Week 13 NFL Predictions: Teams That Will Make Major Statement in Playoff Race

Week 13 of the NFL season means that the playoff race is really starting to heat up.

It's at this point in the season, with three-quarters of the games already done, that the details of the playoff picture start sorting themselves out. In this specific 2013 season, that means there's a lot of sorting out to do.

Only one team in the entire NFL has been mathematically eliminated (Atlanta). The AFC has nine teams either tied with the Tennessee Titans at 5-6 or within one game. The NFC still has plenty of drama left to unfold as well too. The NFC North and NFC East still have yet to be figured out and the wild-card race features three teams within one game of the San Francisco 49ers. 

Here's a complete outlook of all the league's action and the teams who will show they are ready to take the next step in their quest to make the postseason. 

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

Pittsburgh Will Be Thankful for Momentum in AFC North

The Steelers have the opportunity to make this a memorable Thanksgiving for Steelers fans by climbing to .500 on the season in the final game of the NFL's festive tripleheader. 

If their recent success is any indication, the Steelers should have the edge. After starting the season out at a miserable 0-4, they are now 5-2 in their last seven games. They've been especially impressive in November, going 3-1 behind excellent play from Ben Roethlisberger, who was the offensive player of the month:

Meanwhile, the Ravens have struggled mightily with consistency recently. Although they have won two of their last three, they are just 3-4 in their last seven games. 

With Roethlisberger finding ways to work around an ineffective offensive line, the Steelers have scored at least 20 points in four straight games. That consistency should carry the day as Pittsburgh completes an improbable climb back to .500. 

Eagles Continue to Soar Toward Top of NFC East

The Philadelphia Eagles face a pivotal test as the red-hot Cardinals will come to Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday. 

The Eagles are tied at 6-5 atop the NFC East with the Dallas Cowboys but have the opportunity to make a huge statement against a Cardinals team that is on a four-game win streak. However, upon closer examination, the Cardinals streak isn't as impressive as it may seem. 

Sure, the Cardinals beat Andrew Luck and the Colts 40-11 at home, but the other three wins came against the dysfunctional Falcons, Texans and Jaguars. The Eagles have looked much better than that trio. They are on a three-game win streak of their own and are 5-0 with Nick Foles at the helm. 

49ers Becomes NFC Wild-Card Favorite with Win Over Rams

The NFC wild-card situation isn't nearly as chaotic as the AFC picture, but it's still wide open at this point. 

However, a 49ers win at home against the Rams would change that, especially if it's paired with a Cardinals loss to the Eagles. 

The 'Niners haven't looked like the team that won the NFC championship last year, but they've proven that you have to be an elite team to beat them. The Seahawks, Colts, Panthers and Saints are the only teams to top them and all four appear to be playoff-bound. 

Coming off of a thorough domination of the Redskins on the road, the veteran 'Niners will be prepared to go home and take care of business against a Rams team that is on a streak but hasn't been a great team all season.