Arizona Cardinals

WhatIfSports 2014 NFL Week 14 Predictions

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 8:51 p.m. ET

foxsports

Each Tuesday, WhatIfSports.com's NFL simulation engine will provide predictions, box scores and statistics for every NFL game that week. The NFL simulation engine generates detailed information including each team's chance of winning, average score and comprehensive box score.

The statistical inputs to the thousands of NFL games simulated are based on rigorous analysis of each team's roster, depth chart and statistically based player ranking. Roster modifications have been made for injuries and suspensions and those players are not part of their team's game simulation.

To account for injuries and roster moves announced late in the week, we will be re-simulating some games on Thursdays throughout the 2014 NFL season.

Check out our 2014 NFL Season-to-Date page to follow our accuracy week-to-week and find Locks and Upsets of the Week.

Game of the Week: Seahawks at Eagles

While the Packers made their presence known with a win over the Patriots last week, they have plenty of obstacles in their path to the Super Bowl. Coincidentally, two of which are facing off in the City of Brotherly Love this weekend. The Eagles enter Week 14 with an impressive 9-3 mark, and the defending-champion Seahawks are not far behind at 8-4. This conceivable playoff preview serves as our WhatIfSports.com Game of the Week.

Seattle boasts the most impressive resume in the league this season, notching wins over the Packers, Broncos, Cardinals and Niners. Unfortunately for the 'Hawks, a respite is not in their future. The next three weeks are littered with postseason contenders, and the regular season concludes against the Rams, a team that emerged victorious over Pete Carroll and company in Week 7. With Detroit and Dallas holding similar 8-4 records and San Francisco nipping at 7-5, Seattle is having to earn its title defense.

Not that Philadelphia has enjoyed a cake walk. Sure, they have feasted on the AFC South and division rivals New York and Washington, yet the Eagles have also seen the NFC West, Indianapolis, Green Bay and Dallas. And for the second straight year, the Eagles have undergone a midseason quarterback change.

Following a disastrous end to his New York career - a train wreck so horrific that it can be recalled by one infamous play - it seemed like Mark Sanchez was doomed for a life of backup duties. Yet since Nick Foles went down with a collarbone injury, Sanchez has taken the reins of the high-powered Eagles attack and not skipped a beat. Though he's been far from perfect, evidenced in his six interceptions on the year, Sanchez has led the team to four wins in five games and averaged over 280 passing yards per outing.

While Sanchez has grabbed the headlines, perhaps the real story of the Philadelphia campaign has been the resurrection of its defense. The unit, which ranked 29th in total defense a season ago, has been an opportunistic group this fall with 22 takeaways, fifth in the league. Now with sound corps on both sides of the ball, Chip Kelly could make some noise this January.

But, in the words of 20th century philosopher Ric Flair, "In order to be the man, you have to beat the man." Seattle's resistance carries itself in such a manner, and they have the numbers to support this attitude. The Seahawks enter Week 14 holding adversaries to a league-low 285.8 yards per contest, and, as a corollary, have kept opponents off the scoreboard (18.4 points, third-best in the NFL). Combined with an overpowering running game, the Seahawks are a nightmarish matchup for any NFC club.

However, Seattle is not infallible. In fact, they have a major flaw: the road. Since Russell Wilson has been under center, the Hawks are 20-2 in the friendly confines of the Emerald City. Away from Washington, it's been a different tale, with the team posting a pedestrian 12-10 mark. If Seattle hopes to make another Super Bowl run, grabbing home-field advantage is imperative. Falling short of this goal will likely spell an end to their championship reign.

So who comes out on top in this NFC battle? According to the award-winning WhatIfSports.com NFL engine, the Eagles grab the W 53.3 percent of the time by an average margin of 24-23. For the rest of this week's projections, check below:

NFL Week 14 Predictions
Matchup	Win %	Avg. Score
Tampa Bay Buccaneers	19.2	18	Boxscore
@ Detroit Lions	80.8	30	Simulate Game
Atlanta Falcons	19.8	18	Boxscore
@ Green Bay Packers	80.2	28	Simulate Game
Carolina Panthers	34.8	23	Boxscore
@ New Orleans Saints	65.2	29	Simulate Game
New York Jets	41.6	19	Boxscore
@ Minnesota Vikings	58.4	22	Simulate Game
Buffalo Bills	44.0	23	Boxscore
@ Denver Broncos	56.0	25	Simulate Game
Seattle Seahawks	46.7	23	Boxscore
@ Philadelphia Eagles	53.3	24	Simulate Game
Kansas City Chiefs	48.2	21	Boxscore
@ Arizona Cardinals	51.8	22	Simulate Game
Pittsburgh Steelers	48.6	24	Boxscore
@ Cincinnati Bengals	51.4	25	Simulate Game
New York Giants	52.1	24	Boxscore
@ Tennessee Titans	47.9	23	Simulate Game
Baltimore Ravens	52.8	20	Boxscore
@ Miami Dolphins	47.2	19	Simulate Game
Indianapolis Colts	56.9	25	Boxscore
@ Cleveland Browns	43.1	23	Simulate Game
St. Louis Rams	59.7	23	Boxscore
@ Washington Redskins	40.3	20	Simulate Game
Dallas Cowboys	62.2	28	Boxscore
@ Chicago Bears	37.8	24	Simulate Game
New England Patriots	66.1	27	Boxscore
@ San Diego Chargers	33.9	22	Simulate Game
Houston Texans	76.8	28	Boxscore
@ Jacksonville Jaguars	23.2	18	Simulate Game
San Francisco 49ers	80.0	26	Boxscore
@ Oakland Raiders	20.0	16	Simulate Game