Your National Football League picks for Week 13
What once looked like a showdown in the NFC East now is a matter of survival for Dallas and Washington.
A Redskins victory or tie clinches the division for what has been the league’s team of the year, the Eagles. Yes, not even into December and folks in Philly could be celebrating — even if that means rooting for the despised team from the U.S. capital.
Dallas still is without suspended running back Zeke Elliott, and the offence has stagnated in his absence. The Cowboys really need a healthy Sean Lee at linebacker, too.
Yes, with suspensions and injuries, these teams barely resemble how they began the schedule.
“Sometimes we have to trust it,” Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins says of playing while surrounded by fill-ins. “We have to go and just play and believe that, however new this player is, he’s got to make the play and he’s got a jersey and a number, and he can do it.”
Dallas, ranked 18th in the AP Pro32, is a one-point favourite over No. 17 Washington. All those missing players for the visitors make them impossible to select. COWBOYS, 24-20 HOUSTON (plus 7 ⁄ ) at TENNESSEE Too many points to give Texans, who could spring surprise. TITANS, 22-17 DETROIT (plus 3) at BALTIMORE Lions keep wild-card hopes going, hurt Baltimore’s chances. LIONS, 23-13 CAROLINA (plus 4) at NEW ORLEANS Looked at this for upset special. PANTHERS, 31-30
CLEVELAND (plus 13 ⁄ ) at LOS ANGELES CHARGERS
Didn’t even remotely consider this for upset. CHARGERS, 30-6 PHILADELPHIA (minus 5 ⁄ )
at SEATTLE It must be a special year for Eagles if they are favoured so strongly at Seattle. SEAHAWKS, 21-20 MINNESOTA (plus 3)
at ATLANTA Another terrific matchup for Week 13. FALCONS, 21-17 NEW ENGLAND (minus 8)
at BUFFALO Patriots closing in on another AFC East crown, even with Brady taking physical beatings. PATRIOTS, 27-16 DENVER (pick-em)
at MIAMI Shield your eyes for this one — and not from the Florida sun. DOLPHINS, 17-15 INDIANAPOLIS (plus 9 ⁄ )
at JACKSONVILLE After last week’s stumble, Jaguars will have mean edge vs. Indy. JAGUARS, 30-19 KANSAS CITY (minus 3) at NEW YORK JETS Really worried about Chiefs, but they squeeze by here. CHIEFS, 20-16
ARIZONA (plus 7) at LOS ANGELES RAMS Breather in difficult stretch for NFC West leaders. RAMS, 32-16 NEW YORK GIANTS (plus 5 ⁄ )
at OAKLAND Long trip for Giants to get whipped, though Raiders are undermanned, too. RAIDERS, 24-14 SAN FRANCISCO (plus 4 ⁄ )
at CHICAGO Joe Cool vs. Monsters of Midway? Not quite. BEARS, 16-13 TAMPA BAY (OFF) at GREEN BAY Packers could have won at Pittsburgh, will do so here. PACKERS, 16-13
MONDAY NIGHT CINCINNATI (plus 5 ⁄ )
at PITTSBURGH Steelers aren’t blowing out anyone right now. STEELERS, 23-20
——— 2017 RECORD: Last week: Against spread (10-4-2). Straight up (14-2); Season Totals: Against spread (83-81-5). Straight up: (110-65)