The 2020 NFL season is in full swing as the playoffs are slowly on their way. In Week 14, there are about five games that will have playoff implications as the regular season come to a close. The Week 14 schedule has games that can affect things such as a home-field advantage in both conferences along with playoff positioning for lower-seeded teams. Strike 7 Sports NFL Section presents five NFL games that you should pay close attention to in Week 14. These matchups could very well tell us all we need to know about the playoffs for 2020 will turn out.
5. Saints vs. Eagles
If you have not heard by now, Jalen Hurts has been named the Eagles starting quarterback from now on. Unfortunately, Hurts will be making his debut against the New Orleans Saints. A team that has been on a tear throughout the NFC lately. Most league analysts are predicting that this matchup will be a blowout.
However, this is 2020, and the unexpected has occurred on many different occasions this season. On the bright side for Hurts, players such as Joe Burrow, Tua Tagovailoa, and Justin Herbert have exceeded expectations for being rookie quarterbacks this season. Will it be the same for Hurts this Sunday?
4. Vikings vs. Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will have an opportunity to get back into the limelight this Sunday when they take on the Minnesota Vikings. The Bucs are currently on a two-game losing streak after falling short to the Los Angeles Rams and the Kansas City Chiefs. The efforts to get back into the win column will not be easy due to facing a resurgent Vikings ball club.
Minnesota had gotten off to a rough start of the season by having a record of 0-3. But as of lately, the team has won four out of their last five ball games. They are currently at 6-6 and is now the seventh seed in the NFC playoff picture. A win versus Tampa Bay could be signified as a turning point of the Vikings 2020 season.
3. Chiefs vs. Dolphins
Could the Kansas Chiefs be looking ahead of their current opponent and instead focusing on the Week 15 showdown versus the New Orleans Saints? They may be, but they need to have attention focused on the Miami Dolphins. In just two years, Head Coach Brian Flores has the Dolphins contending for a playoff spot.
The Chiefs may leave South Beach with a victory, but the Dolphins will make them earn it. Miami contains one of the better defenses that the Chiefs will face this season.
2. Ravens vs. Browns
Going into the 2020 campaign, we all knew that the Cleveland Browns contain one of the best rosters in the NFL. But everyone wanted to take a wait and see approach on if they were a playoff team or not this season. At the moment, the Browns are 9-3, and a playoff berth is within reach. Cleveland has not reached the postseason since 2002. Based on their recent performance, the Browns’ recent playoff drought could be nearing an end. But they still have work to do.
Standing in their way will be the Baltimore Ravens. Cleveland faced Baltimore, Lamar Jackson threw three touchdown passes as the Ravens ran away with a 38-3 victory. The rematch between these two teams will be featured on Monday Night Football. After Monday’s game, we will indeed find out if it’s the same old Cleveland Browns or a new era of football that has arrived in the Dawg Pound.
1. Steelers vs. Bills
The Pittsburgh Steelers are currently being recognized as one of the most fraudulent 11-0 teams to start an NFL season. While that notion may be accurate for the most part, the Steelers played the teams that were placed on their schedule. The idea of the Steelers being a fraudulent 11-0 ball club became even more evident after the team’s 23-17 upset by the Washington Football Team.
They have a chance to get back on track this Sunday night when they take on the Buffalo Bills. On the other hand, Buffalo will have another opportunity to show the world that they are a viable threat in the AFC. They are coming off an impressive performance on Monday Night Football when they defeated the San Francisco 49ers 34-24. Once this game is over, we will know which team can make a deep playoff run.
Photo courtesy of the Associated Press.
