Week 13 Picks

Hopefully everyone enjoyed their Thanksgiving, but now it's time for the stretch run in the NFL season. It's hard to believe, but there are only 5 weeks to go in the season, which also means there are only 5 opportunities left to win the weekly football pool. Last week, for the 2nd week in a row, I went 12-4 to run the season's record to 108-68; however, it was still not good enough. And now the picks for week number 13 in the league where they play...for pay...

Thursday

Houston Texans (5-6) @ Philadelphia Eagles (7-4) - The Texans ended their 4 game losing streak last week when they shut out the Tennessee Titans and in doing so they stayed alive, unbelievably, in the AFC South race, as Jacksonville and Indianapolis both lost. Houston is fortunate that WR Andre Johnson will not miss tonight's game after getting into a fight with Tennesse DB Cortland Finnegan. However, even with Johnson in the lineup, I don't think that Houston is good enough to go into Philadelphia and get a victory against an Eagles team smarting after a loss to Chicago last week. I'd expect Michael Vick and the birds to put up a big number on the Texans defense, which, despite the shutout last week, is not very good. Pick: PHILADELPHIA

Sunday

Buffalo Bills (2-9) @ Minnesota Vikings (4-7) - The Bills literally let a chance to knock off Pittsburgh and get a third straight win slide through their fingertips last week as Ryan Fitzpatrick's pass to Stevie Johnson fell harmlessly into the Pittsburgh endzone in overtime. I know I've said it a lot about Buffalo, and Detroit for that matter, that they are not as bad as their record indicates; however, they're still 2-9. The Vikings continued this season's latest trend, getting a W for an interim coach in his first game as they beat Washington for coach Leslie Frazier's first win. Now, will they be able to duplicate that "success" against the Bills this week? I think so. I think playing in the dome helps, as does having a reliable rushing attack. Pick: MINNESOTA

Cleveland Browns (4-7) @ Miami Dolphins (6-5) - Big effort by the Dolphins last week to go into Oakland and come out with a victory. Cleveland also won last week, albeit in very unimpressive fashion. They were ahead of the Panthers 21-7 midway through the 2nd quarter and at that point you figured the Panthers would just mail it in. But, give the Panthers credit, they came all the way back, even taking the lead 23-21, only to fall 24-23 as their last second field goal attempt hit the upright and was no good. As for this week, with Chad Henne back at QB for the Dolphins and Colt McCoy still out for the Browns, I'll take Miami, even if they are at home. Pick: MIAMI

Jacksonville Jaguars (6-5) @ Tennessee Titans (5-6) - The Titans were embarrassing last week against Houston, getting shut out 20-0; meanwhile, the Jags could not hold onto a double digit lead over the Giants and fell back to the pack in the AFC South, a division no team seems to want to win. I think after blowing that lead to New York last week, the Jags come out on top this week, but it won't be by much. Pick: JACKSONVILLE

Denver Broncos (3-8) @ Kansas City Chiefs (7-4) - If the Chiefs aren't motivated to get revenge in this one after Denver blew them out a few weeks ago in Denver, then San Diego is going to have no problem winning this division. I don't think that Denver is very good, first of all, and while Kansas City is 2-2 over their last 4, I still think that home field advantage and being the superior team overall is enough to get the job done. Pick: KANSAS CITY

Washington Redskins (5-6) @ New York Giants (7-4) - The Giants got a huge boost last week with their come from behind victory over Jacksonville, and losses by Tampa Bay, Green Bay, and, most importantly, Philadelphia, which gives the Giants two roads to the playoffs (division championship or wild card). I have not seen the Redskins yet this season, but they do have Donovan McNabb at QB, and he seems to have some of his better games against the Giants. However, I think he may be running for his life during much of the game with the way the Giants pass rush is able to terrorize quarterbacks. Pick: NEW YORK GIANTS

Chicago Bears (8-3) @ Detroit Lions (2-9) - The Lions had the Bears dead to rights in week 1 when Calvin Johnson caught a touchdown pass in the game's waning moments, but then he lost control of the ball as he was going to celebrate and the pass was ruled incomplete, and the Lions lost. The Lions have been one of those teams that have fought hard all year and I really think they could be pretty good in the next few years; I mean, did you see the game that Ndamukong Suh played on Thanksgiving Day? I still think the Bears will win, but the Lions would be smart to go take a look at what the Giants defensive line did to the Bears offensive line and replicate that. Pick: CHICAGO

San Francisco 49ers (4-7) @ Green Bay Packers (7-4) - Oddly enough, both teams are a game out of 1st place in their respective divisions, but that's where the similarities end. San Francisco has picked up the pace a bit after their horrendous start, but Green Bay's defense is first in the league in points against, so I think it will be a struggle for the niners to find the endzone in this one. On the other side of the ball, the Packers have Aaron Rodgers, who has become an elite QB in the league and has also made the Packer backers forget about #4. Pick: GREEN BAY

Atlanta Falcons (9-2) @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-4) - Both teams faced tough tests in their games last week. The Falcons won at home against Green Bay on a last second field goal after the Packers had tied it up in the final minutes; it was very similar to their victory over Baltimore a few weeks ago. The Bucs went north to Baltimore and fell 17-10. Again, the Bucs can beat the teams with sub-.500 records, but, while they have had a good year, against the good teams they can't get the job done. Pick: ATLANTA

New Orleans Saints (8-3) @ Cincinnati Bengals (2-9) - After blowing a 17-0 lead to the Cowboys on Thanksgiving, the Saints can thank DB Malcolm Jenkins for their 30-27 victory. Jenkins ripped the ball from Roy Williams as Williams was racing toward the New Orleans endzone, recovered the ball, and then Drew Brees led the Saints down the field for the winning score. In the Thanksgiving nightcap, the Bengals showed up for the first half, and then fell asleep in the second half, losing 26-10. Pick: NEW ORLEANS

Oakland Raiders (5-6) @ San Diego Chargers (6-5) - After all the feel good stories about the Raiders resurgence a few weeks ago, the story can now be on the Chargers, who are making yet another second half run at a division championship. Phillip Rivers is playing like a serious MVP candidate. Pick: SAN DIEGO

Dallas Cowboys (3-8) @ Indianapolis Colts (6-5) - Peyton Manning and the Colts did not look sharp last Sunday night against the Chargers, and Manning, like his younger brother, has turned the ball over a lot. However, he's still one of the best players in the league, if not the best, and the Colts are at home. Pick: INDIANAPOLIS

St. Louis Rams (5-6) @ Arizona Cardinals (3-8) - The Rams got a well earned victory in Mile High last week, and the Cardinals got blown out on Monday night. The Cardinals play terrible defense, the Rams have an average defense and a very good young quarterback. Pick: ST. LOUIS

Carolina Panthers (1-10) @ Seattle Seahawks (5-6) - This one's in Seattle so I'll take the Seahawks. Pick: SEATTLE

Pittsburgh Steelers (8-3) @ Baltimore Ravens (8-3) - The first of two titanic matchups to end Week 13, and hopefully at least one of these games lives up to the hype. In this one you have a young elite quarterback on both sides going up against one of the league's top defenses, and both defenses are ferocious. This is going to be one of those low-scoring, tight defensive battles that comes down to the last few minutes. I am going with Baltimore in this one, mainly because they're home, but there is no clear favorite in this one at all. Pick: BALTIMORE

Monday

New York Jets (9-2) @ New England Patriots (9-2) - Again, another rivalry game. The Jets are going to Foxborough looking to prove that they are as good as their record says they are. Now, when you win 9 and lose 2, you're pretty damn good, and I think that Rex Ryan and co. deserve all the respect in the world. However, will their defense be able to get to Tom Brady? All year long the Pats offensive line has kept Brady well protected and, as a result, the Pats offense has clicked. In fact, I think that in this matchup it's the two offenses that have the advantage over the opposing defense. While the Patriot defense has improved, there is no question that Mark Sanchez is feeling comfortable with the offense and can make the big plays when they need it most. Pick: NEW ENGLAND and 48 points for the tie breaker