NFL Week 14 Must Bet Games & 2024 Expert Analysis, considering the Playoff implications

Even if you didn’t follow NFL football that closely, you could still look at the current standing and know that the end of the season is very much on the horizon.

That is because we are starting to see the symbols that denote which teams have clinched a playoff spot and which have already been eliminated.

NFL Week 14 Must Bet Games Analysis

While the playoff picture is getting clearer with each passing week, there is still the business of seeding to be decided, as well as division titles and Wild Card spots.

The final few weeks of the season are going to be crazy, as teams jostle for position and hopefully a smoother path through the playoffs.

For the purposes of this piece, we are going to take a look at the Week 14 games that probably mean the most, so let’s get to it.

Green Bay Packers +149 at Detroit Lions -184

TNF, December 5, 2024, 8:15 PM | Prime Video

If you want to talk about potential Super Bowl winners this season, you need to include the Detroit Lions in the conversation. After losing their opening game of the season, the Lions have gone on an absolute tear, winning 10 in a row, but as good as that run has been, the NFC North is still up for grabs.

The Green Bay Packers are a longshot to pull off the come from behind division win, sitting at 8-5, but a win this weekend could make things very interesting in the North. The Packers come into this one on a 3-game winning streak, and while they are not likely to win the division, they still need a couple of wins to secure a Wild Card spot.

The Lions are favored by 3 ½, with the point total set at 51 ½.

Atlanta Falcons +186 at Minnesota Vikings -234

Sunday, December 8, 2024, 1:00 PM | FOX

These two teams are proof that not all divisions are created equal. Heading into Week 14, the Falcons are sitting atop the NFC South with a 6-6 record, while the Vikings are sitting in 2nd in the North despite having an impressive 10-2 record.

It is obvious that all the pressure in this game is on the Falcons, who are now on a 3-game losing skid and are in real danger of losing the division lead to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. All the Vikings can do is continue to win and hope that the Detroit Lions somehow slip up, leaving the top of the division up for grabs.

This is a huge game for both teams for very different reasons, and it is the Vikings who will start as a 5-point favorite, with the point total set at 45 ½.

Cleveland Browns +232 at Pittsburgh Steelers -295

Sunday, December 8, 2024, 1:00 PM | CBS

Prior to the start of the season, we talked about potential dark horse teams this year, with the Pittsburgh Steelers being one of the teams we mentioned. Heading into Week 14, their inclusion in that list looks to have been a good pick. They come into this weekend with a 9-3 record and the lead in the AFC North, although the Baltimore Ravens are breathing down their neck.

The Browns season is ending with a whimper, as they lost to the Broncos on Monday night to fall to 3-9. They did eat the Steelers a couple of weeks ago in a primetime game played in blizzard conditions, but this is going to be a tough rematch.

The Steelers are favored by 6 ½ and the total is set at 44.

Seattle Seahawks +113 at Arizona Cardinals -138

Sunday, December 8, 2024, 4:05 PM | CBS

Another division that is still up for grabs in the NFC West, although we are getting to the point where it’s hard to tell who really wants it. The Seahawks are showing signs that they might now be the team to beat in the West, as they have won 3 in a row to move to 7-5, which has them in the top spot, at least for now.

The Cardinals have spent some time on top, but they are cooling off at the wrong time, falling to their second consecutive loss this past weekend, which has them at 6-6 overall. The harsh reality is that only 1 team is going to make the playoffs from the West, so winning the division is a must, making this a must win game for both teams.

This has all the makings of a close one, and it is the Cardinals who are a 2 ½ point favorite, with the total set at 44 ½.

Buffalo Bills -212 vs LA Rams +170

Sunday, December 8, 2024, 4:25 PM | CBS

With the AFC East Division, as well as a playoff spot, clinched, it would be easy for the Bills to slip into cruise control and start to think about resting some guys in the final couple of weeks. That, though, is not going to happen, as the Bills are still in the hunt for the top seed in the conference, so they will not be taking their foot off the gas anytime soon, which is not good news for the LA Rams.

The Bills have won 7 in a row and will be visiting a .500 team in the Rams, but LA is still in the hunt for the NFC West, as we just discussed in the previous preview. All signs would certainly point to the Bills extending their win streak, but the Rams are desperate and could use home field to their advantage.

Buffalo is favored by 4 ½ and the total is set at 49.

LA Chargers +167 at Kansas City Chiefs -208

SNF, December 8, 2024, 8:20 PM | NBC, Peacock

It has been a minute since the Kansas City Chiefs have had a serious challenger in the West, and while they are going to win the division once more, the Chargers are showing signs that the tide might well be turning. The Chargers are sitting at 8-5 and appear to be thriving under their new head coach, Jim Harbaugh.

While the Chargers are much improved, they are not yet guaranteed a playoff spot, so this game is still huge. It is often said that in order to be great, you need some luck, and you have to say that the Chiefs have had more than their fair share of that on their way to an 11-1 record.

This should be a fun one, and the Chiefs are favored by 4, with the total set at 43.

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— NFL (@NFL) December 3, 2024

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