Week 13 NFL Picks: Predicting Outcome of Every Game with Playoff Implications

Eleven of the remaining 15 games on the Week 13 NFL schedule feature contests with playoff implications.

In fact, the playoff picture could become much clearer by next Monday night. 

Four AFC teams can either clinch their division or a playoff berth, while the rest of the action features jockeying inside the division and wild-card races. Depending on the outcomes, all eight divisions could be led by two or more games by the start of Week 14. 

In the following slides, we'll assess what's at stake for every playoff-important game and then pick a winner. 

Seattle Seahawks (6-5) at Chicago Bears (8-3)

What's at Stake: Seattle needs to keep pace in the NFC wild card, where it currently holds the sixth and final playoff spot. A win keeps the Bears atop the NFC North. 

Pick: The Seahawks have the pieces to pull off the road upset. Anytime you can pressure the passer and get physical with Brandon Marshall, especially against this offensive line, good things can happen. But Seattle simply hasn't been consistent in any phase on the road, and the Bears defense could really make life difficult for rookie Russell Wilson. 

Prediction: Bears 23, Seahawks 13

Indianapolis Colts (7-4) at Detroit Lions (4-7)

What's at Stake: At 4-7, Detroit's playoff opportunities are fading fast. Each of the final five games are a must-win. The Colts, however, hold one of the AFC's wild-card slots and can move one step closer to an improbable trip to the playoffs with a win. 

Pick: Andrew Luck's struggles on the road are well defined (passer rating 20.7 points lower, 86.1 at home 65.4 away; 10 interceptions), and the Colts overall have been a different team away from Indy (2-3, point differential of -48).

The Lions have underachieved all season, but they've played two NFL powers (Texans, Packers) tough in back-to-back weeks. Things will finally come together against an overachieving Colts team in Detroit. 

Prediction: Lions 30, Colts 20

Minnesota Vikings (6-5) at Green Bay Packers (7-4)

What's at Stake: The Vikings, losers of four of six games, need a win to get their names back into the NFC wild-card race. A blowout loss to the Giants dropped Green Bay a game back of the Bears in the NFC North, but the Packers are still the current No. 5 seed in the conference. 

Pick: Are the Packers ripe for a home upset? Don't bet on it. Mike McCarthy's teams have historically fared very well when there's criticism and doubt thrown on the competitive fire.

And don't underestimate the impact Greg Jennings' return could have. He has eight career touchdowns in 12 games against the Vikings. 

Prediction: Packers 34, Vikings 18 

Houston Texans (10-1) at Tennessee Titans (4-7)

What's at Stake: The Texans can clinch a playoff spot with a win Sunday. 

Pick: Houston hasn't played its best football over the last two weeks, but there's now a playoff carrot dangling in front of this team. A win clinches the playoffs and gets the Texans one step closer to the AFC South crown. The Titans just don't have enough firepower, on either side of the football, to pull off the upset at home over a very balanced Texans team. 

Prediction: Texans 27, Titans 16

San Francisco 49ers (8-2-1) at St. Louis Rams (4-6-1)

What's at Stake: The 49ers hold a 2.5-game lead in the NFC West, with a head-to-head tiebreaker over the Seahawks. A win Sunday puts San Francisco on the doorstep of clinching over the final month of the season. 

Pick: The Rams played about as good a game as you could ask for a couple weeks back in San Francisco, especially with the 49ers backup quarterback playing the majority of the contest.

Considering what Colin Kaepernick has done in two games since, the job St. Louis did in Week 10 looks admirable. However, don't expect the Rams offense to run for close to 160 yards and control the tempo this week. San Francisco has allowed an average of just 72 the past two weeks. 

Prediction: 49ers 20, Rams 14

New England Patriots (8-3) at Miami Dolphins (5-6)

What's at Stake: The Patriots can clinch the AFC East with a win. The Dolphins are one of three teams (Bengals, Steelers) currently in contention for the final AFC wild-card slot. 

Pick: Tom Brady and the Patriots offense are running at a different gear than the rest of the NFL. No team can run and pass with the same kind of efficiency, and the Dolphins defense isn't one to slow it down. New England has also won two straight games in Miami by double digits. 

Prediction: Patriots 35, Dolphins 17

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-5) at Denver Broncos (8-3)

What's at Stake: The Broncos can win the AFC West with a win or Chargers loss. Via tiebreaker, the Bucs are on the outside looking in to the NFC wild-card picture. A win could vault Tampa Bay into the sixth and final slot (Seahawks, Vikings both 6-5). 

Pick: Unfortunately for the Bucs, an opportunistic pass defense rarely fares well against an elite quarterback. Peyton Manning is an MVP candidate in 2012 and fitting of the "elite" billing. Without cornerback Eric Wright, the league's worst pass defense can't hold serve on the road. 

Prediction: Broncos 31, Buccaneers 25

Cincinnati Bengals (6-5) at San Diego Chargers (4-7)

What's at Stake: The Bengals have clawed their way back into playoff contention, and a win Sunday could get Cincinnati into the final AFC wild-card slot. The Chargers' playoff hopes are dying fast, and a loss Sunday all but ends their season. 

Pick: There's a lot to chew on here, especially with Cincinnati on the road. A home team with a lame duck coach could either roll over and die or turn things around in typical Norv Turner fashion. It wouldn't be surprising in the slightest if the Chargers pulled off the mini upset, but Cincinnati is playing well (3-0 last three) and can take a big step towards the postseason with a win in San Diego. 

Prediction: Bengals 24, Chargers 20

Pittsburgh Steelers (6-5) at Baltimore Ravens (9-2)

What's at Stake: The Ravens can clinch the AFC North with a win and a Bengals loss in San Diego. The Steelers need a win to continue their hold on the sixth and final playoff spot in the AFC.

Pick: The Steelers have never beaten the Ravens without quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, and he won't be available Sunday. Baltimore can smell another division title. 

Prediction: Ravens 21, Steelers 17

Philadelphia Eagles (3-8) at Dallas Cowboys (5-6)

What's at Stake: The Cowboys need a win to get back into the race for the NFC wild card. Dallas is currently 10th in the conference standings. 

Pick: There will be some major bellyaching if the Cowboys can't knock off a fading Eagles team at home Sunday night. It's not a confident pick, and the Cowboys haven't been good at home, but Dallas can't afford to fall to 5-7. 

Prediction: Cowboys 23, Eagles 16

New York Giants (7-4) at Washington Redskins (5-6)

What's at Stake: The Redskins threw their name back in the NFC wild-card hat with a win over Dallas on Thanksgiving. At 5-6, they need to string together wins. The Giants, meanwhile, can widen their gap in the NFC East with a win. 

Pick: Earlier this season, the Giants followed up a big NFC win over the 49ers by beating the Redskins in New York. A week after stomping the Packers, the Giants can all but eliminate Washington on Monday Night Football. New York should avoid the letdown again. 

Prediction: Giants 27, Redskins 24