Welcome to week 13 of the NFL season. There are some great games on tap this weekend, and I have previewed each one and given you a score prediction! Enjoy!
Las Vegas Raiders at Kansas City Chiefs: Friday Game
The 2-9 Raiders look to break a seven-game losing streak against arguably the best team in football. They will be led by QB Aiden O’Connell who took over for the injured Gardner Minshew, who will miss the remainder of the season with a broken collar bone. O’Connell will have to find stand-out rookie TE Brock Bowers if the heavy underdogs want to have any chance to stay in this one. The 10-1 Chiefs are led by QB Patrick Mahomes and TE Travis Kelce who look to put a stranglehold on this one early. The Chiefs also welcome back RB Isiah Pacheco who is now practicing in full. The Chiefs have much better weapons and defense, plus they will not forget getting upset at home against the Raiders a season ago.
Score Prediction: Chiefs 34 Raiders 13
Arizona Cardinals at Minnesota Vikings 1:00 p.m. EST
The 6-5 Cardinals had their four-game winning streak snapped last week against the Seattle Seahawks. QB Kyler Murray will look to get the Cardinals back on track by finding TE Trey McBride and WR Marvin Harrison Jr. downfield. The 9-2 Vikings, meanwhile, are riding a four-game winning streak led by QB Sam Darnold and stellar play from TE T.J. Hockenson and WR Jordan Addison. I think QB Kyler Murray will find a way to avoid a heavy Viking pass rush and make a big play to win the game late.
Score Prediction: Cardinals 27 Vikings 24
Los Angeles Chargers at Atlanta Falcons 1:00 p.m. EST
The 7-5 Chargers are another team who had a four-game winning streak snapped after losing to the Baltimore Ravens on Monday Night. QB Justin Herbert and WR Ladd McConkey will lead a strong passing attack in a game they should be able to make some big plays down the field. The 6-5 Atlanta Falcons are coming off a much-needed bye after dropping two straight games. They will need to get RB Bijan Robinson going early to set up their passing game led by QB Kirk Cousins. I think the Chargers have the better defense and will find a way to get to aging QB Kirk Cousins.
Score Prediction: Chargers 30 Falcons 23
Pittsburgh Steelers at Cincinnati Bengals 1:00 p.m. EST
The 8-3 Steelers led by QB Russell Wilson, look to get back in the winners’ circle after dropping one late to the Cleveland Browns in the snow. They will need their 1-2 punch at running back in Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren to control the clock and for the defense to limit big plays. The 4-7 Bengals have got to feel snake bit this season as they have lost close heartbreakers to a slew of playoff-caliber teams. QB Joe Burrow and WR Ja’Marr Chase have been excellent in losing efforts. I think the Bengals find a way to win this one as I think WR Tee Higgins shines in this one.
Score Prediction: Bengals 23 Steelers 17
Houston Texans at Jacksonville Jaguars 1:00 p.m. EST
The 7-5 Texans are a difficult team to figure out. They had to deal with several injuries and inconsistent play on both sides of the ball. The 2-9 Jaguars have been arguably the worst team in football. They most likely will welcome QB Trevor Lawrence back into the lineup after he missed two weeks with a shoulder injury. I expect the Texan offense led by CJ Stroud, Joe Mixon, and Nico Collins to be just too much against what I consider the worst defense in football.
Score Prediction: Texans 31 Jaguars 17
Indianapolis Colts at New England Patriots 1:00 p.m. EST
The 5-7 Colts just can’t get out of their own way. They had many chances to make big plays against Detroit, but either QB Antony Richardson missed an open receiver, a receiver dropped the ball, or they had a penalty to wipe out a big play. They will need to clean up their miscues to have a chance against the improving Patriots. The 3-9 Patriots are improving despite being blown out by the Miami Dolphins last week. Rookie QB Drake Maye should be able to showcase his talents vs. a below-average Colt’s secondary, but will it be enough? I think it will as I think the Colts will make a bigger mistake.
Score Prediction: Patriots 16 Colts 13
Seattle Seahawks at New York Jets 1:00 p.m. EST
The 6-5 Seahawks have won two in a row and find themselves tied atop of the NFC West. Their defense has only given up 23 combined points in those two games, but the offense has only scored 36. They need to get the offense going to assert themselves as a top NFC team. The 3-8 Jets are coming off a needed bye. A team with high expectations that can’t seem to put it together even though they have high-profile players like Aaron Rodgers, Breece Hall, Davante Adams, Garrett Wilson, and Sauce Gardner. The Seahawks are the better all-around team, and I like the way their defense is playing.
Score Prediction: Seahawks 24 Jets 16
Tennessee Titans at Washington Commanders 1:00 p.m. EST
The 3-8 Tennessee Titans are coming off a big upset of the Houston Texans that nobody saw coming. RB Tony Pollard had a huge game that allowed the Titans to possess the ball for 35 minutes, keeping the Texans off the field. QB Will Levis was solid as well, and he needs to continue to do so to show the Titans that is capable of starting in 2025. The 7-5 Commanders have lost three straight and were surprisingly upset by the Dallas Cowboys last week. Their special teams made a colossal of errors, giving up two kick returns for touchdowns and missing an extra point to tie the game late. QB Jayden Daniels continues to be the bright spot despite throwing 2 interceptions. He is back to running the football making him a dual threat. The Commanders are the better team, and if they clean up their special teams, they should win.
Score Prediction: Commanders 27 Titans 17
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Carolina Panthers 4:05 p.m. EST
The 5-6 Buccaneers should be on the rise after beating the Giants on Sunday. They have faced arguably the toughest schedule in football, but they should win most of the rest of their games. Led by QB Baker Mayfield, who I think is the guttiest player in the league, the Buccaneers are better than their record. The 3-8 Panthers were somehow tied with the Kansas City Chiefs late last week before giving up a game-winning field goal late. QB Bryce Young showed flashes of why he was a high draft pick, and they got big contributions from WR David Moore, an unlikely candidate. In the end, the Panthers defense isn’t very good, and I think the dual running game of Bucky Irving and Rachaad White, along with the Baker to Mike Evans connection, will be too much.
Score Prediction: Buccaneers 30 Panthers 20
Los Angeles Rams at New Orleans Saints 4:05 p.m. EST
The 5-6 Rams are one game behind in the NFC West and need this win to stay in the playoff picture. Led by QB Matt Stafford and a slew of outstanding weapons, they are a threat to score 30 points every week. Unfortunately, their inconsistent defense may allow 30 points. The 4-7 Saints are coming off a bye after blowing out the Cleveland Browns the week before. A game in which TE Taysom Hill showed his versatility and scored 3 touchdowns. The Saints will need to get RB Alvin Kamara highly involved in this one if they want to pull out the victory. I think a well-coached Sean McVay team will limit Hill and clamp down on the Saints passing game while the Rams offense does enough to win.
Score Prediction: Rams 27 Saints 14
Philadelphia Eagles at Baltimore Ravens 4:25 p.m. EST
While most people think the Detroit Lions are the best team in the NFC, the 9-2 Eagles have something to say about that. They are playing great on both sides of the ball and have been led by RB Saquon Barkley. The Ravens have a very good run defense but a terrible pass defense. QB Jalen Hurts must be sharp and exploit that secondary. The 8-4 Ravens are coming off an impressive win over the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday Night. QB Lamar Jackson and RB Derrick Henry led the charge, and both will need to do it again to have any chance this Sunday. I think the difference in this game is that the Eagles pass defense will make the Ravens too one-dimensional, and they will limit both Jackson and Henry. The Eagle’s offense makes enough plays.
Score Prediction: Eagles 27 Ravens 20
San Francisco 49ers at Buffalo Bills 8:20 p.m. EST
The 5-6 49ers have dropped two in a row and have the challenging task of playing at Buffalo on Sunday Night Football. As of now, we don’t know if injured QB Brock Purdy will start or if it will be Brandon Allen. No matter who starts it will be a daunting task to come away with the victory. The 9-2 Bills are coming off a bye, and they look scary good after beating the Kansas City Chiefs the week before. Led by QB Josh Allen and a tenacious defense, the Bills are Super Bowl or bust. They should get the win here vs. a 49er team that is banged up, old, and broken.
Score Prediction: Bills 30 49ers 13 with Allen at QB or Bills 27 49ers 16 with Purdy at QB
Cleveland Browns at Denver Broncos: Monday 8:15 p.m. EST
The 3-8 Cleveland Browns are a team nobody wants to play right now. QB Jameis Winston can keep them in any game, as their offense now has a pulse. Plus, Winston is highly motivated as he is fighting for a new contract and possibly a new team for 2025. RB Nick Chubb is coming off a solid two-touchdown performance, and even though it is a lost season for the Browns, they can finish strong and maybe push toward next year. The 7-5 Broncos found a way to win despite looking sloppy last week vs. the Las Vegas Raiders. QB Bo Nix continues to impress as he spreads the ball around and throws darts for touchdowns. As much as I like Nix and the Broncos defense, I am picking the Browns as my upset of the week. I think Winston has rallied this team, and players love playing with him.
Score Prediction: Browns 23 Broncos 20
