NFL Picks Week 13: New York Giants and More Doomed Playoff Contenders

The NFL postseason race officially kicks into high gear this week. The start of December always brings about that sense of urgency, though some teams are better than others at handling the pressure. 

You can already see it, because there are a few teams that looked like playoff contenders as recently as one week ago but now look like mere afterthoughts. 

That is not to say that it is too late for those teams to turn it around, but they have not done enough to earn that kind of trust and confidence in us, or they are missing key players for a long enough period of time that they won't be able to find a replacement for. 

So, while this may be the season of giving, joy and hope, these three teams are doomed in Week 13 and will have a Christmas without the gift of a postseason berth. 

Green Bay Packers vs. New York Giants

There has been some talk this week that the Giants will be able to end the Packers' undefeated season because the franchise has done it in the past—1997 vs. Denver, 2007 vs. New England—but what people fail to realize is that stats from previous years mean nothing today. 

The Giants are listening to a lot of Nine Inch Nails because they are on a downward spiral with no hope of coming back. Their offense has become so one-dimensional that Eli Manning is far less effective now than he was when there was a running game. 

And, oh, by the way, the defense ranks 27th in points allowed per game and 28th in yardage, which is a bad combination with Aaron Rodgers as the quarterback of the other team. 

Instead of looking at this as the end of the season, the Giants' public relations team can spin it as the "Tom Coughlin Retirement Tour."

Packers 35, Giants 17

Detroit Lions at New Orleans Saints

Back in October, the Lions were the talk of the NFL world, with a 5-0 record and a new lease on life after a decade of being the biggest laughingstock in the sport. 

Fast forward to December 4, with the Lions just 2-4 in their last six games, and that guaranteed playoff spot is slipping through their fingers. The schedule doesn't help them out this month, starting with today's game at New Orleans.

In case you hadn't heard, Drew Brees is good, and the team has only been held under 30 points once in five home games. 

Saints 38, Lions 24

Atlanta Falcons at Houston Texans

How angry are Texans fans right now? They finally had the team they always wanted, could have secured a bye in the AFC playoffs if a few things went right and made a deep run—or at least won a game in January. 

Instead, Matt Schaub gets hurt and Matt Leinart has to come in to be the savior. That didn't turn out very well because the former Heisman trophy winner broke his collarbone last week and is done for the season. 

Enter T.J. Yates. Let's print those Super Bowl tickets now!

The Texans defense is good enough to win them a few games, but it will be an uphill battle, because they are not going to get a lot of time to rest with all the three-and-outs their offense will be producing. 

Falcons 24, Texans 13