NFL Week 14 picks, odds: Cardinals fall to Rams on ‘Monday Night Football,’

This playoff race is shaping up to be ridiculous. The most boring portion of the race is the top part of the NFC, where it looks like we have five teams basically locked into those spots. But the different ways those five teams (or even four if the Rams slip some more) can shift around is pretty wild (if the Rams don’t slip this week). 

Arizona can clinch a berth this week with a win or a MIN + SF loss, but there’s still so many different ways the NFC can slide up top. On the bottom, there’s no telling who clinches a playoff berth. None of those teams have shown an ability to rip off a ton of wins in a row without a bad slip-up. The No. 6 seed and the No. 15 seed are separated by two games.

On the AFC side of things, it’s even weirder. The Patriots somehow ascended to the No. 1 seed, as we all expected! At 9-4 they’re an entire two games clear of the No. 9 seed Colts. 

There’s so much to be decided in one of the wildest playoff races we’ve seen in some time.

All NFL odds are via Caesars Sportsbook

NFL Week 14 Picks

Thursday, 8:20 p.m. ET
TV: Fox/NFL Network | Stream: fuboTV (click here)
Follow: CBS Sports App

Latest Odds:

Minnesota Vikings
-3.5

For the first time in 34 games, Ben Roethlisberger will enter a game as an underdog against a team with a record below .500. That active streak was second only to Tom Brady (55) and 11 clear of Aaron Rodgers. But the Vikings are no ordinary 5-7 team — they’ve found a way to keep 11 of their 12 games within a single possession. Six of those 12 games have been decided on the final play. “Ventricular Vikings” doesn’t hit as well as “Cardiac Cats,” but these guys are due for a nickname after this absurd season. Minnesota’s probably the better team despite the record, as it got the Lions‘ best effort and the Steelers put everything into taking down the Ravens in a must-win game. Mike Zimmer’s got some pretty good results against Roethlisberger offenses. I think we get the best effort from the Vikes and, naturally, a narrow win.

The pick: Vikings 24, Steelers 20

Props, Best Bets: Vikings -3

Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
TV: CBS | Stream: Paramount+ (click here)  

Latest Odds:

Cleveland Browns
-3

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