SB Nation Kansas City - NFL Picks Week 14: Kansas City Chiefs Vs. San Diego Chargers And Matt Cassel Factorhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48935/kc-fave.png2010-12-12T10:56:29-06:00http://kansascity.sbnation.com/rss/stream/16303422010-12-12T10:56:29-06:002010-12-12T10:56:29-06:00NFL Picks Week 14: Patriots-Bears, Dolphins-Jets, Chiefs-Chargers, Eagles-Cowboys
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<p>We're picking the winners in Week 14 for five of the better games of the day. The Raiders-Jaguars, Patriots-Bears, Dolphins-Jets, Chiefs-Chargers and Eagles-Cowboys are expected to be close (maybe not the Pats) and entertaining.</p>
<p>Here are our NFL picks for Week 14:</p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/oakland-raiders">Oakland Raiders</a> vs. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bigcatcountry.com/">Jacksonville Jaguars</a>: I'm going with the Raiders in this one, unfortunately (for Chiefs fans). They're coming off of a huge day rushing the ball and I think they'll keep that momentum going. The Raiders need a win to stay in the AFC West picture. <b>The Raiders win this one, 20-16.</b></p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.patspulpit.com/">New England Patriots</a> vs. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.windycitygridiron.com/">Chicago Bears</a>: With the way the Patriots have played over the last month, I'm not sure you can pick them to lose, even on the road. New England is absolutely on fire so they head to Chicago with lots of momentum. The Bears on the other hand are a team that's absolutely surprised me. I keep waiting for them to lose every week and, yet, they keep on winning. <b>Their luck ends today as the Patriots win, 34-17.</b></p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.thephinsider.com/">Miami Dolphins</a> vs. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.ganggreennation.com/">New York Jets</a>: The Jets have been playing a lot of very close games lately and coming away with wins. One of those close wins was not last week when they were beat down by the Patriots, 45-3. Are the wheels falling off for the Jets? No, I don't think so -- at least not completely.<b> Somehow, someway the Jets come out with a close victory, 24-21.</b></p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.arrowheadpride.com/">Kansas City Chiefs</a> vs. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/san-diego-chargers">San Diego Chargers</a>: I'd love to pick a KC victory but I don't think I can. There are too many things working against them in this game, namely the quarterback. The Chiefs margin for error isn't very big and I think it's too much today. <b>Chargers beat the Chiefs, 31-24.</b></p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bleedinggreennation.com/">Philadelphia Eagles</a> vs. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/">Dallas Cowboys</a>: This is the Sunday Night Football game and it means something for the Eagles, who are tied for first place in the NFC East, and it means very little for the Cowboys, who aren't in the playoff conversation.<b> I'm taking <span>Michael Vick</span> and the Eagles, 28-20.</b></p>
https://kansascity.sbnation.com/kansas-city-chiefs/2010/12/12/1871337/nfl-picks-week-14-patriots-bears-dolphins-jets-chiefs-chargers-eaglesJoel Thorman2010-12-09T11:14:19-06:002010-12-09T11:14:19-06:00NFL Picks Week 14: Kansas City Chiefs Vs. San Diego Chargers And Matt Cassel Factor
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.arrowheadpride.com/">Kansas City Chiefs</a> will travel to San Diego this weekend to take on the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/san-diego-chargers">Chargers</a> in what is the biggest game of the year in the AFC West. A Chiefs victory eliminates the Chargers from winning the division and all but eliminates them from wildcard consideration.</p>
<p>The problem? <span>Matt Cassel</span>'s appendectomy. It looks like that will likely put him out this weekend against the Chargers but the Chiefs are still holding out the small hope that he can play.</p>
<p><a href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/peter_king/12/09/nfl-week-14-picks/index.html?eref=twitter_feed">Peter King of SI.com</a> is picking the Chargers -- 24-17 -- but does bring up a good point about <span>Brodie Croyle</span>, who is expected to replace Cassel.</p>
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<div style="overflow: hidden; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; border: medium none;">Can't see this being a Chargers' walkover with Matt Cassel out. Don't forget that last year, with three minutes to go at Baltimore, Brodie Croyle had the Chiefs tied 24-24. <span></span>
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<div style="overflow: hidden; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; border: medium none;">Croyle's performance in that game is something to keep in mind. Against what ended up being the league's third ranked defense, he completed 16-of-24 passes for 177 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. If he repeats that performance, KC will be in this game.</div>
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<div style="overflow: hidden; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; border: medium none;">With the way the Chiefs are built, I don't see this being a blowout. I can't realistically expect a victory with the starting quarterback possibly out because, well, the backup is an unknown right now. Croyle has played one game in the Todd Haley/Scott Pioli era and it went well (despite the final score). <br>
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https://kansascity.sbnation.com/2010/12/9/2326053/nfl-picks-week-14-kansas-city-chiefs-vs-san-diego-chargers-and-mattJoel Thorman