Dallas’ Resurgence Will Be Halted By Brees, Saints
Week 12 Results: 13-2
Record this season: 114-62
There’s no easy road to a playoff spot.
I entitled this week as “trap game central” for a number of playoff contenders which include the Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Baltimore Ravens, and Seattle Seahawks.
When looking at the Houston Texans in particular, their upcoming game against the Cleveland Browns looks like a harder game than it did just a few weeks back.
The Cleveland Browns have played spoiler in their past two games to teams looking to make playoff pushes, but now appear to have fallen completely out of the playoff race.
Houston is red-hot, but their current win streak has seen them play it close and narrowly win. They may be in for a bumpy ride vs. a newly reinvigorated Browns team that has looked much improved on offense since firing both Hue Jackson and Todd Haley.
A loss to the Cleveland Browns would set the stage for Indianapolis to overtake them in the AFC South next week, but if they’re shaky on Sunday their game in Jacksonville may result in disappointment.
Week 13 kicks off with a anticipated matchup on Thursday night in Dallas as the Dallas Cowboys get a litmus test from the visiting New Orleans Saints.
That will be followed with a number of fun-filled matchups on Sunday like the Minnesota Vikings and New England Patriots locking horns in Foxboro and the Los Angeles Chargers visiting the big ketchup bottle for a matchup with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
New Orleans Saints at Dallas Cowboys
All season long the Dallas Cowboys defense has been the strength of Jason Garrett’s team. The problem here is that the New Orleans Saints defense has now become a strength as well. The Cowboys won’t win this game without running the ball, and that’ll be tough to accomplish vs. a team allowing the fewest rushing yards per game this season at 73.2.
Prediction: New Orleans Saints 31 Dallas Cowboys 13
Baltimore Ravens at Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta’s offense has cooled off dramatically over the past three weeks, averaging 17.3 PPG. Unsurprisingly, the team is 0-3 over that stretch. In comes a Ravens team with the league’s top defense and a sensational young quarterback. Key word, young. This is Lamar Jackson’s first career road game against a team that up until last week was one of the best in protecting the football. That’ll be the difference here.
Prediction: Atlanta Falcons 24 Baltimore Ravens 17
Denver Broncos at Cincinnati Bengals
The Denver Broncos have won their past two games vs teams with a combined record of 15-6-1. Certainly, Von Miller and the Broncos can’t afford to trip up here on the road vs. a team that’s lost five out of their past six games. Expect the defense to take care of the Andy Dalton-less Bengals.
Prediction: Denver Broncos 23 Cincinnati Bengals 9
Los Angeles Rams at Detroit Lions
This is a terrifying matchup for Matt Patricia and the Detroit Lions. The Lions aren’t getting pressure on the quarterback and that’s proven to be Los Angeles’ only Achilles heel for their offense. Also consider the Rams are coming off a bye and need a dominant defensive showing, this has the makings for an ugly one, quickly.
Prediction: Los Angeles Rams 38 Detroit Lions 13
Cleveland Browns at Houston Texans
Baker Mayfield over his past two games has looked like the quarterback the Browns franchise has been looking for all along. But both of those games came vs. two of the worst defenses in the NFL. The Browns run defense is among the worst in the league and Lamar Miller and Deshaun Watson are sure to do damage against it.
Prediction: Houston Texans 27 Cleveland Browns 21
Chicago Bears at New York Giants
It doesn’t matter if it’s Mitchell Trubisky or Chase Daniel, this game is likely to be controlled by Chicago’s defense. Stopping Saquon Barkley will be a unique challenge for Bears defensive coordinator Vic Fangio’s unit, but the Bears defense should keep the Giants passing attack neutralized with Khalil Mack and company barreling down Eli Manning all afternoon.
Prediction: Chicago Bears 21 New York Giants 13
Arizona Cardinals at Green Bay Packers
Steve Wilks’ defense had been respectable for much of the season up until an embarrassing 45-10 loss last week to the Los Angeles Chargers. Now they travel to play a early afternoon game in frigid temperatures in Green Bay vs. a desperate Packers team in need of wins fast. Doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see where this one goes.
Prediction: Green Bay Packers 34 Arizona Cardinals 14
Buffalo Bills at Miami Dolphins
The Buffalo Bills have the No. 2 ranked defense in the NFL, their rookie quarterback back and healthy and a banged up Dolphins team in front of them. While picking Buffalo to win consecutive games is risky here, keep in mind that Miami is allowing the fourth most rushing yards per game in the NFL at 139.8 and they’ll be facing a Bills offense that is primarily a run heavy one.
Prediction: Buffalo Bills 20 Miami Dolphins 16
Carolina Panthers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The last time the Carolina Panthers faced the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, they allowed 400 passing yards to Ryan Fitzpatrick in a 42-28 victory. They’ll now face Jameis Winston. Cam Newton is 9-3 in his career vs. the Buccaneers, with one loss coming over the past eight games. In a must-win game to keep pace, they’ll do enough here on the road.
Prediction: Carolina Panthers 34 Tampa Bay Buccaneers 26
Indianapolis Colts at Jacksonville Jaguars
The Indianapolis Colts will face Cody Kessler instead of Blake Bortles, who was benched by Doug Marrone following a stinker last Sunday in Buffalo. Kessler isn’t a much better option than Bortles, especially with Leonard Fournette suspended for his fight last Sunday. The Colts underrated defense will shutdown the Jaguars offense and the rest will go as planned.
Prediction: Indianapolis Colts 24 Jacksonville Jaguars 6
New York Jets at Tennessee Titans
Lost in a deflating 34-17 loss last Monday night in Houston was the fact that Marcus Mariota went 22-for-23 for 303 passing yards and two touchdowns. Mariota hasn’t been the reason for Tennessee’s two-game losing streak, but rather the defense, which has dropped the ball by allowing 72 points in their last two games. Even if Sam Darnold returns, the Titans rushing attack and Mariota will give them the edge here.
Prediction: Tennessee Titans 31 New York Jets 16
Kansas City Chiefs at Oakland Raiders
The Kansas City Chiefs have lost two games this season by a combined six points. In those games Kansas City turned the ball over a combined seven times. Expect a locked in and loose football team on Sunday in Oakland vs the Raiders, who will be victimized by a team that had to sit on a bitter loss for nearly two weeks.
Prediction: Kansas City Chiefs 45 Oakland Raiders 17
San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks
Russell Wilson and his Seattle Seahawks were once apart of one of the NFL’s fiercest rivalries with the San Francisco 49ers. Now in his 14th career game against them, he’ll be looking opposite from the field at a former Seahawk in Richard Sherman, who will be out for revenge in what is sure to be an emotional game for him. While a inspired performance from the 49ers defense should be expected, this is a game the Seahawks aren’t going to lose coming off two huge victories in a row over tougher opposition.
Prediction: Seattle Seahawks 23 San Francisco 49ers 13
Minnesota Vikings at New England Patriots
This was expected to be a Super Bowl 52 Rematch after Carson Wentz went down with a season-ending ACL injury last season, but we all know how that turned out. New England’s offense hasn’t been as efficient as in years past, with Brady missing a number of throws he normally makes (Oh father time, is that you?). Minnesota’s defense is tough, but nothing resembling last year’s unit. With this game being in New England where the Patriots are 5-0 and the fact their secondary is strong enough to contain Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs, New England wins a tough one.
Prediction: New England Patriots 33 Minnesota Vikings 27
Los Angeles Chargers at Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers have won their past three home games by a combined 70 points. Add that Melvin Gordon will miss this game, you have a California-based team coming to Heinz Field in early December to face a Steelers team coming off a loss. Bad spot for Anthony Lynn’s club.
Prediction: Pittsburgh Steelers 36 Los Angeles Chargers 24
Washington Redskins at Philadelphia Eagles
There’s not much good you can take away from Philadelphia’s previous game, which was a 25-22 squeaker over the 3-8 New York Giants at home. As tempting as picking Washington here to win is, it’s hard to put your faith in a team that struggles even more than Philadelphia to score points. Of course, we’ll get a game a little higher scoring than anyone would’ve probably thought.
Prediction: Philadelphia Eagles 27 Washington Redskins 23
What are your thoughts on Week 13 of the NFL season? Leave your comments below!