We’re through thirteen weeks of the season and this week there’s a couple opportunities for some teams to clinch a playoff spot. We’ll be breaking down if those teams impacted can pull off that feat and every other matchup across the league. This season we’re 124-69 with predicting games.
New England Patriots at Pittsburgh Steelers
Another Thursday Night Football game that is filled with two bad teams playing against one another. The Steelers and Patriots both should be playing backup quarterbacks in two offenses that already struggled. We’re picking this game to go under whatever Vegas has the total as Pittsburgh to win in a very low scoring affair.
Winner: Pittsburgh Steelers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Atlanta Falcons
This game could decide the division title and that is sad with how bad the NFC South has been this year. We’re going with the Buccaneers to win on the road. The Falcons did just win last week, but that was against the Jets and Tampa Bay should give them a run for their money.
Winner: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Detroit Lions at Chicago Bears
The Lions have struggled the last few weeks, but they’re still the better team here as long as the team doesn’t collapse. The first half Lions need to persist throughout the full game. Last week, they nearly blew a 21-0 lead, but held on to win. Chicago isn’t a team that can come back from being as bad, so hopefully Detroit can get up big again and then just hold that lead for the whole game.
Winner: Detroit Lions
Indianapolis Colts at Cincinnati Bengals
Jake Browning came out of nowhere on Monday Night Football this past week to lead the Bengals over the Jaguars in an overtime thriller. Does he have what it takes to pull off a big win two weeks in a row? It’s going to be tough against another team who is also fighting for a playoff spot in a deep AFC wild card race. The Colts are without Jonathan Taylor, but Zack Moss has stepped up big time in his absence. We like the Colts to squeak out a very narrow road victory with more experience on their offense being the difference maker.
Winner: Indianapolis Colts
Jacksonville Jaguars at Cleveland Browns
Had Trevor Lawrence not gotten hurt last week, we’d be siding with the Jaguars here. However, he is hurt and that’s how the Bengals got the best of them last week. The Browns have the better defense and should stop Jacksonville who will or will not have Trevor Lawrence and also down top receiver Christian Kirk. Regardless of who plays at quarterback for the Browns, they will win in another game that should be rather low scoring this week.
Winner: Cleveland Browns
Carolina Panthers at New Orleans Saints
The second NFC South battle of the week faces a team already eliminated from the playoffs and a team that is fighting for the division title. The Saints should win this game whether or not Derek Carr plays and are the better team all around, but it’ll be closer than people think. The Saints offense hasn’t been as great as we thought they would be this year which will keep the game close.
Winner: New Orleans Saints
Houston Texans at New York Jets
The Tim Boyle experiment did not last long as the Jets already parted ways with Boyle after a mere two games. Zach Wilson is back at quarterback and we know that he’s not good which is going to give the Texans the opportunity to get closer with the Jaguars for the division lead.
Winner: Houston Texans
Los Angeles Rams at Baltimore Ravens
The Rams have quietly been sneaking into playoff contention but they get a tough road battle against a Baltimore team coming off a bye. The Rams are going to drop to 6-7 unfortunately against a Baltimore team that is all-around very skilled, but the door for the playoffs isn’t shut on them just yet.
Winner: Baltimore Ravens
Minnesota Vikings at Las Vegas Raiders
The Vikings and Raiders are both coming off some tough losses. The Vikings last loss was at home against the Bears in a game where Josh Dobbs threw four interceptions. The Raiders lost to the Chiefs which wasn’t as much of a surprise. Both teams in this game are playing under expectations, but the bye week for both should have given them a much needed rest to regroup and figure out where they each are going for the remainder of the season. The team that needs this win more is going to win this game and that’s Minnesota. Despite the poor performance from Dobbs last go around, the bye should allow them to work on his game and connect with his new teammates. We also might see Justin Jefferson return to action which would be a huge lift for the Vikings if they’re looking to make a playoff push.
Winner: Minnesota Vikings
Seattle Seahawks at San Francisco 49ers
The Seahawks and 49ers just played two weeks ago and we know how that went. That game was in Seattle too. Going to San Francisco now, the outcome is going to be even worse for the Seahawks as Brock Purdy continues to make an argument on why he needs to be in the MVP conversation.
Winner: San Francisco 49ers
Buffalo Bills at Kansas City Chiefs
In another Josh Allen vs. Patrick Mahomes showdown, the Bills and Chiefs face off once again. It’s going to be a duel in which one team can outlast the other and we think that’s the Chiefs. The Chiefs have gotten the best of Buffalo in the postseason, but haven’t had as much luck in the regular season. This year, we think that’ll change as Buffalo hasn’t been as dominant this year with the injuries to their defense and it shows.
Winner: Kansas City Chiefs
Denver Broncos at Los Angeles Chargers
If you asked us earlier this season who would win this game, it would have been the Chargers in a blowout. But coming into this game the Broncos have the better record, are on the hot streak, and the Chargers offense last week against New England couldn’t even score a touchdown in a 6-0 embarrassment of a game. The Broncos are winning this one and the Chargers need to part ways with Brandon Staley and find more pass catchers for Justin Herbert to thrive.
Winner: Denver Broncos
Philadelphia Eagles at Dallas Cowboys
The game that we’re most looking forward to this weekend is the Sunday Night duel between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Dallas Cowboys for the NFC East lead. The Cowboys are one game behind the Eagles but with a win would gain the lead on Philadelphia in the division. This is going to be a close one with both quarterbacks playing some of their best football lately. The Cowboys defense is going to be the deciding factor in this one with two defensive player of the year candidates in Micah Parsons and DaRon Bland who are going to make some key plays throughout the game that will do just enough to get the Cowboys the win.
Winner: Dallas Cowboys
Tennessee Titans at Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins have steamrolled past opponents with losing records and the Titans are another one in their path. The Dolphins are the biggest favorites of the week at nearly two touchdowns and should easily cover that. They’ve won by 30 and 50 this season, so 14 points is completely achievable for this high-powered offense.
Winner: Miami Dolphins
Green Bay Packers at New York Giants
The extra rest the Giants received from their bye week isn’t going to be enough to beat the Packers. The Packers are coming off a huge win in primetime against Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs. The Packers are looking at making a playoff run with Jordan Love who’s been on a tear as of lately and the Giants aren’t slowing them down.
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