#3: Seattle over Houston
(10-3: buf, TB, AZ, GB, MN, PIT, LAR, KC, no, DAL, LAC, ind, PHI)
Houston
continues to be picked on in this column. In years past, they
were the worst secondary in the league, and this year, they continue
this dubious stat of being 28th in total yards allowed, and 30th
in total points allowed. On the offensive side of the ball, it
doesn’t matter who is under center, the team is dead last in points
scored per game at 13.7.
It won’t take much for Russell
Wilson, the aging Adrian Petersen and Alex
Collins to put up an offense that should bury the Texans by
the end of the first half. This is not going to be a competitive
game and definitely a game that the Seahawks need to stay in the
Wild Card hunt.
If you play your Survival Pool with the motto that you never pick
divisional games in a big week. Then this is your game in Week
14.
#2: Los Angeles Chargers over NY Giants
(10-3: TB, GB, DEN, no, NE, LAR, bal, cin, MIA, BUF, CLE, DAL,
IND)
Second
year quarterback Justin
Herbert has his Chargers right in the middle of the AFC Wild
Card, and in shouting distance of the AFC West title. But he may
be the only starter for the Chargers able to play.
Austin Ekeler
is Questionable with an ankle injury and Mike
Williams and Keenan
Allen are on the COIVD 19 list. Both will need two negative
tests before Sunday to play. As such, this game is riskier than
the line says.
But Daniel Jones
has been left out to dry by Giants management and has had to work
behind one of the worst offensive lines in the NFL this season.
That fact is glaring as the Giants have had to manufacture offense
that just has been horrible which led to the firing of offensive
coordinator Jason Garrett.
Yes, Saquon
Barkley is finally back to give the G-Men a rushing spark.
But is he back to being 100%? Devontae
Booker played well in his absence, but it has been a carousel
at wide receiver, once considered a strength at the beginning
of the season.
The Giants defense is prone to giving up yards and points through
the air, something Herbert is adept at regardless of who is on
the receiving end.
Look for the Chargers to continue their march to the playoffs
as the G-Men start thinking about whether David Gettleman will
still be the GM at the end of the season.
#1: Green Bay over Chicago
(11-2: SF, CLE, CAR, BUF, TB, KC, AZ, LAR, dal, IND, ten, BAL,
MN)
Aaron
Rodgers is leading his NFC Central Packers through the 2021
season in quiet fashion. No matter who is in the backfield, or
on the receiving end of Rodgers passes, this Packers team seems
destined for the playoffs. Question is, once they get there, how
much staying power do they have.
The Bears meanwhile are returning to Justin
Fields (ribs) this week. Yes, David
Montgomery is in the backfield again and might have a 1000-yard
season, but the Bears are 30th in total yard, 32nd in passing
yards, and 30th in total points scored. The Bears’ offense has
committed the 3rd most turnovers and is facing a defense that…
you guessed it, has the 3rd most turnovers. This is a formula
for an old fashion drubbing by the Pack over their division rival.