Friday Afternoon Quarterback: NFL Week 14

BY ADAM GREENE

Any mystery surrounding the Dallas Cowboys offseason was solved for good when the Chicago Bears and Mitchell Trubisky effectively ended Jason Garrett’s head coaching career for good Thursday night, 31-24.

Friday morning, Jerry Jones had to be kicked off the air at 105.3 for using the exact kind of language his fanbase employs when talking about Garrett’s head coaching abilities.

You could argue that Jones is the reason a good coach wouldn’t take this job, but Bill Parcells worked with him just fine. The fact that he kept Garrett as long as he did shows that Jones’ management isn’t much of a problem. As I wrote Wednesday, Jerry needs to be in Ron Rivera’s DMs right now.

Let’s make some picks.

SUNDAY

CAROLINA PANTHERS AT ATLANTA FALCONS (-3, O/U: 47)

This went from a marquee match-up to a “huh, I guess that game’s happening today” when Scott Hanson cuts to it on NFL RedZone. FALCONS 20, PANTHERS 13

BALTIMORE RAVENS AT BUFFALO BILLS (+6, O/U: 43)

Here’s what’s interesting about this game. I don’t think the Bills will win, but Sean McDermott is a great coach who was on a team, the Carolina Panthers, with a Lamar Jackson-style talent before. He’ll come up with something to flummox Lamar Jackson and the Ravens offense. It’ll be something the rest of the league will use against Baltimore come playoff time. RAVENS 17, BILLS 13

CINCINNATI BENGALS AT CLEVELAND BROWNS (-7, O/U: 42)

It would be just like the Browns and Freddie Kitchens to lose this game after stumbling around against the Steelers last week. Cincy picked up its first win of the season and all it needed to stay out of the record books. I’m kind of ashamed of myself that I’m not pulling the trigger. BROWNS 23, BENGALS 20

WASHINGTON REDSKINS AT GREEN BAY PACKERS (-12.5, O/U: 42)

The Packers are in full control of the NFC North, but with just a game to spare and a match up with Minnesota in two weeks, this is no time to screw around with a joke of a Redskins squad. PACKERS 38, REDSKINS 13

DETROIT LIONS AT MINNESOTA VIKINGS (-13, O/U: 43)

After losing to the Seahawks last week, the Vikings suddenly find their playoff position on the ropes. They can’t look past the Lions, who are starting a former Fudrucker’s Grillmaster at quarterback at this point. VIKINGS 26, LIONS 10

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS AT NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (-2.5, O/U: 44.5)

No other game on this week’s docket is more important to the Los Angeles Rams’ playoff chances than this one. A Saints win puts the Rams right back in it, with a win out and you’re in scenario. The 49ers, who looked unstoppable three weeks ago, have to see this as a must win. SAINTS 27, 49ERS 20

MIAMI DOLPHINS AT NEW YORK JETS (-5, O/U: 46)

If there was ever a game that could be used to market NFL Sunday Ticket, it’s this one. I mean, how else could somebody living anywhere outside of New York City or Miami get to watch it without the service? Nevermind the fact that even fans of these two teams don’t want to see it. There’s somebody out there with a crazy parlay that’s desperate to see how it turns out and that’s why gambling makes everything better. JETS 31, DOLPHINS 24

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS AT TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (-3, O/U: 47)

Remember when people thought that Jacoby Brissett would be a solid and serviceable replacement for Andrew Luck? It was around the same time people thought Jameis Winston had saved his career in Tampa. BUCS 27, COLTS 20

DENVER BRONCOS AT HOUSTON TEXANS (-9, O/U: 42.5)

If anyone other than Dan O’Brien coached the Texans, I’d be looking at them as a real potential AFC Super Bowl team. TEXANS 24, BRONCOS 10

LOS ANGELES CHARGERS AT JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (+3, O/U: 43)

Gardner “Flash” Minshew is back in charge of the barge and this is too long a trip for a Los Angeles team that’s folded its beach umbrella weeks ago. JAGUARS 20, CHARGERS 17

TENNESSEE TITANS AT OAKLAND RAIDERS (+3, O/U: 47.5)

Accidentally falling into Ryan Tannehill is the only good head coaching move Mike Vrabel has made in two seasons. TITANS 30, RAIDERS 23

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS AT NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (-3, O/U: 49)

The Patriots have been forced to hear how they’re done, that Tom Brady’s crashing, that this is the end all week. That’s happened before and, when it does, they usually deliver a WoldStar curb stomp to the team they play the following Sunday. Not this time. CHIEFS 34, PATRIOTS 20

PITTSBURGH STEELERS AT ARIZONA CARDINALS (+1, O/U: 43.5)

It would have been difficult for the Cards to look any worse than they did last week against the Rams. I’ve got a feeling they won’t stack those up, but there are far too many holes in a team that’s riding out the stretch now. STEELERS 20, CARDINALS 17

SUNDAY NIGHT

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS AT LOS ANGELES RAMS (-1, O/U: 46.5)

This is it. If the Rams want to make the playoffs, they must win this game and possibly knock the Seahawks out of the top spot in the NFC West. A missed Greg Zeurlien field goal is all that cost them the first time they played, a kick Legatron makes 95 percent of the time. He won’t miss Sunday night, but it won’t matter. RAMS 34, SEAHAWKS 24

MONDAY

NEW YORK GIANTS AT PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (-9.5, O/U: 45.5)

With all the league has done with the flex schedule, how can they keep their hands off Monday night games? Either way, an Eagles win puts them in command of the NFC East. So that’s likely working against them. EAGLES 23, GIANTS 13

THIS WEEK

STRAIGHT UP: 0-1
AGAINST THE SPREAD: 0-1

LAST WEEK

STRAIGHT UP: 9-7
AGAINST THE SPREAD: 9-7

OVERALL

STRAIGHT UP: 123-68-1
AGAINST THE SPREAD: 107-85

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