NFL - Week Thirteen Preview

Week Twelve is finally complete and the NFL is now in Week Thirteen with some huge games coming up regarding playoff implications. The Steelers and Ravens finally got their game in on Wednesday afternoon in Pittsburgh and this week the Steelers will host the Washington football team on Monday as the second game to the regularly scheduled Monday night game between the Buffalo Bills and San Francisco 49ers, which is being played in Glendale, Arizona because the county where the 49ers play in has strict COVID-19 virus guidelines in effect. 

That is the NFL (and all of the sports world) in 2020. 

As for the Ravens, they will host the Dallas Cowboys on Tuesday night and are hopeful to have more of their starting players back from the COVID-19/IR list. Dallas got smoked on Thanksgiving Day and is 3-8 and in danger of not making the playoffs once again this season. Meanwhile, the Sunday night "prime time" game features the Denver Broncos (4-7) at the Kansas City Chiefs (10-1) in what should be a blowout win for the Chiefs. The Broncos are looking to have at least two of their regular quarterbacks for this game after having to go with the emergency QB last week because of COVID-19 protocols. 

One of the biggest games this Sunday afternoon will see the Cleveland Browns at the Tennessee Titans (both teams are 8-3) in what should be a good old fashioned, grind it out type of game with the way these two squads run the football. Look for a tight game with the winner being the team that protects the ball and perhaps has it in the final two minutes of play. 

The NFC West division has been a tight battle all season long and this weekend the Los Angeles Rams (7-4) travel to play the Arizona Cardinals (6-5) for the first time in the 2020 campaign. The Rams lost on the final play last weekend to the 49ers, 23-20 and the Cards also lost their game on the last play when the New England Patriots hit on a 50-yard field goal for a 20-17 victory. This one should also go down to the wire as these two teams chase the Seattle Seahawks in the division race. 

All of the NFL action for this week's games is featured in the capsule style format and the Heftyinfo picks will follow up. 

Cleveland (8-3) at Tennessee (8-3) - The Titans and Browns both run the football well and Cleveland's two headed monster of Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt will give Derrick Henry and the Titans all they can handle. 

New Orleans (9-2) at Atlanta (4-7) - Can the Falcons snap the Saints eight-game winning streak? It's possible. 

Detroit (4-7) at Chicago (5-6) - The Bears looking to end a five-game losing streak. The Lions have a new head coach for this one. Toss up. 

Indianapolis (7-4) at Houston (4-7) - This one could go down to the wire. Colts rate the edge with a better defense. 

Cincinnati (2-8-1) at Miami (7-4) - The Miami Dolphins looking to keep a good thing going in this game. Bengals are banged up and looking toward next season. 

Jacksonville (1-10) at Minnesota (5-6) - The Vikings should win this one and that would put them right in the thick of the NFC playoff hunt after a terrible start this year. 

Las Vegas (6-5) at New York Jets (0-11) - The Raiders try to snap a two-game losing streak against perhaps the worst team in the NFL. 

Los Angeles Rams (7-4) at Arizona (6-5) - This game could go either way. Take the Cardinals in a close one. 

New York Giants (4-7) at Seattle (8-3) - Take the Seahawks in this one as the Giants three-game roll comes to an end. 

Philadelphia (3-7-1) at Green Bay (8-3) - Packers roll ! 

New England (5-6) at Los Angeles Chargers (3-8) - The Chargers finally win a close game. 

Denver (4-7) at Kansas City (10-1) - Chiefs roll ! 

Washington (4-7) at Pittsburgh (11-0) - Steelers need to get back on track on offense, but the Washington defense could keep it closer than most people might think.

Buffalo (8-3) at San Francisco (5-6) - (game played in Glendale, AZ) - The 49ers could spring a surprise in this one on Monday Night Football. 

Dallas (3-8) at Baltimore (6-5) - Perhaps the NFL's two most under achieving teams go at it on a Tuesday night in this one. Take the Ravens. 

The Heftyinfo picks for Week Thirteen  . . . . . . . .    (Home teams are listed in bold; Lock of the Week is listed in BOLD CAPS) 

 

Tennessee over Cleveland 

New Orleans over Atlanta 

Chicago over Detroit 

Indianapolis over Houston 

Miami over Cincinnati 

Minnesota over Jacksonville 

Las Vegas over N.Y. Jets 

Arizona over L.A. Rams 

Seattle over N.Y. Giants 

Green Bay over Philadelphia 

L.A. Chargers over New England 

KANSAS CITY over Denver 

Pittsburgh over Washington 

San Francisco over Buffalo 

Baltimore over Dallas 

 

Last Week's Record -  13-3 

SEASON RECORD -  126-50-1

Lock of the Week Record - 9-3