-Redskins at Raiders: It's hard to believe that the Raiders have beaten the Eagles, the Bengals and the Steelers this year. Two of those wins have come with Bruce Gradowski at QB, after Cable finally yanked JaMarcus Russell, who is well on the way to being one of the worst draft picks of all time. The Redskins also really elevated their game against the Saints (and the Eagles and Cowboys in the two previous weeks as well). Consider this, Washington lost those games against three playoff-hunting teams by a combined 7 points. The football gods owe them a W....so I think they'll lose. Raiders.

-Chargers at Cowboys: I don't know if their history of December woes played a part in the Cowboys losing to the Giants last week, but the longer the streak goes, the more it will get to the players' heads. The good news: they're at home, in their new stadium where they've only lost once in six games. The bad news: they play the Chargers who are as hot as anyone in the league having won 7 in a row. If the Cowboys can put up points early, they'll be fine, if not....Chargers.

-Eagles at Giants: The Eagles have owned the Giants in recent games, beating them earlier this season, and knocking them off of the playoffs last year. One win against Dallas doesn't convince me that the Giants woes are over. Eagles.

-Cardinals at 49ers: The Cards looked awfully scary last week against Minnesota, with the offense playing the same way as it did last winter in the playoffs when it just couldn't be stopped. The Niners actually beat the Cards earlier in the year, but that was before Arizona got all warmed up. Cardinals.