NFL Week 14 Best Bets: Playoff Push Takes Hold In Detroit, Green Bay, and Kansas City

By Bill Speros Dec 1st, 2025 11:11 AM EST

The Lions and their fans need a win this week. (USA TODAY)

A pair of games with loaded playoff potential bookend our Week 14 NFL Best Bets. The week begins Thursday night with the Dallas Cowboys riding high into Detroit coming off back-to-back wins over both Super Bowl 59 teams. And on Monday night, the Eagles and Chargers – both 8-4 – engage in an interconference at SoFi Stadium battle that could well determine the outcome of their respective divisions and/or each team’s playoff position.

Meanwhile, the Octo Box returns in the Sunday 1 p.m. slot. In that window, the Baltimore Ravens have the chance to claim a clear hold on first place in the AFC North with a game against Pittsburgh. Both teams are 6-6. The teams play again in Week 18.

Bears-Packers Meet For 211^th Time

The Sunday national 4:25 p.m. game on FOX sends Tom Brady to Lambeau Field for the 211^th meeting between the Bears and Packers. The reeling Chiefs play host to the red-hot Texans Sunday night.

You can responsibly wager on each game using the best sports betting apps.

Four teams are on the bye this week: New England, the N.Y. Giants, San Francisco and Carolina.  

NFL Week 14 Best Bets: Odds, Picks & Best Bets

NFL Week 14 Best Bets: Gama-By-Game Analysis

Thursday, Dec. 4
Dallas Cowboys (6-5-1) at Detroit Lions (7-5)
8:15 p.m. (Prime)

Buzz: The Cowboys found their secret sauce, but did it come too late? The ‘Boys ride high into Ford Field. They knocked off both Super Bowl 59 entrants – Philadelphia and Kansas City – in back-to-back weeks. The Dallas offensive line has emerged as the pivotal force in the Cowboys’ surge – giving Dak Prescott time to unleash a fusillade of missiles to George Pickens and CeeDee Lamb. The Lions’ betting magic has faded. Detroit is just 6-6 ATS after going an NFL best 49-23 on the line since 2021. Markets always revert to the mean. That continues this week as the Cowboys deliver in high scoring game that goes down to the final possession. Think Brandon Aubrey booting a 67-yarder at the gun.

Best Bet: Cowboys +3 (-110) Hard Rock Bet via OddsJam 

Sunday, Dec. 7
Miami Dolphins (5-7) at New York Jets (3-9)
1 p.m. (CBS)

Buzz: Combined, these teams had 2 fewer wins than the Patriots ahead of New England’s Monday night game against the Giants. Jets fans living in South Florida have the worst of both worlds. This week at MetLife, we need a Kalshi or Polymarket offering on "Number of fans with bags over their heads seen on the CBS broadcast." Fireman Ed and the Jets fanbase continues to get hosed by a team that has yet to win a Super Bowl since we landed on the moon. But Gang Green has delivered the green for their backers this season, going 7-4-1 ATS. That profitable  flight plan continues this week.

Best Bet: Jets +2.5 (-110) BetMGM via OddsJam 

Seattle Seahawks (9-3) at Atlanta Falcons (4-8)
1 p.m. (FOX)

Buzz: Move over, Charlie Brown. Meet the Falcons. Atlanta has lost 4 of 5 by: a missed PAT (Patriots); a field goal at the gun and TD in overtime (Colts); a field goal in overtime (Panthers); and, Sunday, another field goal at the gun (Jets.) The. Jets. This week, the Dirty Birds play host to the Seahawks. Seattle shut out Minnesota at home Sunday 26-0 in the Sam Darnold Payback Bowl.

The lone caveat here is this game has the Seahawks heading east for a 1 p.m. kickoff. That’s a potential concern. Just as the Rams, who lost in Charlotte on Sunday as 10.5-point favorites. Seattle, however, owns a 3-0 record both SU and ATS in the Eastern Time Zone this season. The ‘Hawks are an NFL best 9-3 ATS this season. Seattle has failed to cover 5 times as road favorites against the NFC South. There’s something about the water down there.

Best Bet: Falcons +8.5 (-110) FanDuel via OddsJam 

Cincinnati Bengals (4-8) at Buffalo Bills (8-4)
1 p.m., (FOX)

Buzz: The Bills trailed New England by 2 games plus the tiebreaker in the AFC East ahead of the Patriots’ Monday night game against the Giants. Buffalo needs to win 4 of its next 5 games – including that Week 15 game at Gillette Stadium – to have a legit shot to maintain their hold on the division. Joey B. and the ‘Cats tore up host Baltimore 32-14 on Thanksgiving night as 7-point underdogs. Josh Allen & Company’s easy-as-leftover-pumpkin-pie 26-7 Sunday night at Pittsburgh won’t be duplicated here. The Bengals give up an NFL-worst 31.2 PPG, but now they can score. Can the Bills keep up? A mild-for-Buffalo day means weather won’t be a factor in our Week 14 NFL Best Bets.

 Best Bet: Bengals +6 (-110) BetMGM via OddsJam 

Tennessee Titans (1-11) at Cleveland Browns (4-8)
1 p.m. (CBS)

Buzz: The Titans managed to get themselves mathematically eliminated from the playoffs before December, thanks in part to Sunday’s 25-3 loss to Jacksonville. The Browns and Shedeur Sanders fell short at home to San Francisco 26-8 Sunday. The Titans have long since entered the Express Lane for a run at the No. 1 pick. The Browns’ defense keeps the Titans in single digits here. That, and a chilly December afternoon should be enough to tap out the Titans by halftime. This game carries the lowest total of the season at 33.5 points. No thanks.

Best Bet: Browns -3.5 (-110) BetMGM via OddsJam 

Washington Commanders (3-9) at Minnesota Vikings (4-8)
1 p.m. (FOX)

Buzz: The Vikings were shutout 26-0 in Seattle Sunday. This week, they play host to other “Washington” team. The Commanders took Denver to OT Sunday night and failed on a 2-point try in a 27-26 loss. These teams hold minuscule mathematical hopes for the postseason. The loser could well be eliminated. The Vikings won’t recover from the J.J. McCarthy-over-San Darnold selection for several seasons. McCarthy remains in concussion protocol. And oddsmakers don’t expect to him to play given that this game rates as a near pick, despite the Vikings home-field and better record. In these circumstances, hold your nose and take the under in our Week 14 NFL Best Bets.

Best Bet: Under 41.5 Points (-110) BetMGM via OddsJam 

New Orleans Saints (2-10) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-5)
1 p.m. (FOX)

Buzz: A bionic Baker Mayfield and the Bucs held off the Cardinals at home 20-17. The Buccaneers are riding a 5-year playoff run, which includes 4 straight seasons as NFC South champs. This season, they face a real threat in the division from Carolina. This week, the Saints come to Tampa Bay having been eliminated from the postseason. The Bucs win by default. But this is a nasty number for a Bucs team that’s just 5-7 ATS.

Best Bet: Saints +8 (-110) Hard Rock Bet via OddsJam 

Indianapolis Colts (8-4) at Jacksonville Jaguars (8-4)
1 p.m. (CBS)

Buzz: The Jaguars own the AFC South tiebreaker over the Colts entering this game. Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars’ defense have held their own. The Colts have dropped 3 of 4, including a 20-16 home loss to Houston Sunday. Meanwhile, Jacksonville has won 3 of 4 and sits 4-2 at home. An unseasonably cool and cloudy day in Jacksonville offers optimal conditions for football. Take the points, especially since Indy has lost 9 straight outright at Jacksonville.

Best Bet: Jaguars +1.5 (-110) Hard Rock Bet via OddsJam 

Pittsburgh Steelers (6-6) at Baltimore Ravens (6-6)
1 p.m. (CBS)

Buzz: The national CBS game has the two teams tied for first in the AFC North meeting in another Purple-And-Black rock fight. Aaron Rodgers appears to have checked out as the Steelers have dropped 3 of 4. The Ravens got caught napping on Thanksgiving night (maybe it was the tryptophan) by Joe Burrow’s return in a 32-14 loss. That ended a 5-game winning streak. Pittsburgh’s offense, however, is near non-existent. A win here sets the Ravens on a path to an impressive return as AFC North champions after starting the season 1-5. Pittsburgh has lost 7 straight SU as road underdogs. If this number stays under 7 points, you’ll be fine backing the Ravens. Thinking a 20-10 final.  

Best Bet: Ravens -6.5 (-110) DraftKings via OddsJam 

Denver Broncos (10-2) at Las Vegas Raiders (2-10)
4:05 p.m. (CBS)

Buzz: The Broncos won’t be able to clinch a playoff spot this week – thanks to math. Their focus remains on a first-round bye and homefield in the AFC. Denver stole a gritty 27-26 OT win over Washington on the road Sunday night. The Broncos are 8-0 in one-score games. They’ve stolen the “Mahomes Magic” that gave KC 12-one score victories last season. Denver is underwater and under .500 ATS this season at 5-6-1. The Broncos (-9) whiffed badly on the number in a 10-7 win at home over Las Vegas in Week 10. Denver chisels its way to another tight victory this week. The Raiders have lost 6 straight and were eliminated from the postseason Sunday via a 31-14 loss to the Chargers. But they’ll score just enough under new OC Greg Olson to push this one over the total in our Week 14 NFL Best Bets.

Best Bet: Over 40.5 Points  (-110) BetMGM via OddsJam 

Chicago Bears (9-3) at Green Bay Packers (8-3-1)
4:25 p.m. (FOX)

Buzz: The Sunday national 4:25 p.m. game on FOX sends Tom Brady to Lambeau Field for the 211^th meeting between the Bears and Packers. The Monsters of the Midway mauled wrecked Philadelphia on Black Friday. Coach Ben Johnson and the Bears blasted through their preseason win total of 7.5 and own the tiebreaker for best record in the NFC over the Rams. These teams meet again in 2 weeks, so any loss won’t be fatal. The Packers rejuvenated offense has averaged 27 points in its past 3 wins. It outpaced Detroit 31-24 on Thanksgiving. The Bears are tied for 2^nd best in the NFL against the spread at 8-4. They’ve also delivered on the number 4 straight times as underdogs against NFC opponents.

Best Bet: Bears +5.5  (-105) BetMGM via OddsJam 

Los Angeles Rams (9-3) at Arizona Cardinals (3-9)
4:25 p.m. (FOX)

Buzz: Both teams absorbed road losses to NFC South foes in the Eastern Time Zone Sunday. The Cardinals came up short 20-17 against the Bucs at Tampa Bay and were eliminated from the postseason in the process. The Rams got gob smacked by the ferocious Panthers in Charlotte, losing 31-28 at 10.5-point favorites. The Rams fix their mistakes this week (3 Matt Stafford turnovers Sunday), Stafford returns to his MVP-favorite ways, and Cardinals struggle to reach the end zone against the NFL’s No. 2 defense (17.5 PPG) in a fugly affair.

Best Bet: Under 48.5 Points (-110) DraftKings via OddsJam 

Houston Texans (7-5) at Kansas City Chiefs (6-6)
8:20 p.m. (NBC)

Buzz: The end of a dynasty is never pretty. The Patriots have yet to win a playoff game since Tom Brady retired. For the Chiefs, losers in 3 of 4, the slide this season has been precipitous. After winning 12-one score games last season, the Chiefs are now 1-5 in similar games this season. That includes a 31-28 Thanksgiving Day loss at Dallas, which wasn’t that close. The Texans own the NFL’s No. 1 defense (16.5 PPG), a four-game winning streak, and sit one game out in the top-heavy AFC South. Houston should have beaten Kansas City last postseason if not for Park Avenue’s meddling and the noodle leg of kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn.

This time, it won’t come down to a kick. But take the points just in case it does. The Texans suffocated Indy Sunday on the road in a 20-16 upset. This week, they’ll choke out a Chiefs’ offense that’s running on fumes, Travis Kelce’s Old Man Strength, and Patrick Mahomes’ dwindling mojo. Meanwhile, the Chiefs’ defense can’t stop a nosebleed, never mind C.J. Stroud and Nico Collins.

Best Bet: Texans +3.5 (-110) DraftKings via OddsJam 

Monday, Dec. 8
Philadelphia Eagles (8-4) at Los Angeles Chargers (8-4)
8:15 p.m. (ABC/ESPN)

Buzz: Justin Herbert broke a bone in his non-throwing hand Sunday, but that didn’t keep him from tossing a pair of TD passes in a 31-14 win over Las Vegas. Herbert underwent surgery Monday on his left hand but is expected to be available for this game. He’ll need to be able to run and throw against the Eagles. Meanwhile, Philly’s post-Super Bowl 59 Hangover has begun to take effect. The Eagles no-showed at home on Black Friday in a 24-16 loss to the Bears. The Chargers have dropped 11 straight as underdogs after a win. The Eagles need this road trip to wall off the noise. Expect a green-clad, pro-Eagles crowd to pack SoFi Stadium. When the boos reign down on Monday, they could be directed at either team. The Eagles end a two-game losing streak and find a glimmer of hope in LaLa Land – also known as Inglewood.

Best Bet: Eagles -3 (-114) BetMGM via OddsJam 

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