NFL - Week Thirteen Preview

 

There are several NFL games that look to be more than just interesting this weekend, among them the Los Angeles Chargers at the Cincinnati Bengals. Also, the Pittsburgh Steelers will be hosting their hated rivals, the Baltimore Ravens. The two prime time games feature the Denver Broncos at the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday night and finally the game of the week on Monday Night Football that has the red hot New England Patriots taking their six game win streak to Buffalo to face the Bills in a battle for first place in the AFC East division. 

 

Cincinnati (7-4) has been up and down all season, but they are coming off a couple of impressive wins in recent weeks (32-13 win at Las Vegas and a 41-10 rout of the Steelers) after losing to the lowly Jets and getting smashed by the Cleveland Browns. Meanwhile, the Chargers (6-5) are in the same boat as they have dropped four of six games after a 4-1 start this season. The defense has been erratic and cannot stop the run while the talent laden offense inexplicably struggles every other game. They struggled last week in a loss to Denver, so maybe that bodes well for them against the Bengals this Sunday. Expect a shootout with the home team pulling it out in the final minutes.

The Steelers (5-5-1) will host the Ravens (8-3), who are coming off a tough win last weekend against the Browns. Pittsburgh was thoroughly destroyed by the Bengals last Sunday and haven't won a game in four weeks. Baltimore will look to pressure Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger and force turnovers, which is what worked so well for Cincinnati last week. Ravens QB Lamar Jackson will look to get back in form after throwing four picks last week. In addition, the entire Ravens offense needs to get it going as they have averaged just 14 points per game the last three weeks. 

On Sunday night, Kansas City (7-4 and coming off their bye week) will put their four game win streak on the line against the surprising Denver Broncos (6-5), who dominated the L.A. Chargers last week in the Mile High City. Can Denver's resurgent defense hold the Chiefs in check? That will be the key in this one at Arrowhead Stadium with first place in the AFC West on the line. 

Finally, on Monday night in Buffalo, the Bills (7-4) will look to leap frog the surprising New England Patriots (8-4), who have won six straight games with solid defense and a mistake free offense led by rookie QB Mac Jones. Buffalo is just 3-3 after a hot start this year and the defense needs to get back to pressuring the quarterback and forcing the turnovers that helped enable that 4-1 start and first place in the AFC East division. This game should go down to the wire, with the Bills pulling it out and cooling off Bill Belichick's team. 

The rest of the 14 game NFL schedule is featured with the capsule style format and the Heftyinfo picks following up. 

 

Tampa Bay (8-3) at Atlanta (5-6) - Can the Falcons shock the world and save their season with a win this Sunday? 

Arizona (9-2) at Chicago (4-7) - Bears Head Coach Matt Nagy still under fire in Chicago and a win against the Cards would do wonders. But don't count on it happening. 

Minnesota (5-6) at Detroit (0-10-1) - Can the Lions get that elusive first win of the 2021 season this week against a divisional foe? Not likely. 

N.Y. Giants (4-7) at Miami (5-7) - Two teams that have been hot of late; but the Dolphins are the hotter team entering this one. 

Philadelphia (5-7) at N.Y. Jets (3-8) - Upset alert? Maybe so as the Eagles looked awful last week in the Meadowlands against the Giants and now they face the Jets, who have shown some life in the last month. 

Indianapolis (6-6) at Houston (2-9) - No excuses for the Colts in this one. Must win game to stay in AFC playoff picture. 

Washington (5-6) at Las Vegas (6-5) - Toss up in this one. 

Jacksonville (2-9) at L.A. Rams (7-4) - The Rams need to stop the bleeding and beat a terrible team. 

San Francisco (6-5) at Seattle (3-8) - The 'Hawks have lost three straight and six of their last seven. 'Niners have won three in a row. Anything is possible when these two teams meet. 

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

Dallas over New Orleans 

Tampa Bay over Atlanta 

Arizona over Chicago 

Cincinnati over L.A. Chargers 

Minnesota over Detroit 

Miami over N.Y. Giants 

N.Y. Jets over Philadelphia 

Indianapolis over Houston 

Washington over Las Vegas 

L.A. RAMS over Jacksonville 

Baltimore over Pittsburgh

Seattle over San Francisco 

Kansas City over Denver 

Buffalo over New England 

 

Last Week's Record - 10-5

SEASON RECORD - 108-71-1 

Lock of the Week Record - 9-3