NFL Week 14 Tips: Electric showdown expected between stumbling Bills and Chiefs

NFL fans are on high alert now as there are just five weeks until the playoffs begin. Will your team earn the right to play in January and maybe even February? 

This time of year is where big-game players and coaches start to take control. Divisional wins become doubly important and the spate of injuries in what has been a brutal season are now starting to take their toll. Only two teams are on their bye week so there are plenty of opportunities to formulate the perfect betslip. Here are my four selections for Week 14.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+2.0) @ Atlanta Falcons (-2.0)

Kick-off: 6pm Sunday GMT

Neither of these teams have impressed on offence recently. The Bucs only just fended off the one-win Carolina Panthers at home last week after back-to-back road defeats in Indianapolis and San Francisco, while the Falcons posted fewer total yards than the Saints and Jets in their last two match-ups but came up clutch on defence to secure unlikely wins.

The total points line is set at just 39.5 as they face off at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday and many will be tempted to take the under, but this game is crucial in the NFC South standings and I’m expecting several big plays from explosive players like Bijan Robinson, Drake London, Mike Evans and Rachaard White. As such, a score in the ballpark of 24-21 is perfectly plausible so I’m backing the over.

Prediction: Over 39.5 total points @ 5/6

Los Angeles Rams (+7.5) @ Baltimore Ravens (-7.5)

Kick-off: 6pm Sunday GMT

Sunday’s weather forecast in the Baltimore area is cold and wet, which is not ideal for throwing the ball. If those meteorological conditions are accurate then expect both teams to lean heavily on the run game - an area in which they have thrived in recent weeks.

You have to give the Ravens the edge as they have a dual-purpose athlete playing quarterback in the form of Lamar Jackson. The Rams will be consciously trying to stop him from escaping the pocket by playing contain, so I’m expecting to see a great deal of Gus Edwards, who already has 10 rushing touchdowns on the year. Nine of those scores have come from just 13 attempts inside the opponent’s five-yard line. He’s almost inevitable when they call his number.

Prediction: Gus Edwards anytime touchdown @ 13/10

Buffalo Bills (+1.5) @ Kansas City Chiefs (-1.5)

Kick-off: 9.25pm Sunday GMT

At the beginning of the season, this match-up was a popular prediction for the AFC Championship game. Plenty of water has passed under the bridge since then and playoffs are far from a foregone conclusion for either team, especially the Bills who are currently on the outside looking in. With that in mind, expect them to lay everything on the line to try and secure an important victory.

The good thing for Buffalo is that their offence has started to find its stride in recent weeks - they put up 32 points against the New York Jets and 34 against the Philadelphia Eagles - and the team’s overall health will have been improved over the bye week. Meanwhile, Kansas City will need to bounce back after a dismal showing against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday Night Football. 

I’m expecting a royal showdown between two of the best quarterbacks in the game. Allen v Mahomes: who will come out on top? As long as there are 48 or more points, I don’t care!

Prediction: Over 48.5 total points @ 5/6

Philadelphia Eagles (+3.5) @ Dallas Cowboys (-3.5)

Kick-off: 1.20am Monday BST

The Eagles got the win in a 28-23 thriller when these two franchises met back in week nine, but it was far from an easy victory. In fact, the Dallas Cowboys actually outgained their opponents 406 yards to 292 yards on offence and got right down to the Philly four-yard line on the last play of the game as they tried to upset the odds.

Dallas has been perfect since that loss, largely due to their average of 42 points per game on offence, while Philadelphia fell apart last week in a heavy defeat to the San Francisco 49ers. Although the Eagles are 10-2 this year, most of their successes have come in one-score games and I don’t think they are as good as they look. I’m taking the Cowboys to exact their revenge and backing them to cover the spread.

Prediction: Cowboys -3.5 @ 20/21

NFL Week 14 Tips

Back Buccaneers @ Falcons: Over 39.5 total points @ 5/6
Back Rams @ Ravens: Gus Edwards anytime touchdown @ 13/10
Back Bills @ Chiefs: Over 48.5 total points @ 5/6
Back Eagles @ Cowboys: Cowboys -3.5 @ 20/21