Andrew Wilsher
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NFL Week 14 got started with one heck of a battle between the Packers and Lions, with Detroit prevailing 34-31 to move to 12-1. Now we turn our attention to Sunday, with a whole host of hot divisional matchups on tap, including Browns vs Steelers, Cardinals vs Seahawks and Chargers vs Chiefs — and we have a best bet for each of those games! With tons on the line, let’s dive into our Pickswise experts’ 3-star NFL best bets for this Week 14 Sunday slate, while you can also find out our NFL picks on the side and total for EVERY matchup this week.
NFL Week 14 best bet: Pittsburgh Steelers -6.5 over Cleveland Browns (-110)
Odds available at Bet365 at time of publishing. Playable at that number.
The Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers face off this Sunday for the second time in 3 weeks. Two weeks ago, the AFC North rivals met on Thursday Night Football, and Browns QB Jameis Winston led Cleveland on a game-winning 4th-quarter drive in the snow to grab the Browns’ 3rd win this year. Winston and company are coming off a 41-32 defeat to the Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football in a game where the quarterback threw for 497 yards and 4 TDs to go with 3 INTs, 2 of which were brought back for touchdowns. It truly was the full Jameis experience for Browns fans, and it will be interesting to see how he responds. However, I expect Winston to struggle with a Steelers defense that held him to 219 yards and an interception the last time they met.
Pittsburgh enters this game off a significant 44-38 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. QB Russell Wilson was dealing against a poor Bengals secondary, as the veteran QB threw for 414 yards, 3 TDs and 1 INT. This game marked the most points Pittsburgh has put up all season, and they should be seen as Super Bowl contenders going forward. Although they gave up 38 points, 14 came with 11 minutes left in the 4th quarter when the Steelers had a 17-point lead and could afford to play soft pass defense. Now, they’ll face a Cleveland offense coming off a short week and is prone to making mistakes, especially with Jameis under center.
The Browns’ victory against Pittsburgh marked the 6th straight win for the home team in this matchup, and Pittsburgh is 19-1 against the Browns at home in the last 20 meetings. Additionally, the Black and Gold have been juggernauts at Acrisure Stadium this year, going 5-1 with an average win margin of 10.5 points. Additionally, Pittsburgh is 4-1 against the spread at home this year, with their only loss coming in a 20-17 defeat to the Dallas Cowboys. I expect the Steelers to get their revenge for the loss 2 weeks ago and they should do it by at least a touchdown.
Read our full Cleveland Browns vs Pittsburgh Steelers predictions
NFL Week 14 best bet: Arizona Cardinals -2.5 over Seattle Seahawks (-110)
Odds available at BetMGM at time of publishing. Playable to -3.
The Arizona Cardinals will host the Seattle Seahawks in the afternoon slate this Sunday in a pivotal game for the NFC West standings. Although Seattle sits atop the division, they only hold a half-game lead over the Cardinals, who can re-take the lead with a victory at home. The Seahawks enter this game after taking down the Jets 26-21 on the road, marking their 3rd straight victory. Although the Jets jumped out to an early 14-0 lead, a 92-yard pick-six and 4th-quarter comeback by Geno Smith and company led to a big win for the visitors. Now, they’ll try to take down Arizona for the second time in 3 weeks.
The Cardinals suffered their second straight defeat this past weekend on the road against the Minnesota Vikings 23-22, and they’ll have to feel like they let that one get away. Vikings QB Sam Darnold led the Vikings on a 70-yard 4th-quarter drive with 3 minutes left to take the lead, as Arizona moved to 2-4 away from home this season. Luckily, 3 of their last 5 games will be played at home, and I expect them to get back on track this Sunday. When they faced Seattle 2 weeks ago, the Cardinals had a horrible offensive day with their lowest-scoring output this season (6 points). Specifically, they couldn’t get anything going on the ground, as they tallied just 49 rushing yards. But, they ran the ball just 14 times (season-low). I expect Arizona to make their rushing attack a focal point this Sunday, as they are 0-4 when running the ball 25 times or less and 1-4 when they record fewer than 125 rushing yards.
It’s worth noting that Seattle’s rushing defense has improved since their bye week, as they’ve allowed just 89.7 rushing yards per game in 3 games compared to 139.4 in the 9 games before the bye. However, I can’t picture the Cards putting up another dud on the ground, especially after they bounced back with 154 rushing yards last week against Minnesota. Arizona is 4-2 at home this season and 4-2 against the spread, and I expect them to grab a big divisional win this weekend against Seattle.
Read our full Seattle Seahawks vs Arizona Cardinals predictions
NFL Week 14 best bet: Kansas City Chiefs -3.5 over LA Chargers (-118)
Odds available at DraftKings Sportsbook at time of publishing. Playable to -4.
Another divisional battle graces the primetime slate of Week 14 and we’re here for it. The Bolts continue to impress. Off a loss and in what bettors refer to as a “sandwich spot” at Atlanta last week, LAC found a way to win the game. Of course, Kirk Cousins didn’t exactly make it very tough. “Kirko” looked off in his return from the bye week, forcing errant throws and tossing one of the worst interceptions of his career to Tarheeb Still, who returned it for a touchdown. The Chargers weren’t at their best but a win is a win and now they can fully focus on Kansas City, who already beat them 17-10 at home in Week 4.
Looking back, a less-mature Chargers roster just couldn’t keep up with the reigning champions. Kansas City just did everything better. They ran the ball more effectively (101 yards to LAC’s 55), Patrick Mahomes outplayed Justin Herbert, the Chiefs were more efficient on third down (9-16 compared to LAC’s 4-13), and KC committed fewer penalties. Since that loss, the Chargers are 6-2 straight up and 6-2 against the spread, and they’re certainly proving they’re a formidable team under Jim Harbaugh; we just happen to love this spot for the Chiefs.
Everybody loves to hate on Kansas City and call them lucky, and in truth they’ve maintained an 11-1 record by some very thin margins, but things tend to dramatically improve for Andy Reid’s operation in December. Last year, the Chiefs limped through the final month of the year, an out-of-character outlier, but in the previous 3 seasons, Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes are 11-1 with a 10.4 ppg average margin of victory. Reid is also historically 22-4 off a bye-week, which we realize is not the case heading into Week 14, but it’s close. Kansas City is at home and getting a full 9 days to prepare for their rival, while the Bolts are competing in their third game in 14 days. The situation is just too good for the Chiefs, which is probably why no big bettors are moving this spread down, and December is when the champs typically turn a corner. We’re on the team everyone hates.
Read our full LA Chargers vs Kansas City Chiefs predictions
