In the NFL, every game matters, but the December games are where teams, coaches and players earn their paycheck. The best teams start playing better than the pack.
Week 14 Review
- Super Bowl Preview? – The Ravens have rolled through the NFL for weeks, but the 49ers are almost their West Coast twin. These two teams slugged it out for 4 quarters, and the game ended on a game winning FG. If both teams stay healthy, that may be the match up in February. BAL won 20-17.
- Steelers Duck Dynasty – PIT started the year like garbage with injuries to Big Ben and at RB. Now, with fresh faces and a Top 5 D, the Steelers only needed capable QB play in Devlin “Duck” Hodges who looked bad in Q1. He finished strong connected with WR James Washington and only 1 TO to lead PIT to their 7th win, 20-13 and still in the playoffs as of today.
- Titans Break Streak – The Titans had lost to the Colts repeatedly over the past decade. However, this TEN team has an attitude and the right game to best the Colts. RB Derrick Henry is working it again, and puts TEN squarely in the playoff mix. TEN won 31-17.
- Chiefs Crush the Raiders – OAK has improved a lot, but they cannot stop that KC offense. Plus, Carr’s 2 INTs led to points in this one sided affair, KC won 40-8.
- Texans Break the Pats – The Pats D had been top notch all season except for against the Ravens. Well, the Texans lit up the Pats on SNF with multiple deep strikes (3 TDs from QB Deshaun Watson) and the Pats’ anemic offense could not keep up. HOU won 28-22.
- Seahawks Move to 2 Seed: MNF featured a great game between MIN and SEA. After trailing 17-10 at the half, the Seahawks scored on 4 consecutive drives, and forced 2 TOs to grab the lead 34-17. The Vikes hit back with 13 unanswered, but QB Russell Wilson get his team to another FG and the big win, 37-30. SEA now jumps SF in the NFC West and grabs the 2 Seed.
Predictions: S/U 1-3, ATS 2-2, Totals 2-2
Wegs Index Week 14
| OFF YD/G | PPG | DEF YD/G | PPG Ag | TO Diff | Cum. Rank | |
| 49ers | 378 | 29.1 | 250.9 | 15.3 | 6 | 3.7 |
| Ravens | 420.8 | 33.8 | 323.4 | 18.3 | 8 | 4.0 |
| Patriots | 360.8 | 26.8 | 258 | 12.1 | 18 | 4.3 |
| Cowboys | 432.8 | 25.8 | 321.6 | 19.7 | -4 | 8.8 |
| Saints | 361.4 | 24.8 | 323.5 | 20.7 | 11 | 9.0 |
| Vikings | 376.6 | 26.6 | 347.4 | 20.2 | 3 | 9.5 |
| Chiefs | 384.7 | 29 | 372.1 | 22.1 | 8 | 9.7 |
| Bills | 353 | 21.4 | 300.1 | 15.7 | 2 | 10.3 |
| Seahawks | 390.3 | 27.4 | 368.9 | 24.4 | 10 | 11.7 |
| Steelers | 291.3 | 19.7 | 317.2 | 18.8 | 11 | 13.2 |
| Rams | 369.6 | 23.6 | 327 | 20.8 | -4 | 13.3 |
| Titans | 329.8 | 23 | 362.1 | 19.5 | 5 | 14.2 |
| Packers | 340 | 24.1 | 376.8 | 21.3 | 11 | 14.7 |
| Texans | 372.8 | 24.4 | 374 | 22.6 | 1 | 15.2 |
| Bears | 281.8 | 17.7 | 319.7 | 17.3 | 3 | 15.5 |
| Chargers | 363.3 | 20.3 | 309.3 | 20.1 | -10 | 15.5 |
| Colts | 343.8 | 21.8 | 328.7 | 21.4 | -3 | 16.5 |
| Bucs | 380.4 | 28.3 | 358.1 | 28.8 | -7 | 16.8 |
| Lions | 377.3 | 23.3 | 398.1 | 26.3 | -1 | 18.5 |
| Browns | 347.9 | 20.5 | 337.3 | 22.7 | -4 | 19.0 |
| Eagles | 342.3 | 22.8 | 332.7 | 23.7 | -5 | 19.0 |
| Broncos | 295.8 | 16.5 | 324.3 | 19.8 | -1 | 19.2 |
| Panthers | 341.3 | 23.3 | 366.7 | 26.7 | -2 | 20.5 |
| Jaguars | 359.4 | 18.3 | 360.4 | 24.3 | -3 | 21.0 |
| Raiders | 354.8 | 19.8 | 361.8 | 27 | -2 | 22.0 |
| Falcons | 369.4 | 21.7 | 368.2 | 26.9 | -11 | 22.0 |
| Jets | 262.8 | 17 | 317.4 | 23.3 | -5 | 22.5 |
| Cardinals | 331.8 | 21.3 | 426.3 | 29.3 | 3 | 24.0 |
| Redskins | 262.4 | 14.4 | 361.4 | 24.2 | 2 | 24.5 |
| Giants | 316.7 | 19.2 | 372.8 | 28.3 | -14 | 27.5 |
| Bengals | 301 | 14.9 | 405 | 24.8 | -12 | 28.8 |
| Dolphins | 276.9 | 16.7 | 399.7 | 31.4 | -14 | 30.7 |
Key Match Ups
- Ravens at Bills (+5.5, Total 43.5) – Sunday, 12/8 at 1 PM Eastern/12 Noon Central on CBS – These two teams play very similarly. Both like to run the ball and have mobile QBs who make plays. The Defenses are stout, but the Ravens are just better. I am curious to see if the Bills have a plan to slow down Lamar Jackson. We could see this match up in the playoffs in January. I’ll still ride BAL S/U, but Bills to Cover the +5.5. I like the Total Under 43.5.
- 49ers at Saints (-2.5, Total 44.5) – Sunday, 12/8 at 1 PM Eastern/12 Noon Central on FOX – A battle for the current 1 Seed in the NFC here. SF seems like a more complete team, but they did just play a physical game in BAL, while the Saints are not playing at the same level as earlier in the year. I still like the Super Dome has magic for the Saints, and with a little extra time, I trust HC Sean Payton to game plan the hell out of this game. Saints win S/U, SF to Cover +2.5, and Under the 44.5.
- Chiefs at Patriots (-3, Total 48.5) – Sunday, 12/8 at 4:25 PM Eastern/3:25 PM Central on CBS – The Patriots are mortal. This offense is not doing enough even with this amazing defense. The Chiefs seem to be getting right, and Mahomes is healthy. Seems crazy, but I think the Pats lose this one and definitely do not cover the +3. Total still Under 48.5 though.
- Seahawks at Rams (+1, Total 48) – Sunday, 12/8 at 8:20 PM Eastern/7:20 PM Central on NBC – There have been some great games between these two teams. However, I don’t think the Rams are the same team as the past 2 seasons. They played great against an AZ team, but the Seahawks smell the division. I like the Seahawks to win, Cover the -1 and Over the 48.
Bring on Week 14!
Wegs