Due to more COVID-19 related issues, Thursday night football is cancelled this week. But looking ahead to Sunday we still have some great matches to look forward to as the New Orlean Saints travel to the Atlanta Falcons and the Tennessee Titans face the Cleveland Brown – and that’s just for starters!
Here are my NFL 2020 Week 13 predictions:
New Orleans Saints @ Atlanta Falcons
The Saints defense has tightened significantly as the season has gone on and they now sit at 9-2 for the year with an 8 game win streak. When you add that solid defense to the offensive weapons at their disposal, then the Saints have to be considered as a big contender to lift the trophy this year. The Falcons have to be respected though and they will be full of confidence after destroying the Raiders last week.
Saints 27 Falcons 24
Jacksonville Jaguars @ Minnesota Vikings
After winning their opening game of this campaign, the Jaguars have lost every game since. They were a little unlucky losing in a tight game to the Browns last week but they are giving up too many points in every game. The Vikings scraped past the Panthers last week to take them to 5-6 for the year. I think it will be 6-6 after this game.
Jaguars 16 Vikings 26
Cincinnati Bengals @ Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins got back to winning ways with a 20-3 win over the Jets last week. They are now sitting nicely at 7-4 for the season. The Bengals are facing the rest of their campaign without their star quarterback Joe Burrow but they are still a decent team and pushed the Giants close last time out. This will be a tougher test for them though.
Bengals 10 Dolphins 19
Cleveland Browns @ Tennessee Titans
Derrick Henry is on fire and the rest of the league should be worried. He helped the Titans rack up 45 points against the Colts last week to put them 8-3 for the season. It’s fair to say they are hitting top gear. The Browns are on form as well though and are on a 3 game winning streak making then 8-3 for the year. This is going to be a close one but I have a sneaky feeling the Browns will edge it.
Browns 28 Titans 24
Detroit Lions @ Chicago Bears
The Bears free fall continued last week against the Packers and that makes it 5 straight losses after a promising start to the year. The Lions are not much better mind you after losing their last 2 outings. It’s hard to see who can step up here but I am going for the Bears who have to win again at some point.
Lions 10 Bears 16
Indianapolis Colts @ Houston Texans
The Colts gave up 45 points to the Titans last week but they are still sitting nicely for a play off spot. This is a tricky game though as the Texans are coming off 2 straight wins. This should be close but I am putting down the Colts for the win.
Colts 28 Texans 27
Las Vegas Raiders @ New York Jets
The Raiders play-off potential took a blow in last weeks embarrassing 43-6 loss to the Falcons. That puts them 6-5 for the season and still time to bounce back from 2 straight defeats. Luckily for them they have the 0-11 Jets this week and will have no problems over powering them.
Raiders 24 Jets 14
New York Giants @ Seattle Seahawks
Three wins in a row have put the Giants to the top of NFC East with a 4-7 record. They are short on offensive options this week though with quarterback Daniel Joes out injured. The Seahawks are 8-3 after last weeks win over the Eagles. Seattle have Russell Wilson and D.K. Metcalf clicking at the right time and now look one of the favourites for the title. The Giants will do well to keep up here.
Giants 17 Seahawks 31
Los Angeles Rams @ Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals suffered a second defeat on the bounce against the Patriots last week to put a dent in their play-off hopes. They now sit 6-5 but in a tough division that includes this weeks opponents the Rams. Just as some were starting to talk this Rams team up, they go and lose to an injury plagued 49ers team last week. Sitting at 7-4 they won’t be panicking yet but a defeat here will have them worried. It will be a close tense affair but I think the Rams will pull through
Rams 27 Cardinals 25
New England Patriots @ Los Angeles Chargers
The Patriots remain a tough team to predict, highlighted by their 5-6 record after last weeks win over the Rams. The Chargers remain competitive despite their 3-8 record. Last week they pushed the Bills hard but not hard enough. This is another tough one to call but I am going for the Patriots.
Patriots 23 Chargers 17
Philadelphia Eagles @ Green Bay Packers
Carson Wentz continued to struggle at quarterback for the Eagles last week in their third defeat in a row. This puts them 3-7 for the season but still with a play-off chance due to the poor quality of NFC East. I can’t see them improving that record this week as they come up against 8-3 Packers who racked up 41 points against the Bears last week. I can see a similar scoreline this time round.
Eagles 17 Packers 43
Denver Broncos @ Kansas City Chiefs
The Broncos have a nightmare shortage in the quarterback department. But to be honest even if they had them all fit, they would still lose to this free flowing Chiefs team. Patrick Mahomes has already thrown 32 touchdowns this year – a record Denver can only dream of.
Broncos 9 Chiefs 34
Washington Football Team @ Pittsburgh Steelers
Washington look like they have turned their fortunes around for the season. Last weeks 41-16 win over the Cowboys was their second victory in a row. More importantly they are now tied at the top of NFC East with the Giants. Confidence will be high but it doesn’t come any tougher than the Steelers who are still undefeated after 11 games. This won’t be one way traffic but the Steelers should be too strong.
Washington 19 Steelers 25
Buffalo Bills @ San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers continued to work miracles last week as their severely depleted team overcame play-off hopefuls the Rams. It’s another tough challenge this week though against the 8-3 Bills. The Bills won’t be taking the 49ers lightly but they know this is a game they should win.
Bills 31 49ers 24
Dallas Cowboys @ Baltimore Ravens
What has happened to the Ravens? one of the hotly picked teams to go all the way this year have now lost their last 3 outings and sit third in AFC North. Lamar Jackson is off form but the defense seems to be just as big an issue at the moment. They really have to get back to winning ways this week and against a poor Cowboys team they really should.
Cowboys 14 Ravens 25
