NFL Week 14 picks straight up and against spread: Do Lions sweep Packers, clinch playoff berth?

NFL Week 14 picks straight up and against spread: Do Lions sweep Packers, clinch playoff berth?

December 5, 2024

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Maybe call it a post-Thanksgiving lull, but Week 14 of the 2024 NFL schedule is a bit light – six teams taking their bye weeks, the final time any teams will be off … for the remainder of the regular season anyway.

Fresh off their Turkey Day triumphs, the Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers will be back on the field this Thursday night in Motown, the Lions trying to move closer to a playoff berth – which they’ll clinch with a win or tie – and NFC North crown, which they cannot claim this weekend. However if the Pack prevail, they’ll not only pull closer in the divisional chase but would open the door for the Philadelphia Eagles to move into the No. 1 overall spot in the NFC.

The other 12 games seem less compelling – naturally, you never know when you’ll unexpectedly get a nationally televised shootout like the one Monday night in Denver – but there is intrigue to be found. For example, there’s Kirk Cousins’ return to Minneapolis as the Minnesota Vikings (who can claim their own playoff berth Sunday) host their former quarterback’s NFC South-leading – but faltering – Atlanta Falcons.

The Seattle Seahawks and Arizona Cardinals will meet for the second time in three weeks, the NFC West title still very much in doubt. The Los Angeles Rams are also part of that bout but must try to slow a Buffalo Bills team that remains on a tear. And, Sunday night, the Kansas City Chiefs will try to join the Bills as division champions in 2024 by vanquishing the Los Angeles Chargers.

Who ya got?

(Odds provided by BetMGM)

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