It was weird NFL season – in a good way. In fact, this is the first time in NFL history that the five divisions are ahead by less than one game this late in the season! Baltimore Ravens And Pittsburgh Steelers lead 6-6 in the AFC North with Cincinnati Bengals hiding, Los Angeles Rams And Seattle Seahawks both 9-3, and Jacksonville Jaguars And Indianapolis Colts both 8-4.
This week in the NFL Dallas Cowboys put their three-game winning streak on the line against Dan Campbell Detroit Lions, Joe Burrow And Josh Allen will fight in Buffalo, and the newcomers Cam Ward And Sheader Sanders met for the first time in Cleveland. Times are also getting desperate for 6-6 Kansas City Chiefswho accepts Houston Texans on Sunday Night Football.
Which teams should be picked in Week 14 and which should fade? CBS Sports writers Jordan Dajani and Jared Dubin are here to break down the biggest games of the weekend. For clarity, the lines for these samples were taken from FanDuel Sportsbook on Wednesday. New users can receive $150 bonus bets on a winning $5 bet..
Dallas Cowboys — Detroit Lions (-3) (TNF)
Dajani (Cowboys +3): Are the Cowboys America's Team again? I don't know, there's something sweet about watching a high-powered offense that had no defense at the start of the year take a defensive turnaround and rise above .500. Shout out Quinnen Williams, Logan Wilson, DeMarvion And Shavon Revel Jr.. As for the Lions, this defense is not up to par and the offense could do without Sam LaPorta AND Amon-Ra St. Brown. Detroit ranks first in yards per game with St. Brown on the field since 2021 and 25th without him. Forecast: Cowboys 26, Lions 23
Dubin (Lviv-3): I know Dallas is red hot. I know Detroit is dealing with some injuries. But I have a feeling that one of these two teams is a playoff team, and it's the home team, which means they need to win this game. The Cowboys' defense has looked better in recent weeks, but also had two incomplete offenses in Vegas and Philadelphia before giving up four touchdowns to Kansas City. I think the Lions can score to keep up with the Cowboys and then come back at the end. Forecast: Lions 32, Cowboys 28
Cincinnati Bengals Buffalo Bills (-5.5)
Dajani (Bengals +5.5): I knew the Bengals were going to make up the difference against Baltimore with Joe Burrow back in the lineup, but I didn't expect them to actually win the game! This season, Cincinnati is 3-0 with Burrow in the lineup and 1-8 without him. Going back to last season, Burrow won eight straight starts, the longest winning streak of his career. Burrow is also 2-0 against Josh Allen and 14-3 in his career as a three-point underdog. Again, I don't expect the Bengals to actually win outright, but I'll take 5.5 points. Forecast: Bills 28, Bengals 24
Dubin (Banknotes -5.5): One of the things that almost every team can do is beat the Bengals. We just saw the Bills rush for 249 yards against the Steelers. James Cook he has a chance to really make it big and help the Bills control the game down the stretch. If the Bengals get Tee Higgins ago, the Bengals' explosive offense could obviously keep up, but I'm quietly rooting for Buffalo's play here. Forecast: Accounts 26, Bengals 20
Indianapolis Colts (-1.5) — Jacksonville Jaguars
Dajani (Jaguars +1.5): Big, big game in the AFC South. I find it surprising that the Colts haven't won in Jacksonville since 2014, going 0-9 during that stretch. The Colts haven't looked fantastic lately, and you have to wonder how Daniel Jones' He has a fibula injury. The Jaguars' defense is not the Texans' defense, but it is the same unit that destroyed Justin Herbert And Los Angeles Chargers35-6, a couple of weeks ago. You never know what you'll get Trevor Lawrencebut I'll take Jacksonville in a little upset. Forecast: Jaguars 30, Colts 27
Dubin (Jaguars +1.5): The Colts are shining, especially since their quarterback broke his leg and has barely been able to move in recent weeks. (He once ran for one yard during Indy's loss to Houston on Sunday.) Jonathan Taylor he'll be asked to win this game himself, and I'm just not sure it's fair to expect him to do that. The Jags have allowed just 3.9 yards passing on the season. Forecast: Jaguars 23, Colts 21
Dajani (Browns -3.5): Just a PSA, next week you'll have to hear a debate about why Sheader Sanders should have been drafted over Cam Ward because the Browns are going to win this game. This won't happen because of Sanders' play, but because of the Browns' vaunted defense and Myles Garrett10 sacks on Ward. The Titans seemed to be making progress in recent weeks, but then Week 13 happened. In a 25–3 loss to the Jaguars, Tennessee went 2-for-12 on third downs and recorded just 188 yards of total offense. Believe it or not, 70 of those yards came on the first drive. For the second year in a row, Tennessee is the worst team in football. Forecast: Browns 17, Titans 6
Dubin (Titans +3.5): The Browns are a different team at home than they are on the road, so I expect them to win this game, thanks in large part to the strength of their defense. Myles Garrett could break the all-time sack record this weekend given his upside in games. But Cleveland's offense isn't efficient or explosive enough to bet on the Browns winning by that large, so we have to predict a close game here. Forecast: Browns 17, Titans 14
Pittsburgh Steelers – Baltimore Ravens (-5.5)
Dajani (Steelers +5.5): The Ravens definitely win this game (in my opinion), so the spread is the problem. The Ravens have failed to bounce back in three straight games and are 1-5 ATS in their last six home games. For the Steelers, Mike Tomlin is 13-3-2 ATS and 10-8 as an underdog against the Ravens and has been beaten by four points or more in just seven of 36 starts against Baltimore. Wow. I'll just hope that Aaron RodgersA small movie birthday party he threw with his teammates helped. Forecast: Ravens 23, Steelers 20
Dubin (Crows-5.5): Pittsburgh's offense simply lacks depth — even though the Ravens' offense is struggling in its own right. The Ravens should be able to beat the Steelers. Obviously not as good as the Bills were last week. But getting Derrick Henry Getting downhill more often should also help bring the passing game into rhythm. Lamar Jackson he can't be held for that long… can he? Forecast: Ravens 23, Steelers 13
Ratings of seven Week 14 NFL games with huge playoff implications: Lions-Cowboys, Chiefs-Texans loom large
Zachary Pereles
Dajani (Packers -6.5): No offense Caleb Williamsbut the Bears end up 9-3 because of a defense that causes turnovers and a fantastic rushing attack. However, the Packers have turned the ball over the NFL minimum seven times this season and allowed fewer than 100 yards per game. Green Bay is 3-0 against the NFC North this season after going 1-5 in the division last year. I realize 6.5 points is a pretty big number for a divisional game, but I'll take the Packers to make up the difference on Sunday in the fourth quarter. Forecast: Packers 28, Bears 20
Dubin (Bears +6.5): I am fascinated watching the matchup between the Bears game and the Packers defense. Chicago has been shoving the ball down its opponents' throats ever since its Week 5 bye, while Green Bay has been able to slow down just about any play in its path. The Bears can design explosive plays in the passing game, but they haven't been particularly consistent across the board, and I have more confidence in Green Bay's passing game at this point. The Packers got the win here, but the Bears are keeping it close. Forecast: Packers 26, Bears 21
Houston Texans – Kansas City Chiefs (-3.5) (SNF)
Dajani (Texans +3.5): If that number was Chiefs -1.5, I'd take it. But if you give me the opportunity to play against a 6-6 team that has a losing ATS record, I'll probably side with them. The Texans rank first in both scoring defense and total defense and have allowed an NFL-low 11.0 passing yards per game outside the pocket this season. Usually there Patrick Mahomes is thriving. Additionally, Houston is 4-0 in one-score games during its current four-game winning streak. I didn't think C.J. Stroud was perfect in his return to the lineup last week, but wasn't a disaster either. Houston loses by three points. Forecast: Chiefs 24, Texans 21
Dubin (Chief-3.5): I'm going down on the ship of Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid. Forecast: Chiefs 23, Texans 16
Dajani (Eagles -2.5): Yes, I have obvious questions about the Eagles as legitimate contenders, but I don't like Justin Herbert trying to play a few days after this. underwent surgery for a fractured left arm. I actually really like it when the Eagles kick field goals. Additionally, I was surprised to learn that the Eagles are 7-5 ATS this season while the Chargers are 6-6. Forecast: Eagles 27, Chargers 20
Dubin (Eagles-2.5): Justin Herbert's hand surgery prevented me from playing in this game. Even if they get Omarion Hampton ago, I don't know how effective we can expect the offense to be – even against a defense that has struggled the last two weeks. We know the ceiling Vic Fangio's unit can reach. Do I trust the Eagles' offense here? Nope. But I will support a team whose defender is at least not injured. Forecast: Eagles 21, Chargers 17
