Written by: Tyler Deakin
The Detroit Lions finally did it, they won their first game of the season over the Vikings! That was the biggest takeaway from last week’s games, as many contests lacked sizzle & drama. There were a couple of dramatic finishes worth mentioning though; the Ravens ill-fated decision to go for the 2-point try & the win comes to mind, and so does the Seahawks goal-line stand against the 49ers. Washington’s Football Team also played a great game against the Raiders. Football fans are surely looking forward to this week’s games, as there are many great ones. Let’s dive in & discuss the best games of Week 14, highlighted by several divisional games.
Los Angeles Rams at Arizona Cardinals (Monday Night Football)
The bottom line for the Cardinals is that beating the Rams will put them in the playoffs. Kyler Murray & Deandre Hopkins returned for the Cardinals last week, with the duo connecting for a touchdown in a win over the Bears. More plays like that from the pair of superstars would help their cause in securing the team’s first playoff berth since 2015. Meanwhile, the Rams seemingly found their offensive mojo last week as Matt Stafford threw 3 touchdown passes. More importantly for their success is that Sony Michel sparked their running game for the first time in weeks. Their offense needs to continue firing on all cylinders in order to win this game.
Dallas Cowboys at Washington Football Team
This one certainly won’t lack for bulletin material, as Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy guaranteed a win over Washington earlier this week. “Big mistake,” says Ron Rivera. Washington has certainly earned my respect after putting together a 4-game winning streak. They’re in the driver’s seat for a Wild Card playoff spot, and a win here would put them in contention for the NFC East title. Now that the Cowboys have gone & put the spotlight on themselves by adding bulletin board material to their division rival’s locker room, the pressure is on them to play well this Sunday. I’m skeptical as to whether or not they’ll actually pull that off.
Las Vegas Raiders at Kansas City Chiefs
It would take a minor miracle to pull off, but the Raiders are still in the playoff mix. Winning this game against the Chiefs would give them momentum heading into the stretch run. The problem is that TE Darren Waller is still recovering from an injury, so somebody else needs to step up & make plays on offense. That will be tough for them to do against the Chiefs, who suddenly have one of the best defenses in the league after struggling mightily earlier in the year. It’s really been the Chiefs offense who hasn’t kept up their end of the bargain lately; they’ve been unable to find any sort of rhythm or consistency since putting up 41 points in a win over the Raiders last month. My suspicion is that this game’s score will be much closer this time around.
San Francisco 49ers at Cincinnati Bengals
What a rare matchup between two non-conference teams who are both in the playoff mix. Getting WR Deebo Samuel back from a groin injury would be a huge boost for the 49ers. His playmaking ability was sorely missed in last week’s loss to the Seahawks. Bengals DE Trey Hendrickson is one of the most underrated players in the league right now, as he has an NFL-leading streak of 8 games with at least one sack. His matchup this week against OT Trent Williams will be one to watch, as both players are amongst the best at their respective positions.
Buffalo Bills at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
It’s been a stunning fall from grace for the Bills over the past several weeks. They’ve gone from leading the AFC East to potentially being left out of the playoffs entirely. Simply put, their inability to run the ball offensively & stop the run defensively is costing the team games. Things won’t get any easier for the Bills this week against the Bucs, as they could clinch the NFC South division title with a win & some help. Neither of these teams need any extra motivation this week as they are certainly prepared for this crucial non-conference contest.
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