NFL: Week 14 tips: Is seattle shutting down the vikes, too?

Week 14, and there’s a lot going on: while the cowboys can make a huge step towards the Division title, the Bears receive the Rams – can Chicago’s Defense L.A. withstand? Also: Wildcard crackers between the Vikings and the Seahawks. SPOX takes a quick look at all games of the upcoming matchday – including the forecast by NFL editor Adrian Franke, the Sunday games are as usual in the RedZone conference live on DAZN.

Impressive victory of the Jags against the Colts, carried by a vintage performance of their own defense. But how many games can you win in this way if your quarterback rolls for 150 yards, the passing game has no vertical element and the run game produces a total of 79 yards (28 of which scramble yards by Kessler)? The problem for the Jags: you probably won’t be able to expect much more from this offense for the rest of the year. The Titans with their line and receiver problems could be the next food found – can Jacksonville repeat the performance of the previous week? Even then, you have to assume that Tennessee’s defense will cause even greater problems for the Jags. This game could be won by the team that takes a defensive touchdown at the end.

Tip: Titans vs. Jaguars 16:10.

Over the past few weeks, the Bills have been selling themselves at high prices, and this is now also being done offensively. The defense can also cause problems for good teams anyway, as you have seen several times before – and the jets are anything but a good offense. At the same time Josh Allen was able to do real damage as an ever bigger part of the run game, while Gang Green apparently bet on Josh McCown the week before although Sam Darnold was supposedly fit. Apart from a few good players in the defense, there is nothing to be said for New York in this game.

Tip: Bills vs. Jets 20:13.

Two teams where the trend over the past weeks has been clearly different. While Cleveland had a clear positive trend recently, especially offensively, Carolina fell apart against the Bucs. The Panthers, with head coach Ron Rivera taking over defensive play calling, should not be able to keep Baker Mayfield under pressure, and then he should find the gaps in Carolina’s secondary. Can Carolina then keep up with the offensive without the injured Greg Olsen? Or can the browns exploit the protection problems of the panthers? A key matchup will also be the susceptible Browns Run Defense against Carolinas Run Game. This is probably the best chance for the Panthers to win the game.

Tip: Browns vs. Panthers 21:23.

Game one after the big bang in Green Bay. Is there a direct change in the offense and approach of Aaron Rodgers? If so, the Packers shouldn’t have too many problems with this Falcons team. Green Bay’s defense is stricken due to injury, but Atlantas Offense now had several huge problems. And the Falcons Defense is one of the most vulnerable defenses of this season anyway, Green Bay should have alone with his Run Game in this game great success. It is important that Right Tackle Bryan Bulaga and Right Guard Byron Bell are fit again. Both had to go out injured against Arizona and didn’t come back.

Tip: Packers vs. Falcons 27:17.

Could there be a surprise here? In any case, the Ravens defence can also cause problems for strong offenses, the prime example being the duel with the Saints a few weeks ago. And the biggest weakness of the Chiefs is and remains Run Defense, which Baltimore’s greatest strength – since Lamar Jackson took over – naturally plays into the cards. If the Ravens Defense manages to slow down Kansas City’s offense at least halfway, then the Ravens have a chance here! But if Kansas City can score fast a few times, Baltimore will have a hard time keeping up. Because the Ravens don’t have the passing game for it.

Tip: Chiefs vs. Ravens 27:24.

Respect for Miami winning a game like the one against the Bills on Sunday in the end despite continuing problems especially in protection and late backlog – but how consistently can this be maintained? The problems in the Run-Defense are no secret, and even if the Offense with Ryan Tannehill looks much better, there is still a lot of air to the top, against Buffalo the Pass-Protection was a huge problem. In total, this should be too many handicaps to keep up with a very balanced Patriots Open, which can attack Miami’s weak points in a targeted way, as well as a complex Patriots Defense.

Tip: Dolphins vs. Patriots 17:28.

After the surprising defeat in Dallas, the Saints now had a few extra days for regeneration – and Tampa Bay should be able to copy almost nothing of what worked so well for the cowboys defensively. The Bucs don’t have the pass-rush to generate pressure with four players, they don’t have the secondary to aggressively defend the Saints receivers. If Drew Brees has more time in his pocket again, there’s not much to be said for the bucs. Even if Jameis Winston made a good impression last time. It would still be important for New Orleans if Left Tackle Terron could play Armstead again.

Tip: Buccaneers vs. Saints 24:31.

Washington is the most decimated team in the league. Mark Sanchez, the third quarterback of the season, will now play the last quarter of the season due to injury, the Offensive Line has lost Jonathan Cooper after several retirements anyway and the Receiving Corps is also drastically stricken. In the past weeks the defense did not look good either, there are too many and too severe setbacks Washington had this year. A Giants team that is by no means good, but can at least score points with its individual quality, should be able to win the duel on this basis.

Tip: Redskins vs. Giants 10:20.

From Colts point of view the defeat in Jacksonville was already disappointing – a shutout bankruptcy also against a strong appearance of the Jags-Defense should not happen to this offense actually. The protection problems that have occurred sporadically in recent weeks without the injured Ryan Kelly could also become a factor against Houston and J.J. Watt, but Indianapolis must succeed in putting pressure on Deshaun Watson behind the shaky Texans line. If the Colts can’t do that, the Texans will score multiple points against this secondary.

Tip: Texans vs. Colts 23:20.

If the Redskins are the most decimated team in the league, then Cincinnati is only marginally behind. Also the Bengals are already at their second quarterback, Tyler Eifert is long gone and now A.J. Green will miss the rest of the year. That’s a huge mortgage for a team that’s already had problems with Dalton and Green – and the fragile Bengals Defense shouldn’t be able to stop the Chargers even remotely. Even if Melvin Gordon fails again.

Tip: Chargers vs. Bengals 30:13.

The Niners have arrived in free fall, and that affects almost all parts of the team. In the Run Game the Niners can do some damage here and there, but on Sunday Matt Breida drops out and much more doesn’t work anymore. Denver, even without Chris Harris, should have Nick Mullens and the Niners Passing Game under control with the Pass-Rush and Niners Passing Game and then be able to win this game offensively with a conservative Passing Game and a lot of work for Phillip Lindsay in a similar way as the week before against the Bengals.

Tip: 49ers vs. Broncos 10:23.

THE most critical duel of the week! The Cowboys can take a huge step towards playoffs with a win, while the Eagles would catch up with Dallas at the top of the division with a win. The good news for Philly: the Offense has recently improved significantly, in protection as well as Carson Wentz individually. Is that enough to score against a very strong cowboy defense that comes out of the Saints game with a very broad chest? And if the Eagles can score: what does the Cowboys-Offense show against the fragile Eagles-Secondary? Prescott, Cooper and Co. must be able to take advantage of this matchup. Otherwise there is the threat of bankruptcy and a division open again.

Tip: Cowboys vs. Eagles 23:26.

The Raiders have sold themselves surprisingly dearly against Kansas City, can they do it twice in a row? Pittsburgh, on the other hand, must win. With their defensive line the Steelers Oakland should be able to cause all sorts of problems, while the offensive line against the Raiders’ Pass-Rush is one of the biggest mismatches of the week. Building on this, the vertical passing game should also work well; even without the injured James Conner, the Steelers should win this game without much trembling.

Tip: Raiders vs. Steelers 20:26.

A game in which, of course, sport is no longer about anything. Arizona come with a surprise victory in Lambeau, Lions have now lost five of their last six games. After all: Detroit could put Jared Goff unexpectedly well under pressure, also without Blitzing – that should succeed likewise against this Cardinals-Line, which is missing now with Mike Iupati also the last remaining starter, also. Arizona will also have to do without Christian Kirk and even against a fragile Lions defense, this will be a difficult task for this offense. But the same is true on the other side of the ball, Arizona’s Defense is capable of very good games – Detroit’s Offense is undoubtedly capable of very bad games.

Tip: Cardinals vs. Lions 19:21.

A possible playoff preview with the exciting question: can Chicago’s Defense stop the rams? L.A. had some unexpected difficulties against Detroit, against the Pass-Rush of the Bears they should be turned off as soon as possible. And how does Chicago’s run defense work against the run designs of the rams? On the other hand, L.A., who are the only team with their play-off ticket already in their pockets, will have the opportunity against every opponent to win a match with Aaron Donald and the Pass Rush – as seen in Detroit on Sunday. Even if Mitch Trubisky gets fit again this could become a real problem for Chicago, especially as the Rams-Secondary with Aqib Talib will be much more stable.

Tip: Bears vs. Rams 24:27.

After Green Bay and Carolina the next wildcard duel for Seattle, with the question: how much can the Seahawks exploit the line problems of the Vikings? Seattle’s Pass-Rush, however, has increased over the season, and it’s no secret that Minnesota’s Line is one of the most vulnerable in the league, as is the fact that cousins can’t cover it up. In combination with Seattle’s good Run-Defense the Vikings-Offense threatens a very hard piece of work. Can Minnesota’s Defense stop Seattle’s Run Game and vertical passing with the Cornerbacks banged up?

Tip: Seahawks vs. Vikings 23:20.