Week 13 NFL Predictions

That's way more like it! A 12-3 prediction record in Week 12 was just the bounce back performance I needed after a .500 Week 11 that could have been even worse if not for a Monday night rally by the Steelers. Looking at this slate of games, this doesn't look like the easiest week of predictions upcoming, but we're still gonna give it our best shot. After that 12-3 mark this past week, that leaves me standing at 117-58-1 on the year.

Chicago Bears at Detroit Lions
My opinion of the Lions being pretenders does seem to be coming true if the last two weeks against the Cardinals and Pats are any indication. With that in mind, they're getting the perfect Thanksgiving day remedy with a struggling Bears team coming to town. Yes, Da Bears have won two straight, but those came at home against hapless Minnesota and Tampa Bay. Detroit isn't completely hapless, and they'll get back on the right track here.
My Call: Lions 23, Bears 16

Philadelphia Eagles at Dallas Cowboys
In order to change public perception, this is the type of game the Cowboys need to figure out a way to win. This is a Philadelphia team with Mark freaking Sanchez under center. Although he may be under better coaching than he ever got while he was a New York Jet, I can't say I'm convinced this guy will ever be anything other than an average NFL QB. Dallas is coming off an emotional Sunday night rally against the Giants; and I think they'll use it well in this game. It won't be easy, but I predict Da Boys find a way to win another close one.
My Call: Cowboys 34, Eagles 31

Seattle Seahawks at San Francisco 49ers
Thanksgiving concludes with the two teams that were expected to once again contend for the NFC West crown. Although both aren't having terrible seasons, they've had their ups and downs, both coming into this game at 7-4 and trailing the 9-2 Arizona Cardinals in the standings. I'm expecting a major defensive struggle here. Gonna gamble a bit and take the road team since I trust Russell Wilson a bit more than I trust Colin Kaepernick.
My Call: Seahawks 20, 49ers 19

Washington Redskins at Indianapolis Colts
With the news that Colt McCoy will be starting this game for Washington in place of the struggling Robert Griffin III, I am suddenly at least a tiny bit more intrigued by it than I otherwise would be. A man named Colt playing against the Colts, how can you not love that? Okay, now that I said it, I'm taking the Colts over Colt and his Redskins. Andrew Luck and Co. should have another nice offensive day while the Indy defense should be able to keep a less than stellar Washington offense at bay more than enough to claim victory.
My Call: Colts 31, Redskins 20

Tennessee Titans at Houston Texans
Different type of QB news is going on in Houston, this on an injury related note. Ryan Mallett will likely miss the remainder of the season with a torn pectoral muscle, which likely means veteran QB Ryan Fitzpatrick will be back as the starting QB for the Texans after initially losing his job. Going back to the man you just benched isn't necessarily ideal, but he should be able to handle himself against a floundering 2-9 Tennessee team. If this team only had any type of QB, they'd be legit Super Bowl contenders in my mind. With Fitzpatrick though, they're doomed to mediocrity, but even that will be good enough against an awful Titans squad.
My Call: Texans 20, Titans 14

Cleveland Browns at Buffalo Bills
Even though the Browns do get better with wide receiver Josh Gordon back in the fold, this is the type of game Buffalo needs to win if they want to think about going to the playoffs. Same applies to the Browns as well, but I apply it a bit more to the Bills since they're the home team in this game. On another note, I am glad the Bills will be able to play this game in their stadium in front of their fans rather than maybe having another game in Detroit. I think having the fans behind them in this big game will help get them by.
My Call: Bills 24, Browns 21

San Diego Chargers at Baltimore Ravens
Just gonna pull out a strategy from quite a few college football picks I make, I'm letting the home field make this pick for me. Ravens win.
My Call: Ravens 23, Chargers 17

New York Giants at Jacksonville Jaguars
Wish I had some faith in the Jags because with how the Giants are playing, they should have a shot at winning this game. I also believe this is a tough spot for the G-Men, going on the road following that tough Sunday night defeat at home against Dallas. A Jacksonville win wouldn't come completely out of left field for me, but I just don't believe in them to figure out a way to win.
My Call: Giants 21, Jaguars 20

Cincinnati Bengals at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay is simply atrocious and like I said last week, I believe the Bengals got their atrocious game out of the way against Cleveland a little bit ago. Cincinnati feels like the right choice.
My Call: Bengals 24, Buccaneers 17

Oakland Raiders at St. Louis Rams
Battle of the two ex-Los Angeles franchises and perhaps soon to again be LA franchises? The Raiders and the city of Oakland don't seem much closer to an agreement on a possible new stadium for the team than they were months ago and we know the Rams aren't that happy in the Edward Jones Dome. Anyway, the Raiders are off the winless hook, having defeated the Chiefs 24-20. With that in mind, I think the Rams are the right play here. They've been playing considerably better of late, having beaten both Seattle and Denver at home; and the Raiders may have just won their "Super Bowl" by getting their first win of the year.
My Call: Rams 24, Raiders 13

New Orleans Saints at Pittsburgh Steelers
Funny thing about this game is everything seems to be in favor of the Steelers. They're at home, coming off their bye week and facing a floundering Saints team that has lost three straight games (all at home) and also facing a team that generally doesn't play as well away from home. With that in mind, football can be a funny game and I wouldn't be shocked if the Saints used this road game as a way of coming together. Getting out of New Orleans may be the best possible thing for them. I'm gonna pick Pittsburgh, partially because I think they *should* win and also due to them doing me a small favor in helping me avoid embarrassment a couple weeks back, but if New Orleans finds a way to win, I'll be amongst the least shocked.
My Call: Steelers 31, Saints 27

Carolina Panthers at Minnesota Vikings
Going to another strategy I use in picking college football games. Instead of letting the home field pick this matchup for me though, I'll use the dart throw. And the dart hit Minnesota.
My Call: Vikings 22, Panthers 21

Arizona Cardinals at Atlanta Falcons
Although we don't know if Larry Fitzgerald will be back in the lineup at WR for the Cardinals or not in this game, Atlanta just doesn't come at a team with the same type of defense (either pass rush or secondary) Seattle does. Plus Seattle was a desperate team and we know they've got what it takes to win games when absolutely needed. Atlanta is a fairly desperate team themselves, but we don't know if they have what it takes like the Seahawks do. That's why the Cardinals are the pick.
My Call: Cardinals 21, Falcons 17

New England Patriots at Green Bay Packers
Lambeau Field, Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, two teams playing very well... what more could you possibly want? This has all the makings of a classic and could quite possibly be a Super Bowl preview. If that ends up being true, it may be better to come out of this game as the loser. Neither team will think like that though since you can't be thinking about the Super Bowl at the end of November. The game being in Green Bay and my big time hate for the Patriots is what's guiding this pick for me. Packers take it.
My Call: Packers 38, Patriots 35

Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs
If you carefully read my preview and prediction for the Seattle Seahawks/San Francisco 49ers game, you could basically apply what you read there and apply it here. Like with my pick of the Seahawks there, I know I could regret taking the Broncos here. However, even though our defending Super Bowl participants have had somewhat of a hard time of it at times this year, I'm stubborn in refusing to give up on them.
My Call: Broncos 27, Chiefs 24

Miami Dolphins at New York Jets
Monday night showing on national TV against a rival doesn't really change my opinion. The Jets are still bloody awful and Miami has something to play for. Although that could make the Dolphins tight in other games still left on their schedule, they'd really have to blow it out of their asses to lose this game. I'm betting that doesn't happen.
My Call: Dolphins 27, Jets 17