NFL Week 13 Preview

    

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Atlanta at NY Jets - The Falcons have not had a great season this year (neither of these teams have, in truth). Yet Atlanta currently is tied atop the lowly NFC South with the Saints in the standings. Clearly, they have a lot to fight for in this one. However, they are also terrible on the road, having gone 1-4 to this point in the season. As for the Jets, they should have been eliminated from the playoff run a while ago. Still, they are in the running - well, somewhat - and need to stop the bleeding from their current four game losing streak. As bad as it has been for Gang Green, they absolutely need to find a way to take this game. I believe that they will. My pick: NY Jets

Detroit at New Orleans - The Lions are meeting the high expectations this season thus far. They are enjoying a wonderfully successful season at 8-3. Their offense looks on point in most games that they have played in. Even better, they have been surprisingly strong on the road, at 4-1. The Saints are kind of an up and down team, unpredictable and obviously inconsistent. Look for the Lions to earn a solid road win here as they close in on the division title. My pick: Detroit

Arizona at Pittsburgh - These two teams had a memorable meeting in the Super Bowl, once upon a time. However, times have changed. The Steelers are a solid playoff contender, but the Cardinals, on the other hand, are suffering through a terrible season. They have a real chance at the number one pick in next year's draft, that's how their season has been going. So the pick here in this one should be obvious. My pick: Pittsburgh

Indianapolis at Tennessee - The AFC South has not traditionally been a very solid division overall in recent seasons. Yet this season, they have three teams with winning records on this first weekend in December, and the Titans, in last place, are not terrible. They are especially tough at home, sporting a 4-1 record so far. True, the Colts are themselves 4-1 on the road, and that helps to add intrigue in this one. Still, I suspect that the Titans do just enough for the win. My pick: Tennessee 

LA Chargers at New England - Both of these teams are on serious losing streaks, and desperately would like a win. But only one of them has still a semi-serious shot at the playoffs. Look for the Chargers to beat Belichick's Patriots in this one. My pick: LA Chargers

Denver at Houston - Two surprisingly hot and dangerous teams meet. Who could have imagined, back in late September and early October, that this meeting would have serious playoff ramifications? Yet, here we are. It's December, and both of these clubs are in position to make a run to qualify for the postseason. Really, either team could win this one, the way that they have played as of late. However, I think that the Broncos have shown just a bit more tenacity and determination in their drive for success this season - possibly driven by the desire to put that 70-20 loss to Miami earlier this year behind them - and should emerge victorious. My pick: Denver

Miami at Washington - The Commanders are a tough team to predict. Sometimes, they play extremely well, and can surprise you. However, their defense has allowed a lot of points this season, and they are meeting the league's most dangerous offense. Also, while Miami has been okay at best on the road so far this year at 3-3, Washington has been simply abysmal at home this season at 1-4. Also, the Commanders have dropped three straight games, while the Fins are trying to seal the deal as they get ever closer to that AFC East Division title. Miami's offense, and a solid defense, should prove too much in this one for the Commanders. My pick: Miami

Carolina at Tampa Bay - Surprisingly, despite the Bucs having suffered through what most people would describe as a bad season to date, they are in position to take a part of the lead for the NFC South, should the Falcons and Saints both lose (which I am predicting). And with the Bucs hosting the lowly Panthers, with the worst overall record in the league at 1-10, I expect Tampa to get a rare win, and perhaps astonishingly, to have a real shot at yet another division title this season in December, despite the mess that has been this season for them. My pick: Tampa Bay

San Francisco at Philadelphia - This is the big one that everyone seems to be waiting for this weekend. A rematch of last season's NFC Championship Game, and a possible sneak preview of this season's NFC title game, as well. These likely are the two tops teams in the NFC, with the best overall records in the conference at 10-1 for Philly, and 8-3 for the visiting 49ers. They both have tough defenses, although the 49ers have the top-rated defense to this point in the season. And both offenses are averaging 28.2 points per game at the moment. The real question, then, is how the two teams will adjust since their last meeting back in January in that Championship Game. The Eagles managed to win that one handily, but I suspect that this game should be much tighter. Expect a back and forth affair, with both teams having a shot to win this one. In the end, I believe that Philly, with their home field advantage, will do just enough to win. Although again, it should be a tight one either way. My pick: Philadelphia

Cleveland at LA Rams - Cleveland lost a bad game last week, so I expect them to come out with fiery intensity this week. True, they are not great on the road to this point at 2-3. But the Rams have a matching 2-3 record when playing at home, so that bodes well for the Brownies in this one. Expect the Browns to find a way through for a solid West Coast win. My pick: Cleveland

Sunday Night Football: Kansas City at Green Bay - These two teams met in the first ever Super Bowl. Right now, the Chiefs are on the verge of being a dynasty, and will qualify if they can win one more Super Bowl. They are 4-1 to this point on the road. That said, the Packers are quite hot in recent weeks. Love seems to be solidly installing himself as the quarterback of the future for the club, and they have now won two straight games. This will be a tough game, but in the end, the better team should come out with the "W." And to me, that's still the Chiefs. My pick: Kansas City

Monday Night Football: Cincinnati at Jacksonville - This would have been a much better game, and much tougher to call, if the Bengals still had Burrow. But he is out, and the Bengals just are not the same team without him. The Jaguars are closing in on another division title, and so this is an important game for them. It would be a surprise if they don't get it done and win this one. My pick: Jacksonville