Alright boys and girls, week 14 is upon us and it’s looking like a corker. We have gritty divisional games, some bin bowls and a massive showdown between the Bills and Bucs that could go down as the best game of the season. We also have the owner of the Chicago Bears filling in at QB for the Green Bay Packers… Nothing like a bit of December football to get you in the mood on this fine Sunday.

Plenty of sport to get through before we get to football, with the most exciting finish to an F1 season in years and the mighty Munster men trying to get a big away victory, with a less than ideal team. Get the jobs done early and enjoy the day.

NAP: 8 – 3.

CURRENT RECORD: 64-80

Dallas Cowboys @ Washington Football Team: Cowboys -4.5 (NAP)

Cowboys:

• Current Record: 8-4 (4-2 away).
• Offence (Yards Per Game, ESPN): Overall – 416.3 (1st) // Passing – 287.3 (4th) // Rushing – 129.0 (6th).
• Defence (Yards Allowed Per Game, ESPN): Overall – 372.5 (27th) // Passing – (28th) // Rushing – 111.1 (14th)
• Points Per Game Stats, ESPN: PPG Scored – 29.4 (2nd) // PPG Allowed – 22.3 (14th).
• Turnover Differential: +7 (7th).
• Injury Report (Out): Blake Jarwin – TE, Donovan Wilson – S, Noah Brown – WR.

Football Team:

• Current Record: 6-6 (3-3 home).
• Offence (Yards Per Game, ESPN): Overall – 345.6 (19th) // Passing – 221.2 (20th) // Rushing – (9th).
• Defence (Yards Allowed Per Game, ESPN): Overall – 355.2 (18th) // Passing – 263.9 (30th) // Rushing – 91.3 (3rd)
• Points Per Game Stats, ESPN: PPG Scored – 20.5 (21st) // PPG Allowed – 24.8 (23rd).
• Turnover Differential: -5 (25th).
• Injury Report (Out): Jordan Kunaszyk – LB, Wes Schweitzer – G. Some notables questionable, who were limited in Friday’s practice: Landon Collins – S, JD McKissic – RB, Curtis Samuel – WR.

• Washington is on a four-game winning streak.

Can the real Dak Prescott please stand up? The Dallas lead man has been inconsistent in recent weeks, throwing for 216, 375 and 238 yards respectively and zero, two and one TD, in a three-game stretch. The Cowboys have won one of those three games and now face a divisional rival on a hot streak, who would certainly up the pressure in the division race with a victory here.

The good news for Cowboys fans is that their team has the number one passing offence in the league, to go along with scoring the second-most points per game. That potent scoring offence should only be amplified by a Washington defence who have been giving up 24.8 points per game. Good enough for a league ranking of 23rd.

Dallas are streets ahead of the Football Team in terms of turnover differential and with it being predicted as a tight game, it could come down to who can protect the ball better. While the Washington defence has been looking better in recent weeks, it’s hard to see how it can get to Prescott, who has one of the best O-lines in league in front of him. The same can’t be said for Heinicke, as rookie sensation, Micah Parsons will look to continue to his defensive domination for Dallas and attack the up and down WFT QB. Dallas takes this by 7-10 points.

Chicago Bears @ Green Bay Packers: Packers -12

Bears:

• Current Record: 4-8 (2-4 away).
• Offence (Yards Per Game, ESPN): Overall – 298.8 (30th) // Passing – 173.8 (32nd) // Rushing – 125.1 (8th).
• Defence (Yards Allowed Per Game, ESPN): Overall – 327.9 (9th) // Passing – 207.8 (6th) // Rushing – 120.1 (23rd)
• Points Per Game Stats, ESPN: PPG Scored – 16.8 (30th) // PPG Allowed – 23.9 (21st).
• Turnover Differential: -8 (29th).
• Injury Report (Out): Marquise Goodwin – WR, Andy Dalton – QB, Cassius Marsh – LB, Akiem Hicks – DT, Teez Tabor – CB, Khalil Mack – LB.

Packers:

• Current Record: 9-3 (5-0 home).
• Offence (Yards Per Game, ESPN): Overall – 355.0 (15th) // Passing – 248.3 (9th) // Rushing – 106.7 (21st).
• Defence (Yards Allowed Per Game, ESPN): Overall – 321.7 (7th) // Passing – 219.2 (9th) // Rushing – 102.5 (8th)
• Points Per Game Stats, ESPN: PPG Scored – 23.6 (15th) // PPG Allowed – 20.2 (5th).
• Turnover Differential: +9 (5th).
• Injury Report (Out): Jaire Alexander – CB, David Bakhtiari – OT, Randal Cobb – WR.

Some football enthusiasts have been calling for the NFL suits to flex the Bills vs Bucs game into Sunday Night Football, instead of the Bears vs Packers. I am not one of those people. I mean, how often do you get to see the owner of the Chicago Bears lace it up as QB for Green Bay Packers? During their last meeting in October, Aaron Rodgers single handily dismantled the Bears and claimed ownership over the struggling Chicago team, which could be the biggest boss move of the season. That victory took Rodgers’ overall Bear’s record to 22-5, including winning the last five.

The Bears are in big trouble and have lost six of their last seven. Their last victory was against the Lions on Thanksgiving. Andy Dalton has filled in well for rookie QB, Justin Fields and some would say has even given the offence some juice. Fields returns for this game and what a game to come back for. Lambeau Field, against a red-hot defence and an opposition QB who takes pure joy from tearing your team apart. This could get ugly and I wouldn’t be surprised to see a second shutout by the Packers, in 2021. Packers win big.

Las Vegas Raiders @ Kansas City Chiefs: Chiefs -10

Raiders:

• Current Record: 6-6 (3-2 away).
• Offence (Yards Per Game, ESPN): Overall – 379.3 (8th) // Passing – 291.3 (2nd) // Rushing – 88.0 (29th).
• Defence (Yards Allowed Per Game, ESPN): Overall – 355.3 (19th) // Passing – 230.6 (13th) // Rushing – 124.8 (26th)
• Points Per Game Stats, ESPN: PPG Scored – 22.8 (17th) // PPG Allowed – 26.0 (26th).
• Turnover Differential: +1 (13th).
• Injury Report (Out): Darren Waller – TE, Carl Nassib – DE, Patrick Onwuasor – LB, Denzel Perryman – LB, Tyler Gillespie – S.

Chiefs:

• Current Record: 8-4 (5-2 home).
• Offence (Yards Per Game, ESPN): Overall – 391.1 (3rd) // Passing – 281.1 (5th) // Rushing – 110.0 (19th).
• Defence (Yards Allowed Per Game, ESPN): Overall – 367.7 (25th) // Passing – 252.5 (24th) // Rushing – 115.2 (20th)
• Points Per Game Stats, ESPN: PPG Scored – 25.3 (13th) // PPG Allowed – 21.6 (8th).
• Turnover Differential: -5 (24th).
• Injury Report (Out): Noone of note.

These two teams are going in completely different directions. The Chiefs have won their last five straight, while the Raiders have lost four of their last five. One of those games included these two team’s last match-up, which the Chiefs took 41-14. It’s hard to see anything too different here, for a number of reasons.

Mahomes has been a little bit more consistent over his last three games, throwing for five TDs and two INTS. Albeit those five TDs came in one game. But good news for Chiefs fans, that one game was against the Raiders. The Raiders have also been bleeding points, giving up, 17, 36, 32, 41 and 23 over the last five games. This will be child’s play for Mahomes and Co.

The Chiefs’ defence has been on fire lately, after their shaky start to the season. They have conceded an average of 11.6 points per game over their last five, while playing some good oppositions – Packers, Cowboys and Raiders. While I am hating on the Raiders here, they have been fairly decent on offence for a lot of the season.

The Raiders have been hit with some injuries for today’s match-up and will be without their talisman, Darren Waller. When you play an on-form Chiefs team you need to be at full strength and that will not be the case today. Chiefs’ offence will be rocking, and they’ll take it big.

Baltimore Ravens @ Cleveland Browns: Ravens +3

Ravens:

• Current Record: 8-4 (3-3 away).
• Offence (Yards Per Game, ESPN): Overall – 387.9 (5th) // Passing – (13th) // Rushing – 147.1 (Tied 3rd).
• Defence (Yards Allowed Per Game, ESPN): Overall – 356.7 (20th) // Passing – 272.4 (31st) // Rushing – 84.3 (Tied 1st)
• Points Per Game Stats, ESPN: PPG Scored – (16th) // PPG Allowed – 21.7 (9th).
• Turnover Differential: -8 (30th).
• Injury Report (Out): Marlon Humphrey – CB, Miles Boykin – WR, Patrick Mekari – G. Lots questionable.

Browns:

• Current Record: 6-6 (4-2 home).
• Offence (Yards Per Game, ESPN): Overall – 354.1 (17th) // Passing – 207.0 (24th) // Rushing – 147.1 (Tied 3rd).
• Defence (Yards Allowed Per Game, ESPN): Overall – 315.6 (4th) // Passing – (8th) // Rushing – 105.3 (11th)
• Points Per Game Stats, ESPN: PPG Scored – 21.2 (19th) // PPG Allowed – 22.3 (13th).
• Turnover Differential: +1 (12th).
• Injury Report (Out): Anthony Walker – LB, Jamie Gillian – P, Greg Newsome II – CB, Jacob Phillips – LB.

This is looking like a messy game. The under has been smashed in from 46.5 to 42.5 and it might go a point lower. This is an unusual game as it is back-to-back games against the Browns, for the Ravens. They last met on the 28th of November, in what could be the worst game of the season. The Ravens took home the W, but Lamar threw four INTs, with both offences spluttering. Baltimore got away with it, winning 16-10, and I think they’ll bounce back better after their bye week and squeeze out the victory here.

The Browns are one of the best running teams in the league, but the Ravens have the best run defence, in terms of yards per game. The way you get at the Ravens is through the air, as they are the second worst ranked passing defence in the league, and that was before their best remaining CB, Marlon Humphrey got injured. Unfortunately, Baker Mayfield is a walking injury and certainly not at his best. Baker has three TDs and three INTs in his last three games and hasn’t thrown for over 250 yards since week five.

This will be a gritty ground and pound game between two struggling teams, and when it’s a close call I will always side with the extra points and QB that I trust more. Ravens edge it, barely.

All Sunday/Monday Picks:

Confident:

• Atlanta Falcons @ Carolina Panthers: Panthers -2.5
• Baltimore Ravens @ Cleveland Browns: Ravens +3
• Dallas Cowboys @ Washington Football Team: Cowboys -4.5
• Las Vegas Raiders @ Kansas City Chiefs: Chiefs -10
• Detroit Lions @ Denver Broncos: Under 42.5
• New York Giants @ LA Chargers: Chargers -9
• Chicago Bears @ Green Bay Packers: Packers -12
• LA Rams @ Arizona Cardinals: Cardinals -2
• Buffalo Bills @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Over 53.5

Meh:

• Seattle Seahawks @ Houston Texans: Seahawks -8.5
• Jacksonville Jaguars @ Tennessee Titans: Under 43.5

Not Confident:

• San Francisco 49ers @ Cincinnati Bengals: 49ers -1.5

Saints:

• New Orleans Saints @ New York Jets: Saints -4.5

€5 to €500 Challenge:

Stay safe out there x

J.