Seahawks at 49ers, Panthers at Saints highlight Week 14
As if the 49ers don't have enough dislike for the Seahawks, Seattle could clinch the NFC West with a win at San Francisco on Sunday.
As if the Saints don't have enough headaches from being pounded by those Seahawks last weekend, they now face another staunch defence when Carolina visits the Big Easy in an NFC South showdown.
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Those are the highlights on one of the more intriguing weekends of NFL matchups this season. The stretch drive is officially underway.
'If this doesn't fire you up, if this doesn't fire up the fans, then what does?' 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh said. 'I suppose Abraham Lincoln riding across the field with a frock and a top hat, riding a horse, waving an American flag. I doubt that would fire them up, if this game doesn't fire them up. The people that really love football would be fired up by this matchup.'
Or by the one in the Superdome.
'It's a big game that everyone will be watching,' outstanding Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly said. 'It's against the Saints - a division game and a good team. There's not a whole lot of motivation that you need in this game. It's Drew Brees and the Saints on Sunday night. We're 9-3. They're 9-3. It's going to be an exciting game.'
Week 14 began with the Jaguars beating the Texans 27-20 on Thursday night.
At Jacksonville, Fla., Chad Henne threw two touchdown passes, Jordan Todman scored on some trickery and Jacksonville held on to beat Houston.
The Jaguars (4-9) won their third straight - their fourth victory in five games since a bye - and continued to show signs of progress under first-year coach Gus Bradley.
They also won at home for the first time since Nov. 25, 2012, against Tennessee.
Houston (2-11) extended its franchise-record losing streak to 11 games, a stunning stretch of futility that could lead the franchise to fire coach Gary Kubiak.
Kubiak and the Texans looked as if they would end the streak after a quarterback change, but Geno Hayes intercepted Matt Schuab's pass with 2:08 remaining to seal Jacksonville's first series sweep since 2009.
Seattle (11-1) at San Francisco (8-4)
If there's a more physical rivalry in the league right now, show us. These two defences don't let up, and the animosity is evident everywhere on the field - and on the sidelines, where Seahawks coach Pete Carroll and Harbaugh have a long-standing feud.
Makes for a juicy affair at Candlestick in a game far more critical to San Francisco's playoff prospects.
'It's a new game, another Sunday,' 49ers linebacker Patrick Willis said. 'We've talked about it the last couple of weeks that every game we play from here on it out is important. It's important to where we go to get into the playoffs. ... Once we get in, then I feel like anything can happen.'
Carolina (9-3) at New Orleans (9-3)
Both team finished 7-9 last year, when the Saints were in the midst of the bounty scandal punishments. They've been on top of the NFC South all year, but were caught last week when they flopped in Seattle and the Panthers won their eighth straight, beating Tampa Bay.
'Yeah, it is a big game,' Saints safety Malcolm Jenkins said. 'You don't really have to add much sugar to this one.'
Nor to the rematch in two weeks.
Indianapolis (8-4) at Cincinnati (8-4)
The Colts can clinch the AFC South with a win or a Titans loss at Denver. Colts linebacker Robert Mathis leads the NFL with 15 1/2 sacks and needs one to surpass Dwight Freeney (16 in 2004) for the club record.
Cincinnati is 5-0 at home for the first time since 1988, when the Bengals won all eight regular-season home games and two playoff games before falling to San Francisco in the Super Bowl. Andy Dalton has thrown for 3,144 yards, joining Peyton Manning as the only players to throw for 3,000 yards in each of his first three seasons.
Detroit (7-5) at Philadelphia (7-5) Dallas (7-5) at Chicago (6-6), Monday night
Key games for the NFC East and North races.
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