NFL Picks Week 13: Will the Patriots and Ravens Dominate at Home?
So here were are, in lucky Week 13.
Or let's just hope it's lucky for Peyton Manning, who forgot how to throw the ball to his own team last week against the San Diego Chargers.
Some intriguing matchups this week.
Should be a high-powered game as Philadelphia hosts Houston on Thursday. Oakland tries to get back on track in San Diego. Tampa Bay gets to face Atlanta again (lucky them). Dallas brings its revamped team to Indianapolis, where Manning will be waiting, still angry from the San Diego game.
Pittsburgh plays in Baltimore, which should be a good indicator of who belongs with the big dogs.
My Game of the Week happens to be the Monday Night game, where the New York Jets come into New England and try to rough up Tom Brady.
Here are my NFL Picks Week 13.
Thursday Night: Houston at Philadelphia
1 of 16
Point spread: Philadelphia by 8
Eagles quarterback Michael Vick tries to get back on track after looking vulnerable for the first time in Chicago, a game in which the Eagles lost.
Nothing like the worst pass defense in the league to get Vick's motor running again. And no, a 20-0 shutout against Rusty Smith and the Tennessee Titans does not grant Houston respect in my book.
I expect this to be a high-scoring affair, unless Philadelphia remembers how to play defense again after getting "Cutler-ized" against Jay Cutler and the Bears last week.
Prediction: Philadelphia 30, Houston 24
Cleveland at Miami
2 of 16
Point spread: Miami by 4.5
Before last week, this would have been an easy call for me.
But then Miami pulverized Oakland, in Oakland, and Cleveland only beat Carolina by one point.
Chad Henne is clearly the better option at quarterback than Tyler Thigpen (or anyone else for that matter) for the Dolphins.
But I still don't really believe in Miami. Oakland just choked last Sunday.
Cleveland almost got upset by Carolina, but I still think they are a much better team than people give them credit for.
Peyton Hillis continues to impress at the RB spot, all quarterback Jake Delhomme has to do is make sure he doesn't throw two interceptions again.
Prediction: Cleveland 20, Miami 17
San Francisco at Green Bay
3 of 16
Point spread: Green Bay by 9.5
San Francisco got its hopes up last week against the Arizona Cardinals, thoroughly demolishing the Cards despite No. 1 running back Frank Gore getting knocked out of the game.
Unfortunately for the 49ers, however, their hopes will be crushed this week against a Green Bay team that stood toe-to-toe with Atlanta last week, only to see the Falcons win it in the last seconds with a field goal.
Not only is Green Bay a far superior team, the game is in Green Bay.
I don't see this one working out too well for the 4-7 Niners.
Prediction: Green Bay 27, San Francisco 17
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Denver at Kansas City
4 of 16
Point spread: Kansas City by 8.5
Denver shocked Kansas City in in Week 10, beating them up, 49-29.
Don't expect a repeat in Kansas City.
Denver has been playing better football lately ("better" the key word), but they don't belong in the same company as the Chiefs, who generally feast on lesser competition and make it close against better teams.
Denver is sure to have problems with KC's two-headed running attack featuring Jamaal Charles and Thomas Jones, too.
The Broncos are giving up the third-most rushing yards per game and the most rushing touchdowns in the NFL.
Prediction: Kansas City 30, Denver 21
Buffalo at Minnesota
5 of 16
Point prediction: Minnesota by 5.5
The Buffalo Bills went on a mini winning streak of two games and were riding sky-high.
Then star receiver Steve Johnson dropped what would have been a game-winning touchdown catch in the finals seconds, and the team resorted to blaming God for all the horror.
Seriously, Steve Johnson blamed God. Not face-to-face, of course. Through Twitter.
It's not God's fault you didn't catch the ball Steve. It's called concentration.
Minnesota is probably feeling the best it has all season after a 17-13 win at Washington last week.
Adrian Peterson was hurt in the game, but regardless if he plays this game or not, I think Buffalo's confidence is shaken, and the Vikings will win this game at home.
If they don't, we can bash Brett Favre some more. Either way it's a good thing.
Prediction: Minnesota 20, Buffalo 17
Chicago at Detroit
6 of 16
Point spread: Chicago by 4.5
I'm actually surprised the point spread is this low.
First of all, Chicago is playing the Detroit Lions, consistently one of the worst teams in football.
Second of all, they just beat the freakin' Eagles, with the defense containing Michael Vick for really the only time this season, and Jay Cutler going off for 247 yards and four touchdowns.
Ya, this should be a Bears win.
Prediction: Chicago 27, Detroit 21
Jacksonville at Tennessee
7 of 16
Point spread: Tennessee by 2
Jacksonville is coming off a tough 24-20 loss against the New York Giants, but they proved they are a solid team in the loss, and I see David Garrard bouncing back after a rough game. Maurice Jones-Drew is always a game-changer.
Tennessee is also coming off a tough loss. The only difference is they got shut out...against the Houston Texans.
Well, that doesn't happen very often.
But it might with rookie QB Rusty Smith under center.
Got to be disappointed if you're a Titans fan, the team came into the season with such high hopes.
Then all of a sudden Vince Young throws his shoulder pads into the stands, and your season effectively ends.
Well, there's always next year.
Prediction: Jacksonville 24, Tennessee 14
Washington at New York Giants
8 of 16
Point spread: New York by 7
The New York Giants are one of the better teams in the league.
The Washington Redskins—evidenced by their 17-13 loss against Minnesota last week and the fact that they've lost to Detroit—are not a good team.
This is an easy call.
Look for Eli Manning to tee off on the Redskins in New York.
Prediction: New York 27, Washington 20
New Orleans at Cincinnati
9 of 16
Point spread: New Orleans by 6.5
It's official: New Orleans is back to being a contender.
After starting off at 4-3, the Saints have won their last four games, including against Pittsburgh and a revitalized team in Dallas last week.
Drew Brees continues to chug along as he normally does, and Reggie Bush's emergence into the lineup will only improve things for the Saints.
The Bengals, on the other hand, have fallen so low they are challenging the Carolina Panthers for worst team in the NFL.
Cincinnati has lost eight games in a row now, the offense is completely out of sync, and the defense hasn't been good all season.
Looking like a blowout.
Prediction: New Orleans 34, Cincinnati 17
Oakland at San Diego
10 of 16
Point spread: San Diego by 13
Well, Bruce Gradkowski is out for the season, so Raider fans don't have to worry about coach Tom Cable starting him again.
What a weird decision huh?
Everything's going great for the Raiders; Jason Campbell isn't looking half-bad, and then BAM, Cable plays musical chairs.
Except it didn't turn out too musical for Oakland against an average at best Dolphins team last Sunday.
In fact, the Raiders looked completely out of tune (See how I did that? "Musical chairs," "musical," "out of tune").
I expect them to play much better this week, but against San Diego, the scoreboard might not reflect it.
San Diego just blew up Peyton Manning, remember, and the team has now won four straight.
The Chargers have their eye on the prize, and it's going to be hard for anybody to stop them.
Prediction: San Diego 33, Oakland 23
Atlanta at Tampa Bay
11 of 16
Point spread: Atlanta by 3
Although this game is in Tampa Bay this time, I don't see the outcome against Atlanta being any different.
In fact, it might be worst.
As you all might remember, Atlanta beat Tampa Bay 27-21 when they met up in Week 9.
Atlanta has gone on to win their next three games (that's five straight now), including wins against Baltimore and Green Bay (both elite teams).
In effect, Atlanta has shown it is no longer playing catchup to elite teams—it is one.
Tampa Bay, on the other hand, can't seem to get over the hump from good team to very good team.
The Buccaneers lost to Baltimore last week, 17-10.
Prediction: Atlanta 27, Tampa Bay 21
Carolina at Seattle
12 of 16
Point spread: Seattle by 6
Wow, what a fun game this should be.
If you are looking for comic relief on a Sunday night, don't go out to a comedy club—watch the Panthers-Seahawks game.
The Seahawks, after starting off modestly, have now been exposed for what they really are—a truly bad team.
Carolina, well, Carolina strives for modest play, because that would be an improvement from horrible play.
I'm giving this one to the Seahawks based on home-field advantage in what should be a sloppy game.
Prediction: Seattle 24, Carolina 13
St. Louis at Arizona
13 of 16
Point spread: St. Louis by 3.5
Wow, the games just keep getting better and better, huh?
St. Louis is the NFC West division leader at 5-6.
The 3-8 Cardinals will try to give them a run for their money.
They won't. Did you see the Cardinals-49ers game? Brian Westbrook ran for 136 yards and a touchdown out of nowhere.
Ya, that kinda stuff happens to Arizona.
Rams rookie QB Sam Bradford is playing at his highest level of the season and should have no problem disposing of Arizona.
Prediction: St. Louis 24, Arizona 17
Dallas at Indianapolis
14 of 16
Point spread: Indianapolis by 5.5
I expect this to be a close one, as New Orleans just barely hung on against Dallas.
Peyton Manning is having some serious troubles lately, with nine interceptions in his last four games. Some people are calling it the worst stretch of his career.
But Dallas' defense hasn't presented the same problems San Diego's has throughout the years for Manning, and I see him getting back on track this week and winning a close shootout.
If he doesn't, it is seriously time for Colts fans to start worrying.
Prediction: Indianapolis 28, Dallas 24
Pittsburgh at Baltimore
15 of 16
Point spread: Baltimore by 3
If it wasn't for the Monday Night game, this would surely be my pick for Game of the Week.
Both these teams are trying to assert themselves going into the final weeks of the season, and they are both elite teams this year.
But Pittsburgh's game against Buffalo last week concerns me. They had trouble scoring against a weak Bills defense, and now they face a Baltimore defense that has clearly improved since the start of the season.
Plus, the game is in Baltimore, and the Ravens are undefeated at home, at 5-0.
Prediction: Baltimore 24, Pittsburgh 20
Monday Night Game: New York Jets at New England
16 of 16
Point spread: New England by 3.5
New England has lost two games this season—one of them was a 28-14 loss against the Jets in New York.
But New England is coasting right now, and it's hard to see even the Jets beating them.
But if anyone's going to do it, it's the Jets, who have a defense that is capable of slowing down Tom Brady.
The problem is, can they slow him down enough?
I'm betting on Tom Brady and a team that is in complete sync right now.
Having home-field advantage helps, given that New England is 5-0 at home, too.
Prediction: New England 27, New York 24
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