NFL 2015: Week 13 Picks

Raise your hand if you're undefeated. With the Patriots
losing last week, only the Panthers remain undefeated.
(AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)

It's never too early to start talking about playoff scenarios.

The Panthers, Patriots and Bengals can all clinch the NFL's first playoff spots this weekend with wins and/or help from other teams. Honestly, these three teams will be hosting playoff games in January no matter what happens this week, so playoff scenarios are a mute point this week.

Nonetheless, there are quite a few games with significant playoff implications this week and it starts Thursday night with the Packers needing a win against the Lions to keep pace in the playoff race. Detroit beat Green Bay at Lambeau a few weeks ago, but can they make it a season sweep of the Packers?

My prediction on that game and all of the Week 13 action is next.

Week 13 Picks (Home team in CAPS)

Green Bay over DETROIT (Thursday, 8:25 p.m. ET, NFL): Can the Packers lose twice in two and a half weeks to the Detroit Lions? My prediction is no. Yes, Green Bay has lost four of their last five and now find themselves out of first place in the NFC North, but I still like this team. I give the Lions a ton of credit for coming back and winning three straight after a 1-7 start, but I just cannot fathom Detroit beating Green Bay twice. Packers get a much needed win Thursday night.

NY GIANTS over NY Jets (Sunday, 1:00 p.m. ET, CBS): Not much of a road game for the Jets, but nonetheless, an important game for both teams. The Jets are one of five teams at 6-5 in the AFC. Houston or Indianapolis will win the AFC South, but that leaves possibly four teams for two playoff spots. The Giants are in a thick playoff race as well and are tied with the Redskins for the NFC East lead, but Washington holds the tiebreaker after defeating New York last week. I like the Giants to rebound in this one because of Odell Beckham Jr. In the last two games the Jets have allowed Texans WR DeAndre Hopkins to have 118 yards receiving and two touchdowns, then last week Dolphins WR Jarvis Landry had 13 receptions for 165 yards and a touchdown. CB Darrelle Revis is still in the concussion protocol and is doubtful for Sunday's game. That's not good news for the Jets secondary that has been reeling. Giants air it out and get a much-needed win.

Arizona over ST. LOUIS (Sunday, 1:00 p.m. ET, FOX): Having watched the St. Louis Rams get annihilated last week in Cincinnati, I will not be picking St. Louis to win a game the rest of the season. Nick Foles was awful, they have no deep threat at wide receiver and the defense left WR A.J. Green wide open several times, which can't happen. If I'm the Rams, I start rookie QB Sean Mannion (Oregon State) this week and see what he can do, because clearly Nick Foles and Case Keenum are not the answer at quarterback. Cardinals win big behind the arm of MVP candidate Carson Palmer.

TAMPA BAY over Atlanta (Sunday, 1:00 p.m. ET, FOX): What has happened to the Falcons? Once, 6-1, Atlanta has lost four straight and now find themselves in a traffic jam for the final two-playoff spots in the NFC. Atlanta lost to Tampa Bay at home already this season and I think the Buccaneers will beat the Falcons again. Falcons fans, it's time to press the panic button.

Adrian Peterson's league leading 1,164 rushing yards have
helped the Vikings overtake the Packers for first place.
(Getty Images)

MINNESOTA over Seattle (Sunday, 1:00 p.m. ET, FOX): Potential playoff matchup on Sunday in Minnesota. With the Vikings leading the NFC North and the Seahawks climbing their way back into playoff contention this is a huge game up in Minnesota on Sunday. I like the Vikings here for two reasons. First, the Vikings are at home where they're 4-1 this season -- Seattle is just 2-3 on the road. Second, Adrian Peterson and the Vikings number one rushing attack. Peterson is going to win the rushing title, yet again, and the Vikings are going to rely on him and that defense to get them deep into January. Seattle gave up 538 yards to the Steelers last week and just hasn't looked like the defense that has gotten them to back-to-back Super Bowls. Two, tough, physical teams and this should be a great game with the Vikings ultimately prevailing.

Houston over BUFFALO (Sunday, 1:00 p.m. ET, CBS): How do you not pick the Texans here? Houston has won four straight, including wins over the Bengals and Jets, and is now tied with Indianapolis for the AFC South lead at 6-5. The biggest factor for Houston's resurgence is their defense; in particular, you guessed it, J.J. Watt. During the Texans four game-winning streak, Watt has 7.5 sacks and 25 hits on the quarterback. Houston has given up just 35 points during the streak and even with Brian Hoyer and T.J. Yates splitting time at quarterback, the Texans continue to win. Buffalo has been too inconsistent this season and with Houston having momentum, I think they'll win on the road.

MIAMI over Baltimore (Sunday, 1:00 p.m. ET, CBS): One word sums up this game, disappointment. Both Miami and Baltimore have not had the seasons they were hoping for and at this point the only bright spot is that only five games remain. The Ravens needed to block a field goal and return it for a touchdown as time expired to beat the Browns last week and didn't look great doing it. QB Matt Schuab threw two horrible interceptions and one was returned for a touchdown. Miami may be having a bad season, but they have much better players than Cleveland, especially at receiver. WR Jarvis Landry had 13 receptions for 165 yards and a touchdown last week versus the Jets and good luck to the Ravens in covering him. Dolphins win what will be a meaningless game.

Cincinnati over CLEVELAND (Sunday, 1:00 p.m. ET, FOX): With QB Josh McCown done for the year with a broken collarbone, Austin Davis will get his first start as a member of the Cleveland Browns on Sunday against in-state rival Cincinnati. Davis would become the 24th name on the long list of quarterbacks to start a game for the Browns since 1999. In that same amount of time the Bengals have started just eight quarterbacks, Jeff Blake, Akili Smith, Scott Mitchell, Gus Frerotte, Jon Kitna, Carson Palmer, Ryan Fitzpatrick and Andy Dalton. And since '04, the Bengals have started only three, Palmer, Fitzpatrick and Dalton. Quite the contrast and is mainly why the Bengals have been to the playoffs six times since '04, while the Browns have zero playoff trips in that span. The Bengals are one of the best teams in football and they'll win easily up in Cleveland on Sunday.

Jacksonville over TENNESSEE (Sunday, 1:00 p.m. ET, CBS): With the Colts and Texans continuing to win games over the last several weeks, the Jaguars are quickly falling out of the race for the AFC South. I never expected Jacksonville to win the division, but I thought they could possibly get to .500.  I picked them to last week and was wrong; maybe I'll get it right this week. The Jaguars beat the Titans two weeks ago and I expect a similar outcome on Sunday.

CHICAGO over San Francisco (Sunday, 1:00 p.m. ET, FOX): Credit to Blaine Gabbert and the 49ers. I thought Blaine Gabbert was a terrible quarterback from his days in Jacksonville, but he's played alright in three starts since replacing Colin Kaepernick. San Francisco is 1-2 in his three starts and they beat Atlanta and gave Arizona quite a game. The 49ers are still a bad team, but apologies to Gabbert as he has clearly gotten better. With that being said, however, I like the Bears on Sunday in Chicago. Since QB Jay Cutler returned from injury, the Bears are 5-3 and their three losses have been by a combined eight points. Bears win a close, physical game.

C.J. Anderson's 48 yard touchdown run in overtime
ended the Patriots perfect season.
(Getty Images/Justin Edmonds)

Denver over SAN DIEGO (Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET, CBS): Broncos went from a team with a ton of talent, a great defense and a turnover prone, aging quarterback to a team with a ton of talent, a great defense and a young and turnover free quarterback who just might be the future of the organization. QB Brock Osweiler and the Broncos upset the undefeated Patriots last week and have showed the rest of the league why they are not a team you want to play in January. With the Patriots injuries and the Bengals inability to win games in January, the Broncos may just be the team to beat in the AFC now. Only question is, will Brock Osweiler remain the starter once Peyton Manning is healthy? As for Sunday, Denver wins a third straight game with Osweiler under center.

Kansas City over OAKLAND (Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET, CBS): The Chiefs were all but out of it back in the middle of October at 1-5, but five straight wins has them fighting for a Wild Card spot. Kansas City has done all of this without Pro Bowl running back Jamaal Charles, who is on injured reserve. Charcandrick West filled in nicely for Kansas City, but he too got hurt and now the last two weeks, Spencer Ware has filled in for an injured West. Ware has rushed 210 yards and three touchdowns in the last two weeks as the Chiefs continue to win games. Winning out in Oakland against a decent Raiders team will not be easy, but I think Kansas City will win their sixth straight game.

Carolina over NEW ORLEANS (Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET, FOX): Only five games remain between the Panthers and perfection. Carolina demolished the Cowboys on Thanksgiving and now only the Saints, Falcons (twice), Giants and Buccaneers stand in their way. The only team I see them possibly losing to is the Giants on the road, but it certainly won't be this week in New Orleans. Saints have looked awful the last three weeks being outscored 105-48, resulting in three straight losses.

NEW ENGLAND over Philadelphia (Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET, FOX): Julian Edelman, out. Rob Gronkowski, out. Dion Lewis, out. Danny Amendola, questionable and didn't play last week. The weapons for Tom Brady are dropping like flies and in last week's loss to Denver, Brady's leading receivers, minus Gronk, were RB Brandon Bolden, WR Brandon LaFell and TE Scott Chandler. Not exactly an elite group, but the good news is one of the worst defenses in the league visits Foxboro on Sunday. Philadelphia has given up 951 yards of offense and 90 points in the last two games. Holy crap. Even with a depleted group of receivers and running backs, Patriots will score 30 on the Eagles.

PITTSBURGH over Indianapolis (Sunday, 8:30 p.m. ET, NBC): If Ben Roethlisberger doesn't play due a concussion he suffered in the fourth quarter against Seattle last week, then I like the Colts here. However, Roethlisberger is expected to play, so I'm going with the Steelers. When Ben Roethlisberger starts and finishes a game for Pittsburgh this season, the Steelers are 4-3 and put up an average of 446.6 YPG on offense. When Roethlisberger has been hurt, the Steelers are 2-2 and average only 315.3 YPG. 131.3 YPG difference when Roethlisberger is on the field is an unbelievable stat. I know the Colts are 4-0 with Matt Hasselbeck at quarterback and have won three straight. And yes, Indianapolis gives up an average of 387.9 YPG this season, seventh best in the league. This game will be won or lost when the Colts are on defense and it's hard to pick against the Steelers when Big Ben is under center.

WASHINGTON over Dallas (Monday, 8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN): Your NFC East division leader, the 5-6 Washington Redskins take the field Monday night in first place. The NFC East has surpassed the AFC South as the worst division in the NFL in 2015. With the Giants inability to win games consistently, the Cowboys inability to win without Tony Romo and the Eagles inability to stop anyone on defense has put the Redskins into the driver's seat. My only question is will the winner of the NFC East be at or above .500 come playoff time? I'm going to go with no, but the Redskins will get to 6-6 on Monday night after beating the Cowboys.

Last Week: 12-4
Overall: 106-70 (.602)