NFL Week 14 betting preview: Best bets, predictions & latest odds for NFL Sunday games including Eagles @ Cowboys
We've got our best bets from anther bumper Sunday of NFL action as the Eagles and Cowboys collide and the Rams tackle the Bears.
Baltimore Ravens (7-5) @ Kansas City Chiefs (10-2) (1800 GMT)
It’s the classic attack versus defence as the high-flying Chiefs host the fearsome Ravens at Arrowhead. Playing away does not actually affect a defence too much but the raucous KC fans will make it tough for Baltimore’s run-heavy offence to try and keep up with Patrick Mahomes and company.
The Chiefs have 109 points, average 37 a game and haven’t scored less than 26 all season, but the best scoring defence around will be their toughest test to date against a defence yielding only 17.8 points per outing. Offence has come out on top four out of the last five meetings between top points scorers and top defences, and it’s hard to see it going Baltimore’s way this time.
Kansas City just have too many weapons available and the Ravens aren’t set up to play for behind as their a heavy run-first team with new quarterback Lamar Jackson looking a big threat on the ground but not so much with his arm.
Baltimore’s three-game winning run has catapulted them into the play-off picture, and are now right behind Pittsburgh in the AFC North, but the Chiefs can clinch a post-season berth with a win on Sunday – and they’ve not lost at home for a year.
Philadelphia Eagles (6-6) @ Dallas Cowboys (7-5) (2125 GMT)
This is a huge swing game with the NFC East with the division, as well as the NFC wildcard chase, looking more than a little crowded as teams desperately jostle for position. The Cowboys could all-but end the Eagles’ chances of retaining the division with a victory.
The Redskins are just behind as well but they’ve now got Mark Sanchez at QB so they’ll only be going one way, and that’s down, so this right here could be for all the play-off marbles.
Philadelphia are improving slowly thanks to better offensive line play, the return of running back Darren Sproles and the emergence of his rushing partner Josh Adams – while receiver Golden Tate seems to have now settled in to catching passes off Carson Wentz.
Dallas are now tough cookies with Ezekiel Elliott looking immense and Dak Prescott limiting mistakes while the defence is now a to-five unit, so at home this will be a desperately difficult assignment for the Super Bowl champions – who realistically need a win to keep their title defence, however futile it might ultimately be, alive for the time being.
Verdict: Dallas Cowboys win (-3) at 5/6
Los Angeles Rams (11-1) @ Chicago Bears (8-4) (0120 GMT)
Mitchell Trubisky should return at quarterback for the Chicago Bears in an intriguing match-up with the Rams – and that’s a huge boost given they lost their five-game winning run with Chase Daniel at the helm.
There’s a few similarities between these two as Trubisky and Jared Goff both talented young QBs while Aaron Donald and Khalil Mack are two of, if not the best two, the best defensive players in the NFL – they’re certainly two of the best wrecking balls in the league.
The Rams have the league-leading rusher in Todd Gurley and a few more options in their second-ranked offence, while Chicago’s major strength is on the defensive side where they rank fourth in the league and have 37 sacks – good for fifth in the NFL.
The Bears coughed up 30 points to the Giants last week though, and they aren’t anywhere near the Rams. Conversely, Donald leads the league in sacks with 16.5 so, while the Bears have the defensive edge they may struggle more to cope with what Donald brings to the table.
This is the best quality match-up of the weekend and should be a close run affair – despite the Rams having already clinched the NFC West they’re playing for a bye week and ultimately home field advantage in the play-offs, while the Bears lead the NFC North and are desperate to stay ahead.
Verdict: LA Rams to win (-5) at 29/20
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