Week 13 of the NFL was a mixed bag for football watchers, with several good games (Vikings-Jets, Bengals-Chiefs) mixed in with some total duds (Cowboys-Colts, Eagles-Titans). My feeling is that Week 14 will offer more of the same, with only four relevant games of note. I’m happy as a Falcons fan that my team can’t lose on our bye, and that I don’t have to watch. Anyways, let’s move on to discuss the games, as there are a select few of them worth watching. There are a lot of desperate teams facing off against heavy favorites this weekend, which should make for some solid football contests. Without further ado, it’s our Week 14 Games to Watch!
Dolphins at Chargers on NBC (Sunday Night Football)
Last call for the Chargers, who at 6-6 are on the fringes of the playoff picture in the AFC. A win here against the Dolphins (currently the No. 6 seed) would go a long way for their hopes. Meanwhile, the Dolphins need to get back up off the mat after their shellacking against the 49ers. Let’s not forget about Tua Tagovailoa facing off against Justin Herbert, as the destinies of these QBs will forever be linked together after they were picked back-to-back in the 2020 NFL Draft. Most analysts believed that the Chargers selection of Herbert was the better pick of these QBs; however, Tua has shown great progress in year three while silencing his haters in the process. Which of these two superstars puts the team on their back as they prepare for a playoff push?
Buccaneers at 49ers on FOX (Sunday late afternoon)
More late-game heroics from Tom Brady last week makes this game much more exciting. Add in the fact that Brady desperately wanted to join the 49ers after leaving the Patriots in 2020, & you’ll realize that football fans should be in for a real treat, an NFC playoff preview this week. The Buccaneers are now the clear front runners in the NFC South, but they must keep winning.
They’re likely looking at an early playoff exit as things currently stand, with Brady the X-factor. Meanwhile, the 49ers could be in the same boat after Jimmy Garoppolo broke his foot last week. I’ve heard that Chad Powers out of Penn State is available, perhaps the 49ers will give him a call. Outside of QB, the 49ers have one of the best rosters in the NFL, but will that matter in January? Before answering that question, the 49ers must answer the bell this week in an epic NFC contest.
Jets at Bills on CBS (Sunday early afternoon)
Last week was a great one for Bills fans, as their team currently sits atop the entire AFC. Things could change obviously, but their early season head-to-head win over the Chiefs was key. The Jets, meanwhile, are barely hanging on to the AFC’s No. 7 seed & 3rd place in the AFC East. A loss here all but assures that this team will be watching from the couch in January & February. On the flip side, a win for the Jets here would give them a head-to-head tiebreaker over the Bills. This time last month, the Jets shocked the Bills with a 20-17 upset for the ages in New Jersey. Will history repeat itself with the home team winning, or will the visiting Jets pull out the dub?
Eagles at Giants on FOX (Sunday early afternoon)
There are zero NFL playoff clinching scenarios in either conference this week; however, an Eagles win here gives them a 12-1 record & probably guarantees their spot in the tournament. They looked pretty dominant against the Titans last week, with AJ Brown torching their defense. This win showed that the Eagles can play different styles of football with their passing game leading the way in this contest, which stands in contrast to their rushing controlling other games. If only we could say similar things of the Giants, but their offensive attack is stuck in the mud. The G-Men tied their division rival Commanders last weekend in a 20-20 overtime encounter. Things are less dire in the NFC than in the AFC, but the Giants are hanging on to the No. 6 seed. Who will win this epic December contest between these two hated division rivals this weekend?
The Sports Beacon 