Bing Predicts NFL Week 14

Jacksonville Jaguars @ Tennessee Titans

Game time: Thursday, Dec. 6, 8:20 p.m. EST

Historical matchup: Tennessee Titans lead series 28-20

After two consecutive losses, the Titans launched themselves right back into the thick of the AFC wild-card race with a 26-22 come-from-behind victory over the New York Jets. After falling behind 16-0, quarterback Marcus Mariota orchestrated a thrilling comeback, capped off by a six play, 86-yard game-winning drive that took just 70 seconds. It was the 11th game-winning drive of Mariota’s young career, and the win now has Tennessee as one of four teams sitting at 6-6, just one game out of the final wild-card spot. 

Enter the Jaguars, who finally put a halt to their seven-game losing skid with an almost inexplicable 6-0 win over the high-octane Colts. Andrew Luck had thrown at least three touchdowns in every game since Week 4, but was shutout and had a 66.8 quarterback rating to go along with an interception. 

If Jacksonville can continue to call on their championship-level defense from a year ago, they could play the role of spoiler come Thursday night. 
 

Bing Predicts Winner: Tennessee Titans (63% chance)

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New England Patriots @ Miami Dolphins

Game time: Sunday, Dec. 9, 1 p.m. EST

Historical matchup: Miami Dolphins lead series 54-52-0

It’s an all too familiar scenario for the Miami Dolphins—looking up at the top of the AFC East and seeing the Patriots in the division’s driver’s seat. Despite being three games behind New England, Miami has plenty to play for Sunday. As one of four teams sitting at 6-6 and contending for a wild-card berth in the AFC, Miami owns the tiebreaker over both the Colts and Broncos, which means if they can catch the Ravens, who are one game ahead, they could be playing into January. 

A win won’t come easy, though. The Patriots have seemingly brushed off their blowout loss to the Titans three weeks ago and have strung together consecutive 14-point wins over the Jets and Vikings. 

Tom Brady was particularly heartened by their defensive performance against Minnesota last week. The bad news for AFC contenders is that home field advantage isn’t out of the picture for New England as their 9-3 record has them chasing the 10-2 Chiefs, but the Patriots own the head-to-head tiebreaker thanks to a thrilling 43-40 win over Kansas City earlier this season.

Bing Predicts Winner: New England Patriots (72% chance)

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Atlanta Falcons @ Green Bay Packers

Game time: Sunday, Dec. 9, 1 p.m. EST

Historical matchup: Green Bay Packers lead series 17-16-0

For 13 seasons, Mike McCarthy presided over the sidelines for the Green Bay Packers, but come Sunday, it will be offensive coordinator Joe Philbin running the show as the interim head coach. The Packers fired McCarthy following a disappointing home loss to the lowly Cardinals, which all but ended their season and punctuated an all-around depressing 2018.

While a coaching search will now commence, the Green Bay roster is reeling, having been riddled with injuries and stuck without much of an answer to the question of how a team with a quarterback like Aaron Rodgers can struggle to find success.

A date with the Falcons could be a remedy for Rodgers as Atlanta enters as one of the league’s worst pass defenses and is in the midst of a four-game losing streak.

Atlanta has won just one game on the road this season, a 38-14 blowout in Washington where they put up 491 yards of offense. But, they haven’t been able to duplicate such offensive prowess recently and are struggling after being dominated by Baltimore’s defense, which held them to just 131 total yards.

As bad as Green Bay has been this season, they still sport a 4-1-1 record at Lambeau Field. It’s a meeting of two teams that had Super Bowl aspirations in September and are now faced with the harsh reality of battling mostly for draft position.

Bing Predicts Winner: (66% chance)

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Indianapolis Colts @ Houston Texans

Game time: Sunday, Dec. 9, 1 p.m. EST

Historical matchup: Indianapolis Colts lead series 25-8-0

There isn’t much more the Texans can do to make people take them seriously as a Super Bowl contender. After an 0-3 start, they continue to be the league’s hottest team and have now rattled off nine straight wins in which their defense often is the star of the show. 

In their last eight games, their opponents have failed to score more than 20 points six times. Despite allowing 428 yards to the Browns last Sunday, they held Cleveland to just 13 points as they created four turnovers en route to a 29-13 victory. 

A meeting with Andrew Luck and the high-powered Colts would usually strike some fear into the heart of any defensive coordinator, but Indianapolis didn’t inspire much confidence last week being shut out 6-0 against their division rival Jaguars. 

A loss for Indianapolis could be devastating. Despite a .500 record, the AFC playoff picture is cluttered with mediocrity and has four 6-6 teams vying for the final playoff spot in the conference. In a pass-happy league that rewards high-scoring teams, Luck getting back on track this week could put the Colts in a good position to emerge from the pack of middling teams hanging on to playoff hopes.

Bing Predicts Winner: (63% chance)

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New York Giants @ Washington Redskins

Game time: Sunday, Dec. 9, 1 p.m. EST

Historical matchup: New York Giants lead series 100-69-4

A season filled with legitimate dreams of an NFC East title has quickly turned into a nightmare for Washington. Not only did they lose their second-straight divisional game, falling 28-13 in Philadelphia on Monday night, but they lost their second quarterback to a broken fibula.

Colt McCoy, starting in place of Alex Smith who was lost for the season, went down in the 2nd quarter with what was later learned to be a broken leg. That forced Mark Sanchez, who has been with the team for less than a month, into action in primetime.

Washington is still in the thick of the playoff race, tied for second in the division with the Eagles at 6-6, and just a game back of the 7-5 Cowboys. But down to their third option at quarterback, it will be a tall task to compete in these final four weeks.

The Giants, on the other hand, come off of an upset victory over the Bears in Chicago. An Aldrick Rosas 44-yard field goal in overtime gave New York its fourth win of the year and snapped a five-game Bears’ winning streak. At this point, the Giants are likely to shift to the mindset of evaluating players for next season, which has New York media wondering if rookie Kyle Lauletta will get a shot at quarterback before year’s end.

Bing Predicts Winner: Washington Redskins (53% chance)

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New Orleans Saints @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Game time: Sunday, Dec. 9, 1 p.m. EST

Historical matchup: New Orleans Saints lead series 32-21-0

The Saints had gone the entire season without scoring fewer than 24 points, but as is the case with so many teams, a road game on Thursday night proved too much to overcome. New Orleans fell to the Cowboys, who put on an impressive defensive performance holding Drew Brees to just 127 yards passing and Alvin Kamara to just 72 all-purpose yards on Thursday Night Football.

Expect a big rebound from New Orleans, who gets to enjoy the “mini bye” after playing Thursday night. With extra time to prepare, head coach Sean Payton will likely be looking to put up prolific numbers against a familiar opponent in the Buccaneers, who are the league’s third-worst scoring defense and already fired their defensive coordinator Mike Smith earlier this season.

A win for the Saints would clinch the NFC South title for the second-straight year and would keep them in the mix for home field advantage as they continue to chase the 11-1 Rams who have a difficult road test of their own this week in Chicago on Sunday night.

Bing Predicts Winner: New Orleans Saints (73% chance)

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New York Jets @ Buffalo Bills

Game time: Sunday, Dec. 9, 1 p.m. EST

Historical matchup: Buffalo Bills lead series 62-54-0

While rookie quarterback Josh Allen was mostly average passing the ball last Sunday against the Dolphins (18/33, 231 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INT), it was his work on the ground that opened eyes across the league.

Allen scampered for 135 rushing yards in a 21-17 loss to the Dolphins, making many reconsider their view of Allen as just a big-armed quarterback. Allen is emerging as a true dual-threat and could find more success as he prepares to face a Jets’ defense that surrenders 128 yards-per-game on the ground.

Allen did not play in their meeting earlier this season, but instead watched from the sidelines as Matt Barkley and LeSean McCoy lit up the Jets for 41 points.

If Jets head coach Todd Bowles’ fate is not already decided, a second loss to the Bills could certainly leave the franchise feeling that starting a coaching search early would be more beneficial than Bowles seeing out the rest of the season. The team also has a decision to make at quarterback with rookie Sam Darnold ready to return from a foot injury that kept him out of their last three games. But is it worth it to bring him back to a dysfunctional offense and risk re-injury in a meaningless game?

Bing Predicts Winner: Buffalo Bills (58% chance)

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Carolina Panthers @ Cleveland Browns

Game time: Sunday, Dec. 9, 1 p.m. EST

Historical matchup: Carolina Panthers lead series 4-1-0

The Panthers have lost four games in a row and are rapidly slipping further out of NFC playoff picture. For that, there are consequences to pay, and coach Ron Rivera continued to shake things up on his coaching staff, firing two assistants and taking over the defensive play calling duties himself ahead of their meeting with the Browns.

The Carolina defense can’t take all of the blame for their 24-17 loss to the Buccaneers last Sunday as they faced an uphill battle trying to overcome the four interceptions thrown by quarterback Cam Newton.

For the Browns, a loss to the red-hot Texans is no reason to damper the optimism that exists throughout the organization. Yes, Baker Mayfield did throw three interceptions, but he also threw for 397 yards against a tough Houston defense.

With one eye on the future, Browns’ fans hope a win against the Panthers could make their coaching vacancy even more attractive to emerging candidates that now include the recently fired Mike McCarthy, who has an existing relationship with Browns' general manager John Dorsey from his time in Green Bay.

Bing Predicts Winner: Carolina Panthers (55% chance)

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Baltimore Ravens @ Kansas City Chiefs

Game time: Sunday, Dec. 9, 1 p.m. EST

Historical matchup: Series is tied 4-4-0

The Chiefs are scoring a ridiculous 37 points per game, but will face a good test on Sunday when they meet the league's best scoring defense. The Ravens are surrendering 17.8 points per game and have plenty to play for as they battle to maintain control of a wildcard slot in the AFC playoff picture.

Kansas City will be looking for players to step up and fill the hole created by the release of Kareem Hunt, who is now a free agent following the release of a video in which he was seen shoving and kicking a woman in an altercation last off-season.

Baltimore is hot, having won three straight games including an impressive 26-16 win over the Falcons where their defense suffocated a high-powered Atlanta offense and allowed just 131 total yards.

The Ravens would be hard-pressed to not stick with Lamar Jackson at quarterback given their recent success in the absence of Joe Flacco.

The Chiefs come in off of a 40-33 win over the Raiders, which was a much closer game than many would have predicted. Patrick Mahomes II continued to dominate, throwing four touchdowns, while also leading the team with 52 rushing yards.

Whether audiences are interested in AFC playoff positioning or not, this game feels like a must-watch for the simple fact that both quarterbacks are capable of providing electrifying, highlight-worthy plays on any given down.

Bing Predicts Winner: Kansas City Chiefs (72% chance)

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Denver Broncos @ San Francisco 49ers

Game time: Sunday, Dec. 9, 4:05 p.m. EST

Historical matchup: Series is tied 7-7-0

Just when the Broncos seemed to be down for the count and rumors of a coaching change swirled throughout Denver, Vance Joseph’s squad rallied to win three straight games, including upset victories over the Chargers and Steelers.

With the recent hot streak, the Broncos are now in the wild card chase, albeit with some rather long odds. Both the Chiefs and Chargers are destined for the postseason, meaning that Denver can ill afford to drop another game if they hope to be the third AFC West team to qualify.

The 49ers enter as one of the worst teams in the NFL and on a three-game losing streak, which has seen them surrender at least 27 points in all three games. They’ll be short-handed as well with running back Matt Breida and safety Jaquiski Tartt already being ruled out for the game.

Bing Predicts Winner: Denver Broncos (72% chance)

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Cincinnati Bengals @ Los Angeles Chargers

Game time: Sunday, Dec. 9, 4:05 p.m. EST

Historical matchup: Los Angeles Chargers lead series 20-15-0

In a Sunday night showdown of two AFC powerhouses this season, the Chargers impressed, overcoming the odds on the road. They won even with Melvin Gordon III suffering an injury, which thrust seventh-round draft choice Justin Jackson into action.

The Northwestern alum answered the call with 63 yards on eight carries, including an 18-yard touchdown run in the 4th quarter. He may get more cracks at carrying the ball this week with Gordon being questionable for this contest.

Philip Rivers was equally clutch late in the win over the Steelers, orchestrating an 11 play, 64-yard drive that took the entirety of the 4 minutes and 10 seconds remaining on the clock and was capped off by Michael Badgley’s 29-yard game-winning field goal.

Now, the Chargers are back at home and ready to welcome a reeling Bengals’ team, which has lost four straight and fallen out of the AFC playoff picture. This leaves many wondering if the end is finally near for head coach Marvin Lewis. On top of it all, the toe injury that wide receiver A.J. Green suffered, which derailed a once-hot Bengals offense, will now require season-ending surgery and will keep him out of any football action for three to four months.

Bing Predicts Winner: Los Angeles Chargers (80% chance)

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Pittsburgh Steelers @ Oakland Raiders

Game time: Sunday, Dec. 9, 4:25 p.m. EST

Historical matchup: Oakland Raiders lead series 15-13-0

The Steelers fell 33-30 in a Sunday night thriller to the Chargers. In what was an evenly contested game, the primary difference was that Pittsburgh turned the ball over once while L.A. didn't turn it over at all. It was a costly interception thrown by Ben Roethlisberger on a 3rd and 10 from the Chargers' 22-yard line, which ended a promising 14-play drive in the 2nd quarter.

The welcome news for Pittsburgh: while coming off of two losses and having to travel west, it's to meet the 2-10 Raiders. While Oakland did lose by only one score to the Chiefs, there's not much evidence that would suggest that the Raiders would be able to compete against a Pittsburgh team that has a lot riding on this game.

The Raiders have the worst record in the league (tied with the 49ers) and have an astonishing -147 point differential. Head coach Jon Gruden is unsure of whether or not running back Marshawn Lynch or tackle Donald Penn will return off of injured reserve for their remaining games, and at this point, there isn't much of a reason for them to come back in 2018.

Anything but a comfortable win for the Steelers will be a concern heading into the final quarter of the regular season.

Bing Predicts Winner: Pittsburgh Steelers (75% chance)

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Philadelphia Eagles @ Dallas Cowboys

Game time: Sunday, Dec. 9, 4:25 p.m. EST

Historical matchup: Dallas Cowboys lead series 67-52-0

Dallas stifled MVP candidate Drew Brees on Thursday night and now has the benefit of having added time to prepare for the Eagles, who will be on short rest having beaten Washington on Monday night.

The Cowboys are one game ahead in the division and won the previous meeting 27-20 in Philadelphia. That means that a home win would not only put them two games in front, but they would own the tie-breaker, leaving the Eagles only three games to make up the difference in the standings.

Dallas may get an added boost on offense with the return of left tackle Tyron Smith, who missed the last two games.

The Eagles will hope that Carson Wentz could continue to build the connection with new wideout Golden Tate, who caught seven passes for 85 yards and a touchdown in their win over Washington.

If the defending champion Eagles are to keep their title defense alive, a win over the Cowboys feels entirely necessary. They'll need one of their best performances of the season to come out of AT&T Stadium as victors, considering the Cowboys have lost only one game at home this season.

Bing Predicts Winner: Dallas Cowboys (63% chance)

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Detroit Lions @ Arizona Cardinals

Game time: Sunday, Dec. 9, 4:25 p.m. EST

Historical matchup: Detroit Lions lead series 32-28-5

While there hasn’t been much to be excited about for the Cardinals in 2018, the fact that rookie quarterback Josh Rosen beat Aaron Rodgers and the Packers at Lambeau Field last Sunday is certainly notable. If anything, they can take pride in being the team to deliver such a devastating loss to Green Bay that team president and CEO Mark Murphy had no choice but to fire head coach Mike McCarthy immediately following the game.

Now, Arizona looks to beat an NFC North opponent for the second straight week. Detroit sits at the bottom of their division and has dropped two straight since their surprising win over the Panthers three weeks ago. With winnable games left against the Cardinals, Bills, and Packers, the Lions are looking for something to build on for next season, which will be the second season under new head coach Matt Patricia.

Bing Predicts Winner: Detroit Lions (55% chance)

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Los Angeles Rams @ Chicago Bears

Game time: Sunday, Dec. 9, 8:20 p.m. EST

Historical matchup: Chicago Bears lead series 53-36-3

A potential NFC playoff preview pits the Rams’ second-ranked offense against the Bears’ fourth-ranked defense. It’s strength versus strength, though L.A. and Chicago come in with differing tones following their Week 13 performances. 

The Rams have won three straight since their loss to the Saints while football pundits are looking to poke holes in the Bears’ candidacy as a legitimate NFC contender after a disappointing loss to the last place Giants. 

The Bears’ defense had their way with Eli Manning and the Giants in the first half in Week 13, but ultimately did not get enough from backup quarterback Chase Daniel to take advantage. But with the Vikings and Packers faltering, the NFC North is still theirs for the taking, and they seem primed to take it. Starting quarterback Mitchell Trubisky is listed as questionable for this game, and his return would certainly be a boost to an offense that will need to be at its best to go toe-to-toe with the Rams. 

Either way, this will have the feel of a playoff game as two of the conference’s best teams square off in wintery conditions in primetime at Soldier Field. 

Bing Predicts Winner: Chicago Bears (51% chance)

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Minnesota Vikings @ Seattle Seahawks

Game time: Monday, Dec. 10, 8:15 p.m. EST

Historical matchup: Seattle Seahawks lead series 10-5-0

This matchup is pivotal in determining the NFC wild-card picture. If the playoffs started now, both the Vikings and Seahawks would be in as the sixth and fifth seeds, respectively. But Carolina, Washington, and Philadelphia all sit at 6-6 and within striking distance of whichever team may falter on Monday night. 

Minnesota is coming off of a loss to the Patriots in which their offense struggled to do much of anything. Kirk Cousins threw for only 201 yards while being intercepted twice, and the Vikings amassed just 278 yards of total offense. 

Seattle, on the other hand, has won three straight games, including a 43-16 blowout over the 49ers last week. Russell Wilson attempted just 17 passes, yet threw four touchdowns in what was an easy victory. 

While the Seahawks have lost twice at CenturyLink Field this season, those losses came to the Rams and Chargers, who both have shown themselves as two of the better teams in the league. 

The Seahawks home field advantage is still real and, in a primetime game of this importance, will provide a perfect setting for two teams looking to try and close 2018 strong and earn the label of the wild card team that “got hot at the right time,” which has famously produced a few Super Bowl champions.

Bing Predicts Winner: Seattle Seahawks (57% chance)

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