NFL 2008 Week 14 Picks

Observations from Week 13:

1. Only five games were won by the home team.
   
2. Plaxico Burress' suspension is going to be very beneficial to the Giants which is not good news for the rest of the league.
   
3. Buccaneers DC Monte Kiffin looks to be headed to the University of Tennessee to be the DC under his son, Lane Kiffin. Tampa's defensive players view Kiffin as a father figure and will use this imminent departure as motivation to give him a ring before he goes. This year's Super Bowl is in Tampa.
   
4. I will be shocked if Romeo Crennel is coach of Cleveland next season.
   
5. I do believe that William Clay Ford will hire a GM which will also mean the end of the line for Rod Marinelli.
   
6. Is it really that surprising that Miami is exceeding expectations given that Bill Parcells is the architect?
   
7. The 2010 season just might include a 17 or 18-game schedule, the end of the Thanksgiving tradition including Dallas and Detroit, and playing the Pro Bowl the week before the Super Bowl.
   

Speaking of the Big Game, let's take a look at this week's games and see who might step forward and add some drama to the scintillating playoff race.

• Oakland Raiders (3-9) at San Diego Chargers (4-8): NFLN, 8:15pm EST, Thursday Night - Ten straight wins vs. Oakland and playing at home gives the Chargers the advantage in, what could be, a high-scoring affair.

• Jacksonville Jaguars (4-8) at Chicago Bears (6-6): CBS, 1pm EST - The Jags have really turned into a bad football team, and things don't get much easier as they travel to Soldier Field to take on a Bears team that desperately needs a win to keep pace with Minnesota who plays Detroit.

• Houston Texans (5-7) at Green Bay Packers (5-7): CBS, 1pm EST -Something tells me that the frigid conditions aren't going to be very hospitable to a Texans team who is playing in Lambeau for its first time.

• Cleveland Browns (4-8) at Tennessee Titans (11-1): CBS, 1pm EST - Seriously...

• Cincinnati Bengals (1-10-1) at Indianapolis Colts (8-4): CBS, 1pm EST - The Colts have won five straight...this season and over the Bengals.

• Minnesota Vikings (7-5) at Detroit Lions (0-12): FOX, 1pm EST - QB Daunte Culpepper faces his old team, but RB Adrian Peterson is facing the league's 32nd-ranked run defense. The reunion will be ugly.

• Atlanta Falcons (8-4) at New Orleans Saints (6-6): FOX, 1pm EST - The Saints' playoff hopes are on the line as they welcome Matt Ryan and Co. who are winless on the road vs. divisional opponents. New Orleans has only lost one home game this season.

• Philadelphia Eagles (6-5-1) at NY Giants (11-1): FOX, 1pm EST - You wouldn't think the Giants would need motivation, but a win vs. Philly gives them the NFC East title. They'd also like to prove to the NFL that they aren't distracted by Plaxico Burress' lunacy which almost neutered him.

• Kansas City Chiefs (2-10) at Denver Broncos (7-5): CBS, 4:05pm EST - I'm guessing that a 31st-ranked run defense on the road facing a Broncos team that has a penchant for RB success is not a good matchup. All it will do is set up the passing attack by Jay Cutler who is having a career year.

• Miami Dolphins (7-5) at Buffalo Bills (6-6): CBS, 4:05pm EST - History will be made as the NFL plays its first regular season game in Canada. Look for Buffalo to roam this nearby countryside in complete bewilderment as they face a hot Miami team.

• NY Jets (8-4) at San Francisco 49ers (4-8): CBS, 4:05pm EST - The Jets have won four straight on the road, and Brett Favre is 7-0 vs. the Niners.

• New England Patriots (7-5) at Seattle Seahawks (2-10): CBS, 4:05pm EST - New England has won 13 straight vs. the NFC.

• St. Louis Rams (2-10) at Arizona Cardinals (7-5): FOX, 4:15pm EST - I can't think of a better way for Arizona to break out of their two-game losing slump than for Kurt Warner to face his old team at home.

• Dallas Cowboys (8-4) at Pittsburgh Steelers (9-3): FOX, 4:15pm EST - It's going to be overcast, snowy, and lip-sticking cold as Dallas' very talented offense faces the league's #1 rushing, passing, and overall defense. Add in the Steelers crowd registering on the Richter scale and you have a recipe for one exciting game.

• Washington Redskins (7-5) at Baltimore Ravens (8-4): NBC, 8:15pm EST - These teams have met three times with the Ravens winning two of them, but all three have each been decided by a TD or less. Each team has a stifling defense and offensive campaigns that don't turn the ball over a lot.

• Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-3) at Carolina Panthers (9-3): ESPN, 8:30pm EST, MNF - This Tampa defense is young, fast, and sprinkled with just enough veteran leadership to make it a lethal force vs. this Carolina offense.

STANDINGS

Chris Mortensen: 12-4, 132-60

Mark Schlereth: 11-5, 126-66

Eddie Chinn: 10-6, 124-68

Mike Golic: 10-6, 112-79

Ron Jaworski: 9-6, 117-62