Week 12 picks: 12-2, Cumulative picks: 112-64-1 (.635)
Week 13 Matchups & Predictions
(Thursday) Green Bay Packers @ Detroit Lions, 1:00 PM EST
The Lions received good news before Thanksgiving when Frank Ragnow announced that he is coming out of retirement to play center for the Lions offense. I’m sure Jared Goff will appreciate having his old center since he has been under duress the last two weeks from the Eagles and Giants pass rush units. I think Detroit exacts its revenge against Green Bay who
won in Lambeau in Week 1.
Pick: Lions win 34-27 (OT)
(Thursday) Kansas City Chiefs @ Dallas Cowboys, 4:30 PM EST
George Pickens has been taking to social media to talk about Patrick & Brittany Mahomes. Probably not a good thing to poke the bear…(and I am not talking about Andy Reid).
Pick: Chiefs win 27-24
(Thursday) Cincinnati Bengals @ Baltimore Ravens, 8:20 PM EST
Joe Burrow returns. I think the NFL wants to see a tight race for the AFC North divisional race. Burrow goes into Baltimore and beats Lamar; still keeping Cincy’s playoff hopes alive.
Pick: Bengals win 27-23
(Friday) Chicago Bears @ Philadelphia Eagles, 3:00 PM EST
The Eagles choked away a 21-0 lead to the Cowboys. The defense under Vic Fangio won’t do anything like that again but the offense still has a lot of issues with Jalen Hurts and Kevin Patullo. Expect a lot of punts in this one…
Pick: Eagles win 21-14
San Francisco 49ers @ Cleveland Browns, 1:00 PM EST
The last time the 49ers played the Browns, the Browns upset them in 2023. I don’t think Kyle Shanahan will allow his team to play down to the competition this time around.
Pick: 49ers win 23-16
Jacksonville Jaguars @ Tennessee Titans, 1:00 PM EST
Jacksonville can’t afford to lose this game to a 1-10 Tennessee team. Otherwise, teams like Kansas City will take advantage as the AFC wild card teams take shape.
Pick: Jaguars win 27-17
Houston Texans @ Indianapolis Colts, 1:00 PM EST
I like the Texans to upset the Colts. The Texans defensive line has not been stopped as of late. Even the Colts road-grading offensive line will find Demeco Ryans group to be too much.
Pick: Texans win 17-14
New Orleans Saints @ Miami Dolphins, 1:00 PM EST
Here’s a trip down memory lane: Drew Brees and the Saints won their Super Bowl in Miami. These are not those Saints. Mike McDaniel has somehow been able to keep his job late into November. Miami is actually .500 at home. It’s on the road where they struggle.
Pick: Dolphins win 26-17
Atlanta Falcons @ New York Jets, 1:00 PM EST
Kirk Cousins vs. Tyrod Taylor. Woof. 37 and 36 year old backups for sub-.500 franchises. Happy Thanksgiving. Lol.
Pick: Falcons win 23-13
Arizona Cardinals @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1:00 PM EST
With Baker Mayfield nursing an AC joint sprain in his left shoulder, they will need to sit him so that they can have him available for Weeks 16 and 18 when they face the Carolina Panthers. Those games will decide the NFC South division.
Pick: Cardinals win 30-16
Los Angeles Rams @ Carolina Panthers, 1:00 PM EST
Matthew Stafford continues to ball out for the Rams. It was a little disappointing that they did not continue to stay on the gas in the 3rd quarter against the Bucs. With Tre’Von Moehrig out because of a suspension and Jaycee Horn in the concussion protocol, McVay should once again be dialing up a lot of pass plays.
Pick: Rams win 34-17
Minnesota Vikings @ Seattle Seahawks, 4:05 PM EST
Sam Darnold gets to face off against his 2024 team. After the Vikings elected to not re-sign Darnold and hand the reins to rookie JJ McCarthy, Sam Darnold took his game to an even higher level with the Seahawks. Darnold’s ceiling is still capped because of his propensity to turn the ball over. But against his former team, I think he has a bounce back game.
Pick: Seahawks win 30-3
Buffalo Bills @ Pittsburgh Steelers, 4:25 PM EST
The Bills cannot find their footing. They have lost 4 of their 7 games. Any sort of pass rush overwhelms Josh Allen. And Buffalo does not have a reliable wide receiver that he can target for big plays. Hence why they signed Brandin Cooks…
Pick: Bills win 27-20
Las Vegas Raiders @ Los Angeles Chargers, 4:25 PM EST
Despite being in 2nd place, the Chargers are actually the only undefeated team in the AFC West. No opportunity for a let down game against a lowly Raiders team. The only question is if the Chargers can get hot down the stretch.
Pick: Chargers win 31-21
(Sunday Night Football) Denver Broncos @ Washington Commanders, 8:20 PM EST
Will Jayden Daniels play? Does it even matter? The Broncos are too balanced on both sides of the ball and the Commanders won’t be able to overcome their defense either way.
Pick: Broncos win 24-14
(Monday Night Football) New York Giants @ New England Patriots, 8:15 PM EST
Week 13 ends with a clunker as the Giants, who are already eliminated from playoff contention and have blown five 4th quarter leads this year, face off against the Patriots who have won nine straight.
Pick: Patriots win 26-16
Teams on Bye: None
