If the playoff picture had become clearer in week 12, then it still hasn't by the time of writing this column. The Chargers win over the Cowboys on Thanksgiving and the Chiefs loss to the Bills on Sunday proved that there might be a 10-6 or 9-7 division winner in the AFC West. A switch in the #3 and #4 seeds in the NFC as the Rams beat the Saints on Sunday. Another division to watch out for is potentially the NFC South as you have New Orleans who lost to the Rams on Sunday, the Falcons winning against the Buccaneers and the Panthers winning against the Jets. Let's take a look at the playoff picture heading into Week 13:
AFC:
#1: Steelers
#2: Patriots
#3: Titans
#4: Chiefs
#5: Jaguars
#6: Ravens
Wild Card:
Ravens @ Titans
Jaguars @ Chiefs
In the hunt:
Buffalo (6-5), Cincinnati (5-6), LA Chargers (5-6), Oakland (5-6), NY Jets (4-7), Miami (4-7), Indianapolis (3-8), Denver (3-8)
Eliminated:
Cleveland (0-11)
NFC:
#1: Eagles
#2: Vikings
#3: Rams
#4: Saints
#5: Panthers
#6: Falcons
Wild card:
Falcons @ Rams
Panthers @ Saints
In the hunt:
Seattle (7-4), Detroit (6-5), Green Bay (5-6), Dallas (5-6), Washington (5-6), Arizona (5-6), Tampa Bay (4-7), Chicago (3-8).
Elimiated:
NY Giants (2-9), San Francisco (1-10)
Last week for the first time my rooommate, Cardinal Viking, took over as the leader in the head-to-head picker (in terms of overall record so far this season) while I held the title for 10 weeks. The picks are all in good fun and there is no prize for the winner, other than bragging rights. At the end of Week 11 he took a 3 game lead on me. Let's take a look at the results last week:
My record:
14-2 (Picked the Chiefs to beat the Bills and the Jaguars to beat the Cardinals, still 3-0 on Thanksgiving games)
Cardinal Viking's record:
13-3 (picked the Cowboys to beat the Chargers, the Chiefs to beat the Bills and the Jaguars to beat the Cardinals).
As with that I picked up a game on him and now the records are still not in my favor. I still reduced the lead held by Cardinal to 2. We will see how well this week's games go to determine who will remain on top.
With the holiday season now upon us it would seem necessary for me to do a Christmas song but since it is still November and Christmas is in December, I will eventually do one later. No since in making the season longer than it already is (former retail worker I can tell you that much). Instead whenever I think of this time of year, I always think of the great music genre that is jazz. The cool video this week is one such jazz classic, "Take Five" from Dave Brubeck.
Week 13 in the regular season will begin in Arlington, Texas and ends at Cincinnati, Ohio. The week features a Thursday night game, 9 early games, 4 late games, a Sunday night game, and a Monday night game. FOX will handle the doubleheader this week, while CBS will have the single game. There are no teams on bye week. Here are the picks:
Washington @ Dallas: Redskins. The Redskins won against the Giants last week while the Cowboys lost to the Chargers last week. Vegas has this game at +1 right now with the Cowboys being the underdog. The Cowboys proved last week how inept they are without Ezekiel Elliot at running back. They made a lot of mistakes against the Chargers. The Redskins however seem to be the more hungrier football team in this one and I'll take the Redskins despite their troubles at offensive line.
Denver @ Miami: Broncos. Both teams took losses last week as the Broncos lost to the Raiders and the Dolphins lost to the Patriots. The two teams aren't going anywhere but down this season as they both have holes at the quarterback position. The Broncos however have a better receiving corp than the Dolphins and I can't trust the Dolphins. Hell I don't trust the Broncos either. It'll probably be a snore fest.
Detroit @ Baltimore: Ravens. The Lions last week lost to the Vikings while the Ravens won against the Texans on Monday night. Two playoff contenders looking to get a win. The Ravens have one of the better passing defenses in the NFL while the Lions have a great passing attack. I'm picking the Ravens based on the fact that they can run the ball (10th in rush offense) than the Lions can (30th in rush offense). It'll be close but I'll take the Ravens.
Houston @ Tennessee: Titans. The Texans took a loss against the Ravens last week while the Titans won against the Colts. I don't particularly like both teams with the exception of Houston (if they still had Deshaun Watson at QB) but the last time these two played they put up a quite an offensive showing. I think Titans will take the season series split as they don't have neither Watson or JJ Watt. God I don't feel safe.
Indianapolis @ Jacksonville: Jaguars. The Colts took a loss last week against the Titans and the Jaguars lost to the Cardinals. Neither team looks to try to be great but the Jaguars seem to be a more complete team than the Colts are (god give Chuck Pagano a breath mask). The Jaguars look to be not a complete joke and I feel they'll win. I mean I would be crazy to pick the Colts in this game.
Kansas City @ NY Jets: Jets. Both teams took losses last week as the Chiefs lost to the Bills and the Jets lost to the Panthers. The Chiefs are pretty much this season's version of the 2016 Vikings who got off to a hot start at 5-0 and eventually got to a meager 8-8 record. The problem with the Chiefs is that the things that got to where they were at the beginning of the season, well they've been terrible (looking at you Alex Smith and Kareem Hunt). If the Chiefs want to be successful in this game they'll need to get back to the basics and stop trying so hard. I'm sorry but I have to go with the Jets.
Minnesota @ Atlanta: Vikings. Both teams got wins last week as the Vikings beat the Lions and the Falcons beat the Buccaneers. The Vikings seem to be legit this season and one of their biggest tests this week is when they travel to Atlanta to take on the Falcons. Usually I take defense over offense in games like this as the Vikings defense is one of the best in the NFL while the Falcons have a great offense as well. That defense took apart the Rams offense a few weeks ago. I'll take the Vikings but if they lose... well I'm not going to cry about it >:)
New England @ Buffalo: Patriots. Both teams picked up wins last week as the Patriots won against the Dolphins while the Bills won against the Chiefs. The game will depend on if Tom Brady stake up on his own two feet as the Bills defense is no slouch, but as long as Tom Brady is still in this league, the Bills don't have a chance against the Patriots.
San Francisco @ Chicago: Bears. Both teams took losses last week as the 49ers lost to the Seahawks and the Bears lost to the Eagles. A couple of the NFC's worst teams this season do battle. Jimmy Garappalo will get the start for the 49ers but I don't trust the 49ers as much as I could throw them, I'll take the Bears based on rushing offense and better defense.
Tampa Bay @ Green Bay: Packers. Both teams took losses last week as the Buccaneers lost to the Falcons and the Packers lost to the Steelers. I picked against the Packers for the first time I started doing NFL blogs back in 2012 and it worked out well for me (Steelers won barely though). However I can't see the Packers losing to the bad Buccaneers. I'm not a foolish guy to take the Bucs.
Cleveland @ LA Chargers: Chargers. The Browns lost to the Bengals last week while the Chargers won against the Cowboys. The Browns last win was against the Chargers, however that was last season and this Chargers team was a much different one than last season. Get that win and possibly claim a playoff spot, Chargers!
Carolina @ New Orleans: Saints. The Panthers got a win last week against the Jets and the Saints lost to the Rams. The Saints are currently the NFC South divsion leader and the Panthers are currently currently holding a playoff spot. The Saints won the first game in the season series and that was on the road. I like the Panthers at offense but I'll take the Saints as they seem to be a safe bet.
LA Rams @ Arizona: Rams. Both teams picked up wins last week as the Rams won against the Saints and the Cardinals beat the Jaguars. The first time these two teams played it was in jolly ole England and it was not a close game. The Rams beat the Cardinals rather soundly. I feel good with the Rams based on the offense and certainly the Rams defense will be on spot against the Cardinals offense.
NY Giants @ Oakland: Raiders. The Giants lost to the Redskins last week while the Raiders won against the Broncos. The biggest story of this game is that Eli Manning won't start in the game, snapping his 210 consecutive games started streak. In fact, the last time the Giants started a quarterback not named Eli Manning was Kurt Warner (yeah that long ago) back in 2004. The Raiders seem to be a more complete team than the Giants so I'll take them over a Geno Smith led Giants team.
Philadelphia @ Seattle: Eagles. Both teams took wins last week as the Eagles beat the Bears and the Seahawks beat the 49ers. The game of the week features the #1 seed Eagles taking on the playoff contender Seahawks. The Eagles may not be the complete team on defense but I don't trust the Seahawks offensive line to keep Russell Wilson on his own two feet. Fly Eagles Fly!
Pittsburgh @ Cincinnati: Steelers. Both teams got wins last week as the Steelers won against the Packers and the Bengals beat the Browns. The Steelers last week played down to their competition but in a division game with the Patriots breathing down their neck they will come out fighting against the Bengals who look to be missing the playoffs yet again.
Local TV Schedule (subject to change, via 506sports.com)
CBS Single:
Kansas City @ NY Jets
Ian Eagle, Dan Fouts
FOX Early:
Minnesota @ Atlanta
Kevin Burkhardt, Charles Davis
FOX Late:
Carolina @ New Orleans
Joe Buck, Troy Aikman
To find out which game is playing in your area, check out: NFL Maps, Week 13
Record:
Week 1: 10-5
Week 2: 10-6
Week 3: 8-8
Week 4: 11-5
Week 5: 7-7
Week 6: 7-7
Week 7: 8-7
Week 8: 12-1
Week 9: 6-7
Week 10: 9-5
Week 11: 8-6
Week 12: 14-2
Overall: 110-66
Cardinal Viking, my roommates record:
Week 1: 7-8
Week 1: 7-8
Week 2: 13-3
Week 3: 8-8
Week 4: 11-5
Week 5: 4-10
Week 6: 7-7
Week 7: 10-5
Week 8: 11-2
Week 9: 7-6
Week 10: 9-5
Week 11: 12-2
Week 12: 13-3
Overall: 112-64
See you guys next week!
-Tom
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