NFL Week Fourteen Predictions

Indianapolis Colts @ Tennessee Titans

Tennessee is bad without Vince Young.  Indy may have a dismal run defense, but Tennessee has gotten by all season by having their offense hang in there and score as many points as their defense has given up.  With Indy that's probably not going to happen, Peyton will get over the hump against that Tennessee secondary.  Kerry Collins, meanwhile, is going to be taken apart by an Indy pass D that is in the top five in the league.
Prediction: Colts

Cleveland Browns @ Buffalo Bills

With the Bills sitting at dead last in rushing defense and Peyton Hillis taking snaps for the Browns, Cleveland is a mighty tempting pick.  However, the Bills are no slouches in pass defense, while Cleveland sits at 20th in the league.  Most of Cleveland's linebackers are also listed as out or questionable, so I have to go with the Bills in this one, for the first time this year I believe.
Prediction: Bills

Atlanta Falcons @ Carolina Panthers

I think I'll take a chance on the Falcons in this one.
Prediction: Falcons

Green Bay Packers @ Detroit Lions

Nothing would make me happier than to see the Packers upset by the Lions, but with their third string QB going up against Aaron Rodgers I just can't see Detroit winning this one.
Prediction: Packers

Oakland Raiders @ Jacksonville Jaguars

Oakland has the Jaguars outclassed in passing defense.  The Jaguars' running game is flying under the radar this season and David Garrard could put on a show against Oakland, but I think the Jaguars run into an Oakland gameplan that keeps the ball out of their hands and puts points on the board.
Prediction: Raiders

Cincinnati Bengals @ Pittsburgh Steelers

I don't know what's worse, the Steelers' 23rd-ranked passing defense or the Bengals' 24th-ranked running defense.  This game seems ripe for an upset, but with Rashard Mendenhall taking snaps I can't go against the Steelers.
Prediction: Steelers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Washington Redskins

Every week people are picking Tampa to beat playoff-caliber teams, every week they come up just shy.  This week they play a non-playoff caliber team, and they should win.  Washington does have players coming back from injury, but I don't believe they can keep up with this Bucs' offense.
Prediction: Buccaneers

St. Louis Rams @ New Orleans Saints

Would you believe I actually had to go to the stats with this one?  The Rams are certainly making an improvement over the past few seasons.  It looks like Pierre Thomas is finally going to make his return, though, which makes the running back committee for New Orleans look very formidable.  The Rams have quietly been in the upper half of the league in run defense, with the Saints being right there with them in the same category.  I don't know that I can rightly give the advantage to either quarterback even with the slew of weapons Brees has, so this one comes down to passing D.  The Saints are head and shoulder better than the Rams in this department, so I have to go with the favorite.  Still, this is my game of the week.
Prediction: Saints

Seattle Seahawks @ San Francisco 49ers

Mike Singletary is benching Troy Smith after the way he's played over the past few games?  This season has really turned into a disaster for him.  The Niners have the talent to win this game, but I think the Seahawks are the overall better team.
Prediction: Seahawks

Denver Broncos @ Arizona Cardinals

When I heard that McDaniels was fired I thought that Studesville was going to break the trend of interim coaches getting their first win in their first game, then I saw who the Broncos were playing and changed my mind.
Prediction: Broncos

New England Patriots @ Chicago Bears

This is a good matchup, both teams have strengths and weaknesses the other can exploit.  The Bears have been good on defense against formidable passing attacks, but New England has just the right offense to exploit the cover-2.  The Patriots are near dead last in the league in passing defense, but rookie Devin McCourty is dangerous and could end up costing Cutler some picks.  On the ground, New England is just in the bottom half of the league on defense while Chicago's run game is just getting going.  On the flip side, Chicago is second in the league against the run while the Patriots don't do anything special on offense.  Statistically the Bears should be able to pull out the win, though the Patriots have been finding ways to win games where they seem overmatched all season.  I wouldn't count the Patriots out of anything, but after their big win last week I think they're due for a comedown.  This is my upset of the week.
Prediction: Bears

Miami Dolphins @ New York Jets

These teams are pretty evenly matched, but where Miami has most of their defensive stars listed as questionable it seems like New York is due to get most of their injured players back this week.  I have to take the Jets in a close one.
Prediction: Jets

Kansas City Chiefs @ San Diego Chargers

No Matt Cassel, no chance for the Chiefs
Prediction: Chargers

Philadelphia Eagles @ Dallas Cowboys

There are a lot of people choosing the Cowboys as an upset and I will admit the intangibles seem to favor them.  However, the Eagles have the defense on both sides of the ball to keep this game under their control.  As long as they can keep the Cowboys from establishing offensive rhythm they should be able to pull out a win.
Prediction: Eagles

New York Giants @ Minnesota Vikings

Despite the talk about the injuries to the Giants' line, Eli Manning hasn't been sacked since he played the Cowboys in week seven.  He has thrown a ton of interceptions, though, and Nicks and Smith are still listed as questionable.  Minnesota hasn't been great in generating takeaways, but their sack numbers have improved in recent weeks.  The Giants are just as formidable, though, and have an electric secondary.  I am right on the fence on this one and could easily take the Vikings, but I'm barely looking at New York as favorites in this one.  This is my sleeper of the week.
Prediction: Giants

Baltimore Ravens @ Houston Texans

I'd like to take the Texans as an upset here, but their biggest advantage is their running game and Baltimore's run game is just as good.  The Texans are absolutely atrocious in pass defense, and I can't rightly pick them to win a game against a team with a quarterback like Joe Flacco. 
Prediction: Ravens