NFL Week 14 picks against the spread

New Orleans Saints (-8) @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The New Orleans Saints have two losses on the season after the Dallas Cowboys took them out on Thursday Night Football last week. The only other loss they felt this season was in Week 1 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Things were much different then. Fitzmagic was in full swing, and the Bucs were going into matchups with swagger. They wanted to play spoiler on the season, but eventually the magic wore off.

That being said, two wins a row have the Bucs hanging on to their playoff hopes by a thread. Dirk Koetter is doing everything he can to keep his job as head coach. Jameis Winston is making a case to give him some kind of extension, or at least another chance. The running game is better than non-existent like it was earlier in the season. The Bucs front seven is coming to play every game.

That all doesn’t matter. The Saints are on another level, and they are livid. They want to do two things in this game, avenge a Week 1 loss and prove they are the best team in the league. Look for them to try and drop 50 on the Bucs, even with them playing better. The defense will be in Winston’s face all game, and force him to make mistake after mistake. The Saints by a mile in this one.

New Orleans 42, Tampa Bay 18

New England Patriots (-7.5) @ Miami Dolphins

The New England Patriots looks like their former selves on Sunday when they took apart the Minnesota Vikings in the final 20 minutes of the game. They allowed their opponent to stay in the game into the third quarter, until it was time to turn on the jets. The defense looked as good as it did all season, then Tom Brady picked up the pieces in the end.

Meanwhile, the Miami Dolphins are still fighting for that last AFC playoffs spot. Teams ahead of them have their own difficult matchup this week, so a win will really go far for the Dolphins. Plus, there’s that weird situation of Tom Brady in Miami. He’s 7-9 in his career in the southern-most point of the NFL. He’s also lost four of his last five games there, including last year’s game.

Miami desperately needs this game, but so do the Patriots. Expect this to be a dog fight where Dolphins coach Adam Gase empties the cupboard against his rival. They will do whatever it takes, and while it still might not be enough, they will keep it within a touchdown.

New England 31, Miami 28