Week 13 NFL Predictions: Underrated Teams That Will Jump into Playoff Contention

A lot of crazy twists can happen to the playoff picture as the 2013-14 NFL season enters Week 13 beginning on Thanksgiving Thursday and the postseason race is particularly wide-open in the AFC.

Several teams from that conference could well claim victories and make the cluster of franchises fighting for that sixth and final wild-card seed all the more captivating.

Find out which underrated teams will pull off big upsets in Week 13 and launch themselves more prominently into the playoff conversation.

Oakland Raiders (4-7) over Dallas Cowboys (6-5)

It's a short week, it's Thanksgiving and the Cowboys are coming off a huge road win over the New York Giants while the Raiders just got their hearts broken at home in a 23-19 loss to the Tennessee Titans.

But this is the NFL. This is Week 13's ultimate upset special.

Steady quarterback play from undrafted rookie Matt McGloin and improved production on the ground by Rashad Jennings have the Raiders' 2013 outlook seeming far more optimistic.

Dallas is due for a devastating letdown, and what better way to do it than on the big stage at Cowboys Stadium?

This is not a knock on QB Tony Romo, but rather on a defense that is 31st against the pass and 30th against the run. McGloin has faced stiffer tests in each of his first two starts, so he could very well come away with his best game yet.

No team is going to be better than 6-6 in the wild-card race by the end of Week 13. Although it hurts knowing that Oakland was this close to getting a key head-to-head tiebreaker against Tennessee, anything can happen at this point.

When the Raiders pull this improbable upset off, a matchup with the reeling New York Jets awaits.

Prediction: Raiders 30, Cowboys 27

Miami Dolphins (5-6) over New York Jets (5-6)

Speaking of said Jets, how about rookie second-round signal-caller Geno Smith? 

The pride of West Virginia is really struggling as of late...turning the ball over at an alarming rate...causing his team's playoff chances to dissipate.

Put a melody to that dope rhyme, and that could be Smith's theme song.

Then again, it's hard to imagine that the confidence of his counterpart, Ryan Tannehill, is sky-high at the moment, as the 2012 No. 8 overall draft pick is singing a similar bluesy tune entering this AFC East battle.

Tannehill has been sacked 44 times this season—by far the most in the league. Part of it is holding the ball too long. Of course, it doesn't help that both Richie Incognito and Jonathan Martin are no longer there to aid in pass protection.

That gives Jets head coach Rex Ryan free rein to attack Tannehill with exotic blitzes and confuse the young apparent QB of the future.

Oh, but wait, Mike Wallace came within inches of catching a miraculous winning touchdown pass to nearly beat the Carolina Panthers this past weekend:

Four of the Dolphins' past five games have been decided by three or fewer points, but this outcome should provide some breathing room.

Much like Buffalo Bills rookie first-round pick EJ Manuel did in his second crack at Ryan in Week 11, though, Tannehill will solve Ryan's riddles and put forth a winning effort on Sunday.

Prediction: Dolphins 24, Jets 13

Buffalo Bills (4-7) over Atlanta Falcons (2-9)

And here we are, having brought it around to Manuel, who is coming off his best game as a pro. Against the Jets, he completed 20 of 28 passes for 245 yards and two touchdowns in a convincing win.

In the friendly confines of Ralph Wilson Stadium in Week 13, the Falcons come to town with a banged-up corps of playmakers and having just suffered a close loss to the New Orleans Saints at home.

It's in Atlanta's best interest to wave the white flag at this point and seek a top 2014 draft pick.

Star QB Matt Ryan will have his work cut out for him facing a pass rush led by Mario Williams and a ball-hawking defense that is tied for the NFL lead with 16 interceptions.

The Falcons also give up 28.1 points per contest, are 24th versus the pass and even worse against the run, yielding 130 yards per game.

That's bad news when going up against running backs such as Fred Jackson and C.J. Spiller—who are both bound to have breakout performances—along with a dynamic athlete like Manuel.

Still laughing at the notion that Buffalo could make the playoffs? Its next three games are at Tampa Bay, at Jacksonville and hosting Miami before finishing with a road trip to New England, which could be resting its starters by Week 17.

With their ability to generate turnovers, two exceptional running backs ready to explode and a developing, promising rookie quarterback, don't count out the Bills just yet.

Prediction: Bills 31, Falcons 20

Away Team	Home Team	Winner
Green Bay Packers	Detroit Lions	Lions
Oakland Raiders	Dallas Cowboys	Raiders
Pittsburgh Steelers	Baltimore Ravens	Steelers
Jacksonville Jaguars	Cleveland Browns	Browns
Tennessee Titans	Indianapolis Colts	Titans
Chicago Bears	Minnesota Vikings	Vikings
Miami Dolphins	New York Jets	Dolphins
Arizona Cardinals	Philadelphia Eagles	Eagles
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	Chargers
New York Giants	Washington Redskins	Giants
New Orleans Saints	Seattle Seahawks	Seahawks