The New Orleans Saints face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on the road this week in an NFC South matchup. This season is now lost for the Saints and the focus for many fans has moved towards the future. Some would like to sacrifice wins for draft position, while others covet winning above any draft prospect. No matter what side of the fence fans are on, the team itself is still fighting to win games, the biggest question is if they have the talent necessary to do it. The biggest piece for the Saints is QB Tyler Shough, and how Shough does against the Bucs will tell the tale of this game.

Let’s take a look at all of the crucial matchups in the league this week as we enter the final stretch of the 2025 NFL season.

I told you so: Jets over Falcons!

What do I know: Colts over Texans?

Thursday, December 4th – Thursday Night Football

Cowboys(6-5-1) at Lions(7-5)

Dallas is currently surging, having won three-straight games, first against sad-sack Vegas, while the last two were against this past February’s Super Bowl contestants. Detroit has traded wins and losses every week since the beginning of October, never winning two-straight but never losing two-straight either during that stretch. Well, for the Lions’ sake, they lost their last game, so this is their win week. Detroit wins 24-17.

Sunday, December 7th – Early Games

Seahawks(9-3) at Falcons(4-8)

Sam Darnold and the high-flying Seattle offense will continue to soar against Kirk Cousins in Atlanta. Seattle wins 29-21.

Steelers(6-6) at Ravens(6-6)

As bad as the NFC South has been, the AFC North has arguably been worse. Now, two of the most bitter rivals in the NFL face off for the division lead, sporting identical .500 records. Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry will be the difference makers in this showdown. Baltimore wins 26-16.

Titans(1-11) at Browns(3-9)

This matchup stinks worse than those Thanksgiving leftovers in the back of the fridge. Cleveland wins 21-17.

Colts(8-4) at Jaguars(8-4) – Game of the Week

After a remarkable start, winning 7 of their first 8 games, Indy has fallen off a cliff, losing 3 of their last 4, all against AFC opponents. They have now been lapped by New England and Denver on the top of the AFC, and now find themselves in a dead heat for the AFC South against this week’s opponent, Jacksonville. The Jags come into this one on a roll, winning 4 of their last 5. Jacksonville has the momentum and home-field advantage, but Indy, in their most desperate hour, finds a way in the closing moments of this divisional showdown. Indianapolis wins 30-27.

Commanders(3-9) at Vikings(4-8)

Washington has followed-up an NFC title game appearance with an absolute nightmare of a season, losing seven-consecutive games as well as losing Jayden Daniels to injury. The losing will continue in Minnesota against a Vikings team that has lost six of their last seven games themselves. Both of these teams were soaring a year ago, now they’re both in the dirt. Minnesota wins 21-13.

Dolphins(5-7) at Jets(3-9)

This could be considered a matchup of two of the league’s worst, but in reality, both teams are playing their best football of the season over the last six weeks. Believe it or not, the Jets will win back-to-back games here. New York wins 24-23.

Bengals(4-8) at Bills(8-4)

It’s been a bumpy road for Buffalo as of late, having traded wins and losses every week since Week 10, and it’s time for another loss, against a Cincy team that looks like the team that started the season with Joe Burrow back at quarterback. Burrow and the Bengals are about to pull off another huge upset here. Cincinnati wins 26-14.

Saints(2-10) at Buccaneers(7-5)

Tampa Bay has been surprisingly vulnerable since their last meeting with the Saints in Week 8, losing three-straight games against Super Bowl contenders. They found themselves back on the on ramp to easy street against the Cardinals last week, but that game was far closer than it ever should’ve been. Now, every opponent they have remaining, except Carolina, have losing records. Unfortunately, the team remaining with the worst record is the Saints.

The Saints are currently suffering through their worst season in two decades, and their worst offensive outing in this historically poor season came against these same Bucs in late October. Spencer Rattler got the start at quarterback in that game, but Tyler Shough got to see some action in relief. Now Shough will get the start, his fifth straight and although he has shown some flashes, and enough promise to be the starter for the 2026 season as well, he struggled in action against Tampa Bay during their last meeting, and his supporting cast on offense hasn’t really improved since. The lack of offensive firepower, just like every week, will ruin the Saints’ chances of leaving Tampa with the win. Tampa Bay wins 24-13.

Sunday, December 7th – Late Games

Broncos(10-2) at Raiders(2-10)

Denver stands atop the AFC, alongside the Pats, having won nine-consecutive games, and they will easily make it ten, as they face one of the absolute worst teams in the NFL in Vegas. Denver wins 24-14.

Bears(9-3) at Packers(8-3-1)

Green Bay and Chicago face off in the first of two showdowns over the next three weeks. This one will come down to the closing moments, but the Pack wins this nail-biter in Lambeau. Green Bay wins 24-21.

Rams(9-3) at Cardinals(3-9)

The Rams come into this one stinging, fresh off a stunning loss in Carolina, and now they will take their frustration out on the lowly Cards, who have lost 9 of their last 10 games. Los Angeles wins 24-12.

Texans(7-5) at Chiefs(6-6)

Following a bumpy start to their season, Houston has won four-straight games and find themselves one game out of first place in the AFC South. Kansas City stunningly finds themselves on life support in the AFC Wild Card race and they simply can’t afford to lose much more here at the end of the season. Kansas City finds a way at home. Kansas City wins 24-17.

Monday, December 8th – Monday Night Football

Eagles(8-4) at Chargers(8-4)

Philly is on the ropes, having lost consecutive games, but their schedule lightens up considerably after this game. The Eagles will pull out a close win in the City of Angels in primetime. Philadelphia wins 27-26.

There it is, Week 14 of the NFL season. Leave us your picks, comments, and insight below!