NFL Week 14 Picks w/Performing Arts Update
The Alexandria Community Nutcracker is the biggest thing on the HOTPO beat this week.
Gennifer Difilippo started the local Nutcracker 16 years ago. Members of the HOTPO staff have participated in the ACN for the last 13 years, with the exception of a couple of years when the Army relocated the HOTPO headquarters to the Pacific Northwest. Of all the coaches, teachers and mentors involved with the HOTPO staff, I can’t think of one that has had such a long-standing and consistent positive effect on the staff than Difilippo.
Difilippo founded ArtSpire VA, Inc., in 2015. ArtSpire VA is a multi-faceted, non-profit organization that provides scholarships for youth to experience the fine and performing arts, and inspires, uplifts and heals those in need through dance performances. The purpose of the organization is to help young people pursue arts-based programs that can in turn help them in many different ways.
The Alexandria Community Nutcracker includes dancers from 3 years old to young adult. It is a great event whether you have a dancer participating or just come to support the community. The first performance at West Potomac High School (all shows are at WPHS) has already happened but shows run through Dec. 7, with a matinee and an evening show Saturday. Tickets are available at www.artspireva.com and you can also buy at the door.
Thanks to Difilippo and the West Potomac Dance Team coaches and board for bringing the community another great Nutcracker week.
Let's do some picks!
NFL Week 14 Picks
New York Jets at Miami Dolphins (-6): Miami had their three-game winning streak halted on Thanksgiving with a 30-17 loss to Green Bay. They now sit at 5-7 and outside of the playoffs with a 22 percent chance to punch a ticket for the postseason, according to Adam H. Beasley of the Pro Football Network. New York is on a three-game slide and have already punched their ticket for another lost, hapless season. – DOLPHINS
Atlanta Falcons at Minnesota Vikings (-5.5): Hoo boy, Atlanta QB Kirk Cousins tanked his team’s chances Sunday by throwing four interceptions in a 17-13 loss at home to the Los Angeles Chargers. Guess what team has the most interceptions this year. Yup, Minnesota. – VIKINGS
New Orleans Saints (-4.5) at New York Giants: Neither one of these teams has anything positive remaining to play for this year, but New York is in the running for the first overall pick if they keep losing. – SAINTS
Carolina Panthers at Philadelphia Eagles (-12.5): Lets give Carolina QB Bryce Young some credit for improving from awful to serviceable. He got benched in September, but since earning his job back, has completed 60 percent of his passes and compiled a 6:3 touchdown-to-interception ratio. Young faces an extremely stiff challenge this week as Philadelphia has the best defense in the NFL and is on an eight-game heater. – EAGLES
Cleveland Browns at Pittsburgh Steelers (-6.5): Cleveland is having a bad season, but they have become “Must Watch” television just so you can see and hear what QB Jameis Winston will say next. His pregame comments are mix of a Second Great Awakening camp revival and an Any Given Sunday-style motivational speech. Do yourself a favor by checking out Matt Yoder’s article on Awful Announcing and then just keep going down the rabbit hole by Googling “Jameis Winston pregame speech.” – STEELERS
Las Vegas Raiders at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-6.5): Las Vegas is another team competing with the New York Giants for the first overall pick in the NFL draft. After winning two straight games against bad teams, Tampa Bay is tied atop the NFC South with Atlanta. The Buccaneers get another bad team this week in the Raiders and their remaining schedule is weak – fifth easiest the rest of the way, according to Tankathon. – BUCCANEERS
Jacksonville Jaguars at Tennessee Titans (-3.5): Tennessee got their doors absolutely blown off last week by Washington, 42-19. Jacksonville QB Trevor Lawrence got his head taken off last week by Houston LB Azeez Al-Shaair and won’t be playing the rest of the year. Strangely, the Titans have the 2nd ranked defense in total yards, but the 27th ranked defense in points allowed. This game could go either way, so I am taking the home team with a healthy starting quarterback. – TITANS
Seattle Seahawks at Arizona Cardinals (-2.5): These two teams played in Seattle just two weeks ago with the home team winning 16-6. This is probably the most consequential game of the week as the Seahawks and Cardinals are locked in a battle for the NFC West title with very little chance of either being able to earn a Wild Card berth if they don’t win the division. With Arizona down a game in the standings, they have to be the more desperate team. – CARDINALS
Buffalo Bills (-3.5) at Los Angeles Rams: Buffalo is rolling on a seven-game win streak and have administered some beat downs along the way. Los Angeles is only 6-6, but is still right there with Arizona only a game back of Seattle in the NFC West. Desperation likely won’t be enough to close the gap between these two teams. – BILLS
Chicago Bears at San Francisco 49ers (-4): The San Francisco injury list is longer than Santa’s naughty list and now includes running backs Christian McCaffrey (again) and Jordan Mason. Sam Householder of Windy City Gridiron sees the depleted 49ers rushing offense against the Bears 25th ranked rushing defense as the key to the game. Chicago has lost three in a row, but those losses were against winning teams and were all by three points or fewer – they are due and much healthier. – BEARS
Los Angeles Chargers at Kansas City Chiefs (-4): I have been in many conversations recently about the generous officiating Kansas City seems to receive. Some people are beginning to seriously think the “script writers” of the NFL are rigging these games in the Chiefs favor. Kansas City QB Pat Mahomes is heating up after a cold start to the season and that’s like Hulk Hogan walking through a ton of punches to ultimately land his signature leg drop for the finishing move. – CHIEFS
Cincinnati Bengals (-5.5) at Dallas Cowboys: Cincinnati is wasting an incredible year by QB Joe Burrow who leads the NFL in completions (302), passing yards (3337) and passing touchdowns (30). The Bengals have no problem scoring points (5th ranked scoring offense), but they can’t stop the other team from scoring (29th ranked scoring defense). Dallas has kind of figured some things out with two straight wins against bad competition, but their defense is equally as bad – tied with Cincy as the 29th ranked scoring defense. – BENGALS
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