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Once again this season, the Baltimore Beatdown staff is picking the winners for each week’s slate of contests throughout the year. Results will be tracked throughout the year to see who is most accurate with their predictions.
Readers can participate by voting in the polls for each game below. Join in on the fun and chime in with your thoughts on every matchup!
Updated Standings:
- BB readers (133-59)
- Vasilis (129-63)
- Frank, Kyle (124-68)
- Spencer (123-69)
- Dustin, Adrian (122-70)
- Peter (121-71)
- Jakob (116-76)
Consensus Selections —
The team was in agreement on the following matchups in Week 14:
- Titans > Jaguars (TEN -7.5)
- Cowboys > Bengals (DAL -3.5)
- Panthers > Broncos (CAR -4)
- Chiefs > Dolphins (KC -7.5)
- Seahawks > Jets (SEA -13.5)
- Colts > Raiders (IND -3.5)
- Packers > Lions (GB -7.5)
- Saints > Eagles (NO -7)
- Ravens > Browns (BAL -1)
More than half of this week’s slate of games were picked unanimously by our staff, a surprising development that hasn’t happened much this season.
Five of these predicted winners are favorited by a touchdown or more: Titans, Chiefs, Seahawks, Packers and Saints. Tennessee and Seattle are looking for bounce back performances after tough losses in Week 13. Both teams have favorable matchups against the AFC’s bottom feeders in the Jaguars and Jets. The Packers and Chiefs, fueled by MVP-caliber play from the quarterback position, look to continue their win streaks.
One of the bigger must-watch games of the week is the Saints vs. Eagles matchup in Philadelphia. This marks the first start of Jalen Hurts’ career at quarterback, but our staff doesn’t think it will result in a victory. New Orleans has won nine straight games and is 5-0 against the spread in their past five contests.
All of our writers also like the Colts to defeat the Raiders in Las Vegas. Both teams are coming off last-second victories in Week 13, with the Raiders needing a miraculous touchdown in the final minute to defeat the Jets. Indianapolis is favored by more than a field goal despite a troubled history playing in pacific time zones.
Last but not least, perhaps the most surprising of the list, is the Ravens vs. Browns showdown on Monday night. Cleveland was won four straight games but the BB team envisions winning this contest. Baltimore is favored by only a single point.
Lone Wolf Selections —
The following writers are alone with these predictions in Week 14:
- Adrian likes the Patriots to beat the Rams on TNF (NE +5), Vikings to beat the Buccaneers (MIN +6.5), and Broncos to beat the Panthers (DEN +4)
Oddly enough, Adrian is these week’s “lone wolf” in the lone wolf section — as he’s the only writer to go against the grain at all.
Adrian has the Patriots upsetting the Rams on Thursday night. New England is a five-point underdog against Sean McVay and Los Angeles, but the Patriots are winners of two straight and four of their past five games. Last week, they beat the Chargers by a score of 45-0.
Next on the list is a bit more surprising, which is his prediction of the Vikings toppling the Buccaneers. Tampa Bay is fresh off a bye week and playing at home. Tom Brady is 14-4 off a bye week in his career. Minnesota escaped Week 13 with a three-point victory over the Jaguars in overtime.
Adrian’s final prediction is the Broncos defeating the Panthers. Carolina is favored by four points and is expected to get Christian McCaffery back in the starting lineup. The Broncos put up a good fight against the Chiefs last Sunday night, losing by only six points.