My 2022 NFL Picks (Week 14)

We didn't see anybody clinch a playoff spot last week, but I'm confident we'll get our first one this week.  Maybe more.  We'll even see our first division champion if the Vikings beat the Lions (although, Detroit is a home favorite for the first time in forever).  The Chiefs can also clinch the AFC West, and the Eagles can lock down their playoff spot.  It's plausible that all three could happen, too.

This week also finally marks the end of byes!  I'm sorry, but mid-December bye weeks are ridiculous!  Especially six of them!  Bye should be done the week before Thanksgiving.  Anyway, at least next week we won't have to deal with them anymore.

Thursday Night: Las Vegas (Loss)

Jets (7-5) at Bills (9-3): Buffalo-When the NFL started letting the Giants and Jets play at the same time, they both sucked so it didn't really matter that much to me and I ended up watching Red Zone most of the time anyway.  But now they're both good, and they're both playing important games simultaneously, which is more than a little annoying!  Anyway, the Jets are playing the Bills, who they beat in the first meeting.  The Bills got a gift last week when Kansas City lost and they moved back to the No. 1 seed.  If they don't beat the Jets this time, not only will they lose their grip on No. 1, they might not even win the division and have to go on the road in the playoffs.  Needless to say, they don't want that to happen.

Browns (5-7) at Bengals (8-4): Cincinnati-The Bengals sure have the Chiefs' number, don't they?  I think we can officially call 2022 the "Year of the Tiger."  The more important thing about that win last week, though, is that it keeps Cincinnati's hopes of winning the AFC North very much alive.  They still trail the Ravens on the tiebreaker, but they have the same record, so they're in good shape.  Of course, if they don't start beating the Browns (something they haven't done since 2019), that won't matter.

Texans (1-10-1) at Cowboys (9-3): Dallas-I didn't turn the Cowboys game on until the fourth quarter last week.  That was all I needed to see.  And it was mighty impressive!  It makes you wonder what they'll do against the Texans.  As Tirico said at the end of the Cowboys-Colts game, you want to know why the entire NFC East is at least two games over .500?  It's because of the AFC South!  Chalk up another NFC East win on the tally, as Dallas moves to 10-3.

Vikings (10-2) at Lions (5-7): Minnesota-Even though they're 10-2 and their only losses are to Philadelphia and Dallas (who are a combined 20-4), no one is really giving the Vikings their due.  That might be one reason why the Lions are favored in this one.  Not that they don't deserve it.  Detroit is a very formidable team that won't make things easy for the Vikings.  Still, I see Minnesota wrapping up its NFC North title.

Jaguars (4-8) at Titans (7-5): Tennessee-Jacksonville was one of those teams I was talking about when I said the byes were making the standings annoying.  Well, that and ties.  The Jaguars are a half-game behind the Colts...because Indianapolis has a tie, so the Colts are 4-8-1 and the Jaguars are 4-8.  That's not even a half-game in the standings.  It's like a quarter-game.  Either way, it's not like it matters, since the Titans will all but clinch the division with a win this week.

Eagles (11-1) at Giants (7-4-1): Philadelphia-Next week's Giants-Commanders game is absolutely huge, especially after the tie last week.  Washington has a bye in between the Giants games, while the Giants have to deal with the first-place Eagles.  Which won't be easy.  Philly needs to keep winning in order to hold off Dallas, which I think they will this week, pushing the Giants into a full-blown tie with Washington heading into next week.

Ravens (8-4) at Steelers (5-7): Baltimore-Remember when a Ravens-Steelers game in December used to really get people fired up?  What am I saying?!  Of course you do!  It wasn't that long ago!  This season though?  Not so much!  Baltimore's battling Cincinnati for the division title, while the Steelers are struggling.  You know they'd love to play spoiler and hurt their rivals' playoff chances.  I just don't see it happening, however.

Chiefs (9-3) at Broncos (3-9): Kansas City-Mercifully, this one was flexed out of Sunday night, so we won't have to be subjected to Denver's "offense."  The Broncos are bad.  They've clinched their seventh consecutive losing season, which is exactly the same number of years that have passed since they won the Super Bowl in Peyton Manning's final season.  I don't think that's a coincidence.  As for the Chiefs, they'll be fine after losing to the Bengals.

Buccaneers (6-6) at 49ers (8-4): San Francisco-Will the Bucs finish with a winning record?  Or will Dallas visit an NFC South champion with a losing record in the first round of the playoffs?  Frankly, I can see it going either way.  Especially since their next two games are against San Francisco and Cincinnati.  But they did manage to pull victory from the jaws of defeat last week, so they at least won't go to three games under after they lose to the 49ers.

Panthers (4-8) at Seahawks (7-5): Seattle-Seattle has been, without a doubt, THE most surprising team in the league this season.  And the Seahawks will move into a wild card position if they knock off the Panthers this week.  What's even more unbelievable is the year Geno Smith is having (especially compared to the year Russell Wilson is having in Denver).  It's even conceivable that Seattle could win the NFC West.  But one thing at a time.

Dolphins (8-4) at Chargers (6-6): Chargers-Do the Chargers actually want to make the playoffs?  And why do we always find ourselves asking that same question?  They have the chance to be really good.  They should be really good.  But you never know which team is gonna show up each week!  For some reason, I think we'll get the good Chargers this week.  The Dolphins have been on the West Coast all week and this one got flexed into Sunday night, so they'll be awfully tired when they finally get back to Miami in the wee hours of Monday morning.

Patriots (6-6) at Cardinals (4-8): Arizona-New England was sitting pretty a few weeks ago.  Now, after two straight losses, the Patriots find themselves on the outside looking in with a month left.  And things won't get any easier in their third straight prime time game.  Let's not forget what happened in their only other Monday night appearance this season, either.  Maybe they need to stick to Sunday afternoons.  Because they're staring at 0-4 in prime time and 6-3 in all other games.

This Week: 0-1
Last Week: 10-4-1
Overall: 113-81-2