The NFL Roundup 2017 - Week 14

Written by John Edward Betancourt

(Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

​Here we go ladies and gents. Welcome to the home stretch of the regular NFL season, and it’s going to be a doozy. Because with four weeks left, you know that every single team on the bubble or in the hunt is going to bring their best every single week to earn a shot in the tournament and that also means, we are in for some wild and intriguing stories as well. So, let’s not waste any more time and look ahead to Week 14 in the NFL and all the amazing stories that will come with it.
 
Will the Philadelphia Eagles rebound against the Rams?
To say that the Eagles were surprised by the Seahawks would be an understatement because wow, did Seattle stick it to Philly and good. Which means with the NFC playoff seeding getting tighter and tighter, a Philadelphia rebound against the Rams is an absolute necessity if the Eagles want to keep their shot at the #1 seed alive, but can they pull it off? It’s definitely possible with this team because of how ridiculously talented they are. But their focus was missing in last week’s game, so if they keep their minds locked on the next play and execute accordingly, they will likely secure their eleventh win of the season. But if they don’t take the Rams seriously for a second, then the NFC playoff race might become incredibly interesting.
 
Which team will get their act together in the Raiders/Chiefs game?
When it comes to the Oakland Raiders and the Kansas City Chiefs, 2017 has most certainly not gone to plan. The Raiders are loaded with talent and should boast a better record than 6-6, and after starting off the season strong, the Chiefs have in essence, fallen to pieces. But the bright side in this game, is that the AFC West is still up for grabs and a win here by either team will move them closer to a Division Title, but which team will pull it together to snag a win? It’s incredibly tough to say since both of these teams are so sloppy. So really, I would say it comes down to which team is able to keep a level head, since neither of these squads are playing disciplined and it should be interesting to see which team gives in to their frustrations, first.
 
Will the promotion of Steve Spagnuolo make a difference for the New York Giants?
Whether you agree with the timing or not, a change needed to happen in Giants land and now that the firing of Ben McAdoo is complete, the time has come for Interim Head Coach Steve Spagnuolo to pick up the pieces and try to coach this team to a bittersweet finale to a dismal season. But is he the right man to lead the New York Football Giants to victory? Well the answer to that question is a big fat maybe since Steve’s track record as a Head Coach in the league is mediocre at best. But, he does understand the need to have a quality franchise quarterback at the helm and the decision to start Eli Manning this week adds a little hope to his tenure as the head cheese in New York and if he learned anything from his failures as the HC of the St. Louis Rams, then there is a chance that Steve can turn around this dismal season and bring joy back to MetLife Stadium.
 
Will the Seattle Seahawks continue their impressive surge?
Seattle is a team that likes to sneak up on football fans everywhere. Because just when you think they’re down or out, or they disappear from the football conversation, they find a way to pop right back into the limelight and for proof, look no further than their upset of the Eagles from last Sunday’s game. But, the big question on everyone’s mind is whether or not they can continue playing at such a high level and honestly, I think they can. For starters, when a team decimated by injuries is able to rally together and put together a big win, they’re clearly hungry for success and determined to make it happen and this squad does have a tendency to win often in December. So, if the Jaguars make mistakes and underestimate the Seahawks, expect this team to assemble another big win that will boost their already healthy confidence.
 
Can Jimmy Garoppolo lead the 49ers to their third win of the season?
You never quite know what a quarterback, or any player for that matter, will bring to the table when they’re traded in the middle of the season because it’s incredibly difficult for any player to unlearn everything they spent a fair chunk of the season learning, but it would seem that issues stemming from such a drastic change don’t apply to Jimmy Garoppolo. While he didn’t light up the scoreboard against the Bears, he was incredibly efficient, completing 70% of his passes for 293 yards and that’s a pretty solid first start, which begs the question, can he lead the 49ers to another victory come Sunday? Well I think his chances are pretty darn good, considering the fact he’s clearly becoming comfortable with Kyle Shanahan’s system and he’s facing a mediocre Texans defense as well, and if that D makes mistakes or gives Jimmy the look he desires, he’ll most likely torch them in the end zone, and continue to instill hope in Niners fans everywhere. 

---