New Orleans Saints (9-2) vs. Atlanta Falcons (4-7): In this intra-divisional matchup, the Saints have the clear talent advantage, but the Falcons have a substantial advantage at the quarterback position. While the Saints won 31-3 against the Broncos last week, quarterback Taysom Hill has looked exactly like what everyone thought he would be. The worst starting quarterback in football that has no business being under center for an NFL football team. The Falcons have been playing better as of late, going 3-1 in their last four games on the heels of a 43-6 drubbing of the Las Vegas Raiders.
The Falcons are one of the most enigmatic teams in all of football, but this week the good version of the Atlanta Falcons will show up against their NFC South rival and take advantage of subpar quarterback play from the Saints.
Prediction: Falcons: 28 Saints: 24
Detroit Lions (4-7) vs. Chicago Bears (5-6): A new era is underway in the “Motor City” when the Lions decided to part ways with Head Coach Matt Patricia and General Manager Bob Quinn after the Lions embarrassing 41-25 loss to the Houston Texans on Thanksgiving Day. The Bears are coming into this game ice-cold dropping five games in a row after starting the season 5-1.
The Bears have a massive quarterback problem on their hands, but Chicago will be able to do just enough to win this NFC North showdown and stay within striking distance of the playoffs.
Prediction: Bears: 17 Lions: 16
Cleveland Browns (8-3) vs. Tennessee Titans (8-3): This game between two teams squarely in the AFC playoff race is the most compelling game on the week 13 slate. Both the Titans and Browns are led by their rushing attacks, and this game will not be any different. Cleveland and Tennessee have the number one and two rushing attacks in the entire league respectively.
This game will come down to which quarterback could be trusted to make a few crucial throws with the game on the line. Ryan Tannehill has played much better than Baker Mayfield this season, and the discrepancy in quarterback play will allow the Titans to eke out a victory.
Prediction: Titans: 21 Browns: 17
Cincinnati Bengals (2-8-1) vs. Miami Dolphins (7-4): The Miami Dolphins are one of the most shocking teams in the entire league, and regardless of who Miami’s quarterback is in this game, the Dolphins should have no trouble keeping their Cinderella season going.
Once Joe Burrow went down with a season-ending knee injury in week 11, the Bengals' promising season evaporated in that same moment.
Prediction: Dolphins: 24 Bengals: 13
Jacksonville Jaguars (1-10) vs. Minnesota Vikings (5-6): This game pits two teams against one another that are going in completely different directions. Minnesota has won four of their last five games after starting the season an awful 1-5, while the Jaguars have lost ten consecutive games after winning their season opener.
This game is going to come down to one simple principle: The Jaguars have nothing to play for other than draft position, and the Vikings want to try and keep their head above water in the NFC wild card race. This game will never be competitive outside of the first quarter.
Prediction: Vikings: 28 Jaguars: 14
Las Vegas Raiders (6-5) vs. New York Jets (0-11): The Raiders will come out more focused this week after getting embarrassed 43-6 on the road against the Atlanta Falcons in week 12. The Jets have looked lifeless virtually all season, and that will not change this week. The Raiders also were embarrassed last season on the road against these same New York Jets 34-3 in week 12. The Raiders will be sure to right that wrong this time around.
Prediction: Raiders: 34 Jets: 14
Indianapolis Colts (7-4) vs. Houston Texans (4-7): The Colts were manhandled by the Titans last week and will look to bounce back against another AFC South foe. Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson has been one of the few bright spots for the Texans in what has been a tough 2020 season. Unfortunately, Watson’s top target in Will Fuller was suspended for the remainder of the season due to PED’s. Against such a tough Colts defense, the Texans will be unable to muster enough offense to pull off the upset, even with someone like Watson at the helm.
Prediction: Colts: 27 Texans: 23
New York Giants (4-7) vs. Seattle Seahawks (8-3): The status of Giants starting quarterback Daniel Jones is up in the air, but even if the second-year quarterback would be able to suit up, the Giants still stand no chance against a Super Bowl contender like the Seattle Seahawks. The Giants are leading the disastrous NFC East, but their victories have not come against the top-tier of the National Football League. The Giants have defeated the Washington Football Team twice in addition to the Cincinnati Bengals and the Philadelphia Eagles. These teams are a combined 9-22-2 in 2020. “Big Blue” has been a great story, and first-year Head Coach Joe Judge has been a breath of fresh air to the franchise, but the Giants will come crashing down to Earth as they take a tremendous step up in degree of difficulty.
Prediction: Seahawks: 38 Giants: 20
Los Angeles Rams (7-4) vs. Arizona Cardinals (6-5): Both teams enter Sunday coming off tough losses, the Rams to the 49ers and the Cardinals to the Patriots. This game is important for both teams, but it is more crucial for Arizona. Arizona has lost three of their last four and Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray has clearly been hampered by a shoulder injury. Rams quarterback Jared Goff has also struggled in his own right lately. Goff has four interceptions in his past two games.
This will be a close game all afternoon, but the Rams are just a little better at this particular moment in time. The Rams have a decided advantage at head coach and defense, and the shoulder injury of Murray will continue to cost his team.
Prediction: Rams: 24 Cardinals: 20
Philadelphia Eagles (3-7-1) vs. Green Bay Packers (8-3): The Eagles offense has looked lifeless for far too long in 2020, and a trip to Lambeau Field is the opposite of exactly what the Eagles need. The Eagles offense has shown nothing this season that would cause one to believe they have what it takes to keep pace with Aaron Rodgers and the Packers' lethal offense. Rodgers is on the shortlist for MVP, and this game may spell the end to the Carson Wentz era with the Eagles. Philadelphia has no clear path to victory, and it will take all the Eagles have to just keep this game competitive.
Prediction: Packers: 34 Eagles: 13
New England Patriots (5-6) vs. Los Angeles Chargers (3-8): This game does not look like it will be very close on paper, but in actuality, it will be one of the closest games of week 13. The Patriots have the far better head coach in Bill Belichick while the Chargers have the more talented roster. The difference in talent is especially noticeable at the quarterback position. Patriots quarterback Cam Newton has been awful in 2020 having thrown four touchdowns juxtaposed against nine interceptions. On the other hand, Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert is the clear favorite for Offensive Rookie of the Year.
The Chargers, under Head Coach Anthony Lynn, have made a habit of finding heartbreaking ways to lose games they seemingly have in the win column. The clock management by Lynn has also been head-scratching all season. The sheer difference between the two head coaches will allow New England to get their record back to .500 on the season.
Prediction: Patriots: 23 Chargers: 20
Denver Broncos (4-7) vs. Kansas City Chiefs (10-1): Luckily the Broncos will have a starting quarterback this week, but it will make no difference on Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs and Patrick Mahomes. The Chiefs must keep winning so they can keep pace with the undefeated Pittsburgh Steelers. This is not a game the Chiefs will trip up on. They have their sights set on the Lombardi Trophy.
Prediction: Chiefs: 41 Broncos: 16
Washington Football Team (4-7) vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (11-0): Pittsburgh struggled to put away the COVID-ravaged Baltimore Ravens, but were still able to remain perfect. The Steelers will look much better on Monday, and the quick-passing game will keep the Washington defensive line at bay. Washington’s defensive line is the strength of their team, but the Steelers offensive game plan will be sure to negate that. Washington has fought hard all season and have themselves in contention for the NFC East title, but they will not be the team to upend the Steelers’ perfect season.
Steelers: 23 Washington: 13
Buffalo Bills (8-3) vs. San Francisco 49ers (5-6): It has been a whirlwind week for the 49ers after the team was forced to leave after the county implemented new restrictions which barred the team from either playing or practicing in San Francisco. The team will be in Arizona for the next few weeks, and this game will be played at the home stadium of the rival Arizona Cardinals.
The Bills need a win on Monday to keep the AFC East lead, and after such a hectic week, the Niners will not be as prepared to play as they normally would be.
Prediction: Bills: 26 49ers: 21
Dallas Cowboys (3-8) vs. Baltimore Ravens (6-5): The Ravens still have many of their star players on the COVID-19 reserve limit, including 2019 NFL MVP Lamar Jackson, and it has yet to be determined which players will suit up on Tuesday. Robert Griffin III, who started for the Ravens on Wednesday, has been placed on IR as well. Even though the Ravens will probably be a shell of themselves when they play the Cowboys on Tuesday, the championship pedigree of Baltimore will be enough to put them over the top against a poor Cowboys team.
Prediction: Ravens: 20 Cowboys: 14
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