Week 14 - Survivor Pools Dec 4, 2008 | More

The Titans and Cowboys dominated their opponents on Thanksgiving Day while the Colts won in Cleveland without scoring an offensive TD. The Bills, meanwhile, were victim to the first East Coast team to lose to a West Coast team at home. The Jets were a tempting pick and I thought they were vulnerable at home, but I didn’t see the Ravens thrashing the Bengals that badly. The season is over three quarters completed and we have just four weeks remaining. Check out Week 14’s game-by-game analysis as we head into the stretch!

The Rules:

1.       Stay away from road teams.

2.       Stay away from divisional matchups.

3.       Never take a divisional team on the road.

On to Week 14:

Raiders @ Chargers – The Chargers are not playing good football right now and do not look like a team that is capable of winning games. I’m avoiding this divisional matchup.

Jaguars @ Bears – The Jaguars are no longer a scary opponent and the Bears are a decent option coming off a loss this week. They’ll be back at home after a three-game road trip (1-2 in that stretch), and I really like them coming back home this weekend.

Vikings @ Lions – It was a 12-10 snoozer last time and while I do not expect this one to be close, it’s still a divisional road game for the Vikes. Avoid it if you can.

Texans @ Packers – The Packers should have won their game last week, but could not finish. They’ll host the Texans, who do not play well away from home, this Sunday. I like the Pack in another Week 14 interleague matchup.

Browns @ Titans – Two words: Too easy. Here’s another two: Ken Dorsey.

Bengals @ Colts – I think the Bengals will score some points this weekend, but I expect the Colts to score a lot more. As long as this team gets Bob Sanders healthy for the playoffs, Peyton Manning’s squad won’t be an easy out.

Falcons @ Saints – Big test for the Falcons on the road in the NFC South – something that is very difficult. The NFC South is 22-2 at home. The next best is the NFC East at 18-7.

Eagles @ Giants – You don’t have the Giants at this point. There are better options this week anyway.

Chiefs @ Broncos – Not buying the Broncos after last week’s game. The Jets were set up for that one after two big road wins. Stay away from the AFC West battle.

Dolphins @ Bills – No home field advantage here = good news for the fish.

Jets @ 49ers – This won’t be as easy of a rebound game for the Jets as some think. The trip to the West Coast won’t be easy and the Jets shouldn’t be taken in survivor pools.

Patriots @ Seahawks – I do believe the Patriots will win, but I hate picking road teams, let alone teams that have to travel to the East or the West.

Rams @ Cardinals – Ok, this has to stop. The Cardinals couldn’t back themselves into clinching a playoff berth last week. They should roll over the Rams this week, who are a completely different team with Steven Jackson in the lineup. Nevertheless, expect the Cardinals to clinch that playoff berth this weekend with a win of their own.

Cowboys @ Steelers – One of the most anticipated games of the year as teams with rich histories collide in a greatest football town.

Redskins @ Ravens – The flexed game should be a physical one with both teams fighting for their playoff lives. A Redskin loss will pretty much eliminate their chances of making the postseason tournament. After a 6-2, start, a 7-6 record would be very disappointing. Baltimore has the Patriots breathing down their necks so they need every win they can get, especially with their remaining schedule (vs. WAS, vs. PIT, @ DAL, vs. JAX).

Bucs @ Panthers – Biggest Monday Night Football game of the season.

Choices (Titans are obvious if you have them):

1. Colts

2. Cardinals

3. Bears

4. Packers

Choices:

Tempting picks that I am avoiding:

1. Broncos – The Chiefs have played hard at times this season and the Broncos are unpredictable.

2. Jets – They need this one and should win, but why touch the East to West game?

The Colts are the No. 1 option this week at home against the Bengals while the Cardinals were the difficult second option. It was not easy to decide on the second-ranked team this week, but I went with the divisional game just because I feel Arizona will want to clinch that division up where they play best — at home. The NFC North teams follow in line as they battle AFC South teams.

If you have any questions or comments, feel free to e-mail me at pags2122@yahoo.com. Thanks for all of the feedback so far.

Good luck this week!