In Week 14, your intrepid football guide is again putting on his hip boots and wading into the treacherous waters of prognostication. Some of my picks have taken a severe beating lately, but I comfort myself by noting that I have plenty of company — most NFL pundits find themselves shaking their heads a lot these days. Yes, I got 9 of 15 games right, but call me ungrateful — I expected more.
 
The Patriots may not be what they used to be, but they walloped the Chargers last weekend (I knew they had a chance to win it, but seriously — 45-0?). That’s enough to make one pause before predicting their loss to the Rams Thursday night (but I’m doing so anyway).
 
The Seahawks looked like chumps (not champs of the Wild, Wild West), falling to the lowly Giants. If they suck again this weekend, it will give the chaotic (0-12) Jets their first win of the season — and will give the Rams a chance to pass the Hawks in the division.
 
The Titans got totally schooled by the Browns last week, but I think they should be able to handle the Jaguars. Right?
 
In a big NFC game, the surging Vikings visit the Buccaneers. This game approaches a “must-win” for both of these wild card hopefuls; they have little chance of winning their respective divisions by catching the Packers or Saints.
 
My favorite match of the weekend features the patient, relentless Colts trying to keep QB Derrick Carr on the bench in Las Vegas.
 
I certainly won’t overlook the massive AFC showdown — Steelers-Bills — on the main stage of SNF. With the Steelers and Chiefs now tied, and the Bills hot on their trail, this one could decide which team gets the conference’s one bye.
 
And, finally, the Ravens-Browns street fight on MNF has all the makings of a heavyweight slugfest. I think both of these teams will make the playoffs as wild cards, but in times like this, no team can afford to let up.
 
Here are all the Week 14 matches — and my picks.
 
 
             Home              Away               My Pick
 
1.     Patriots            Rams               Rams
2.     Titans              Jaguars            Titans
3.     Vikings             Buccaneers     Vikings
4.     Chiefs              Dolphins          Chiefs
5.     Broncos           Panthers          Panthers
6.     Texans             Bears               Bears
7.     Cardinals         Giants              Cardinals
8.     Cowboys         Bengals            Bengals
9.     Colts                Raiders            Colts
10.   Jets                  Seahawks        Seahawks
11.   Packers            Lions                Packers
12.   Falcons            Chargers          Falcons
13.   Washington     49ers                49ers
14.   Saints              Eagles              Saints
15.   Steelers           Bills                  Bills
16.   Ravens             Browns            Browns
 
Fortunately for us, all this uncertainty can keep us glued to our sofas — safe at home.