The NFL Roundup 2019: Week 14

Written by John Edward Betancourt 

Well the time has come fellow football fans, we are now in the home stretch of the 2019 regular season and I think we all know, that everything gets supremely exciting from here on out. Because the playoff push is in full swing, which means we will be treated to some epic games and some surprises along the way and well, it’s best we waste zero time today and get right down to previewing the top storylines that are brewing on the field and highlight some of the most fascinating games to keep an eye upon in Week 14 in the NFL.
 
Kyler Murray needs to step it up this weekend.
Look, I totally get that rookie quarterbacks need time to develop and adjust to life in the NFL. But at this point in their first season, we should be seeing progress and potential and right now, we aren’t seeing anything special from Kyler Murray. Which is a problem. Because he was the number one guy this year and he should be giving the Cardinals hope for the future. But instead, he’s turning in performances akin to a backup QB, week in and week out and the bottom line, is that he needs to step up his game this weekend and show the football world that he can in fact play at a high level. And honestly, I hope he does because you hate to see someone that talented, falter this much. But clearly, some kind of mental block is keeping him from just letting loose and balling, which means it’s up to him to make some magic happen and it should be interesting to see how he handles everything from here on out since the pressure is on.
 
Will Drew Lock be able to lead the Broncos to a second straight win this weekend?
The more time I’ve had to think about Drew Lock’s performance last Sunday, the more excited I am to watch him play. Because he showed some wonderful poise and accuracy from the pocket, and some incredible leadership on the field as well. And I am outright certain that he would like nothing more than to light up the scoreboard and pull off another victory for the underdog Broncos on Sunday. But can he lead this team to a big time win over a quality opponent? The answer is a solid maybe. Because really, a victory here is dependent on the coaching and the playcalling this week. Because if the gameplan looks anything like last week, that’s going to spell disaster for this team. So, here’s to hoping the coaching staff decides to let loose for a change, because honestly, what do they have to lose?
 
Will a coaching change in Carolina make a difference?
I think we can all agree upon the fact that the firing of Coach Ron Rivera came as quite the surprise to football fans everywhere this week. Because the Panthers have been competitive on the field on multiple occasions, despite the loss of their franchise QB. But clearly owner David Tepper believes something is missing when it comes to coaching and that a shakeup will get this team immediately moving in the right direction and well, Sunday’s game against the Falcons will let us know if he’s right or not. Because if this team comes out in organized fashion and surprises Atlanta, then we will indeed know Rivera was the problem. But if it is business as usual for Carolina, then we simply know that Mister Tepper better be ready to spend heavy on a good coach and some top-tier talent in order to get this team back to the Super Bowl. 

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The Most Fascinating Games to Watch This Weekend

Baltimore Ravens (10-2) at Buffalo Bills (9-3)
New Era Field – Orchard Park, New York
Sunday, December 8, 2019 – 1:00 p.m. EST – CBS

​Normally, when you see this particular matchup on paper, it’s easy to dismiss. Because in the past, the Bills have been terrible, and Baltimore has handled them with ease. But this year, is quite the different year. For the Bills are suddenly good, thanks to their new franchise quarterback and a resurgent defense that makes life difficult for quarterbacks, and they should give the Baltimore Ravens quite the challenge when all is said and done. But that particular notion goes both ways. For the Ravens are the team to beat in the AFC right now and despite Buffalo’s ability to surprise, Lamar Jackson is going to find weaknesses in the Bills’ defense and exploit them at every turn. Which means this game will likely be a back and forth affair, until Baltimore takes control once again and seals up the win in impressive fashion. 

San Francisco 49ers (10-2) at New Orleans Saints (10-2)
Mercedes-Benz Superdome – New Orleans, Louisiana
Sunday, December 8, 2019 – 1:00 p.m. EST – FOX 

It’s always a wonderful thing when you can get a taste of the playoffs early, and that’s precisely what this game has in store for us. Because there is a solid chance that both of these teams will meet again in January, the only question is which city will host the follow up game. Thankfully this game may help decide that, since both of these teams are fighting for their playoff seeding lives and well, I expect this one to be quite the thriller when all is said and done. Because it features a pair of dynamic quarterbacks that make magic happen on a moment’s notice and the same goes for both of these defenses. So really, this could be a shootout, or this could be a defensive struggle, but what I can guarantee it is going to be, is a great game. One that is worth our while and one that will likely end in epic fashion.  

Kansas City Chiefs (8-4) at New England Patriots (10-2)
Gillette Stadium – Foxboro, Massachusetts
Sunday, December 8, 2019 – 4:25 p.m. EST – CBS 

​It’s all about big games in the NFL this time of year, and this is a matchup that meets that particular criteria. After all, it features the Kansas City Chiefs, a team that is hungry to return to the playoffs but are inconsistent on the field and that’s cost them the opportunity to hang with the big boys this season. And on the other side of the coin there’s the New England Patriots, a team that should be dominating but continue to find themselves under scrutiny for their off kilter play and really, all of those elements are the recipe for an intense game, one that both teams believe they must win, and in all honesty, they’re right to think that. But the big question of the hour is who will walk away with the victory and honestly, I don’t know. Because neither team has shown me that they are elite and it really could go either way, and at this point, all I’m expecting is a high scoring affair, and you can never go wrong with a good old-fashioned shootout.