NFL Week 13 Picks: Full Outlook for Remaining Slate of Games

Just because Thanksgiving is over doesn't mean you can't continue to fill up on football. 

Turkey Day provided a couple of terrific matchups on Thursday, giving us three contests that featured teams within at least two games of each other, but the Week 13 slate in the NFL is an absolutely loaded one. 

Despite all of the football that has already been played, we still have two potential Game of the Year matchups (9-2 Denver Broncos vs. 9-2 Kansas City Chiefs, and 9-2 New Orleans Saints vs. 10-1 Seattle Seahawks) and five other battles between teams still fighting for playoff spots. 

Yep, the holiday hangover is going to be a nice one. 

Away Team	Home Team	Pick
Jacksonville Jaguars	Cleveland Browns	Browns
Chicago Bears	Minnesota Vikings	Bears
Miami Dolphins	New York Jets	Jets
Tennessee Titans	Indianapolis Colts	Colts
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

Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs

When the Broncos handled the Chiefs two weeks ago, it was largely on the laurels of their ability to protect Peyton Manning. 

Andy Reid's defense entered the game at the top of the NFL in sacks with a terrific opportunity to potentially make Manning, who was dealing with a significant ankle injury, uncomfortable in the pocket. 

Manning threw the ball 40 times, leaving him completely exposed to Kansas City's relentless pressure...aaaand the Chiefs registered zero sacks and zero QB hits as Manning picked them apart for 8.1 yards per throw.

So much for that. 

Now, the immense noise at Arrowhead should help Kansas City get off the snap quicker (or maybe Denver get off slower) this time around, but Justin Houston is out and Tamba Hali is less than 100 percent, per FOX Sports' Mike Garafolo and ESPN's Adam Teicher:

Getting Hali back is key for the Chiefs, but you have to wonder how effective he'll be dealing with an ankle sprain. Either way, without All-Pro candidate Houston, who has 11.0 sacks on the season, the Chiefs' pass rush is downgraded a notch. 

This game will be much more competitive than the Week 11 matchup, but I'm still taking Manning and a loaded Broncos offense (especially with tight end Julius Thomas likely back) over a banged-up Chiefs defense that just gave up 41 points at home to the San Diego Chargers. 

New Orleans Saints at Seattle Seahawks

This one is tricky. 

Normally, you'd never pick against the Seahawks in Seattle. A super-team of Hulks could line up on the other side of the field, and you would probably still feel confident in the 12th Man willing Russell Wilson—who has yet to lose at home in his career—and his team to a victory. 

This is a little different, though. The Seahawks secondary, which often makes their elite defense tick, will be without cornerbacks Walter Thurmond and Brandon Browner, per the Seahawks' Twitter feed and NFL.com's Ian Rapoport:

Browner is also dealing with a potential suspension, by the way, but the groin injury will keep him out as he attempts to appeal. 

This is about the worst timing possible, as the 'Hawks get ready to face Drew Brees, who is second in the NFL in passing yards per game and passing touchdowns. 

While the natural reaction will be to shift toward the Saints in this scenario, there are few other factors to consider.

First, New Orleans has been average on the road, going 3-2 with a meager plus-five point differential and most recently struggling to put away the anemic Atlanta Falcons. 

Moreover, the Seahawks' offensive line—as well as Percy Harvin—is closer to full health, meaning it will be able to better generate a run game to help keep Brees off the field. 

The Seahawks' depleted secondary makes this potentially scintillating Monday night battle all the more interesting, but I'm not going to be the one to pick against Seattle at its fortress.