NFL Picks Week 13: Don't Give Up on Michael Vick and The Philadelphia Eagles

My NFL Picks against the spread for Week 13 are here, with this week's slate featuring two key AFC showdowns.

Mark Sanchez and the New York Jets (9-2) visit Tom Brady's New England Patriots (9-2) in Foxborough—a game that likely will decide the AFC East—and Ben Roethlisberger's PIttsburgh Steelers head to Baltimore to take on Joe Flacco and the Ravens.

Also, the Philadelphia Eagles square off against the Houston Texans on Thursday Night football as Michael Vick will look to turn things around after last week's poor showing against the Chicago Bears.

All that being said, here are my picks.

Philadelphia Eagles (-8.5) Over Houston Texans

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

CHICAGO - NOVEMBER 28: Michael Vick #7 of the Philadelphia Eagles runs against the Chicago Bears trail the play at Soldier Field on November 28, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois. The Bears defeated the Eagles 31-26. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

The Giants and Bears proved that good defenses can slow down Michael Vick, but the Texans give up over 286 yards per game through the air.

Stopping Rusty Smith last week was one thing, stopping Vick would be another.

Eagles 34, Texans 24

Buffalo Bills (+5.5) Over Minnesota Vikings

Rick Stewart/Getty Images

ORCHARD PARK, NY - NOVEMBER 28: Ryan Fitzpatrick #14 of the Buffalo Bills readies to throw against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Ralph Wilson Stadium on November 28, 2010 in Orchard Park, New York. Pittsburgh won 19-16 in overtime. (Photo by Rick Stewart/

The BIlls haven't lost by more than three points since Week 5.

Why should that change against the mess that is the Minnesota Vikings?

Vikings 23, Bills 20

Chicago Bears (-4.5) Over Detroit Lions

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

CHICAGO - NOVEMBER 28: Jay Cutler #6 of the Chicago Bears looks for a receiver against of the Philadelphia Eagles at Soldier Field on November 28, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois. The Bears defeated the Eagles 31-26. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

The Lions (2-9) are expected to start Drew Stanton this week.

Stanton against the Bears defense?

Stay far, far away.

Bears 24, Lions 3

Miami Dolphins (-4.5) Over Cleveland Browns

Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

OAKLAND, CA - NOVEMBER 28: Chad Henne #7 of the Miami Dolphins throws the ball during their game against the Oakland Raiders at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on November 28, 2010 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

With Colt McCoy still nursing a high-ankle sprain, Jake Delhomme will likely get the start.

That's all you need to know.

Dolphins 23, Browns 13

Kansas City Chiefs (-9) Over Denver Broncos

Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images

SEATTLE, WA - NOVEMBER 28: Wide receiver Dwayne Bowe #82 of the Kansas City Chiefs rushes against Earl Thomas #29 and Marcus Trufant #23 of the Seattle Seahawks at Qwest Field on November 28, 2010 in Seattle, Washington. The Chiefs defeated the Seahawks

The Chiefs should run all over the Broncos porous run-D in theory (the Chiefs are 1st in the NFL in rushing offense, the Broncos are 30th in rushing defense), however, they lost the Week 10 matchup by 20 points.

Still, that game should be proved an aberration, as the Chiefs don't go down 21-0 in the first quarter again.

Chiefs 28, Broncos 17

New York Giants (-7) Over Washington Redskins

Win McNamee/Getty Images

LANDOVER, MD - NOVEMBER 28: Quarterback Donovan McNabb #5 calls out signals against the Minnesota Vikings at FedExField November 28, 2010 in Landover, Maryland. The Vikings won the game 17-13. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

The Giants are better in every aspect of the game, and the Redskins have lost three of four.

Giants 26, Redskins 13

Green Bay Packers (-9.5) Over San Francisco 49ers

Matthew Stockman/Getty Images

MINNEAPOLIS - NOVEMBER 21: Quarterback Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers throws against the Minnesota Vikings at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome on November 21, 2010 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

Don't be fooled by the 49ers beating up on the Cardinals; there's a reason they're 4-7.

And the Packers are really, really good.

Packers 31, 49ers 10

New Orleans Saints (-7) Over Cincinnati Bengals

Jemal Countess/Getty Images

NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 30: Sportsman of the Year Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints speaks during the 2010 Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year Celebration at IAC Building on November 30, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Ima

The Bengals are one of the three or four worst teams in the league right now, and the Saints are finally looking like their dominant selves from last year.

How is this line only 7?

Saints 35, Bengals 21

San Diego Chargers (-13) Over Oakland Raiders

Andy Lyons/Getty Images

INDIANAPOLIS - NOVEMBER 28: Philip Rivers #17 of the San Diego Chargers throws a pass during the NFL game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium on November 28, 2010 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

Oakland won their first matchup, but this one is in San Diego.

Also, the Raiders have lost their last two games by a combined 58 points, while the Chargers have won theirs by a combined 43.

Chargers 31, Raiders 17

Atlanta Falcons (-3) Over Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

ATLANTA - NOVEMBER 28: Quarterback Matt Ryan #2 of the Atlanta Falcons reacts after watching a replay during the game against the Green Bay Packers at Georgia Dome on November 28, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

The Falcons have won five in a row, and won the first meeting between the two teams (27-21).

Tampa has seven wins, but their best win came against the Rams.  They aren't as good as that 7-4 mark might suggest.

Falcons 24, Bucs 20

Seattle Seahawks (-6) Over Carolina Panthers

Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images

SEATTLE - NOVEMBER 28: Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck #8 of the Seattle Seahawks throws a touchdown pass to Chris Baker in the third quarter against the Kansas City Chiefs at Qwest Field on November 28, 2010 in Seattle, Washington. The Chiefs defeated the S

The Seahawks are good at home, and the Panthers are bad everywhere.

Seahawks 33, Panthers 16

Indianapolis Colts (-5.5) Over Dallas Cowboys

Andy Lyons/Getty Images

INDIANAPOLIS - NOVEMBER 28: Peyton Manning #18 of the Indianapolis Colts throws a pass during the NFL game against the San Diego Chargers at Lucas Oil Stadium on November 28, 2010 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Chargers won 36-14.(Photo by Andy Lyons/Get

This is a time where you shouldn't overrate the two teams' recent results.

The Cowboys have won two out of three (and almost beat the Saints last week), but beating the Giants and Lions (two teams that love to shoot themselves in the foot), doesn't make the Cowboys a good team.

And the Colts losing to the Chargers and Pats (two of the NFL's hottest teams, and teams the Colts have struggled against often), doesn't make the Colts a bad team.

Peyton Manning should get back on track against Dallas's shaky secondary (244 passing yards allowed per game).

Colts 31, Cowboys 20

St. Louis Rams (-3.5) Over Arizona Cardinals

Justin Edmonds/Getty Images

DENVER - NOVEMBER 28: Quarterback Sam Bradford #8 of the St. Louis Rams makes a pass during the third quarter against the Denver Broncos at INVESCO Field at Mile High on November 28, 2010 in Denver, Colorado. The Rams defeated the Broncos 36-33. (Photo b

Did you see the Cardinals on Monday Night?

And the Rams are better than the 49ers.

Rams 34, Cardinals 13

Pittsburgh Steelers (+3) Over Baltimore Ravens

Karl Walter/Getty Images

ORCHARD PARK, NY - NOVEMBER 28: James Harrison #92 of the Pittsburgh Steelers sacks Ryan Fitzpatrick #14 of the Buffalo Bills during their game at Ralph Wilson Stadium on November 28, 2010 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Karl Walter/Getty Images)

This is a tough matchup to call, but Pittsburgh's dominant run-defense (64.1 yards allowed per game) can shut down Ray Rice and make the Ravens one-dimensional.

Steelers 26, Ravens 24

New York Jets (+3.5) Over New England Patriots

Chris Trotman/Getty Images

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - NOVEMBER 25: Quarterback Mark Sanchez #6 of the New York Jets looks to throw a pass against the Cincinnati Bengals at New Meadowlands Stadium on November 25, 2010 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Jets defeated the Bengal 26-10.

The Jets man-to-man defense (with two shut-down corners) is just about the only way to slow down Tom Brady.

New York was built to beat the Pats.

Jets 27, Patriots 24

Season's Picks

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

ATLANTA - NOVEMBER 28: Freddie the Falcon, mascot of the Atlanta Falcons, performs a parody of the cheerleaders for the Green Bay Packers during the game at Georgia Dome on November 28, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

What do you think?

Let me know in the comments.

Last Week's Record: 8-5

Season: 60-43

Matt Rudnitsky is a student at the University of Michigan and a Featured Columnist/writing intern at Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter at https://twitter.com/Mattrud.