We have a full slate of games this weekend in the NFL, and many of them have big-time playoff implications. Here is a preview and score prediction for every game this week, with the exception of TNF between the Rams and the 49ers.
Dallas Cowboys at Carolina Panthers 1:00 p.m. EST
The 5-8 Cowboys watched their dwindling playoff hopes all but ended after giving up a touchdown late to the Cincinnati Bengals. This week, they should be able to move the ball with better efficiency, as they should get the running game going with RB Rick Dowdle. Their chances of winning will depend on whether QB Cooper Rush can be more efficient, especially on third down. The 3-10 Panthers lost another close game as they have been extremely competitive, losing three straight to playoff teams by less than one score. RB Chuba Hubbard has been the bell cow and should have a solid game here. I like what I have been seeing from the Panthers, and I expect WR Adam Thielen to come up with some big plays to make a difference in this one.
Score Prediction: Panthers 24 – Cowboys 20
Kansas City Chiefs at Cleveland Browns 1:00 p.m. EST
The 12-1 Chiefs got it done again late with a game-winning field goal to beat the Chargers 19-17. QB Patrick Mahomes seems to always come up with a drive when the game is on the line. They will look to get one game closer to clinching home-field advantage in the AFC. The 3-10 Browns lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers 27-14 despite only giving up 267 yards of total offense. Turnovers and penalties ruined a rare solid defensive effort. It is difficult to imagine the Chiefs losing to QB Jameis Winston, who is prone to making several mistakes. The Mahomes to TE Travis Kelce connection will be just too much.
Score Prediction: Chiefs 27 – Browns 17
Miami Dolphins at Houston Texans 1:00 p.m. EST
The 6-7 Dolphins needed a late 4th quarter score and 2-point conversion plus an overtime touchdown by Jonnu Smith to beat the New York Jets. WR Tyreek Hill had over 100 yards receiving and may be back to form. The 8-5 Texans are coming off their bye and look to clinch the AFC South with a win and a Colts loss. They must attack the Dolphins weak run defense with RB Joe Mixon and connect with WR Nico Collins on third-down conversions. I like Miami QB Tua Tagovailoa to make one more big pass than Texans QB C.J. Stroud.
Score Prediction: Dolphins 27 – Texans 23
New York Jets at Jacksonville Jaguars 1:00 p.m. EST
The 3-10 Jets let one slip away, losing a late 4th quarter lead to the Miami Dolphins. QB Aaron Rodgers looks to hook up with receivers Davante Adams and Garrett Wilson to avoid a 4th straight loss. The 3-10 Jaguars held off a late Tennessee Titans late 4th quarter push to earn their third win. QB Mac Jones will need to limit his mistakes, as he threw two interceptions last week. Maybe the running back tandem of Tank Bigsby and Travis Etienne can jump-start the offense vs. a suspect Jet’s run defense. In the end, I think the Jets have much better weapons and win this one easily.
Score Prediction: Jets 27 – Jaguars 13
Washington Commanders at New Orleans Saints 1:00 p.m. EST
The 8-5 Commanders, led by QB Jayden Daniels, are coming off their bye. A win here, and they could distance themselves by two games for the final NFC playoff spot. The 5-8 Saints snuck by the Giants last week but may have lost QB Derek Carr with a broken non-throwing hand. The Saints will need a big game from RB Alvin Kamara to have any chance in this one. I think Washington will be just too much and the lack of Saint playmakers outside of Kamara will limit the Saints severely.
Score Prediction: Commanders 24 – Saints 13
Baltimore Ravens at New York Giants 1:00 p.m. EST
The 8-5 Ravens are coming off their bye after losing at home to the Philadelphia Eagles in week 13. They should bounce back as QB Lamar Jackson and RB Derrick Henry have their way against a bad Giants defense. The 2-11 Giants have lost eight in a row and are looking to end the season. They turn to QB Tommy DeVito to try to ignite an abysmal offense. Expect Lamar and Henry to do whatever they want.
Score Prediction: Ravens 34 – Giants 13
Cincinnati Bengals at Tennessee Titans 1:00 p.m. EST
The 5-8 Bengals got back on the winning track by scoring a late touchdown on a QB Joe Burrow to WR Ja’Marr Chase connection. They will look to see another solid defensive effort to give themselves a chance to win with their potent offense. The 3-10 Titans were flat against a bad Jaguar team and could only muster 6 points. They will need QB Will Levis and WR Calvin Ridley to get at least one TD connection if they want to stay in it against the high-scoring Bengals. Even though the Titans should be able to move the ball, they were only able to muster 6 points against a Jaguar defense. Their offense is too much of a mess.
Score Prediction: Bengals 31 – Titans 16
New England Patriots at Arizona Cardinals 4:25 p.m. EST
The 3-10 Patriots are coming off their bye after losing three straight games. The wins and losses don’t matter, as the main goal is to see continued improvement from rookie QB Drake Maye. The 6-7 Cardinals have dropped three straight games and are clinging onto playoff hopes. QB Kyler Murray has been inconsistent, as he has thrown 4 interceptions in his last two games. I think we see a heavy dose of RB James Conner and TE Treya McBride as they make the difference.
Score Prediction: Cardinals 27 – Patriots 24
Indianapolis Colts at Denver Broncos 4:25 p.m. EST
The 6-7 Colts are coming off their bye and can get within one game from the AFC final Wild Card spot with a win in Denver. RB Jonathan Taylor has been relatively quiet but must have a big game if the Colts want to pull out the upset. The 8-5 Broncos are also coming off their bye and can just about clinch the final wild-card spot with a win here. Rookie QB Bo Nix has been exceptional and has spread the ball around to many different receivers over the past several weeks. Denver has the better defense, and that should be the difference.
Score Prediction: Broncos 27 – Colts 20
Buffalo Bills at Detroit Lions 4:25 p.m. EST
The 10-3 Bills are coming off a shoot-out loss to the Los Angeles Rams 44-42. Josh Allen had a spectacular game but was let down by the defense. Look for him to put up solid numbers against a weak Lion’s secondary. The 12-1 Lions are coming off a home Thursday Night win vs. the Green Bay Packers. They will need to run the ball effectively with both Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery, as the Bills defense isn’t very good vs. the run. The Lions defense is still a bit banged up, and I think Allen bounces back.
Score Prediction: Bills 27 – Lions 24
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Los Angeles Chargers 4:25 p.m. EST
The 7-6 Buccaneers came out strong and easily disposed of the Las Vegas Raiders. This week will be a much tougher test for QB Baker Mayfield and company vs. a Charger team that doesn’t have many weaknesses. The 8-5 Chargers fell short to the Kansas City Chiefs as they lost on a late second field goal. They were without WR Ladd McConkey and will get a boost if he is back in the lineup. For me, the Buccaneers give up too many yards through the air, and I think QB Justin Herbert and carve them up.
Score Prediction: Chargers 27 – Buccaneers 20
Pittsburgh Steelers at Philadelphia Eagles 4:25 p.m. EST
The 10-3 Steelers beat the Cleveland Browns by two scores even though they only had 260 yards of total offense. RB Najee Harris is going to have a big game on the ground as the passing game will be without WR George Pickens again. The 11-2 Eagles snuck past the Carolina Panthers 22-16 as Panther’s WR Xavier Legette dropped a touchdown in the waning seconds. Rumors are that WR A.J. Brown and QB Jalen Hurts are not getting along but I think they put it together this week. I think getting all the issues out in the open may help this team going forward. The Steelers do not match up well here.
Score Prediction: Eagles 30 – Steelers 13
Green Bay Packers at Seattle Seahawks 8:20 p.m. EST
The 9-4 Packers all but lost their chances to win the NFC North by losing to Detroit last week. They look to further put a stranglehold on locking down an NFC Wild Card Spot with a win in Seattle. RB Josh Jacobs has led the way and will need 100 yards to have a chance here. The 8-5 Seahawks have won four straight and stand atop the NFC West. WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba has been on fire and has proven worthy of being a first-round pick in 2023. Plus, the Seattle defense has been playing much better, and I think they make a play.
Score Prediction: Seahawks 26 – Packers 20
Chicago Bears at Minnesota Vikings 8:00 p.m. EST
At least the 4-9 Bears didn’t lose another heartbreaker as they were pounded by the San Francisco 49ers last week. This week, I think they can get their passing game back on track, as the Vikings pass defense gives up a ton of yards. the 11-2 Vikings have won six straight and continue to fight for the NFC North. They are getting spectacular play from Sam Darnold, as he threw for 5 touchdowns a week ago against the Atlanta Falcons. These two teams met a few weeks ago, and Chicago needed late-game heroics to force overtime. This week. I like the Vikings fast defense to swallow up a porous Chicago offensive line at home.
Score Prediction: Vikings 31 – Bears 17
Atlanta Falcons at Las Vegas Raiders 8:30 p.m. EST
The 6-7 Falcons have lost four straight games, and they must win out just to have an outside chance to make the playoffs. QB Kirk Cousins has been awful, throwing 6 interceptions over his last 2 games. Maybe the Falcons should just feed the ball to RB Bijan Robinson over and over again. Defensively, their secondary looked lost, trying to cover both Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison. They will be put to the test vs. WR Jakobi Meyers and TE Brock Bowers. The 2-11 Raiders fell behind by 14 points to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and could not catch up despite trailing by only 4 at the half. They did lose QB Aiden O’Connell in that game, and he is questionable this week. I like the Raiders’ chances more with him than backup Desmond Ridder. Regardless of who starts, Jakobi Meyers and Bowers will need big games to pull it out. I think the Raiders fall short.
Score Prediction: Atlanta 31 – Raiders 24
