As the only NFL team with 11 victories heading into Week 14, the NFC West’s front-runners Los Angeles Rams are the first team through to the playoffs.
The New Orleans Saints (10-2) could have joined them had they not stumbled last week when, against the odds, a sterling Dallas Cowboys’ defense was finally able to tie-down runaway quarterback Drew Brees and defeat the Saints 13-10.
But although this setback may have gifted the top seeding for the Super Bowl to the Rams, it shouldn’t stop the Saints waltzing into the play-offs in the NFC South division.
Even though they have an away game on Sunday, they should maintain their momentum when, with their impressive 10-2 win-lose record, they take on Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-7).
It is tempting to say that the same thing could apply this week to the rampant Rams, but upsets in the NFL are not uncommon – just ask the Saints or, if you like, the Patriots, another division leader and strong 2019 Super Bowl contender who earlier in November unexpectedly went down to the Tennessee Titans.
The Rams play away against the Chicago Bears who right now are a different kettle of fish to the Buccaneers. Certainly the bookmakers think so. At -4 for the Rams and +4 for the Bears, their odds are lower than expected.
This perhaps because the Bears have won 8 games in 12, head the NFC North division and are seen by some as having the inside track ahead of the Kansas City Chiefs (10-2), the New England Patriots (9-3) and the Huston Texans (9-3) to the number 3 spot in the race to be the Super Bowl top seed.
The Chiefs, Patriots and Texans who this week play the Baltimore Ravens (7-5), the Miami Dolphins (6-6) and Indianapolis Colts (6-6) respectively in Sunday matches are all going to have to bring their A games to the party.
So too are the reigning Super Bowl Champions, the Philadelphia Eagles (6-6) playing away to the Dallas Cowboys (7-5), the team which is currently one winning game in front of them in the NFC East division and therefore the greatest threat to their hopes of defending their Super Bowl title this season.
The Eagles in recent weeks have been looking a lot better than the they did earlier in the season and they may be bolstered by the fact that this is a must win game. For that reason, it could, quite likely, be one of the tightest battles of Week 14.
The spread bet odds on offer of +3.5 for the Eagles and -3-5 for the Cowboys certainly seems to reflect this feeling.
The lowest spread bet odds of the week? It’s the +1 and -1 on the New York Giants-Washington Redskins game in the Capitol.
And the highest? That goes to the match between the visiting Cincinnati Bengals (+14) and the Lost Angeles Chargers (-14).
Below you can see Week 14s full match schedule with each teams’ won-lost-tied performance (in brackets) and the respective spread bet odds on each game?
THURSDAY:
8:20pm Jacks Jaguars (4-8) at Ten. Titans (6-6) – spread +3.5/-3.5
SUNDAY
1:00pm NY Jets (3-9) at Buffalo Bills (4-8) – spread +3.5/-3.5
1:00pm NY Giants (4-8) at Wash. Redskins (6-6) – spread +1/-1
1:00pm NO Saints (10-2) at TB Buccaneers (5-7) – spread -7.5/+7.5
1:00pm NE Patriots (9-3) at Miami Dolphins (6-6) – spread -7/+7
1:00pm Balti. Ravens (7-5) at KC Chiefs (10-2) – spread +8.5/-8.5
1:00pm Ind. Colts (6-6) at Hou. Texans (9-3) – spread +3.5/-3.5
1:00pm Atl. Falcons (4-8) at GB Packers (4-7-1) – spread +4.5/-4.5
1:00pm Car. Panthers (6-6) at Clev. Browns (4-7-1) – spread -2.5/+2.5
4:05pm Den. Broncos (6-6) at SF 49ers (2-10) – spread -2.5/+2.5
4:05pm Cinc.Bengals (5-7) at LA Chargers (9-3) – spread +14/-14
4:25pm Det. Lions (4-8) at Ariz. Cardinals (3-9) – spread -2.5’+2.5
4:25pm Pitt.Steelers (7-4-1) at Oak. Raiders (2-10) – spread -13/+13
4.25pm Phil.Eagles (6-6) at Dal. Cowboys (7-5) – spread +3.5/-3.5
8:20pm LA Rams (11-1) at Chic. Bears (8-4) – spread -4/+4
MONDAY
8:15pm Minnesota Vikings (6-5) at Seattle Seahawks (7-5-1) – spread +3/-3
