The Washington Redskins, Kansas City Chiefs and Miami Dolphins will all look to take care of business at home when they host their respective Week 14 opponents. With the Redskins and Dolphins both looking to improve their chances of reaching the playoffs and Kansas City looking to nab the top seed in the AFC, let’s find out what’s going down in all three affairs.
New York Giants at Washington Redskins
Game Information
What: New York Giants (4-8) at Washington Redskins (6-6)
When: Sunday, December 9, 2018, 1:00 PM ET
Where: FedExField, Landover, MD
TV: FOX
Weather Forecast
Change Light Snow: 1°C | 34°F
Humidity: 59%
Wind: 3MPH NE
Stadium Type: Open Air
The Giants have won three of their last four games and got a big 30-27 overtime win over red-hot Chicago this past weekend on Aldrick Rosas’ game-winning 44-yard field goal in overtime. Eli Manning and Odell Beckham Jr. both tossed TD passes while star rookie running back Saquon Barkley rushed for 125 yards in the win. Linebacker Alex Ogletree intercepted two passes and had an 8-yard TD return on the second play of the game. The Giants are averaging 22.2 points per game (19th) while allowing 26.2 per contest defensively (25th).
“It speaks to the resiliency of the guys,” Giants left tackle Nate Solder said after the team refused to fold following the Bears’ late heroics. “It speaks about the type of guys we have in the locker room and we just got to keep doing it and moving forward and believing in each other and doing it together.”
The Redskins got smacked around in their humbling 28-13 Monday Night Football loss to Philadelphia as quarterback Mark Sanchez (Yes…that Mark Sanchez) went 13 of 21 for 100 yards and one interception after Colt McCoy suffered a broken leg after starting the game by going 4 of 4 for 50 yards. Washington’s only bright spot came when future Hall of Fame running back Adrian Peterson burst up the middle for a fantastic 90-yards touchdown run on Sanchez’s first play from scrimmage. The Redskins are averaging 19.4 points per game (27th) while allowing 21.4 per contest defensively to rank a stellar eighth.
• Giants are 4-10-2 ATS in their last 16 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
• Giants are 3-13-1 ATS in their last 17 games following an ATS win.
• Giants are 1-6-1 ATS in their last 8 games following a straight up win.
• Redskins are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games following a straight up loss.
• Redskins are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 home games.
• Redskins are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games overall
• Under is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings.
• Under is 5-1 in the last 6 meetings in Washington.
For this intriguing Week 14 NFC East battle, I’m going to urge you to back Eli Manning and the suddenly hot New York Giants to march into the nation’s capitol and lay a solid smackdown on the Skins to take another step toward reaching .500.
New York is playing its best football of the season right now and they’ve got to be confident after winning three of their last four. The Giants also have a pair of true superstars that make big-time plays in rookie running back Saquon Barkley and wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr.
Everything is unraveling quickly for Washington despite what had been a fine campaign until Alex Smith was lost for the season a couple of weeks ago. Now, with backup Colt McCoy out too, the Redskins cam kiss any hopes they had of a postseason berth goodbye. Everyone knows by now that Mark Sanchez shouldn’t even be wearing an NFL uniform. Mr. ‘Butt Fumble’ is awful and borderline incompetent if you ask me.
The Giants are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 road games, 3-0-1 ATS in their last 4 games overall and 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games in Week 14 The Redskins are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games following an ATS loss and 4-1 ATS in their last four home games, but Washington is also just 3-7 ATS in their last 10 games against their NFC East division rivals while the underdog in this rivalry has gone 11-5 ATS in their last 16 meetings. I like Saquon Barkley to star in this one while leading the Giants to victory!
Predicted Score: New York Giants 24 | Washington Redskins 21
Baltimore Ravens at Kansas City Chiefs
Game Information
What: Baltimore Ravens (7-5) at Kansas City Chiefs (10-2)
When: Sunday, December 9, 2018, 1:00 PM ET
Where: Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, MO
TV: CBS
Weather Forecast
Clear: 0°C | 32°F
Humidity: 47%
Wind: 6 MPH NE
Stadium Type: Open Air
Baltimore has won three straight with rookie Lamar Jackson under center and now it looks like there’s no going back to former starter Joe Flacco. The Ravens manhandled Washington 26-16 last weekend as Jackson passed for 125 yards and rushed for 75 more and one touchdown while Baltimore’s defense showed up in a big way again by holding Atlanta to just 131 total yards.
“Our defense, they’re rolling,” Jackson said.
Baltimore is averaging 24.8 points per game () while limiting their opponents to a league-leading 17.8 points per contest defensively to rank first in points allowed.
Following their Week 12 bye, Kansas City bounced back from their Week 11 loss against the Rams to beat Oakland 40-33 in a high-scoring affair on Sunday that wasn’t as close as the final score indicates. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes passed for 295 yards and tossed four TD passes to join Peyton Manning and Tom Brady as the only quarterbacks to throw 40 TD passes in 12 games.
“The mindset of this team is whenever you get your opportunity, you make the most of it,” Mahomes said. “I think every single game someone else steps up. We kept our mind on that and just playing football, a game we love.”
The Chiefs average a league-leading 37.0 points per game but give up a generous 27.2 points per contest defensively to rank an uninspiring 27th in points allowed.
• Ravens are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games in December.
• Ravens are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games in Week 14.
• Ravens are 0-4 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.
• Chiefs are 4-0-1 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.
• Chiefs are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games in December.
• Chiefs are 11-3 ATS in their last 14 vs. AFC.
• Chiefs are 12-4-1 ATS in their last 17 games overall.
• Chiefs are 18-7-1 ATS in their last 26 games following a straight up win.
In this classic matchup of offense versus defense, I really like Baltimore to cover the chalk, even though I don’t see them getting the outright upset win against Kansas City.
The Ravens are 7-2-1 ATS in their last 10 games on grass and 3-1-1 ATS in their last 5 road games against a team with a winning home record. While Kansas City has gone 9-4-1 ATS in their last 14 games following am ATS loss, the Chiefs are also just 1-3-1 ATS in their last 5 games on grass. I’m feeling a win for Kansas City in this one, but an ATS cover for Baltimore.
Predicted Score: Kansas City Chiefs 27 | Baltimore Ravens 21
New England Patriots at Miami Dolphins
Game Information
What: New England Patriots (9-3) at Miami Dolphins (6-6)
When: Sunday, December 9, 2018, 1:00 PM ET
Where: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, FL
TV: CBS
Weather Forecast
Chance Moderate Rain Showers: 24°C | 75°F
Humidity: 75%
Wind: 12 MPH W
Stadium Type: Open Air
The Patriots have won two straight including their 24-10 smackdown win over Minnesota on Sunday night as quarterback Tom Brady passed for 311 yards and one touchdown while New England’s defense picked off Kirk Cousins twice and sacked him on two other occasions in the win. Fullback James Develin added a pair of rushing scores in the win. The Patriots average 27.6 points per game (7th) while allowing 21.6 points per contest defensively (9th).
“Every guy on the offense, they’re hungry. You know, just like the defense. We’re all hungry,” Patriots receiver Cordarrelle Patterson said. “We all know our role and we embrace it.”
Miami managed to snap a two-game skid and keep their postseason hopes alive by beating Buffalo 21-17 this past weekend to narrowly cover the spread as a 3.5-point home favorite. Ryan Tannehill passed for 137 yards but tossed three touchdowns and just one interception while Miami’s defense picked off Buffalo’s Josh Allen twice in the much-needed victory. The Fins got the win despite being out-gained 415-175 yards.
“It beats the heck out of the alternative,” said Tannehill.
The Dolphins averaged just 20.3 points per game (25th) while allowing 25.0 points per contest defensively (20th).
• Patriots are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 vs. AFC East.
• Patriots are 17-6 ATS in their last 23 road games.
• Patriots are 37-15 ATS in their last 52 games overall.
• Dolphins are 7-2 ATS in their last 9 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
• Dolphins are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games on grass.
• Dolphins are 4-10 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.
• Dolphins are 6-15 ATS in their last 21 games in December.
Despite the fact that New England is far superior on both sides of the ball and have a quarterback that is better than Miami’s Ryan Tannehill on his very worst day, I’m going to advise you to back the Miami Dolphins to at least cover the chalk in this week 14 AFC East divisional battle. The Dolphins beat the Patriots the last time they visited South Beach and they’ve beaten New England outright in four of their last five home dates overall.
The Home team in this AFC East rivalry has gone 13-3 ATS in their last 16 meetings and the Patriots are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 meetings in Miami. The Dolphins are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 home games and I like them to cover the chalk, even though New England is clearly the superior team on both sides of the ball.
Predicted Score: Miami Dolphins 31 | New England Patriots 24
