NFL Picks Week 13: Nail-Biters That Will Have Fans on the Edge of Their Seats

Close games have a way of bringing out the best in teams, particularly when they are in the playoff hunt and putting everything on the line.

In Week 13 of the NFL season, some exciting matchups lie ahead.

If you're a fan of one of these teams, you're going to be pulling your hair out and jumping up and down from one moment to the next.

Here are three nail-biters that will have fans jumping on the couch and annoying the rest of the family.

3. Detroit Lions at New Orleans Saints

Yes, I know the Lions have been scuffling a bit lately, and I know the Saints are coming off a 49-24 drubbing of the New York Giants, but the Lions are still a very good team.

We may have been a bit too hasty declaring the Lions as a Super Bowl contender this season because they're a developing team still, but this developing team has a lot of things working for it moving forward.

Quarterback Matthew Stafford has seen his fair share of struggles this season, but he's also been excellent in some games. He's a true franchise quarterback and there's no debating this.

On top of that, the Lions defense is better than the Giants' and the offense put up 49 points of their own two weeks ago.

I'm still giving this one to the Saints, but I think it's going to be a close one.

2. New York Jets at Washington Redskins

This is a combination of the Jets playing poorly in recent weeks and the Redskins playing better.

The Jets may have scored 28 points against the Buffalo Bills in Week 12, but the Redskins defense is an entirely different story. Like the Lions, the Redskins have a burgeoning young defense that can cause problems for opposing offenses.

The Redskins are giving up just 212 passing yards per game this season and only 13 passing touchdowns. Given Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez has a way of struggling, I definitely expect the Redskins to knock him down a notch in Week 13.

Redskins quarterback Rex Grossman has actually played well the last two weeks and rookie running back Roy Helu appears to be the real deal.

Redskins win.

Go crazy, Redskins fans, go crazy.

1. Cincinnati Bengals at Pittsburgh Steelers

If you like defense, this is the game to watch in Week 13.

The Steelers are giving up 17.1 points per game this season. The Bengals are giving up 19.5 points per game.

On top of that, rookies Andy Dalton and A.J. Green have proven to be the real deal in Cincinnati, showing the skills and production to excel in the NFL.

The Bengals lost to the Steelers by a touchdown in Week 10 and Dalton had driven the Bengals to the Steelers' 25-yard line before throwing the deciding interception.

Steelers win again, but the Bengals will continue to prove they're a rising team with their effort.