Scully’s NFL Week 14 picks: Browns will silence Ravens

Five underdogs won in Week 13, and it should have been six, if the Jets didn’t find a way to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

Favorites posted a 6-9 record against the spread.

I like a couple teams that opened as slight underdogs in Week 14 and will play against the declining Bears.

Baltimore Ravens vs. Cleveland Browns

The Browns are surging and have a point to make, after they were embarrassed by Baltimore in Week 1. This line makes no sense.

One-dimensional Baltimore lacks a passing offense, and its defense is down this season.

Without a training camp, Cleveland was still learning the system of new coach Kevin Stefanski in Week 1. That wasn’t a true indication of the Browns' ability.

I love their progress during their four-game win streak. You can see quarterback Baker Mayfield gaining confidence every week, and Nick Chubb provides terrific balance (the Browns have the second-best rushing offense).

Cleveland has become the best team in the AFC North, and I don’t expect a letdown, following a road win against Tennessee. The Browns led 38-7 at halftime against the Titans, but they were outscored 28-3 in the second half. The Cleveland coaching staff will focus on cleaning up second-half mistakes.

Baltimore has been hampered by injuries and is not the same squad from 2019. The Ravens played their best game in Week 1 and can now beat only bad teams. They were able to snap a three-game losing streak against Dallas, which has no run defense, and face a five-day turnaround.

Cleveland is good against the run (eighth-best run defense), and the Browns will make quarterback Lamar Jackson beat them with his arm. That’s not going to happen. C

leveland is my best bet of the week, and I recommend getting down early.

Pick: Browns +1.5

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Arizona Cardinals vs. New York Giants

It starts up front for New York. The Giants are nasty and physical on the offensive and defensive lines. The New York defense has improved significantly since early in the season, and there was nothing fluky about its road win at Seattle in Week 13.

The Giants don’t generate a lot of points, though. Arizona’s high-powered offense might pose problems, if Kyler Murray was 100%, but I’m betting against it.

The second-year quarterback injured his throwing shoulder at Seattle in Week 11, and the Cardinals have been sputtering ever since. After they averaged 30 points per game through the first nine contests, they’ve dropped to 22 points per game during their current three-game losing streak.

Murray hasn’t thrown for more than 173 yards in his last two outings. His rushing was a big part of Arizona’s offense, but he hasn’t been scrambling much in recent weeks. That makes sense if he is not healthy.

The Giants stretched their win streak to four with constant pressure on Russell Wilson in Week 13. They held the Seahawks quarterback to a 62.7% completion rate, recorded five sacks, and they’ll make things miserable for Murray in Week 14.

I like New York to win outright.

Pick: Giants

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Houston Texans vs. Chicago Bears

After it allowed a winnable game to slip away against Indianapolis, Houston will rebound against hapless Chicago, and quarterback Deshaun Watson should have a big afternoon.

The Texans have quietly progressed over the last five weeks. They've scored nearly 25 points per game and held the opposition to only 20.

If there was any doubt about Chicago head coach Matt Nagy’s future, Week 14 should end it. The Bears have quit on their coaches during the current six-game losing streak.

Mitchell Trubisky contributed to the comeback loss to Detroit last week, as he lost a fumble in Chicago’s territory late in the fourth quarter, and it promises to get ugly for the Bears over the final four weeks of the season. Defense carried them to a 5-2 record, but the Bears have allowed 37.5 points per game in the last two contests.

Watson played well against a solid Indianapolis defense. He completed 26 of his 38 passes for 341 yards but fumbled away an opportunity to win in the final minute. Look for him to be the difference, as Houston will get back on track with a comfortable win.

Pick: Texans -1.5

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James Scully's NFL ATS record heading into Week 14: 16-23