The NFL Roundup 2020: Week 14

Written by John Edward Betancourt

It is definitely safe to say that 2020 has provided football fans everywhere with the wildest season in NFL history. For we simply haven’t had a clue what to expect during any given week, and we’ve even seen games shuffled around to strange times of day thanks to the pandemic. In fact, this year has been so off the wall and mind bending that a great deal of us have forgotten about the fact… that season is nearing its end. Because we are a mere four weeks from the postseason and that means every game is starting to carry more weight and meaning, now that the playoff field has been expanded. And with that in mind… the time has come to dive into Week 14’s bevy of games and preview which ones are worth watching and which ones will offer up the finest storylines as the push for the playoffs continues along.
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Will the Titans rebound against the Jaguars?
Make no mistake about it, the Tennessee Titans are in a tough place right now. Because they are coming off of a nasty loss, one that exposed all the flaws in their defense and that leaves one to wonder as to whether or not they can rebound against the lowly Jaguars on Sunday and the answer to that question is… maybe? Because the Jags have a blueprint on how to beat them, one that Cleveland was nice enough to supply the entire league with. Which means that if the Jags can take advantage the gaps that Cleveland exposed and neutralize the run, then they have a shot at pulling off quite the upset. But more than likely, Tennessee is going to win this matchup. Simply because they are loaded with talent and Jacksonville… well, they’re Jacksonville.
 
Will the New York Giants upset the Arizona Cardinals?
Truly, the New York Giants have become the feel-good story of the season. Because they are finally coming together as a team and playing at a high level and that’s allowed for them to take charge of the NFC East and even play the role of the spoiler, since they shocked the Seattle Seahawks last week. Which means that there is one big question hanging over their game with the Cardinals on Sunday, in that… is it possible for them to pull off another upset? And honestly, I think they can. Because they really are playing as though they have nothing to lose right now. So, if they can once again dominate on defense and find ways to put points on the board, they can absolutely beat Arizona and don’t be shocked if they do. Because something special is happening with this team right now and they might be peaking at just the right time.
 
Can the Tampa Bay Buccaneers end their losing streak on Sunday?
Without a doubt, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have to be the biggest disappointment of the 2020 season. Because this team was loaded with talent on defense coming into this season and going out and getting marquee names like Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski should have allowed for this team to dominate. But instead, they’re so-so at best and they’re dealing with a two-game losing streak, one that they are undoubtedly hoping to break on Sunday and honestly… I’m not sure they can. Because teams are able to get to Brady now and disrupt his routes and blanket his receivers and that’s a playbook that Minnesota is going to use often and if they are able to execute it just right, they’ll walk away with a huge win here, one that will cause great harm to Tampa Bay’s playoff hopes.

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The Most Fascinating Games to Watch This Weekend

Kansas City Chiefs (11-1) at Miami Dolphins (8-4)
Hard Rock Stadium – Miami Gardens, Florida
Sunday, December 13, 2020 – 1:00 p.m. EST – CBS

This is another one of those games that a year ago, fans would pay no mind to, mainly because the Dolphins were terrible back then. But once again, the changing fortunes of the NFL have put Miami back into the spotlight since they now boast a wonderful offense and defense and that means they should put up a decent fight against the defending champions in this game. Because Miami wants to prove to the football world that their roster purge was all part of a grand plan to return to glory, one that features Tua as the centerpiece of that rebuild. But while they will indeed put on a show and keep things interesting in this game, let’s be honest… the Chiefs are going to win this one when all is said and done. Simply because they are the better team.

Sunday Night Football
Pittsburgh Steelers (11-1) at Buffalo Bills (9-3)
Bills Stadium – Orchard Park, New York
8:20 p.m. EST – NBC

If there is one game that should excite football fans everywhere in Week 14, this is the one. Because this one features two AFC juggernauts, the kind that are dominating on offense and that means we are likely in for quite the treat. Because Josh Allen knows how to read defenses now and he knows how to take advantage of whatever opportunity they give him, and that should allow for him to put some points up on the board. But on the flip side of that, Big Ben has been around in this league a long time, and he knows what it takes to win and has seen it all. And once again, he has weapons galore at his fingertips and will be able to answer whatever Allen does no problem. Which means this game is all about defense, and the first one to shore up, is the one that secures a big-time victory for their franchise, and if I had to guess which team will pull that off… it would have to be Pittsburgh. Because nobody knows defense like the Steelers.

​ Monday Night Football
Baltimore Ravens (7-5) at Cleveland Browns (9-3)
FirstEnergy Stadium – Cleveland, OH
8:15 p.m. EST – ESPN/ABC   

​AFC North games are always a treat in prime-time football, simply because the franchises in this division of football; cannot stand one another. So, they tend to leave everything out on the field when they play and that’s precisely what I am expecting to see here. But there is an added bonus to this particular matchup that should make it even more appealing. In that, both of these teams have something to prove. For Baltimore wants the football world to know that they are indeed a top-tier team and that their record last year was no fluke. And as for Cleveland, well this is another opportunity for them to continue to wow the NFL and let everyone know that this franchise is leaving its losing ways behind and, in the end, I honestly think that Cleveland is going to win this game. Because they are playing incredible football and they are hands down, better than the Ravens.