Week 14 features 3 division battles for first place and 3 high-profile prime-time games

First place is on the line in three division matchups in Week 14.

The Steelers (6-6) visit the Ravens (6-6) to determine the AFC North leader.

The slumping Colts (8-4) hit the road to play the Jaguars (8-4) for the top spot in the AFC South.

The Packers (8-3-1) host the conference-leading Bears (9-3) for control in the NFC North.

Each game is the first of two meetings between the teams so the loser has a chance to rebound.

The weekend also features two high-profile prime-time games after the Lions opened with a 44-30 victory over the Cowboys on Thursday night.

The Cowboys (6-5-1) and Lions (7-5) kick it off on Thursday night. The Texans (7-5) visit the Chiefs (6-6) on Sunday night. The Eagles (8-4) and Chargers (8-4) close out the week on Monday night.

Line: Eagles minus 2 1/2

A two-game losing streak has the reigning Super Bowl champs reeling. Coach Nick Sirianni, offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo and QB Jalen Hurts are under fire. Yet, the Eagles are favorites on the road facing the No. 3 defense in the NFL. Justin Herbert had surgery on his left wrist on Monday and his status is unknown, though it would be a surprise if he doesn’t play. Trey Lance would start in his spot. Saquon Barkley had 255 yards rushing, including TDs of 70 and 72 yards, the last time he played at SoFi Stadium last year against the Rams.

BEST BET: EAGLES: 24-18

Line: Colts minus 1 1/2

The Colts haven’t won in Jacksonville since 2014, and are 3-16-1 against the spread vs. the Jaguars since 2015. Daniel Jones, Jonathan Taylor and the rest of a high-scoring offense have been sluggish during a stretch where Indianapolis has lost three of four. The defense won’t have All-Pro cornerback Sauce Gardner. The Jaguars have won three in a row and four of five. Jakobi Meyers has boosted the passing game, giving Trevor Lawrence a main target. But they lead the NFL in penalties and must avoid yellow flags in critical spots.

UPSET SPECIAL: JAGUARS: 22-20

Line: Dolphins minus 2 1/2

The Dolphins have won three in a row and Tua Tagovailoa is 6-0 against the Jets. Tagovailoa has been inconsistent this season and leads the NFL with 14 interceptions. De’Von Achane could have a big day running against New York, which is tied for 25th against the run. The Dolphins have lost their past 12 regular-season or postseason games in which the temperature at kickoff has been below 40 degrees. It’s expected to be a high of 39 degrees on Sunday in New Jersey. Jets QB Tyrod Taylor is 7-0-1 ATS in his last eight starts.

DOLPHINS: 23-20

Line: Ravens minus 5 1/2

The Steelers are 2-5 since a 4-1 start, Aaron Rodgers isn't getting much help and fans are calling for coach Mike Tomlin to be fired. Lamar Jackson still looks slowed by injury but the Ravens have won the last two meetings by a combined 31 points. Tomlin is 13-4-2 ATS against Baltimore as an underdog.

RAVENS: 23-19

Line: Seahawks minus 7

Sam Darnold, Jaxon Smith-Njigba and the offense struggled last week but the Seahawks still won 26-0. They’ve got a dominant defense and an opportunity to earn the No. 1 seed if they win out. Darnold is 10-0 overall and 8-2 ATS when his team is favored by six points or more. Falcons QB Kirk Cousins is 1-7 ATS in his last eight starts.

SEAHAWKS: 24-16

Line: Bills minus 5 1/2

Joe Burrow returned after missing two months and led the Bengals to a road win at Baltimore. He’s 2-0 head-to-head against Josh Allen and the Bills, and 18-3 ATS as an underdog of more than 3 points. Buffalo dominated Pittsburgh last week but is only 3-9 ATS this season.

BILLS: 24-23

Line: Browns minus 4

Cam Ward’s rookie season has been dismal in Tennessee. The Titans have lost seven games by double digits. Shedeur Sanders has shown some of his promise while splitting his first two starts. The Browns are losing despite a suffocating defense led by Myles Garrett, who has 19 sacks.

BROWNS: 20-13

Line: Vikings minus 1 1/2

Marcus Mariota nearly led the Commanders to an upset over the Broncos. He could get another start if Jayden Daniels can’t return from a dislocated elbow this week. J.J. McCarthy is expected to return from a concussion for the Vikings, who need to see more from the second-year pro.

VIKINGS: 19-16

Line: Buccaneers minus 8 1/2

Tyler Shough nearly rallied the Saints from a 16-0 deficit against Miami. He’ll have some opportunities against a secondary that’s struggled. Cameron Jordan leads a pass rush that could give Baker Mayfield some trouble. Mayfield and the offense have been lackluster, though they’ve got plenty of upside with more key players returning. The Buccaneers aim for their second straight season sweep and their seventh win in the last eight against New Orleans. The Saints are 8-0 ATS in their last eight division games as an underdog.

BUCCANEERS: 23-20

Line: Broncos minus 7 1/2

Denver has won nine in a row, overcoming a deficit at some point in each game. Bo Nix has delivered in clutch moments and a stifling defense keeps making plays at the end. Facing the woeful Raiders shouldn’t be a challenge. Las Vegas has been outscored by nearly 11 points per game.

BRONCOS: 27-13

Line: Packers minus 6 1/2

The Bears have won nine of 10, including an impressive victory at Philly last week. Yet, they’re big underdogs. Caleb Williams has to play better for Chicago to be a real threat. If Jordan Love and Micah Parsons keep playing the way they did at Detroit on Thanksgiving, the Packers might be the team to beat in the NFC.

PACKERS: 27-18

Line: Rams minus 8

Matthew Stafford is coming off a rare three-turnover game and the Rams look to rebound from a poor defensive effort. Jacoby Brissett is 1-6 as a starter for the Cardinals but he’s boosted the passing game. The Rams are 26-11 overall and 25-11-1 ATS in December under coach Sean McVay.

RAMS: 31-16

Line: Chiefs minus 3 1/2

The Texans have rebounded from an 0-3 start to get right back in the race for the AFC South title thanks to a ferocious defense that’s No. 1 in yards and points allowed. The Chiefs have run out of margin for error. Their streak of nine straight division titles is going to end and they have to go on an incredible run to make it to the AFC title game for the eighth straight season. The Chiefs have won five straight meetings.

CHIEFS: 22-20

Last week: Straight up: 10-6. Against spread: 7-9.

Overall: Straight up: 140-53-1. Against spread: 96-92-6.

Prime time: Straight up: 27-16-1. Against spread: 19-25.

Best Bet: Straight up: 10-3. Against spread: 7-5-1.

Upset Special: Straight up: 10-3. Against spread: 10-3.

Pro Picks is a weekly column where AP Pro Football Writer Rob Maaddi shares his picks for upcoming games. For all previous Pro Picks, head here.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Graphic shows AP NFL picks for Week 14 of the season.

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) celebrates his team's win over the Philadelphia Eagles in an NFL football game, Friday, Nov. 28, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Green Bay Packers defensive lineman Micah Parsons (1) celebrates a sack against the Detroit Lions during the second half an NFL football game in Detroit, Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) throws a pass against the Tennessee Titans during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/John Amis)

Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor (28) is tackled by Houston Texans safety Calen Bullock (2) during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) is pressured by Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Joseph Ossai (58) during the second half of an NFL football game, Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) throws during the first half of an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)

WASHINGTON (AP) — All around the globe, eyes focused Friday on the stage where World Cup paths were sorted, nations' names chosen one by one in a draw that determined Argentina and Lionel Messi will start their title defense against Algeria and the U.S. will open against Paraguay.

Twenty-seven months after qualifying began, teams from five-time champion Brazil to newcomers Cape Verde, Curaçao, Jordan and Uzbekistan learned their group-stage opponents in the expanded 48-nation, 104-game tournament that starts June 11 in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

“Exciting for the island, for the people there. They’re so proud,” said Dick Advocaat, the 78-year-old Dutchman leading Curaçao, a Caribbean country with a population of 150,000, into an opener against four-time champion Germany.

On a day that began with snow falling on the nation's capital, the ceremony at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts included U.S. President Donald Trump receiving a newly created peace prize awarded by FIFA, soccer's governing body. Trump, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney picked up plastic spheres containing their own nations' names from bowls — Sheinbaum drew more applause from those gathered in the hall than Trump.

FIFA's lead-in show, featuring music and stars from sports and entertainment, was almost as long as a soccer match, starting in the 87th minute. Tom Brady, Shaquille O’Neal, Aaron Judge and Wayne Gretzky took part. New Zealand was the last orb picked.

“Just watching Americans on stage and the president giving speeches and performances, it made it feel like an American event already,” said U.S. midfielder Tyler Adams, who watched from England, where he plays for the Premier League club Bournemouth. “And I think we know the expectation of what it’s going to be like when we go there and there’s going to be halftime shows and there’s going to be celebrities and the big draw of what America brings to sports.”

Three-time champion Argentina opens on June 16 at either Kansas City, Missouri, or Santa Clara, California. Specific sites for all group stage games and kickoff times were to be announced Saturday. The Albiceleste then face Austria and Jordan in Group J. Argentina surprisingly lost its 2022 opener to Saudi Arabia before going on to win the final over France on penalty kicks.

Messi, who turns 39 during the tournament, hasn't committed yet to playing but it would be shocking if he decided against appearing in a record sixth World Cup.

“We are just awaiting for him to decide," coach Lionel Scaloni said. “In principle, everything is going well.”

The U.S., which reached the semifinals at the inaugural World Cup in 1930 and the quarterfinals in 2002, starts Group D against Paraguay on June 12 in Inglewood, California. The Americans play Australia six days later at Seattle, then face Turkey, Romania, Slovakia or Kosovo — one will emerge next year from playoffs — on June 25 back at SoFi Stadium.

The Americans had friendlies against Turkey in June, Australia in October and Paraguay last month.

“We know them but they know us,” U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino said.

Brimming with confidence, he defined success as: “Win the World Cup.”

Mexico hosts the tournament opener at Azteca Stadium in Mexico City on June 11 against South Africa in Group A, a rematch of the 1-1 tie at the 2010 opener in Johannesburg. El Tri then meets South Korea and closes the first round against the Czech Republic, Ireland, Denmark or North Macedonia.

Forty-two of the teams have been determined; 22 are competing in playoffs for six berths that will be decided March 31.

Winners and second-place nations from the 12 groups advance to the new round of 32 along with the top eight third-place teams. All games from the quarterfinals on will be in the U.S., culminating in the July 19 final at East Rutherford, New Jersey.

England, which won its only title in 1966, plays Croatia, Ghana and Panama in Group L. Players from Chelsea and Manchester City experienced summer U.S. conditions at this year's Club World Cup.

“It doesn’t make it any easier when it comes again to blame the heat and fight against humidity and altitude and different time zones,” England manager Thomas Tuchel said. “It’s just what it is. We have to find a way to dig in. We have to find a way to accept it and build a high tolerance to all these obstacles.”

Brazil opens against 2022 semifinalist Morocco, then plays Haiti and Scotland in Group C.

“It is a difficult group,” coach Carlo Ancelotti said.

Top-ranked Spain, the 2010 champion, faces Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia and Uruguay in Group H, while Germany follows its Curaçao match by playing Ivory Coast and Ecuador in Group E.

“It is always difficult to play as a European team against a South American team,” Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann said.

Two-time champion France starts June 16 against Senegal at East Rutherford, New Jersey, or Foxborough, Massachusetts. With Les Bleus coming off their first world title, they lost 1-0 to the Lions of Teranga in the 2002 opener at Seoul, South Korea. France then faces Bolivia, Iraq or Suriname in Group I and closes perhaps the most daunting group against Norway in a matchup of Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland,

Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo, like Messi expected to play in a sixth World Cup, has Group K matches against Uzbekistan, Colombia and Congo, Jamaica or New Caledonia. If Portugal and Argentina win their groups, Ronaldo and Messi could meet in a quarterfinal at Arrowhead Stadium.

Other groups include:

G: Belgium, Egypt, Iran, New Zealand.

B: Canada, Switzerland, Qatar and Italy, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Wales or Northern Ireland.

F: Netherlands, Japan, Tunisia and Sweden, Ukraine, Albania and Poland.

“Without knowing who the third opponent is, it can get difficult — specifically if Italy advances,” Canada coach Jesse Marsch said.

No team has repeated as champion since Brazil won in 1958 and ’62, and only eight nations have won soccer’s biggest prize. Italy has four titles and Uruguay two.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino gave Trump a large gold-colored peace prize trophy and a gold-colored medal hanging from a blue ribbon, which Trump hung around his neck. Standing next to Trump, Infantino lavished praise.

“This is truly one of the great honors of my life,” Trump said.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Former NBA player Shaquille O'Neal, actor Kevin Hart and former NFL player Tom Brady attend the draw for the 2026 soccer World Cup at the Kennedy Center in Washington, Friday, Dec. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Former NFL player Tom Brady holds up the team name of Argentina during the draw for the 2026 soccer World Cup at the Kennedy Center in Washington, Friday, Dec. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, President Donald Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino hold up country names during the draw for the 2026 soccer World Cup at the Kennedy Center in Washington, Friday, Dec. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

President Donald Trump smiles after drawing USA's name from a pot during the draw for the 2026 soccer World Cup at the Kennedy Center in Washington, Friday, Dec. 5, 2025. (Dan Mullan/Pool Photo via AP)

President Donald Trump, left, speaks as Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, center, and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, right, stand on stage during the draw for the 2026 soccer World Cup at the Kennedy Center in Washington, Friday, Dec. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

President Donald Trump, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney holds their countries' name during the draw for the 2026 soccer World Cup at the Kennedy Center in Washington, Friday, Dec. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

President Donald Trump speaks after being presented with the FIFA Peace Prize by FIFA President Gianni Infantino during the draw for the 2026 soccer World Cup at the Kennedy Center in Washington, Friday, Dec. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough, Pool)

Model Heidi Klum waves as she arrives on the red carpet for a welcome reception ahead of the draw for 2026 soccer World Cup at the Kennedy Center in Washington, Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

FIFA President Gianni Infantino and his wife Leena Al Ashqar pose for a photo as they arrive for a welcome reception ahead of the draw for 2026 soccer World Cup at the Kennedy Center in Washington, Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

People arrive for the draw for the 2026 soccer World Cup at the Kennedy Center in Washington, Friday, Dec. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Curacao's coach Dick Advocaat, 2nd left, arrives to attend the draw for the 2026 soccer World Cup at the Kennedy Center in Washington, Friday, Dec. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

People arrive for the draw for the 2026 soccer World Cup at the Kennedy Center in Washington, Friday, Dec. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)