Trust Me, I Know My Sh*t: Joe Budden's NFL Picks (Week 14)

Image via Complex Original

The playoffs are coming up quick, and for the Giants, Jets, and Lions, every weekend is basically a must-win if they want to lock up a postseason spot. The Patriots are sitting pretty, but Baltimore and Pittsburgh are still battling it out for a division title. If you ask Joe Budden, New England is the only team  that has it easy this week. He's not about that Tim Tebow hype until the Broncos beat a legitimate contender. See what he thinks about the rest of this weeks best games in the Mood Muzik master's NFL picks. 

Redskins @ Giants (-6.5), Sunday 1:00 Fox

I got the Giants winning that game. The Giants got lucky last week, but I feel like the Giants lost a couple games they should've won, too. You get a few back. They should've beat Seattle, they should've beat Washington first game of the season. I think they should handle their business again this week.

Those guys, they know what's at stake and will honor that. Jason Pierre-Paul seems to be playing with some energy now, there was some few games prior to that game where he wasn’t and it showed. Eli is having an MVP-type year. The run game is superior. I like the Giants chances against a lot of teams in the league. I know on paper the defense isn’t ranked too high, but that's not indicative of how they could play. I’m gonna pick them next week against the Jets, and I think they’ll handle business the following week against the Cowboys.

Lions @ Raiders (+1), Sunday 4:05 Fox

I’m taking Detroit. They get Ndamukong Suh back, but I would pick them without Suh. Oakland looks like shit recently. I’m not that impressed with Detroit, but Oakland—it’s so disappointing. I had them as one of the better teams in the league in the beginning of the year, then they got battered by all types of injuries and I don’t think they're used to doing well. I like Oakland, I like Carson Palmer, I got him on my fantasy team. I just don’t think they’ll beat Detroit.

Jets @ Eagles, Sunday 4:15 CBS

As horrible as it sounds, the Eagles still have a shot to make the playoffs. So they both really need this game. I don’t trust the Jets. I’d like to pick the Jets, and they really should win this game, but I don’t trust them. Damn, I don’t trust them but I do want to pick them. OK, I’m going to pick the Jets. I got them to win.

Patriots @ Broncos (+6.5), Sunday 4:15, CBS

I got New England killing Denver. Bill Belichick and Tom Brady—they’ve not gonna play with this guy. I’ll jump on it if they beat New England but I think Denver had run into quite a bit of luck, and some teams have had some serious misfortune when they play Denver. John Fox and John Elway don’t believe it themselves. Not that it matters, I still got New England beating them.

Ravens @ Chargers (+2.5), Sunday 8:20, NBC

San Diego has just been so inconsistent. It fucks me up with Vincent Jackson; you play him, he'll get you 4 fantasy pionts; you bench him, he'll get you 40. I’m gonna pick Baltimore here, fuck it. Not so comfortable with that one either. I don’t buy Philip Rivers being bad. He’s still deadly to me; they got weapons all over the field. I think they’re more than capable of beating Baltimore. But you are what your record says you are. I’m going with Baltimore.

Steelers @ 49ers, Monday 8:30, ESPN

If Roethlisberger plays, I pick Pittsburgh; if he doesn’t I’m not picking them. Shit, he’s played through all types of injuries before, so I really could see him playing. San Francisco aleady locked up what they needed, but that’s gonna be a real good game if Big Ben plays.