Week 14 of the 2017 NFL schedule arrives tonight when the New Orleans Saints travel to Mercedes-Benz Stadium to take on the Atlanta Falcons.

While this is a huge game for both teams in terms of postseason positioning, it may be the last stand for the Atlanta Falcons. At 7-5, the Falcons need to win this game if they hope to make a run at defending their NFC crown this January.

Falcons need to soar

The Atlanta Falcons have always been tough to beat in the Georgia Dome, however, their first year in the new Mercedes-Benz Stadium hasn't provided much home cooking so far.

The Falcons are just 3-3 at home this season and in desperate need of a win on Thursday night. The good news for the Falcons - they finish the season against teams they need to pass to make the postseason. The bad news? They aren’t playing very well and seem to be out of sync, while the Saints and Panthers are rolling right now.

The Falcons schedule is perfect for them to make a late run at the NFC South title. They are two games behind leading New Orleans, and one game behind Carolina. Atlanta plays the Saints twice and Carolina once over the next four weeks, with Tampa Bay squeezed in the middle. The Falcons hold their own destiny in their hands. Win out and you are most likely in. Lose tonight, and Atlanta will need to win their last three games and get a lot of help along the way.

Must win teams everywhere

To say that Week 14 is a must-win situation for almost every team in the National Football League is an understatement. Outside of the Cleveland Browns, New York Giants and San Francisco 49ers, everybody is basically still alive in the playoff hunt. While many teams need to win out and get some help, this weekend's schedule has several teams squaring off that are both in need of wins, period.

Every game this weekend has playoff implications - every game! Even the teams that are already eliminated are playing teams that need to continue winning if they have hopes of making the playoffs. Week 14 is truly must-see TV for NFL fans.

Below is the Week 14 NFL schedule, along with the TV start times and current Las Vegas odds for each contest.

NFC

1. Philadelphia Eagles --10-2

2. Minnesota Vikings --10-2

3. Los Angeles Rams -- 9-3

4. New Orleans Saints -- 9-3

5. Seattle Seahawks -- 8-4 -- wild card

6. Carolina Panthers -- 8-4 -- Wild Card

AFC

1. New England Patriots --10-2

2. Pittsburgh Steelers -- 9-2

3. Tennessee Titans -- 8-4

4. Kansas City Chiefs -- 6-6

5. Jacksonville Jaguars -- 8-4 -- Wild Card

6. Baltimore Ravens -- 7-5 -- Wild Card

Thursday, Dec. 7

  • New Orleans (-1) at Atlanta 8:25 pm -- NFLN

Sunday, Dec. 10

  • Chicago at Cincinnati (-6) 1:00 pm -- FOX
  • Dallas (-4) at N.Y. Giants 1:00 pm -- FOX
  • Detroit at Tampa Bay (OFF) 1:00 pm -- FOX
  • Green Bay (-3) at Cleveland 1:00 pm -- FOX
  • Indianapolis at Buffalo (OFF) 1:00 pm -- CBS
  • Minnesota (-3) at Carolina 1:00 pm -- CBS
  • Oakland at Kansas City (-4) 1:00 pm -- CBS
  • San Francisco at Houston (-3) 1:00 pm -- FOX
  • N.Y. Jets at Denver (PICK) 4:05 pm -- CBS
  • Tennessee (-3) at Arizona 4:05 pm -- CBS
  • Washington at L.A. Chargers (-6) 4:05 pm -- CBS
  • Philadelphia at L.A. Rams (-2.5) 4:25 pm -- FOX
  • Seattle at Jacksonville (-2) 4:25 pm -- FOX
  • Baltimore at Pittsburgh (-5) 8:30 pm -- NBC

Monday, Dec. 11

  • New England (-11) at Miami 8:30 pm -- ESPN

Picks -- New Orleans -3, Carolina +3, Redskins +6, Packers -3, Seattle +2
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