NFL - Week 13 Predictions

Ringer's Record
Last Week ATS: 9-7
Last Week SU: 14-2

Season ATS: 91-83-1 (52%)
Season SU: 120-55 (69%)

Philadelphia (-3.5) at Seattle
This game was played last night and Seattle embarrassed the Eagles. The Dream Team is officially done.

Score - Seattle 31 Philadelphia 14

Tennessee (+1.5) at Buffalo
This game actually has huge playoff implications. Tennessee is right in the thick of the race with a win - wild card or possibly even AFC South. Buffalo's dreams will be over with a loss but could be within a game of a wild card spot should they win. Neither team has played exceptional lately, but the Titans have been the better of the two. I look for the Bills' struggles to continue as the Titans continue to stay relevant.

Prediction - Tennessee 23 Buffalo 20

Kansas City (+8.5) at Chicago
It doesn't appear as though Kyle Orton is going to get the opportunity to start against the team that drafted him. Orton was picked up by the Chiefs last week, but Tyler Palko will get the start again. Palko has been awful against New England and Pittsburgh. Now he faces a tenacious Bears D in the Windy City. Luckily for the Chiefs, the Bears also have to play a backup QB that hasn't played well. Hanie was largely responsible for the Bears loss in Oakland. One of these backups have to get their 1st win as an NFL starter. It will be Hanie.

Prediction - Chicago 16 Kansas City 14

Atlanta (-2.5) at Houston
You have to feel bad for the Texans. This team has never made the playoffs. They are on the verge this season as they have started the year 8-3 and would be the #1 seed in the AFC if the playoffs were to start today. Now they are down to their 3rd QB. Matt Schaub went down for the year and now his backup, Matt Leinart, is out for the year. Enter rookie TJ Yates. Yates has a tough task in his 1st NFL start. The Falcons are clicking at the right time. Atlanta should be able to beat a 3rd string rookie in his 1st start.

Prediction - Atlanta 24 Houston 21

Oakland (+3.5) at Miami
The Raiders appear to be back. After almost a decade of losing seasons, the Raiders stand at 7-4 and on top of the AFC West. They travel to the east coast this weekend to face a Dolphin squad that is playing good football despite their 3-8 record. Miami was seconds away from winning their 4th straight last week, when they lost to Dallas 20-19. Oakland will see their win streak hit 4 for the 1st time since 2002 with a win. I don't think Miami will be able to stop Oakland's ground game. I'll take the Raiders.

Prediction - Oakland 20 Miami 17

Cincinnati (+6.5) at Pittsburgh
The Cincinnati Bengals are still in the hunt in the AFC North. I bet nobody saw that coming. Cincy has had a knack for coming from behind this year. They did again against Cleveland last week. They were close to doing it just a few weeks ago when these teams met. The Steelers have to win this game because they can't afford to lose any ground to Baltimore. We know Pittsburgh is for real, but is Cincinnati? We could find out this weekend. I say the answer is no.

Prediction - Pittsburgh 24 Cincinnati 17

Carolina (+3.5) at Tampa Bay
What has happened to Tampa Bay? Many thought that the Bucs would contend for the NFC South title this season. They are now in danger of losing their 6th consecutive game. Cam Newton and company broke their skid last week by beating the winless Colts. They can win consecutive games for the 1st time since 2009 this week. Tampa is playing to poorly for me think they will win this game.

Prediction - Carolina 26 Tampa Bay 24

NY Jets (-3.5) at Washington
Is it time for the Jets to make another late-season push? They got a much needed victory last week, but it wasn't very pretty. Mark Sanchez threw for 4 TD but also has under a 50% completion percentage. They are certainly in position to make the playoffs for the 3rd consecutive season, but they will need to improve their play. The Redskins broke their 6-game losing streak last week with a win in Seattle. Rex Grossman played well, but you can't trust Rex 2 weeks in a row.

Prediction - NY Jets 16 Washington 13

Denver (+1.5) at Minnesota
It is hard for me to believe that Denver could possibly be underdogs in this game. There aren't many teams, if any, that are playing better than Denver at the moment. Minnesota, on the other hand, is tied for the worst record in the NFC. Yet the Vikings are favored. Tim Tebow is getting much of the credit for the Broncos turnaround, but their defense deserves most of it. This is one of my locks of the week. The defense will keep Minnesota in check and Tebow will get it done in the end.

Prediction - Denver 19 Minnesota 16

Indianapolis (+20.5) at New England
When the NFL schedule comes out every year this is always one of the games to circle. It didn't quite work out that way this year. The Payton Manning-less Colts are 0-11 and 20-point underdogs in New England. the Patriots look like they have the easiest path to winning home field advantage in the AFC and it starts with the Colts. Tom Brady has had much success against Indianapolis, but this will be the easiest time he has had with them.

Prediction - New England 35 Indianapolis 10

Baltimore (-6.5) at Cleveland
The Ravens are primed for a letdown. They have gotten 2 big wins in the last 2 weeks over Cincinnati and San Francisco respectively. Now they travel to Cleveland to face the hapless Browns. All of the Ravens' losses this season have come against bad teams. The Browns certainly qualify as that. There are no bad teams in the playoffs, but Baltimore must learn to give a consistent effort every week. This is their chance to prove they can do that.

Prediction - Baltimore 24 Cleveland 13

Dallas (-4.5) at Arizona
Dallas looks to be the clear favorite in the NFC East. And it's Tony Romo that's leading the way. Romo was severely criticized at the beginning of the season, and he has made those critics shut up. He is in the top 5 in the NFL in passer rating and is on his way to leading the Cowboys into the playoffs. Arizona has won 3 of their last 4, lead by the magnificent punt returns of Patrick Peterson. They welcome back Kevin Kolb at QB but that won;t be enough.

Prediction - Dallas 27 Arizona 20

Green Bay (-7.5) at NY Giants
The New York Giants are on a 3-game losing streak. This definitely is not a good time to welcome Green Bay to town. The Packers are looking to get to 12-0 and keep the hope alive to become the 2nd team ever to run the table. The Giants have stopped the last 2 serious threats. They beat the 1998 Broncos who were 13-0 and the 2007 Patriots who went 16-0 before losing to New York in the Super Bowl. Will it happen again? I doubt it.

Prediction - Green Bay 35 NY Giants 21

St. Louis (+13.5) at San Francisco 
San Francisco has a chance to celebrate and NFC West title on Sunday. It would be the 1st time since 2002. They welcome in the 2-9 Rams to San Francisco, and could become the 1st team to clinch a playoff spot this season. The Rams couldn't stop the run to save their lives, and now they face Frank Gore and a lethal rushing attack. The fans should have reason to celebrate in San Francisco on Sunday.

Prediction - San Francisco 27 St. Louis 10

Detroit (+9.5) at New Orleans
The Lions started off the season 5-0. They have since lost 4 out their last 6. They were once the talk of the NFL. Now they are on the outside looking in of the playoffs. The only talk about the Lions now is about Ndamokong Suh. Suh was suspended for 2 games and will be out against one of the NFL's most potent offenses. The Saints are clicking on all cylinders and could be the Packers biggest threat. They should keep on clicking this weekend.

Prediction - New Orleans 27 Detroit 23

San Diego (-2.5) at Jacksonville
This one should get the national audience pumped. San Diego started the season 4-1 and has since lost 6 in a row. Jacksonville never stood a chance this season and enters this game at 3-8. The Chargers certainly have more talent, but the last time the Jags hosted a Monday night game they defeated the Chargers. There's something about playing at home on Monday night that has me leaning towards the Jags. San Diego's struggles continue, and Norv Turner will find his way out of the door much like Jack Del Rio did this week.

Prediction - Jacksonville 24 San Diego 21