The 2009 NFL season has reached the month of December and there are plenty of playoff positions up for grabs. Which team will step up and make a serious run at the playoffs?
Can the New Orleans Saints and Indianapolis Colts continue to their undefeated streak or will this be the week they experience their first loss of the season? Here are the NFL predictions for Week 14 in the NFL along with those five must see games for any NFL fan.
New Orleans Saints at Atlanta Falcons
The New Orleans Saints continue their magical season and will be looking to a nail in the coffin of the Atlanta Falcons playoff hopes. The Falcons offense will need to find a way to generate some points against a Saints defense that only allows 20.9 points per game. Quarterback Drew Brees will bounce back from his performance last week and show why he will contend with Peyton Manning for the MVP award. While it is only a matter of time before the Saints lose their first game of the season, it will not happen this week against their division foe.
Prediction New Orleans 35 Atlanta 17
Cincinnati Bengals at Minnesota Vikings
The Cincinnati Bengals offense had the chance to warm up against the porous Lions defense last week and will be primed to face the Minnesota Vikings defense that showed some weaknesses last week. Vikings running back Adrian Peterson will look to right the ship this week but will have his hands full against a capable front seven. The big question for Vikings fans will be if Brett Favre will continue to slump or correct the issues this week. The Bengals are for real and will show why the AFC is better than the NFC when they win again this week in a close game.
Prediction Cincinnati 24 Minnesota 21
Denver Broncos at Indianapolis Colts
If last week was any kind of indication of where the Denver Broncos offense is, then it could be a bad sign for the Indianapolis Colts defense. The key to the Broncos success against the Colts will be how well rookie running back Knowshown Moreno will be able to run against a top ten front seven. The Colts Peyton Manning will have to utilize his full arsenal against a solid secondary unit. The game will be decided by how well the Broncos can shut down Dallas Clark. The Colts will play tough but come away with their first loss of the season.
Prediction Denver 28 Indianapolis 21
San Diego Chargers at Dallas Cowboys
The San Diego Chargers are clinging to a one game lead in the AFC West while the Dallas Cowboys are toying with another late season collapse. This game features one of the top quarterbacks in the game against one who is working his way out of Dallas if he does not carry his team into the playoffs. When it comes to scoring, the Chargers and the Cowboys put up over 54 points last week. The Chargers defense did look mortal against the Browns will step up this week and put a damper on the Cowboys division title hopes.
Prediction San Diego 24 Dallas 17
Philadelphia Eagles at New York Giants
The Philadelphia Eagles and the New York Giants find themselves in familiar territory late in the season again. The division title is up for grabs and the winner of this game would gain the upper hand with only three weeks to go. The Eagles will need to follow up their offensive performance against the Giants defense that held the Cowboys in check. The Giants need their running game to find some room if they want to win this week. This will be a hard fought game with the Eagles coming out the victors.
Prediction Philadelphia 21 New York 17
The Rest of the Schedule
Detroit Lions at Baltimore Ravens
The Detroit Lions come limping into this game and will be facing a Baltimore Ravens team that is looking for a much needed win. The Lions need to make the decision to protect their investment into their quarterback of the future, Matt Stafford, to see if he should sit out with the injured shoulder against an aggressive Ravens defense. Either way the Ravens will come away with a win thanks to a huge day from Joe Flacco.
Buffalo Bills at Kansas City Chiefs
The Buffalo Bills will try to rebound from a heart breaking loss to the Jets while the Kansas City Chiefs will be looking for anything positive after being dismantled by the Denver Broncos. The Bills defense has been a strength of the team and will keep the Chiefs offense in check. Their offense will be able to score enough points to secure another win for the Bills.
Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears
These division rivals will be facing off in a game where their respective quarterbacks will be the main feature. The Packers will need to keep Aaron Rodgers upright for him to work his magic against the suspect Bears secondary. Bears fans can expect Jay Cutler to have a rough day with at least two interceptions against the Packers secondary led by Charles Woodson. When the game is done, the Packers will push their win streak to five games.
Carolina Panthers at New England Patriots
The Carolina Panthers led by Jake Delhomme will be visiting a disappointed New England Patriots team that does not have a playoff position locked up like so many thought they did. The Panthers can run the ball effectively but will be done in by Delhomme’s mistakes. The Patriots will take advantage of the mistakes and break their two game losing streak with ease.
Miami Dolphins at Jacksonville Jaguars
The Miami Dolphins and the Jacksonville Jaguars are two teams on fringe of the AFC playoff picture hunt. The Dolphins will need Ricky Williams to continue to carry the team and hope their defense can contain the Jaguars running back Maurice Jones-Drew. The Jaguars will five the few home fans a solid outing with some long touchdown passes but will end up losing the game by a field goal.
Seattle Seahawks at Houston Texans
Both the Seattle Seahawks and the Houston Texans have not lived up to their potential in the 2009 NFL season, but there have been some positives to build on for next year. The Seahawks defensive unit has been converting takeaways in recent games and should find themselves with plenty of opportunities against the Texans this week. Thought it is on the road, the Seahawks will play the Texans tough and earn their second road victory of the year.
New York Jets at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The New York Jets are trying to stay in the playoff hunt and will need their defensive unit to step up the pressure and keep the Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie quarterback Josh Freeman off his game this week. If the Buccaneers can find away to have a sustained running game, then they could have a chance to earn their second win of the season. Not likely as the Jets should go a game over .500 with an easy road win.
Washington Redskins at Oakland Raiders
What would make this game more exciting than watching two under performing teams play on the field would be if Daniel Snyder and Al Davis went head to head in a grudge match as the worst owners in the NFL. Instead fans should expect to see a mildly entertaining game where both teams will be able to put up at least twenty points. In the end, the Raiders will find away to earn their fifth win.
St. Louis Rams at Tennessee Titans
The most intriguing match up in this game between the St. Louis Rams and the Tennessee Titans is between Steven Jackson and Chris Johnson. Both running backs should have the chance to combine for over 300 yards in this contest and will be entertaining for fans at home. Titans Vince Young will look to get back on track against the one win Rams as the Titans win this game with ease.
Year to Date 102-50
