Playoff Berths on the Line in NFL

Three teams - the Indianapolis Colts, San Diego Chargers and the Seattle Seahawks - can join the Chicago Bears and clinch playoff berths after the dust settles on week 14.

The Colts (10-2) are in the best position of any team. They don't have to depend on another team to lose. If Peyton Manning and company defeat division rival Jacksonville (7-5), Indy takes its fourth consecutive AFC South crown.

The Chargers and Seahawks need a little help for the playoff push.

If San Diego (10-2) beats Denver (7-5) and Kansas City (7-5) loses to Baltimore (9-3), then the Chargers will win the AFC West. For Seattle, the Seahawks (8-4) need a win over Arizona (3-9) and a loss by San Francisco (5-7) against Green Bay (4-8) to clinch their third straight NFC West title.

The jockeying for home field and playoff position begins in earnest here in week 14. For some it will be very unlucky. For others, it will be a rabbits foot on the way to bigger and better things.

There are plenty of excellent games on tap for any football connoisseur, so set back, grab your chips and dip, get your fantasy football sheets out and enjoy the games.

Here's the Corners predictions for week 14 in the NFL:

Minnesota at Detroit
The Lions have wrapped up their sixth straight 10-loss season and the Vikings have lost five of six and struggling QB Brad Johnson may be benched. The good news for Minnesota: The Vikings have found ways to win against the Lions, taking nine straight meetings and 13 of the last 14. Minnesota leads the all-time series 59-29-2, winning more games against Detroit than any other team. Winner: Vikings.

Oakland at Cincinnati
The Bengals are coming on after a slow start, winning three straight games to put the club right in the thick of the playoff picture. Oakland has dropped five in a row, its second five-game losing streak this season, and has scored 14 points or less in five straight games for the first time in team history. The Raiders have lost nine straight road games and 27 of its last 31 away from home. Winner: Bengals.

NY Giants at Carolina
The Panthers are 3-0 against the Giants, including a 23-0 road victory in the first round of the playoffs last season, but Carolina will be without QB Jake Delhomme, who has a thumb injury, and possibly oft-injured DeShaun Foster. The Giants have been hard by injuries this season, but this week that bug might be working for them. Winner: Giants.

Philadelphia at Washington
Philadelphia is back in the playoff hunt thanks to Jeff Garcia. The Eagles have won eight of their past 10 against the Redskins, and five of the last six in Washington. The problem the Eagles have is stopping the run. Philadelphia has given up 909 rushing yards in the past six weeks, the third-highest total allowed in the league in that span and Washington back Ladell Betts is coming off back-to-back 100-yard games. Winner: Redskins.

Atlanta at Tampa Bay
Tampa Bay has won nine of the last 12 meetings between the teams and Bucs coach Jon Gruden is 7-3 against Atlanta, but the Tampa offense is awful. Michael Vick needs 40 yards to become the NFL's single-season leader for rushing yards by a quarterback, surpassing Bobby Douglass, who had 968 for Chicago in 1972. Winner: Falcons.

Baltimore at Kansas City
The Ravens have the top defense in the league and the Chiefs have one of the best offenses around, so something has to give on Sunday. Kansas City has won each of its three meetings against the Ravens, all in Baltimore. The Chiefs have won 18 straight home games in December. Winner: Chiefs.

New England at Miami
The Patriots are on a three-game winning streak which is nothing new for Bill Belichick this late in the season. New England is a league-best 35-6 in games played after Thanksgiving - including playoffs - dating to the 2001 season. The Dolphins have won six of their last eight home meetings with New England. Winner: Patriots.

Indianapolis at Jacksonville
Indianapolis is looking for its third consecutive victory in Jacksonville and fifth in six games overall. It won't be easy though. The Jags, who have the fourth-ranked defense in the league, have given up only 47 points at home this season en route to a 5-1 record there, including shutouts of defending Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh and the Jets. Winner: The Colts.

Tennessee at Houston
After an 0-5 start, the Titans are 5-2 and have won five of their last seven, including three straight. Rookie QB Vince Young is 5-4 as a starter and he's led Tennessee in back-to-back, last-second victories. Tennessee is 8-2 against the Texans all-time. Winner: Titans.

Green Bay at San Francisco
Brett Favre is hurt, the defense stinks and the Packers have lost three straight. Not a recipe for success. The Niners are 4-2 at home this season and Frank Gore has rushed for 1,217 yards - tops in the NFC. Winner: 49ers.

Seattle at Arizona
Seattle has won four straight against Arizona and are looking for another NFC title to add to the trophy case. Since Arizona joined the NFC West in the division's realignment in 2002, the Seahawks have won seven of nine against the Cardinals. Too make matters worse for Arizona, the Seahawks are 5-0 when Matt Hasselbeck and Shaun Alexander have played together this season. Winner: Seahawks.

Denver at San Diego
The Chargers, winners of six in a row, can secure at least a wild-card spot with a win Sunday, and could be AFC West champions by the end of the day if they win and Kansas City loses or ties. San Diego could even secure the division with a tie and a Chiefs loss. L.T. will be looking to break the single-season touchdown mark and Shawne Merriman is drooling over the prospect of facing rookie QB Jay Cutler. Winner: Chargers.

Buffalo at NY Jets
The Jets have won five of the last seven games and at 7-5 are unexpectedly in the hunt for a playoff berth. The Bills, who lost LB Angelo Crowell for the season, have lost four straight games in New York against the Jets. Winner: Jets.

New Orleans at Dallas (Sunday night)
The NFC East-leading Cowboys will try for a fifth straight victory Sunday, which would match their longest win streak since 2003. New Orleans has won the last four meetings between these teams, including a 27-13 victory at Dallas on Dec. 12, 2004, in the last matchup. Brees is 7-1 against the NFC this season. Winner: Saints.

Chicago at St. Louis (Monday night)
The Bears have won the division title in back-to-back seasons for the first time since winning five in a row from 1984-88, and can earn a first-round bye for the second straight year with a win over the Rams (5-7) and losses by Dallas and Seattle on Sunday. On the other hand, St. Louis has won its last five Monday night games at the Edward Jones Dome, including a 21-16 win over Chicago on Nov. 18, 2002. The Rams have won their last four games against the Bears. Winner: Rams.

The Corner Lowdown
Last week: 8-7
Overall: 112-60


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