Week 13 NFL Preview
Each Friday I will preview a few games to take place over the weekend. I will borrow a phrase from Gregg Easterbrook of ESPN: “All predictions wrong or your money back.”
NOTE: Last week I went undefeated. 5 for 5. Maybe I know what I’m talking about. Or…I’ll fall flat on my face this week. Either way, be there to see it Monday when I do my weekly Preview Review.
Tennessee Titans (5-6) at Indianapolis Colts (11-0)
The Titans and Colts are on a combined streak of 16-0. But one of them has to lose, and I’m picking the Titans to fall apart this week. While their play recently has been fantastic, the Colts will prove to be too much for them. Manning has made it his mission to come from behind in the fourth quarter for the past five games, but this week he’ll be handing the ball off with a cushy lead to end the game. Chris Johnson’s only bad game this year was against the Colts, and they’ll have his number this week as well, holding him to below 100 yards.
New Orleans Saints (11-0) at Washington Redskins (3-8)
Every week from here on out, the football talking heads are gonna favor the opponent when they play the Colts and Saints. Why? Because chances are they’re not going undefeated. However, with Minnesota right on the heels of New Orleans, we might see the first ever 15-1 at 16-0 NFC Championship game. I’m picking the Saints and Colts to win out, only to fulfill my dream of two 18-0 teams facing off for immortality in the Super Bowl. Who will the 1976 Dolphins root for in that game? A tie?
New England Patriots (7-4) vs. Miami Dolphins (5-6)
The Patriots haven’t lost back-to-back games in like 300 years, so I highly doubt that trend will end on Sunday. Both teams were embarrassed last Sunday in blowout losses, but the Dolphins were taken to school by the lowly Ryan Fitzpatrick of the Buffalo Bills, while the Patriots were shown the new definition of perfection by Drew Brees and the Saints. The Patriots will be looking for blood in this one. Moss and Welker should both have over 100 yards and multiple touchdowns.
San Diego Chargers (8-3) at Cleveland Browns (1-11)
The Chargers have won six in a row. The only hiccup I can see happening is if the Chargers are a little jet-lagged from traveling from the West Coast. But even if the whole defense stays up partying in the fantastic nightclubs and booming downtown of Cleveland, OH (insert sarcasm here) the Browns should be no match. Look for San Diego to continue their winning streak, and for Philip Rivers to be sitting on the bench in the 4th quarter after wrapping it all up.
Dallas Cowboys (8-3) at New York Giants (6-5)
Two more teams in completely different places than they were to begin the season. After starting 2-2, with one of those losses against the Giants, the Cowboys have won 6 of their last 7 games. It hasn’t always been pretty, including a 7-6 snoozer against the Redskins, but they find a way to win. They have a nasty history of falling apart in December, but the Giants have done more than enough falling apart in the past 6 weeks on their own. Losers of 5 of the last 6 games, the Giants were once considered the elite team in the NFC, and the most likely site of home field throughout the playoffs. But injuries to Eli Manning and the defense have caused them to stumble, and most likely fall out of the wild card and division race after losing this Sunday.
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