FRIDAY AFTERNOON QUARTERBACK: NFL WEEK 14

They gave it the old college try, but unfortunately for the Dallas Cowboys, they were playing professional football Thursday night as they fell 44-30 to the Detroit Lions in a game that the Motor City Cats desperately needed to stay alive in the NFC playoff race. 

Still, it was interesting. Jared Goff was 25 of 34 passing for 304 yards, a touchdown and no picks in the win. He spread the ball around to seven different receivers, with Jameson Williams getting seven receptions for 96 yards. Amon-Ra St. Brown caught six for 92 and Jahmir Gibbs continued his Offensive Player of the Year campaign with 43 yards and three touchdowns on the ground and seven catches for 77 yards receiving. 

As for the Cowboys, the hole they dug themselves early in the season is just too steep. They could still end up winning 10 games this season and you can easily see them doing that with what’s coming up on their schedule, but like the Seattle Seahawks last year, all that will do is make them the lowest pick in the draft for the non-playoff teams. It’s a shame, but Dallas obviously is on the right track and no one, and I mean NO ONE, thought they’d be anywhere near this good back in the summer. 

Byes: New England Patriots, New York Giants, San Francisco 49ers, Carolina Panthers

SUNDAY

WASHINGTON COMMANDERS AT MINNESOTA VIKINGS (-2, O/U: 42.5)

I have good news for Commanders fans, there’s a good chance injured starter Jayden Daniels might play Sunday. I have bad news for Vikings fans, injured starter JJ McCarthy might play Sunday. The NFL giveth and the NFL taketh away. Commanders 24, Vikings 13

MIAMI DOLPHINS AT NEW YORK JETS (+3, O/U: 41.5)

Of all the possibilities on the table about a month ago, the Dolphins having a legit shot at making the playoffs was nowhere near the table. It was maybe in the dog’s bowl and even he wanted nothing to do with it. Now, they’ve won four of their last five and are travelling to New York to play a Jets team that’s already won two more games than they should have. Mike McDaniel, whatever spell charm you accepted from that mysterious old lady, never take it off. Dolphins 27, Jets 16

TENNESSEE TITANS AT CLEVELAND BROWNS (-4. O/U: 34)

Here it is, the quarterback duel between Cam Ward and Shadeur Sanders we all had circled since April’s NFL Draft, right? Right? Myles Garrett is now 3.5 sacks away from tying the record and four away from setting a new one. Cam, I’d make sure I was wearing the right cleats Sunday… and every single pad they could fit on my body. Browns 24, Titans 10

PITTSBURGH STEELERS AT BALTIMORE RAVENS (-5.5, O/U: 42.5)

Aaron Rodgers was bloodied and beaten so bad in the Steelers’ loss to the Bills last week that his imaginary ghost wife probably begged him to go ahead and retire when he spoke to her through the shaman sleeping upside down in his attic. I was one of those “the Ravens are still making the playoffs” people back when they were 1-5. Now, looking at their schedule ahead, they might get the early trip to Cancun everyone is wishing on the Kansas City Chiefs. Ravens 24, Steelers 20

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS AT ATLANTA FALCONS (+7, O/U: 44.5)

After losing to the Rams, the Seahawks went back to their plate of cupcakes and now get to see Kirk Cousins and a Falcons team that can’t even simulate the draft because they traded away their first-round pick to the Los Angeles Rams back in April. Seattle’s a good team, but they need to make the most of this glorified bye week before they hit a solid gauntlet of a schedule to end the year. Seahawks 34, Falcons 20                                                              

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS AT JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (+1.5, O/U: 46.5)

I’m bummed for the Colts fans that the Cinderella slipper has shattered so thoroughly that it nearly cost someone an eye. This is where the end officially begins, Indy. Sorry. Jaguars 27, Colts 20

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS AT TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (-9, O/U: 41.5)

The Saints currently hold the No. 3 overall pick in next April’s Draft, so this season has already been a complete failure. Winning two games? This is no way to run a tanking railroad. The Bucs need to make the most of their next two games, because they have the Dolphins and two against the Panthers that could decide the NFC South and who’s making the playoffs coming up. Buccaneers 24, Saints 10

CINCINNATI BENGALS AT BUFFALO BILLS (-5.5, O/U: 53.5)

I used to say that the Bengals were the Bills everyone’s been waiting for and then Joe Burrow just kept getting injured. Cincy is, incredibly, not out of playoff contention but they pretty much have to win out and claim the AFC North. If they’re going to do that, it has to start Sunday in Buffalo and, you know  what, I think they do it. I have no faith in this Bills team this season and Sean McDermott should already be unemployed. Bengals 27, Bills 24

DENVER BRONCOS AT LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (+7.5, O/U: 40.5)

The Broncos, Patriots and Seahawks are all kind of the same team for me this year. Their schedules have lined up perfectly to create some incredible records, and I can see all three of them losing their first playoff game by double digits. Regardless, you’d think they should beat the Raiders silly in this one, but I’ve watched how Denver plays the sport of football and I’ll believe they can cover more than a touchdown when I see it. Broncos 23, Raiders 20

CHICAGO BEARS AT GREEN BAY PACKERS (-6.5, O/U: 44.5)

This game is for control of the NFC North just like we all predicted back in August. I think the Bears are for real and they proved that by knocking off the Philadelphia Eagles last week in a game that cost Ben Johnson his shirt. Beating the Packers in Lambeau in December is a whole other level. I don’t see it happening. Packers 27, Bears 23

LOS ANGELES RAMS AT ARIZONA CARDINALS (+9, O/U: 47.5)

The Rams dropped a game last week where everything that could go wrong for them did. Arizona lost its fourth straight and Jonathan Gannon is already looking December to Remember Deals on U-Hauls. Los Angeles needs a “get-right” game and the Cards are just the birds to give it to them. Rams 34, Cardinals 16

HOUSTON TEXANS AT KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (-3, O/U: 41.5)

The Texans have clawed their way back into this season with four consecutive huge wins over three teams currently in the playoffs bracket. Kansas City has lost three of its last four and, frankly, if they drop this one, it’s lights out. There will be no return to the playoffs. Take the “L” KC. You deserve the rest and an early trip to Mexico this January. Texans 24, Chiefs 23

MONDAY

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES AT LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (+2.5, O/U: 40.5)

Justin Herbert’s injury in his non-throwing hand makes this one even more interesting. A healthy Herbert and a spiraling Eagles team, would likely equal an LA victory. Can Trey Lance work the magic if Herbert can’t go? I’m not feeling Philadelphia at all right now. If they looked any more dysfunctional, they’d be throwing drinks in each other’s face on Andy Cohen’s couch. Chargers 27, Eagles 23

Last Week

Straight up: 11-5

Against the spread: 9-7

Season

Straight up: 129-62-1

Against the spread: 92-100

Survivor Pool Picks: Broncos (Week 1), Ravens (Week 2), Bucs (Week 3), Bills (Week 4), Rams (Week 5) X, Colts (Week 6), Patriots (Week 7), Chiefs (Week 8), Chargers (Week 9), Lions (Week 10), 49ers (Week 11), Packers (Week 12), Seahawks (Week 13), Browns (Week 14)

Follow Adam Greene on Blue Sky @AdamGreene13, threads @adam.greene and Twitter @TheFirstMan