NFL Week 14 Preview and Free Picks

Last Updated on December 2, 2025 2:13 pm by Erwin Noguera

Week 14 arrives with an air of transformation within the NFL. What once seemed like solid ground (with the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles dominating the league and sharing Super Bowls) is now full of cracks.

Two of the giants that set the tone for the last five years are facing a moment of uncertainty that few would have imagined: the Chiefs are clinging to the season as if they were on life support, while the Eagles are watching the NFC East slip through their fingers.

This season has been particularly unforgiving to the historic teams and surprisingly generous to those that, until a year ago, languished in irrelevance. Half of the top 10 in FOX Sports’ Power Rankings are franchises that didn’t even make the playoffs last season. In a sport where consistency is often a reward for the few, 2024 is proving that the line between contender and rebuilding can be erased in a matter of months.

Against this unpredictable backdrop, Week 14 presents a collection of games fraught with urgency, with teams on the brink of the abyss and others trying to cement their status as new powerhouses in the league. Here are the most comprehensive previews of four key matchups.

At Gambyl Exchange, you can explore all NFL predictions, the final bets for this Matchday, and the odds for each match.

NFL Week 14: Bills vs. Bengals

The Cincinnati Bengals arrive in Buffalo buoyed by the most eagerly awaited return of the season: Joe Burrow. The quarterback returned on Thanksgiving Day and picked up where he left off, leading his team to a victory that few had anticipated. With Burrow healthy, the offense regains the firepower that characterized it before his injury, and the possible return of Tee Higgins (after missing Week 13 with a concussion) adds even more dynamite to an attack that, even without its franchise QB, found ways to produce.

The Bills are putting in more effort than confidence as they advance. Injuries on the offensive line are disrupting the team’s rhythm. While they were able to defeat Pittsburgh and survive against a less-than-100% Aaron Rodgers, this upcoming matchup presents a much greater challenge. Buffalo’s defense, solid but vulnerable to sustained aerial attacks, will have to contend with Burrow, who often plays his best games in difficult situations.

Cincinnati’s Achilles’ heel remains its run defense, a unit that has been among the worst in the league in advanced metrics. However, recent improvement (since Week 11, their EPA allowed per play has risen to the middle of the league) offers at least a glimmer of hope that this matchup won’t turn into an offensive shootout. Still, in the cold of Orchard Park, and with Josh Allen forced to lead with authority, the game seems to be leaning toward the home team.

Bills vs. Bengals Betting Pick: Bills

NFL Week 14: Vikings vs. Commanders

In Minneapolis, two struggling franchises face off with little room for error. Washington has lost seven straight games, and Minnesota has suffered a slump that includes six losses in its last seven games, as well as a painful shutout last Sunday. Neither team offers any guarantees, but they do share a common denominator: offensive inconsistency.

For the Vikings, there is a small ray of hope amid all the inconsistency: everything points to JJ McCarthy being available after the blow he suffered in Seattle. His presence is vital to reviving Justin Jefferson, who came out of the last game with an unrecognizable record of just four yards. The star receiver continues to be a production machine. He has already accumulated 799 yards despite the roller coaster ride that has been the team’s season. But needs an offensive plan capable of supporting him.

The Commanders, for its part, continues to allow a barrage of yards week after week. Its pass defense is one of the most vulnerable in the league, allowing more than 245 yards per game. If there is a scenario conducive to Minnesota finding some rhythm, this is it. Even so, the Vikings have not scored more than 19 points in a month, a statistic that explains much of their decline.

The game promises mistakes, intermittent streaks, and very little reliability. That said, Minnesota at home and with Jefferson facing a porous secondary seems to have a slight advantage.

Vikings vs. Commanders Betting Pick: Vikings

NFL Week 14: Ravens vs. Steelers

If there is one rivalry that sums up the essence of the AFC North, it is this one. The Ravens and Steelers are tied at 6-6 and under pressure, knowing that only one of them will have a real chance to compete in January.This matchup not only defines the week: it could completely change the divisional race.

Baltimore enters the matchup shrouded in doubt. The loss to Cincinnati was a blow that left its mark on the locker room and among the fans. The lack of defensive response and Lamar Jackson’s erratic performance created a worrying sense of disconnection. Several local media outlets agree that these Ravens have not shown consistency against strong opponents, and that each victory has depended too much on context.

Pittsburgh, however, is experiencing its own moment of change. Mike Tomlin’s tenure, without a losing season in nearly two decades, seems to be reaching a turning point. The defense, once the pride of the franchise, is crumbling in key situations; Buffalo’s display of running unopposed was a clear sign of this. On offense, Aaron Rodgers’ limitations (especially due to his wrist injury) are affecting every part of the offensive plan, compounded by his public criticism of teammates, creating internal tensions.

In a matchup where both teams arrive with deep cracks, home-field advantage and the Ravens’ theoretical ceiling should make the difference.

Ravens vs. Steelers Betting Pick: Ravens

NFL Week 14: Chiefs vs. Texans

Arrowhead Stadium is hosting a matchup that, a year ago, would have seemed like a formality for Kansas City. Today, it’s a test of survival for both teams.

The Chiefs are having their most puzzling season since Patrick Mahomes took the helm, while the Texans have surprised the entire league by remaining competitive even without their young star C.J. Stroud.

Kansas City is a puzzle with no apparent solution. Their once-fearsome offense has lost creativity, rhythm, and explosiveness. Routes are not generating separation, drops are no longer isolated incidents, and Andy Reid cannot find a formula to reignite the machine. Mahomes, constantly forced to improvise, seems more pressured and less comfortable than ever. The defense, far from being a source of support, has fallen into a pattern of serious mistakes and a lack of forcefulness. If anything reflects their crisis, it is the ease with which mid-level teams have dominated them at important moments.

Houston, for its part, has survived thanks to a pragmatic approach. Davis Mills took the reins and, without needing spectacular plays, kept the ship steady while the rest of the team took on responsibilities.The defense has become the identity of the team: a physical, disciplined front seven capable of dictating the pace of the opponent.

Chiefs vs. Texans Betting Pick: Chiefs