Hello readers! Another week of National Football League action is coming upon us yet again. Only six more weeks of regular season play as teams look to try to make their move to get into the playoffs while those who are likely seeing a longer offseason. The games that I will keep an eye on for this week are the Cowboys-Saints, Chargers-Bengals, Broncos-Chiefs and Patriots-Bills matchups this week. In this post I'll do: the latest playoff picture, preview of the week's action, the picks for the games and the early and late game tv pairings for both CBS and FOX. Let's get to work!
Playoff Picture
The week of Thanksgiving traditionally used to be the time when the words playoff picture would appear. With the 17-game season we're moving it ahead. Should be noted that if the playoffs started today this would be the seeding for the games. Let's start with the NFC.
NFC
1st seed: Arizona Cardinals (9-2)
2nd seed: Green Bay Packers (9-3)
3rd seed: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-3)
4th seed: Dallas Cowboys (7-4)
5th seed: Los Angeles Rams (7-4)
6th seed: San Francisco 49ers (6-5)
7th seed: Washington Football Team (5-6)
Super Wild Card Weekend Matchups
Washington @ Green Bay
San Francisco @ Tampa Bay
LA Rams @ Dallas
In the hunt:
Minnesota (5-6), Atlanta (5-6), New Orleans (5-6), Philadelphia (5-7), Carolina (5-7), NY Giants (4-7), Chicago (4-7), Seattle (3-8), Detroit (0-10-1)
So far no clinch scenarios yet but one thing to keep in mind is that the Packers hold the tiebreaker over the Arizona Cardinals as the Packers did beat the Cardinals last month. Assuming both teams finish with the same record at the end of the season. Washington is ahead of Minnesota, Atlanta, and New Orleans because of conference record.
AFC
1st seed: Baltimore Ravens (8-3)
2nd seed: New England Patriots (8-4)
3rd seed: Tennessee Titans (8-4)
4th seed: Kansas City Chiefs (7-4)
5th seed: Cincinnati Bengals (7-4)
6th seed: Buffalo Bills (7-4)
7th seed: Los Angeles Chargers (6-5)
Super Wild Card Weekend Matchups
LA Chargers @ New England
Buffalo @ Tennessee
Cincinnati @ Kansas City
In the hunt:
Las Vegas (6-5), Denver (6-5), Indianapolis (6-6), Pittsburgh (5-5-1), Cleveland (6-6), Miami (5-7), NY Jets (3-8), Houston (2-9), Jacksonville (2-9)
No clinch scenarios for the AFC yet. New England is ahead of Tennessee because of head-to-head record. The Chargers are ahead of the Raiders and Broncos because of AFC West record.
Still early to say who will get in as we're still in Week 13 but it is fun to see who could possibly be playing into late January.
Week 13 Preview
The Thirteenth week of the NFL's regular season will start in New Orleans, Louisiana and finish up in Orchard Park, New York. Carolina Panthers, Cleveland Browns, Green Bay Packers, and Tennessee Titans are on a bye this week. Week 13 will have a 14-game slate that will have 28 teams play. The week will feature a Thursday night game, seven early games, four late games, a Sunday night game and a Monday night game. FOX will have the single, regional game and CBS will have the doubleheader. Let's get to the picks!
Week 13 Picks
Note: TW is me and CV is Cardinal Viking, my former roommate. All game times are in US Eastern.
Dallas (7-4) @ New Orleans (5-6) (FOX/Amazon/NFL Network; 8:20 pm): TW: Cowboys; CV: Cowboys
Both teams lost last week as the Cowboys lost to the Raiders and the Saints lost to the Bills. The week starts off with an intriguing matchup of good defensive teams. Dallas has fallen off a bit with lackluster showings on offense against the Chiefs and Raiders. With the Eagles in their rear view mirror the Cowboys need to win this game. New Orleans is inconsistent this season without Drew Brees at the helm. We'll have to see if Alvin Kamara can play as the runner is dealing with an MCL sprain. It's a tough task for the Saints to win if he doesn't play. I'll go with Dallas but with reluctancy.
Arizona (9-2) @ Chicago (4-7) (FOX; 1:00 pm): TW: Cardinals; CV: Cardinals
The Cardinals were on a bye and the Bears beat the Lions last week. A lot of what happens in this game will depend on if Kyler Murray, DeAndre Hopkins and Chase Edmonds get back to the field at least one combination. Murray was limited in practice on Wednesday which might be a good sign if he plays on Sunday. I think he'll be back just to give Cardinal fans some hope. Chicago didn't lose to the Lions last week so there's something to be proud about. I think Arizona will take care of business if their stars aren't playing.
Indianapolis (6-6) @ Houston (2-9) (CBS; 1:00 pm): TW: Colts; CV: Colts
Both teams lost last week as the Colts lost to the Buccaneers and the Texans lost to the Jets. Indy played a pretty good game with Carson Wentz even though they didn't give the ball to Jonathan Taylor more often. Safe to say going to a more involved running game is a sound strategy if you're the Colts as the Texans give up 135.6 yards/game in rush defense. Houston isn't really good on either side of the ball and I think the Colts will get back to a winning record with this game.
LA Chargers (6-5) @ Cincinnati (7-4) (CBS; 1:00 pm): TW: Bengals; CV: Bengals
The Chargers lost to the Broncos and the Bengals beat the Steelers last week. Cincinnati really took off and beat up the Steelers, their big brother, by a 41-10 score last week. The Chargers just really fell off the cliff after looking like the best team of the AFC earlier this year. Justin Herbert didn't really play spectacular but it wasn't all on him. The defense stunk it up last week as well. The Chargers can possibly win this one if they can keep Joe Mixon in check and slow him down. I don't really see it happening as I had thought the Steelers could stop Mixon and that didn't work out quite well. I'll take the Bungles.
Minnesota (5-6) @ Detroit (0-10-1) (CBS; 1:00 pm): TW: Vikings; CV: Vikings
Both teams lost last week as the Vikings lost to the 49ers and the Lions lost to the Bears. Detroit has a sliver of a winning percentage with that tie but they haven't won yet. Minnesota seems like the better team even though at more times than not they usually give their opponents a close game and then lose it at the end. In Minnesota, the Lions almost pulled off a win. I don't see it happening.
NY Giants (4-7) @ Miami (5-7) (FOX; 1:00 pm): TW: Dolphins; CV: Giants
Both teams got wins last week as the Giants beat the Eagles and the Dolphins beat the Panthers. New York got rid of their offensive coordinator Jason Garrett a few weeks ago. They could only muster 13 points in their win against the Eagles. I still don't think the Giants will turn it around with this group. Miami has been playing really good football as they have won four straight. Their defense has gotten back to the level that we've been expecting. I'll take the Dolphins.
Philadelphia (5-7) @ NY Jets (3-8) (CBS; 1:00 pm): TW: Eagles; CV: Eagles
The Eagles lost to the Giants and the Jets beat the Texans last week. Philly had a letdown last week against the Giants being held to 7 points. Jalen Hurts' turnovers really killed their chances of winning. What they face is the hapless New York Jets who got the rare feat of winning a football game. I think the Eagles will get back to a winning way and stay close to the Cowboys in the NFC East race.
Tampa Bay (8-3) @ Atlanta (5-6) (FOX; 1:00 pm): TW: Buccaneers; CV: Buccaneers
The Buccaneers beat the Colts and the Falcons beat the Jaguars last week. Tampa got back to winning football ways and beat a good Colts team on the road. Atlanta had a great game with Cordarelle Patterson running the football. If the Bucs want to win this game on defense that will be the key matchup in stopping Patterson. Tampa's offense will do alright in this game as they have a great running attack of their own. I'll take the Bucs.
Jacksonville (2-9) @ LA Rams (7-4) (FOX; 4:05 pm): TW: Rams; CV: Rams
Both teams lost as the Jaguars lost to the Falcons and the Rams lost to the Packers. Jacksonville stinks but that is somewhat to be expected. The Rams however were expected to be good this year. The last few weeks they haven't and I think it really starts on offense. Matthew Stafford has slid off a bit but safe to say they have a great shot to get back to winning a football game. I honestly don't see them losing to one of the worst teams in the league. Give me a break.
Washington (5-6) @ Las Vegas (6-5) (FOX; 4:05 pm): TW: Raiders; CV: Raiders
Both teams won last week as the Football Team beat the Seahawks and the Raiders beat the Cowboys. I think the game will depend on rest as the Raiders played on Thursday and Washington played on Monday. Washington has had better defensive play since Chase Young went down a few weeks ago. I think the Raiders will take care of business but it will be a close game I feel.
Baltimore (8-3) @ Pittsburgh (5-5-1) (CBS; 4:25 pm): TW: Steelers; CV: Ravens
The Ravens beat the Browns and the Steelers lost to the Bengals last week. The marquee game features the great Ravens-Steelers rivalry. While the two teams haven't been both great for a while, the bad blood is still there as John Harbaugh and Mike Tomlin will play each other for the 30th time. Pittsburgh hasn't played really great football aside from the close loss to the Chargers. If they want to get back into a playoff hunt they need to win this game. Baltimore has some pressure too as the Bengals have some advantage over them. This game will be a fun one to watch. Really physical game but I think the Steelers will find a way to win.
San Francisco (6-5) @ Seattle (3-8) (CBS; 4:25 pm): TW: 49ers; CV: 49ers
The 49ers beat the Vikings and the Seahawks lost to the Football Team last week. The great rivalry has had a lackluster tone to it this season. San Francisco has been playing better football with wins over the Bears and Vikings. Seattle will have their first losing season since 2011. It was a shock for sure for them to be this bad and perhaps it was warranted since this team is really built on Russell Wilson staying upright for an entire season. I think Wilson will have another solid game but I think the 49ers will get the upper hand in this one.
Denver (6-5) @ Kansas City (7-4) (NBC; 8:20 pm): TW: Chiefs; CV: Chiefs
The Broncos beat the Chargers and the Chiefs were on a bye last week. Denver can be very inconsistent in their play and with the wild AFC West, anything can happen. Kansas City is the same way as they were off by a lot during the month of October and into early November. Patrick Mahomes has been the catalyst for this turnaround as the passer has reverted back to his old self in not turning the ball over and playing more like the field general that he is. Kansas City is playing on longer rest and a revamped vigor that had lacked in past weeks. I'll take the Chiefs.
New England (8-4) @ Buffalo (7-4) (ESPN; 8:15 pm): TW: Patriots; CV: Bills
Both teams won as the Patriots beat the Titans and the Bills beat the Saints last week. The week finishes up with a fun matchup as the Patriots and Bills square off in a battle of first place in the AFC East. New England doesn't seem to be the better team on paper as they're really a team playing off of momentum. Buffalo is the team that is the better team at least on paper. The biggest nightmare that the Buffalo Bills have had is a revamped version of the New England Patriots. If Buffalo wants to prove that they're the top dog in the division. I don't think that they will have it as the Patriots will ride on momentum and take it to the Bills.
Early & Late TV Pairings (courtesy of 506sports.com, check local listings):
FOX Single
Tampa Bay @ Atlanta
Kenny Albert, Jonathan Vilma
Arizona @ Chicago
Adam Amin, Mark Schlereth
NY Giants @ Miami
Chris Myers, Daryl Johnston
Washington @ Las Vegas (LATE)
Kevin Burkhardt, Greg Olson
Jacksonville @ LA Rams (LATE)
Kevin Kugler, Mark Sanchez
CBS Early
LA Chargers @ Cincinnati
Ian Eagle, Charles Davis
Indianapolis @ Houston
Greg Gumbel, Adam Archuleta
Philadelphia @ NY Jets
Andrew Catalon, James Lofton
Minnesota @ Detroit
Spero Dedes, Jay Feely
CBS Late
Baltimore @ Pittsburgh
Jim Nantz, Tony Romo
San Francisco @ Seattle
Kevin Harlan, Trent Green
For more information on which game is being shown in your area, check out: NFL 2021: Week 13 Maps
2021 Pick'em Records:
My record:
Week 1: 7-9
Week 2: 10-6
Week 3: 10-6
Week 4: 9-7
Week 5: 12-4
Week 6: 11-3
Week 7: 10-3
Week 8: 7-8
Week 9: 7-7
Week 10: 5-8-1
Week 11: 8-7
Week 12: 8-7
Total: 104-75-1
Cardinal Viking's record:
Week 1: 6-10
Week 2: 12-4
Week 3: 13-3
Week 4: 10-6
Week 5: 10-6
Week 6: 12-2
Week 7: 10-3
Week 8: 7-8
Week 9: 8-6
Week 10: 5-8-1
Week 11: 10-5
Week 12: 9-6
Total: 112-67-1
Previous Picking Records:
2017: 167-89
2018: 156-98-2
2019: 151-104-1
2020: 163-92-1
No comments:
Post a Comment