NFL picks--Week 13

Last week: 11-4
Season record: 117-59

I have four words for you--NO MORE BYE WEEKS.  Right as the fantasy postseason looms and the weather is getting colder in most NFL cities, we have a full slate of games the last five weeks of the season.  And as one of football's great traditions, there will be games on Thanksgiving Day, which is tomorrow--three of them, and they are all NFC divisional rivalries.  Oh yeah!  So let's see what's on tap and how we expect the games to shake out....

Chicago at Detroit--I'm not sure what's more amazing.  That the Lions have the fewest points allowed in the NFL (190) or that only four teams have scored fewer points (Oakland, Tennessee, Jacksonville, NY Jets).  Seriously, a team with Calvin Johnson and Matt Stafford and Golden Tate and Reggie Bush and Joique Bell should not struggle to put up points, right?  The Bears, they are a completely different story, and not a good one.  Lions 23, Bears 17

Philadelphia at Dallas--As a Giants fan, my hatred for these two teams runs deep.  It runs even deeper when they are both competing for the NFC East title and a first round bye.  But this season, I hate the Eagles just a little less.  Cowboys 34, Eagles 31

Seattle at San Francisco--The Richard Sherman/Michael Crabtree rematch.  Both teams have struggled a little more than you'd expect after playing for the NFC title ten months ago, and while this one could go either way, I have this funny feeling about Kaepernick for tomorrow.  Niners 26, Seahawks 24

Washington at Indianapolis--Wow, the Skins are a mess.  RG3 has been benched for Colt McCoy, which means this Dan Snyder abomination has seen both RG3 and Kirk Cousins play themselves out of a job.  Meanwhile, the Colts are set at the QB position for the next 15 years or so.  Again.  Colts 37, Redskins 20

Tennessee at Houston--Okay so there is a full slate of games, but this is one of them.  Texans 24, Titans 13

Cleveland at Buffalo--I think it's still snowing in Buffalo.  This game is technically the Snow Belt Bowl, but for the first time in years both teams have something to play for.  Browns 19, Bills 16

San Diego at Baltimore--These teams are so evenly matched that they are both 7-4 and each have just one loss at home.  Well, at least that makes it easy to pick this game.  Ravens 27, Chargers 20

NY Giants at Jacksonville--Tom Coughlin returns to his old stomping grounds, and his Giants are playing so bad they may remind him of the Jags' expansion season.  Jaguars 23, Giants 13

Cincinnati at Tampa Bay--The Bengals are clinging to the division lead in the AFC North at 7-3-1, while the Bucs are still in contention for a division title in the NFC South at 2-9!  Two and NINE.  There are seriously no words here.  Bengals 24, Bucs 6

Oakland at St. Louis--The Raiders may be feeling frisky after beating the Chiefs for win number one last Thursday, but they will be lucky to put up any points at all against this Rams' D.  Rams 17, Raiders 3

New Orleans at Pittsburgh--Well, the Saints can't blame the fact that their head coach was suspended.  This time, they just aren't playing well, period.  Or maybe they think they have a great shot at the NFC South title even if they win 6 games.  Steelers 30, Saints 27

Carolina at Minnesota--I wonder if DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart will still be the Panthers' backfield combo in 2027.  Panthers 20, Vikings 16

Arizona at Atlanta--A classic clash of division leaders, yet the Cards have more than twice the number of wins (9) as the Falcons (4).  Cards 16, Falcons 13

New England at Green Bay--The game of the week could be the game of the year, and a rematch of Super Bowl 31.  Get your popcorn ready.  For my money, Brady and Rodgers are the two best QBs in the game.  Patriots 41, Packers 38

Denver at Kansas City--It would be awesome if KC followed up that loss to the Raiders with an upset of the Broncos.  And you know what?  I think it's more than possible.  Chiefs 31, Broncos 27

Miami at NY Jets--I'm seriously taking privileges away from ESPN to carry Monday Night Football if they can't pick competitive games.  They've had some of the most horrendous matchups of the season on MNF, prompting all of us to watch 2 Broke Girls instead.  Dolphins 22, Jets 10