Week 13 NFL Predictions: Home Teams Sure to Emerge Victorious

A win at home in the NFL is no guarantee.

Look at Week 12 for proof—just four of 14 teams won at home in front of their fans.

Ouch.

Home fans gripping tickets to their favorite team's holiday bout this weekend should not rush to the computer to sell. In fact, several home teams in Week 13 are surefire locks to emerge victorious thanks to a variety of factors.

Here is a look at the week's full lineup, followed by the three teams sure to win in one form or another at home.

Away	Home	Prediction
Green Bay Packers	Detroit Lions*	Lions
Oakland Raiders	Dallas Cowboys*	Raiders
Pittsburgh Steelers	Baltimore Ravens*	Steelers
Jacksonville Jaguars	Cleveland Browns	Jaguars
Tennessee Titans	Indianapolis Colts	Titans
Chicago Bears	Minnesota Vikings	Bears
Miami Dolphins	New York Jets	Dolphins
Arizona Cardinals	Philadelphia Eagles	Cardinals
Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Carolina Panthers	Panthers
New England Patriots	Houston Texans	Patriots
Atlanta Falcons	Buffalo Bills	Bills
St. Louis Rams	San Francisco 49ers	49ers
Denver Broncos	Kansas City Chiefs	Broncos
Cincinnati Bengals	San Diego Chargers	Bengals
New York Giants	Washington Redskins	Giants
New Orleans Saints	Seattle Seahawks	Seahawks

 

Carolina Panthers Destroy Tampa Bay Buccaneers

This will be fun.

Tampa Bay has unexpectedly turned things around after losing its first eight games of the season. Coach Greg Schiano is inching toward actually keeping his job after a three-game win streak primarily due to the sound play from rookie quarterback Mike Glennon: 

	CMP	ATT	YDS	CMP%	TD	INT
Week 10 vs. MIA	11	21	139	52.4	1	0
Week 11 vs. ATL	20	23	231	87.0	2	0
Week 12 @ DET	14	21	247	66.7	2	0

Unfortunately the good times are over for Schiano's team thanks to a trip to Carolina.

Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers have won seven straight and tout the NFL's No. 1 scoring defense at just 13.7 points allowed on average.

The last time these two foes met back in Week 8, Tampa Bay mustered 48 total rushing yards and scored just 13 points—seven of which came on a Glennon touchdown pass in garbage time late.

This time away from home, Tampa Bay will once more be unable to do much of anything offensively en route to a loss.

Prediction: Panthers 28, Buccaneers 10

Buffalo Bills Overcome Atlanta Falcons in Toronto

Here's a game coming into the season many thought would be a run-of-the-mill contest.

After all, Atlanta was coming off a playoff berth, and Buffalo was clearly in a mini-rebuild.

How quickly things change. 

Atlanta has lost five in a row, and its only two wins have come against teams under .500. Injuries have derailed the season, but one thing is pretty obvious—the Falcons have quit.

Buffalo hasn't. Rookie quarterback EJ Manuel simply won't allow it. Manuel returned from injury two weeks ago and has improved in each game, culminating in a 37-14 win over the New York Jets behind his 245 yards and two touchdowns.

Now Manuel gets a shot at an Atlanta defense that ranks in the bottom eight against the rush and pass, as well as the bottom five in scoring defense with 28.1 points allowed per game on average.

This isn't a typical home game for Buffalo, who will be "hosting" Atlanta in Toronto. Still, the Bills are coming off a bye, are getting healthy and should be able to get the run game going.

Atlanta does one thing well at times, which is move the ball through the air. Buffalo is a borderline top-10 team in that regard, as the defense allows an average of 229 yards per game.

Prediction: Bills 28, Falcons 13

San Francisco 49ers Slip Past St. Louis Rams

What's in the water in St. Louis?

The Rams downed Indianapolis 38-8 in Week 10 and then turned around and took care of business against Chicago in Week 12 with a 42-21 victory.

Whatever it is, the Rams won't have it at Candlestick Park on Sunday.

San Francisco has been a disappointment with close losses to Carolina and New Orleans in recent weeks, but a Monday Night Football beatdown of Washington in Week 12 seems to have things back on track.

We know Frank Gore and the 49ers can run the football thanks to their 135-yards-per-game average, but it was nice to see Colin Kaepernick look competent through the air with his 235 yards and three scores.

This display of efficiency will come in handy when the Rams visit, as St. Louis ranks in the bottom 10 of the NFL with 247 yards allowed on average through the air.

These teams met in Week 4, when Kaepernick threw two touchdowns and Gore went off for 153 yards and a score in a 35-11 win. Expect more of the same, especially with the Rams having to do the traveling this time around.

Prediction: 49ers 24, Rams 13