NFL Week 13 Picks: Steelers Ready For Rematch With Patriots

Mark Jones' NFL Week 13 Picks

Last week I was 10-5 (I picked Pittsburgh in the Thursday Night game, but didn't write the article in time), which puts me at 84-46-1 for the year. I've also been on a hot streak for the last five weeks; I'm 51-20-1 during that time. Hopefully, I can continue to correctly predict games this week as well!

Also, as an extra note, everyone, be sure to check out the latest addition to Mark Jones's weekly NFL picks: the Best Bets section, located at the end of the article!

Thanksgiving Picks (2-1)

Tennessee OVER Detroit..............47-10.....Win

Dallas OVER Seattle.............34-9.....Win

Arizona OVER Philadelphia........20-48......Loss

NFL Week 13 Picks (Sunday/Monday)

San Francisco (3-8) @ Buffalo (6-5)

San Francisco, after their rout of St. Louis the week before last, came out and really disappointed me in Dallas. I thought maybe they'd win a few and get back to a mediocre record, but they were very outplayed, both on offense and defense. But then there is Buffalo, who has lost four of their last five, and they gave up 34 points to Kansas City last week in their 51-34 victory. However, I doubt the 49ers' defense can hold down the Bills' offense too much in this game.

Pick.........San Francisco 20, Buffalo 38

Baltimore (7-4) @ Cincinnati (1-9-1)

Baltimore is red-hot after the Eagles game, and that win looks even more impressive now that Philadelphia upset Arizona on Thanksgiving night. Cincinnati is (no, this is not a typo) playing fairly well right now, but that blowout vs. Pittsburgh might have taken most of the momentum out of their play. Anyway, with rookie-QB star Joe Flacco guiding the Ravens' offense, and that rock-solid defense backing him up, look for Baltimore to have a fairly decisive victory.

Pick..............Baltimore 24, Cincinnati 7

New Orleans (6-5) @ Tampa Bay (8-3)

The Saints' Monday Night Football win over the Packers was really impressive to me. First of all, 51 points on the Green Bay defense is amazing, and especially after they had just a small 24-21 lead at the half. New Orleans' offense is on fire currently! Plus, Tampa Bay has been in a slight slump during this break in their schedule. In my Upset of the Week, the Saints win a thriller!

Pick...........New Orleans 34, Tampa Bay 31.........Upset of the Week

New York Giants (10-1) @ Washington (7-4)

The Giants haven't lost in quite a while, and they've just been cruising along, winning game after game after game. Washington is playing comparable to Detroit; sloppy, no offense at all, and laziness after an opponent's turnover. They barely sneaked by Seattle, and I thought they were outplayed, too. The Redskins don't stand a chance in this game; it'll be a blowout and the crowd will be booing by halftime.

Pick...........New York Giants 30, Washington 10

Miami (6-5) @ St. Louis (2-9)

Miami kept up with New England for three quarters last week, and despite the fact they did lose a game they could've won, Dolphins fans have really overreacted. And anyway, a losing college team could beat the Rams. Can you say........blowout?!

Pick..........Miami 28, St. Louis 13.........Lock of the Week

Indianapolis (7-4) @ Cleveland (4-7)

I thought Cleveland had some life......after that loss to the lowly Texans last week, apparently they don't. Indianapolis is the hottest team in the league, and they're not likely to start losing soon, either. Manning has a bye week here, because the Browns are just dead.

Pick.........Indianapolis 35, Cleveland 17

Carolina (8-3) @ Green Bay (5-6)

The big question in this game is whether or not the Carolina defense can hold down the Green Bay offense. They need something to spark them after giving up 45 points to Atlanta last week, at least. However, I expect the Panther run game to continue to chew up yards as DeAngelo Williams looks for his fifth-straight 100-yard performance against the 22nd-ranked Green Bay defense, and he will help the Panthers sneak by for a crucial ninth victory.

Pick............In OT, Carolina 27, Green Bay 24

Atlanta (7-4) @ San Diego (4-7)

The Chargers keep losing close games, and it has gotten them in a unusual spot for San Diego: 4-7. The Falcons responded well over their loss to Denver with a big win over the Panthers, too. This insight may be short and brief, but Sunday will be a long afternoon for the 'Bolts and their depressed home fans.

Pick...........Atlanta 41, San Diego 21

Denver (6-5) @ New York Jets (7-4)

A must-win for the Broncos, if they weren't in the AFC West, their playoff hopes would already be long gone. But it doesn't matter; the Jets are playing about as well as the Colts right now, and that is the best anyone is playing. And nobody on the Broncos team will forget last Sunday's loss to the wimpy Raiders; man, what a way to respond to a huge win in the Georgia Dome the week before!

Pick.............Denver 21, New York Jets 35

Pittsburgh (8-3) @ New England (7-4)........Game of the Week

Flashback.........Week 14 last season....Pittsburgh defensive player guarantees a game....against whom? That's right: the Patriots......and the final score? That's right: Pittsburgh 14, New England 35.

This will be no different: High-spirited Pittsburgh comes into Foxboro, thinking ahead (except this time the game is a week earlier), and loses. Who says you can't have two Upsets of the Week?

Pick............Pittsburgh 24, New England 28......Upset of the Week No. 2

Kansas City (1-10) @ Oakland (3-8)

Ugh........this makes a women's bowling match sound exciting. Hey, at least it's a rivalry (and a rout, too! Yeah, mob fights!)

Pick...........Kansas City 0, Oakland 20

Chicago (6-5) @ Minnesota (6-5)

Oh, what a game this should be! If Green Bay loses to Carolina, then the winner of this game will be the NFC North playoff representative. Chicago has high-spirits after responding to a big division loss by killing St. Louis, and Minnesota is playing the best they have all season as well. This should be close all the way!

Pick...........Chicago 23, Minnesota 24

Jacksonville (4-7) @ Houston (4-7)..........*MNF*

Once again, another horrible Monday Night game. Jacksonville has back-to-back losses, and they really aren't playing like a team anymore. Even though neither AFC South opponent has much hope for the postseason, the Texans should certainly be the more energized team after last week's win in Cleveland.

Pick.............In OT.....Jacksonville 20, Houston 23

Lock of the Week

Miami OVER St. Louis

Upsets of the Week

New Orleans OVER Tampa Bay (In OT)

New England OVER Pittsburgh

Best Bets

1. Oakland (-3) vs. Kansas City
2. Miami (-7.5) @ St. Louis
3. New Orleans (+3.5) @ Tampa Bay