NFL Week 14 begins tonight with Jags and Titans
Published 1:35 am Thursday, December 6, 2018
By Barry Wilner
AP Pro Football Writer
Jacksonville won the AFC South and Tennessee earned a wild-card playoff berth out of the division last season.
Now, they get the prime-time spotlight on Thursday even though both are also-rans.
Oh, the Titans (6-6) still are in the playoff chase. But it’s difficult to take serious a team that needs a late rally to beat the Jets.
What’s happened to the Jaguars (4-8) is stunning. One quarter away from winning the AFC in January, they snapped a seven-game slide last Sunday by shutting down Andrew Luck and the Colts 6-0.
The Jags will have running back Leonard Fournette, who was suspended for the Indy game. Tennessee has been vulnerable to the run.
TITANS, 16-9
No. 14 Denver (minus 5 1-2) at No. 32 San Francisco
Broncos believing they have playoff shot. Can’t stumble here.
BEST BET: BRONCOS, 27-17
No. 25 Detroit (minus 2) at No. 29 Arizona
Not feeling any good vibes for Lions, especially when favored on road.
UPSET SPECIAL: CARDINALS, 19-16
No. 15 Indianapolis (plus 4 1-2) at No. 5 Houston
Texans can clinch AFC South if Titans lose and they win.
TEXANS, 27-24
No. 11 Minnesota (plus 2 1-2) at No. 9 Seattle, Monday night
Winner here has straight road to NFC wild-card spot.
SEAHAWKS, 26-21
No. 27 Cincinnati (plus 14) at No. 6 Los Angeles Chargers
Chargers figure they can win AFC West. Guess what: they still might.
CHARGERS, 33-13
No. 12 Baltimore (plus 6 1-2) at No. 3 Kansas City
Ravens could give Chargers’ hopes a boost. But …
CHIEFS, 31-27
No. 2 New Orleans (minus 8) at No. 20 Tampa Bay
Time to secure NFC South for Saints, and avenge opening defeat.
SAINTS, 41-23
No. 1 Los Angeles Rams (minus 3) at No. 7 Chicago
Toughest remaining test for Rams, who should handle it.
RAMS, 27-20
No. 4 New England (minus 8) at No. 18 Miami
Patriots still eyeing top seed in AFC.
PATRIOTS, 34-24
No. 13 Philadelphia (plus 4) at No. 10 Dallas
Cowboys can pretty much waltz away with NFC East with win. Start the music.
COWBOYS, 23-20
No. 8 Pittsburgh (minus 11) at No. 31 Oakland
Oh, for the days of John Madden vs. Chuck Noll.
STEELERS, 36-30
No. 23 (tie) New York Giants (minus 4) at No. 19 Washington
Oh, for the days of Bill Parcells vs. Joe Gibbs.
GIANTS, 16-13
No. 16 (tie) Carolina (minus 1 1-2) at No. 22 Cleveland
Panthers have lost their mojo. This loss will shatter playoff chances.
BROWNS, 22-20
No. 23 (tie) Atlanta (plus 5 1-2) at No. 21 Green Bay
Aaron Rodgers’ first start without Mike McCarthy as coach.
PACKERS, 33-31
No. 30 New York Jets (plus 3 1-2) at No. 28 Buffalo
Countdown is on for Todd Bowles as next coach fired.
BILLS, 20-9
Last Week: Against spread (8-8). Straight up (9-7)
Season Totals: Against spread (95-85-7). Straight up: (127-63-2)
Best Bet: 4-9 against spread, 9-4 straight up
Upset special: 8-5 against spread, 7-5-1 straight up
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